Describe how you would set up a prep area as if you were going to add finishing procedures to a shop

When setting up a prep area in my gunsmithing shop I would have a separate area just for prep. This area would not need a ton of space. I would make sure I had enough space to work on more than one firearm at a time but still keep parts from getting mixed up or lost. Prepping the parts in order to add a finish to them may require different processes depending on the type of finish and how it is applied. One of the most important chemicals required for most prep work is a degreaser or a stripping agent. Most finishes don’t work well on a part coated in grease or oil so the degreasing agent would probably stay in this part of the shop and more than likely in a solvent tank ready for work. I have known people to use kerosine as a degreasing agent, but this has negative effects on plastic parts and if I’m prepping a Glock frame for Cerakote then this would not work well. In any case, chemical strippers and degreasers should not come in contact with skin to avoid the negative health effects associated with it. Things like gloves, eye protection and maybe a respirator should always be used while working with these products. Usually during the prep stage and disassembly I will bag up parts in their specific groups to avoid losing or misplacing parts and to be sure they are free of shop debris. If I have a grinder and polisher in this same prep area it will throw debris everywhere so bagging the parts is a smart idea. Also, I would try to avoid a ton of shelves and clutter in these areas because if you accidentally throw a tiny spring while breaking down the firearm, this will make it pretty hard to find.