Bench organization

LeftyStrat · Post by **LeftyStrat** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:12 am

I'd like to start a thread about organizing the work bench. I thought I'd share some things I have found that work well, and maybe get some ideas from others that I haven't discovered.

I use to store resistors in these modular storage bins (last pic below) and it didn't work that well. It took up too much wall space (especially when stocking 1/4, 1/2 watt, etc). Then the real downside happened when I moved and upon opening up the box the movers had packed them in, found that they were turned upside down and almost every resistor fell out. Heck of a sorting job my three kids had to endure (but hey, they learned to read resistor bands).

Anyway, I still use the bins for power resistors, but now I store the smaller series in small envelopes stored in a box (see second pic below). The first column is 1/4 watt series, second is 1/2 watt, and third is 1 watt. The envelopes are sorted by value, making it very easy to quickly find what you need. I keep a pad by the box and jot down any value I use that has less than five resistors remaining (well, except for values like 100k).

First picture is a capacitor kit I bought from Mouser. It turns out this has about every cathode capacitor value you'd even need, and the end of this case is labeled "electrolytic cathode caps", I have other boxes this size for "bias caps", "cathode caps" (non-electrolytic) and "pwr cathode resistors", and they all can sit on a shelf with the ends facing out, making it easy to quickly grab the right part.

Anyway, I'm in the process of reorganizing a bit and I'd love to hear other tips for part or tool storage. As I reorganize, I'll take more pics of things like amp stands and other stuff I've built or bought to make my more productive.

nickt · Post by **nickt** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:47 am

I've got "bench envy" - everything has to come out then has to go back

"workshop" is 6x6 and doubles as my home office.

Seriously - the little sets of boxes in you photos work really well but only when you have a mass of them. I've got most stuff in plastic bags and its a PITA. What I plan to do is fill a 6' book case with jiffy boxes and empty all my bags. YMMV

Edit: just noticed your jiffy boxes only have one compartment - the ones I'm thinking of have four so hold a lot more stuff in a lot less space.

LeftyStrat · Post by **LeftyStrat** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:08 am

Well, the resistors in envelopes in that box was the smartest thing I've ever done (well related to bench stuff). I used to have a wall of resistors (literally 6' by 6'), and every time I went to look for a value it was like finding a book in the library. With the box, I only have to check the "card catalog" and I'm done.

I'm also starting to wean myself from storing things according to type (caps here, resistors here, etc), and start storing according to function or work flow, i.e. bias network parts here, power supply stuff here, etc. Rarely do you jump around an amp ("Dab of solder in the preamp, dab of solder in the power supply..."

).

Before I had to pay for a move cross country, I had a killer woodworking shop. But paying to ship all that equipment 3000 miles would have cost as much as I paid for it in the first place. But my wife always kids me, that I spent more time building fixtures than actually producing anything.

Post by **Allynmey** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:40 am

I try to be organized but...........

About 5% of my stock!

Post by **Allynmey** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:42 am

and

doesn't include a two car garage full to the roof!

dartanion · Post by **dartanion** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:24 am

NICE SHOP ALLYN!!!

Mine looks like a hurricane hit it. CRAP EVERYWHERE!

I've got half a kitchen worth of cabinets sitting in the garage waiting to be installed.

lastwinj · Post by **lastwinj** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:21 pm

[IMG

876]http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/l ... hop001.jpg[/img]

[IMG

899]http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/l ... hop002.jpg[/img]

drhulsey · Post by **drhulsey** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:40 pm

Man

That's my problem. I just don't have enough STUFF

benoit · Post by **benoit** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:11 am

You have no idea how bad I wish I had a garage, period, forget about a neatly organized bench...

nickt · Post by **nickt** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:19 am

benoit wrote:You have no idea how bad I wish I had a garage, period, forget about a neatly organized bench...

Tell me about it - we don't even have a driveway or on-street parking!

WholeToneMusic · Post by **WholeToneMusic** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:10 pm

Hello All,

I have a small bench that i do builds, repairs & mods on. So efficiency is a priority. I found a great idea on DIY channel for storing wire that i thought i would share with you all. Save your old screw on plastic containers ( peanut butter container works good) Run them through the dish washer then dry out well. Screw the lid into the wall, drill a small hole in the bottom of the plastic jar. Place your wire into the jar and bring it through the hole, screw on jar to the lid. You can run a buch of them across a small board mounted to the wall. It save time and space.

Enjoy,

Brian

LeftyStrat · Post by **LeftyStrat** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:33 pm

WholeToneMusic wrote:Hello All,

I have a small bench that i do builds, repairs & mods on. So efficiency is a priority. I found a great idea on DIY channel for storing wire that i thought i would share with you all. Save your old screw on plastic containers ( peanut butter container works good) Run them through the dish washer then dry out well. Screw the lid into the wall, drill a small hole in the bottom of the plastic jar. Place your wire into the jar and bring it through the hole, screw on jar to the lid. You can run a buch of them across a small board mounted to the wall. It save time and space.

Enjoy,

Brian

I like this idea, thanks. This was more what I was interested in, rather than bulk storage of a lot of parts. I don't want to walk to the garage every time I need a part.

Still trying to figure out how to keep a majority of what I need within arms reach at the bench.

WholeToneMusic · Post by **WholeToneMusic** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:23 am

Your welcome LeftyStrat, any little thing helps, I know with me I get aggitated when i have to untangle a bunch of wire, this is so much easier. Now if we can find a way to keep our patch cords organized!! As I look at a rat nest full of cables in a bag and ponder the thoughts, hmm. Is there enough frequency bands to go all wireless? With all those stray frequencies floating around i could probably cook my lunch.

benoit · Post by **benoit** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:56 pm

WholeToneMusic wrote:Your welcome LeftyStrat, any little thing helps, I know with me I get aggitated when i have to untangle a bunch of wire, this is so much easier. Now if we can find a way to keep our patch cords organized!! As I look at a rat nest full of cables in a bag and ponder the thoughts, hmm. Is there enough frequency bands to go all wireless? With all those stray frequencies floating around i could probably cook my lunch.

If they're just little short ones a hook like the one pictured below would probably do the trick.

They're 12 or 13 bucks on any music supply website.

I'm assuming this is the kind of patch cables you're talking about, if not, my bad.

CaseyJones · Post by **CaseyJones** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:28 pm

The maintenance supervisor for one of my clients has an interesting approach to a clean workplace. He's sometimes required to tidy up the shop when their customers tour the plant, what he does is wheel up a scrap container and clear all the workbenches into it! Tools, parts, fasteners, junk, it all goes into the tip.

It's not such a bad idea really. There is nothing that clutters a work area quite like stalled projects.

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