What is your workbench missing

[coffee]

I want to rip down my bench and build a new one after seeing these nice pics.

coffee

 

[JosephLeo]

I want to rip down my bench and build a new one after seeing these nice pics.

coffee

Buy a pair of these things, and mount them to a wall. Those desk clamps are prone to nasty accidents. Next, build your desk with a sheet of MDF and some 4x4s, can't remember the exact dimensions of mine but here's my guess.

1x MDF board as wide and long as the desired desk.

3x pieces as wide as the entire desired desk.

2x pieces as tall as the entire desired desk, minus the height of one 4x4
These two pieces are the two front legs.

4x pieces as deep as the entire desired desk, minus the depth of two 4x4
These four pieces are the top and bottom sides on the left and right of the desk.

2x pieces as tall as the entire desired desk, minus the height of two 4x4
These two pieces are the two back legs.

Layer them like this.

If you're handy, you can even build shelves on the bottom and top.

Other common things you can add...

• Wheels
• Side Panels for a "solid" look
• Lighting
• Magnetic sheet strip for screws
• 1/4" Rubber section to stabilize some things
• 1/4" Felt or fabric are to prevent scuffs
• Back panel to mount monitors
• Top cabinet to contain supplies
• Drawers and shelves

You can also face it towards your customers in a store to create a partition in-store *and* have a place to add rack hangers for merchandise, or a nice blank canvas to put your logo on.

 

[gikstar]

I need more of these: http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProd...=Specifications&ProductCategory=179&section=1
These are clear plastic bins, 28 Qt 23" x 16.25" x 6" which I like to store laptops in. I just stack them on top of each other and tape a large tag on the side noting who the client is and can make notes on the side as to what phase of completion it is in. I do purchase smaller units that I put the smaller laptops in like the Macs.

 

[Mainstay]

I need more of these: http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProd...=Specifications&ProductCategory=179&section=1
These are clear plastic bins, 28 Qt 23" x 16.25" x 6" which I like to store laptops in. I just stack them on top of each other and tape a large tag on the side noting who the client is and can make notes on the side as to what phase of completion it is in. I do purchase smaller units that I put the smaller laptops in like the Macs.

We use those too... quite handy in the car and on the shelf.

We've recently switched to using Dymo labels on EVERY part a customer brings in.

We may spend $1 per customer on labels, but good lord, does it ever cut down on confusion and trying to keep parts straight. I probably save 30 minutes a day from just trying to figure out which a/c adapter goes with each laptop.

It is also very gratifying to see our labels out on systems in the field (they have our name and logo, customer #/ phone number & customer name).

They are small and somehow both noticeable and discreet at the same time.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

We use those too... quite handy in the car and on the shelf.

We've recently switched to using Dymo labels on EVERY part a customer brings in.

We may spend $1 per customer on labels, but good lord, does it ever cut down on confusion and trying to keep parts straight. I probably save 30 minutes a day from just trying to figure out which a/c adapter goes with each laptop.

It is also very gratifying to see our labels out on systems in the field (they have our name and logo, customer #/ phone number & customer name).

They are small and somehow both noticeable and discreet at the same time.

Could you post a sample of your label. There are times where I wish I labeled items, then I get a machine that has been to Best Buy and hate the way the labels look.

 

[Mainstay]

These are what they look like.


The logo, company name, website, and date are auto-filled.

The client name COULD be autofilled, but it is more trouble than it is worth.

We make them in seconds and then hit print a few times (or dial up the number of prints).

They are 54 mm (2.1") x 25mm (1") in size and fit very nicely on a laptop lid or on the top of a tower.

I was somewhat concerned we'd get complaints, but not a single person has so much as expressed a gripe.

They are reasonably sticky, so they definitely adhere nicely, but if you wanted to remove it you most certainly can do so with little effort (and little residual stickiness).

I DID have a barcode generated (automatically based on client number) but it got busy + we aren't really scanning them back in for asset tracking, so I ditched it in favor of a cleaner look.


EDIT: we also have small colored dots (stickers of red, yellow, blue, green) from the dollar store that fit nicely in the white space. They indicate different issues. For instance, a HD labeled with a customer tag with a red dot means that drive is failed. Visually, it makes things VERY easy to ID and digest. Green is good to go (back to customer). etc. etc.

When I am looking at a shelf of systems I can simply track along the colors and the names and pretty much know exactly where each system is in the repair process.

 

[cypress]

Good ideas!! ^ I am going to pick up those dots for my work bench.

