What is your workbench missing

[Quast]

Hello all,

I'm still fairly new to the forum here, i visit all the time, read alot, but don't really have much to add, there's already a lot of content here.

Anyway, within the next couple months I will be re-doing an area in my basement and dedicating a room to by business. What I'm wondering is what is something YOU with your workbench had right now?

I will be building mine myself, and have gotten some ideas (and some things not to do) from the multiple post of other techs benches.
since most of my business is laptop repairs i will be incorporating a stack of drawers to keep each customers system in if needed while waiting for parts.

Space is an issue so I will defiantly be thinking about storage anywhere i can.


for my drawers i was thinking these
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=46037&cat=1,43326,43330,46037
easy to install, and i can have a side for computer storage, and a side for parts / tools.

What do you with you had of incorporated, or find yourself missing out on?

 

[Porthos]

What I'm wondering is what is something YOU with your workbench had right now?

Some one to do the work for free and do it right.....

 

[Mainstay]

I saw this at Costco the other day... It would make a terrific drop in workbench:

 

[Mainstay]

Also (I know this isn't what you are asking) but if I could give myself some advice from the future, I would say, buy one of these for your bench:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicati...gclid=CMOji8-q_MMCFVKDfgodGJEAnQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Quast]

I'm heading to Costco this week I may take a look at that bench. I rather like it. A row of drawers next to it and my cabinet for parts could always work. Also the duster. Yes I agree the canned air is just not the way to go as every computer is dirty and dusty that comes by way. If it's clean I'm more worried lol.

I was considering a small compressor with a moisture trap. Any concerns or thoughts on that compared to the electric air blower mentioned? Besides noise levels

 

[pceinc]

Growing up the son of a handyman/jack of all trades taught me many things. Carpentry, electrical, electronics, auto-mechanics, and wood working to name a few. I've spent the winter months converting my garage into a home wood shop. I have most of the tools, just getting everything setup to be able to work efficiently and safely. One of my first projects this spring is going to be for my office. Our current work bench and desks are going on 12 years old and need an upgrade. They were built to store large towers underneath for check-ins and completed work. Now that we have more laptops and smaller desktops, the storage space is not ideal. I never built drawers under the bench or desks. Our current storage for disassembled laptops is those 3 drawer plastic tote things from Walmart. They are cheap but flimsy. I like them because the whole plastic drawer can be removed and taken to the work space but the carcass has a lot to be desired. I will probably keep the drawers and build some slide in style shelves to fit them in. Another issue we have is consistency with work flow. We often have machines spread out over two work spaces. One is an 8' section of counter space, the other is 16'. These are standing room spaces only. I don't agree with sitting at a desk all day, but standing at a counter all day sucks too. I'm plan on some hybrid setup where we have some sitting benches as well as standing benches. Cable management and cleaning work spaces are on my list too. We use an air compressor which is stored in the lunch room next to our main entrance. We power it on and blow out the equipment outside. Ideally we would have a back door for this but that's not an option. I'm also going to upgrade the lighting. Our main work area is 13x25 and has 3 4 bulb fluorescent lights. They are horrible. I'm thinking LED for bright white light.

 

[coffee]

If I were to redo my workbench here are three things I would definitely do:

1. Lots of power outlets or a hefty power strip. Even though I just did an electrical upgrade some months ago, I still find myself short on power outlets.

2. I would take some pvc tubing and run a line from the top middle of my workbench to the floor. This way I can hook up my portable vacuum to the end on the floor and just plugin the vacuum’s hose at the top of my bench for cleaning. This would make things much easier.

3. Find some used cabinets or make some to go above the work bench.

coffee

 

[Quast]

Carpentry, electrical, electronics, auto-mechanics, and wood working to name a few.

You sound a lot like myself there. I like the idea of the totes being removed and just brought to the station. I have access to a munch of small sticking totes I was thinkin about for the garage shop but may look at them again for use here. Build slide out shelves to put those on. As for lights You can never seem to have enough I was thinkin LEDs as well

 

[Davena]

Also (I know this isn't what you are asking) but if I could give myself some advice from the future, I would say, buy one of these for your bench:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicati...gclid=CMOji8-q_MMCFVKDfgodGJEAnQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have owned one for two years now - price has gone up..paid $47 for it back in 2013. BEST BEST item to have.

 

[JosephLeo]

I'm gonna clean up my old workbench later today, but it's missing power.

My old workbench is a 8'x3' bench made of 4x4 legs and almost an entire sheer of MDF, a shelf underneath and a rubber top (which needs to be replaced) and a 1' tall "splash".

Above it, a shelf for spare parts, and below it will be a 4 display wide array of monitors with easy hookups...just gotta find my old mount and monitors in my storage unit.

