Productive!
Feb. 9th, 2019 06:33 amOne of the many things I've been itching to do for years is to have a proper work area for doing electronics stuff. In the past, especially at the trailer, I was somewhat forced to use unorthodox and inappropriate places for that, such as the kitchen table, or on a plastic folding table. Ok for basic assembly/disassembly, not ok for things like soldering.
Well, now that I have a house with a basement, I cleared out a spot along the wall and put in a proper workbench from yonder home improvement store. It has a good enough weight capacity, good height, and I can slide stuff underneath it.
The next thing was to install a power strip. By "install" I mean "bolt it to the wall so it doesn't move when I unplug something". I also have a couple 2x4s bolted to the wall so I can put up some pegboard later, or maybe just some plain plywood to hang anything on. That said, I finally got to use the hammer function of my hammer drill. As a side note, torx-drive fasteners are easier to use.
Other plans in the near future involve a computer stationed there to assist with tinkering with Raspberry Pi and Arduino. So the monitor wouldn't get in the way and take up bench space, I attached a piece of lumber to stick down from one of the joists, and mounted the monitor there. The mount is rated for 3x what the monitor weighs, so that's good.
Also, as I've found out I have a lot of tools and supplies primarily for electronics, I'll need to get yet another tool chest. At least for that I can go light-duty, as opposed to when I need to get something as a secondary for my main tool chest in the garage.
To be sure, this new work area won't be limited to electronics work. I forsee it also being useful for things like assembling plastic models, which I have a bunch of I've been meaning to get around to working on.
Other things I'm planning to make are an open storage stand for soldering iron tips, wire and solder racks, and whatever else my imagination cooks up. This may involve aluminum brazing, which would be a useful thing to know, so I'm also learning that. My first go at it yielded a rather ugly looking joint but it feels solid, so it's a good start. I figure I'll get better at it with practice.
My mind is swirling with ideas and I want to make things.
Well, now that I have a house with a basement, I cleared out a spot along the wall and put in a proper workbench from yonder home improvement store. It has a good enough weight capacity, good height, and I can slide stuff underneath it.
The next thing was to install a power strip. By "install" I mean "bolt it to the wall so it doesn't move when I unplug something". I also have a couple 2x4s bolted to the wall so I can put up some pegboard later, or maybe just some plain plywood to hang anything on. That said, I finally got to use the hammer function of my hammer drill. As a side note, torx-drive fasteners are easier to use.
Other plans in the near future involve a computer stationed there to assist with tinkering with Raspberry Pi and Arduino. So the monitor wouldn't get in the way and take up bench space, I attached a piece of lumber to stick down from one of the joists, and mounted the monitor there. The mount is rated for 3x what the monitor weighs, so that's good.
Also, as I've found out I have a lot of tools and supplies primarily for electronics, I'll need to get yet another tool chest. At least for that I can go light-duty, as opposed to when I need to get something as a secondary for my main tool chest in the garage.
To be sure, this new work area won't be limited to electronics work. I forsee it also being useful for things like assembling plastic models, which I have a bunch of I've been meaning to get around to working on.
Other things I'm planning to make are an open storage stand for soldering iron tips, wire and solder racks, and whatever else my imagination cooks up. This may involve aluminum brazing, which would be a useful thing to know, so I'm also learning that. My first go at it yielded a rather ugly looking joint but it feels solid, so it's a good start. I figure I'll get better at it with practice.
My mind is swirling with ideas and I want to make things.