As far as what is missing? Storage drawers! Right now I store all my stuff in boxes in my closet. I think its time to buy some storage drawers and redo my closet space. I think that would go a long way and finding stuff more easily. I went in there the other day and find a tun of cables I didn't even know I had.

 

[Daifne]

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

It's cheaper on Amazon. $59.99 for the first one listed. I paid just under $47 in 2011.

 

[Mainstay]

it wasn't meant to be a direct link to buy... I was more meaning the concept of the Metrovac...

 

[Daifne]

it wasn't meant to be a direct link to buy... I was more meaning the concept of the Metrovac...

Actually, I was replying to OhioTech's comment (which I quoted) about the prices. I really do love mine. Haven't needed canned air since I got it.

 

[Davena]

That little blower has lots of uses. Cleaned the barn dust off the details on my saddle in under a minute. LOL.

 

[lcoughey]

I have at least 6 of the following tables from ULine for my various recovery system workstations

http://www.uline.ca/BL_3853/Industrial-Packing-Tables

 

[Quast]

lots of great advice here makes me want to build it sooner than later. I did chuckle a bit when i was reading "coffee's" responce, there was a list of stuff then his name, i thought he wanted more coffee on his bench lol. That's not good to have around electronics
might have to invest in the air canister sooner than later tho. When i start building i will have to share the progress pics

 

[~Wendy~]

Buy a pair of these things, and mount them to a wall. Those desk clamps are prone to nasty accidents. Next, build your desk with a sheet of MDF and some 4x4s, can't remember the exact dimensions of mine but here's my guess.

1x MDF board as wide and long as the desired desk.

3x pieces as wide as the entire desired desk.

2x pieces as tall as the entire desired desk, minus the height of one 4x4
These two pieces are the two front legs.

4x pieces as deep as the entire desired desk, minus the depth of two 4x4
These four pieces are the top and bottom sides on the left and right of the desk.

2x pieces as tall as the entire desired desk, minus the height of two 4x4
These two pieces are the two back legs.

Layer them like this.

If you're handy, you can even build shelves on the bottom and top.

Other common things you can add...

• Wheels
• Side Panels for a "solid" look
• Lighting
• Magnetic sheet strip for screws
• 1/4" Rubber section to stabilize some things
• 1/4" Felt or fabric are to prevent scuffs
• Back panel to mount monitors
• Top cabinet to contain supplies
• Drawers and shelves

You can also face it towards your customers in a store to create a partition in-store *and* have a place to add rack hangers for merchandise, or a nice blank canvas to put your logo on.

Well done...

 

[~Wendy~]

I have been looking for these trays for months now thank you so much for this great link!

 

[~Wendy~]

We use those too... quite handy in the car and on the shelf.

We've recently switched to using Dymo labels on EVERY part a customer brings in.

We may spend $1 per customer on labels, but good lord, does it ever cut down on confusion and trying to keep parts straight. I probably save 30 minutes a day from just trying to figure out which a/c adapter goes with each laptop.

It is also very gratifying to see our labels out on systems in the field (they have our name and logo, customer #/ phone number & customer name).

They are small and somehow both noticeable and discreet at the same time.

As an aside, I buy sticky paper dots in different colors and hand write the customer name on all the pieces in the matching color. Cheap I know. ( slinks away in shame)

 

[Krynn72]

I'll take some pics of my bench at work, I've spent awhile setting it up and quite happy with it. Just need to do some tidying since I had to move a bunch of stuff into my space since we've sprung a leak in the roof on the other side with all this damned snow.

 

[~Wendy~]

I need more of these: http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProd...=Specifications&ProductCategory=179&section=1
These are clear plastic bins, 28 Qt 23" x 16.25" x 6" which I like to store laptops in. I just stack them on top of each other and tape a large tag on the side noting who the client is and can make notes on the side as to what phase of completion it is in. I do purchase smaller units that I put the smaller laptops in like the Macs.

Guess what I got YESTERDAY????? A whole box of Sterlite containers-thanks so much for the great idea gikstar.

 

[coffee]

What am I missing on my workbench?

Someone to clean up after me I guess. My workbench seems to be a gathering place for parts and clutter

 

[gikstar]

As an aside, I buy sticky paper dots in different colors and hand write the customer name on all the pieces in the matching color. Cheap I know. ( slinks away in shame)

Nothing to be ashamed about. I do the same thing when with laptop chargers. We don't solder so when we take a laptop and charger to our guy that does that I tape our business card to the laptop and charger and note on our worksheet what we dropped off to him.