But what I always lacked was adequate power. I could at max run 3 of the 4 stations if I had desktops running since the power would go out if I used a 4th tower sometimes.

 

[altrenda]

I agree on power. never enough.
Also, adequate lighting. I have a light with a built in magnifier that I use all the time.
Storage space for laptops waiting for parts to keep them off the bench.
A router and switch with plenty of ports, I wish I had a couple of vlans for isolation.
A hard drive duplicator/cloner
A workbench that is high enough to work comfortably standing up, with a high stool or chair for sitting.

 

[Mainstay]

While at Costco also look at:

http://www2.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11760165&whse=BD_115&topnav=bd

I just added a set on top of a long table we have (added 8 feet wide and 4 feet high) and the difference is noticeable.... all incoming systems and parts can now be organized much nicer (and it tripled our receiving area).

 

[pceinc]

I forgot to mention one of the best additions I made to our shop office was a Woot purchase. Last year I bought the Craftsman two piece rolling tool box for $200. It's not their best quality toolbox but works great in a computer shop. It helped us organize a lot of the clutter like tools laying around. We stack keyboards in the bottom deep drawer and put mice and quick access items in the top. Flash drives, video adapters, misc cables, each have their own drawer that is labeled. We also have a hanging CD folder on the wall but it doesn't get used much anymore since we have the Zalman's.

 

[mraikes]

For some reason, I love this question. A refreshing twist on "what do I need?"

Here's my wishlist for my one-man, garage based computer-repair workshop:

1. More space. I've increased the size of my work bench(es) and work space multiple times and it seems I need more. Maybe because I'm kind of a slob.
2. Better storage for laptops awaiting parts. I like the bin/drawer ideas some here have shared.
3. More power. My business is home based utilizing much of my garage. The breaker box just couldn't handle it. I brought in an electrician about a year ago to boost the power to my work area. No problems since.
4. Swiveling & extending wall mounted screens. I use KVM's so I only use 3 or 4 screens, but it's still awkward and my workspace is not conducive to wall mounting.
5. Adequate and moveable lighting. I'd like a couple more work lights that can be extended & aimed.
6. A good sized light with built in magnifying glass.
7. More wall-mounted tool storage. You know, loops to hold screwdrivers, wire cutters, etc. close at hand without need to open a drawer or toolbox.
8. Some type of portable, convenient central vac/dust collection system so I can blow out computers where they sit on my workbench. I'm percolating an idea for an inexpensive solution to this consisting of my shop-vac, pvc pipe to my bench and a tent-like shroud, but not yet ready to implement.
9. Security camera. I've implemented this already, but since the OP is working from his basement it might help him too. I have an inexpensive camera pointed at the approach to my house connected to a monitor on my workbench. It's a virtual window so I can see when customers arrive to pickup or dropoff without having to be perched near the front door, looking out the window, waiting for someone to arrive. And now that I'm getting older, I'll know when to shout at the kids to get off my lawn. Just kidding -it's New Mexico, I don't have a lawn, I have dirt & rocks.

 

[joydivision]

I have around 30 sockets in on my bench but very little load of them. What I am mostly missing is more light and more space. The biggest thing my bench is missing at the moment though is customers computers!

 

[Porthos]

The biggest thing my bench is missing at the moment though is customers computers!

Amen to that.

 

[mr m]

I built my own workbenches from 2X4 lumber and MDF board which comes in 4X8 sheets. It's basically particle board with a smooth coating that I polyurethaned for added protection.

I use 3 UPS systems for power. Easy access since they sit on the bench. Also, you can't have enough light. I mounted shelves to the wall over the bench and secured halogen light under the lowest shelf. I also recommend an anti-static mat. Make sure it has a wrist connector and most importantly make sure it's grounded. I grounded mine to the wall recepticle's center screw for the cover plate.

X3 on needing more customer computers!

 

[altrenda]

For some reason, I love this question. A refreshing twist on "what do I need?"
...... Just kidding -it's New Mexico, I don't have a lawn, I have dirt & rocks.

You may not have a lawn, but you do have Sopapilla's.

 

[mraikes]

You may not have a lawn, but you do have Sopapilla's.

Yes we do - there has to be SOMETHING to make life worth living in this desert.

 

[JD1248]

I built my own shop in the basement, like others, I used 2x4's, and particle board. A couple years ago I came across this stuff called Pig Grippy Mat from NewPig. I lined the tops of the workbench with it, and I love it. It's perfect for a rollerball or optical mouse. It keeps laptops, keyboards etc in place, and is soft so it won't scratch anything you put down on it, like dvd's.

I also have a small shop vac mounted on the back on my workbench with a long house that hangs to the floor. I use a wireless on off switch.

As the others have said, never enough power or ethernet outlets.