Show Us Your Tube / Repair Bench for a small space

goldleaf

goldleaf

Super Member
Hi guys,

After a hiatus to raise kids, it is time to get back in the game. Looking for ideas to set up a modest bench. Space is tight, it's a 6 x 6 area in a spare bedroom in my apartment. Thinking of going vertical like the Japanese do, with 3 or 4 shelves in front of a 6' x 4' table. This is a city / urban apartment so no garage or anything like that.

Let's see what you have!

To kick it off, I liked this one, sans the cabinets:
WorkBench.jpg

http://www.orionsword.net/Electronics/projects.html
 
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I need to do a serious re-work of my bench. Too much space is being used by components, at the expense of not having enough room for test gear to be placed where it makes sense.
 
Many moons ago my work area was huge (had a house then) and what is funny is that the space ALWAYS got filled. It's some kind of law of the universe, like entropy :D

The new situation is forcing more discipline.
 
There are a couple (well at least one) show us your workbench threads around. Do a search and you'll have lots more ideas! :thmbsp:
 
Hi rBuckner. Thanks. I have and got some nice ideas. The reason for this post was to get ideas specific to a small area: only have 6' x 6'.

Maybe the MOD can add "for a small space" to the title :)


Cheers
 
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goldleaf said:
Many moons ago my work area was huge (had a house then) and what is funny is that the space ALWAYS got filled. It's some kind of law of the universe, like entropy :D

The new situation is forcing more discipline.
Click to expand...

Happens everytime I clean off my bench in the garage like some sucking vortex takes over....
 
I have the same whirling vortex of entropy. Although one area i set up, I have the work surface at about 42 inches. allows room for test equipment storage underneath, although the dual trace Tektronics scope occupies a chunk of that because I have at an angle where I can sit in a chair and view the screen.

I also found some of those old pants hangers make for good test lead holders as well.- the wooden type that clamps on the cuffs.
 
Hey, I found the AK thread in DIY that was mentioned before for those who want to see it: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=304315

Since we all seem to need inspiration from time to time (I sure do!) here's a few nice sites/links to get the creative juices flowing:
1. http://www.radioatticarchives.com/workbench.htm <== really nice!
2. http://www.gearslutz.com/board/geekslutz-forum/454794-show-me-your-work-bench-thread-2010-a-2.html
3. http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=42778.0
4. http://circuitcellar.com/tag/workspaces-2/
5. http://www.vacuumtubeaudio.info/workbench.htm <=== One can always dream!

And for laughs, the anti-post: http://electro-music.com/forum/post-372527.html


And here's one to salivate to:
fehok1.jpg

from the famous circuitcellar.com site - of course
 
My bench is buried currently, so no photo yet, but it and some cabinets were a Craigslist freebie - The bench is an approximately 60"x40" formica kitchen island top and some oak upper cabinets were sourced from the same renovation.

I was also fitting out a larger workspace (basement hobby/workout/laundry room) so I was able to make use of the base cabinets and everything... The island made a great bench tho mounted at an appropriate height!


--Edit - I don't know how far from Chapel Hill you are, but here's a free-standing candidate "bench" that you won't need to fasten to walls:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/fuo/3452124686.html
Another, smaller and with a drop leaf... Looks like the seller is a hobbiest too
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/fuo/3396926695.html
A little narrow, but another candidate:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/fuo/3488535902.html
Last thought - in RTP there MUST be office surplus - An old-school metal one- or two-pillar desk with an appropriate work surface size could also be a good base.


--Edit again...
THIS is the kind of old-school desk I was referring to:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/fuo/3424035455.html
 
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Somewhat quaint, Yet! extremely efficient, that will go toe
to toe with some of the best home benches out there!. Of
course I have a slew of equipment tucked away under my
bench and eslewhere. However; what you see is what I
normaly use. Please try not to be in the least way; fooled
or amused by the antiquated equipment I use. Your Golden
Age Designers & builders used some of the very same
equipment that I use. All & all, vintage Test equipment is
fine to use as long It's been properly restored and maintained.
Although I wouldn't hesitate to recomend a digital mutlimeter,
D-oscilloscope & signal generator.

Additionally:
My bench equipment unit is a typical assemble-it-yourself cubby, bookshelf, knick-knack
case that's 48'' W x 24' H x 12'' D, that had been slightly modified and sits on the long
back end of a metal utility bench that measures 54'' W x 32" D x 32' H .This bench set
does not have a a large footprint. The assembly was picked up at a thrift store at
a very cost effective price.
 

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Zandru, that equipment is perfectly good stuff! Don't forget that when they did the McIntosh amplifier clinics around the country they used an HP200 just like yours for the distortion tests. I think they tweaked it a bit, but same unit. I have the rack version, just a bit wider.

I don't qualify for this thread. When the carpenter built my bench I told him I wanted enough depth to hold classic test equipment, and then that much more in front to actually work on stuff. I don't think my equipment would fit in a 6' x 6' x 6' cube, much less on a bench that would fit in a 6' x 6' room! I figure I'm OK until I reach the point of a friend of mine who has 3 full rooms and the garage completely full.
 
zandru said:
Please try not to be in the least way; fooled
or amused by the antiquated equipment I use. Your Golden
Age Designers & builders used some of the very same
equipment that I use.
Click to expand...

That (era) equipment put men on the moon. I think it can handle maintenance on the equipment that tickles our aging ears!
 
jtnfoley said:
My bench is buried currently, so no photo yet, but it and some cabinets were a Craigslist freebie - The bench is an approximately 60"x40" formica kitchen island top and some oak upper cabinets were sourced from the same renovation.
Click to expand...

That sounds good. I saw some stand alone islands with drawers that one could mount a thick solid door across also. I like working from a normal height, not a bar stool, on a chair with casters to move around. Trying to keep good posture to prevent a dowager's hump as I age :nerd:

BTW, I am only 30 minutes from Chapel Hill, on the West side of Raleigh.
 
ConradH said:
Zandru, that equipment is perfectly good stuff! Don't forget that when they did the McIntosh amplifier clinics around the country they used an HP200 just like yours for the distortion tests. I think they tweaked it a bit, but same unit. I have the rack version, just a bit wider.
Click to expand...

Funny you mention test equipment. That'll be the next chapter. I looked at new stuff and was :yikes: Refurbished old stuff is going to have to be it. A careful selection since space is limited. Analog Addict's shop and benches are so nice I am still in shock - have to lower my expectations to match my pocketbook too. I could probably do a whole bench for what his tube tester is worth :yes: It's nice to have neighbors like that :)

Shopping for a soldering station, ESR meter and DMM next...
 
ConradH said:
Zandru, that equipment is perfectly good stuff! Don't forget that when they did the McIntosh amplifier clinics around the country they used an HP200 just like yours for the distortion tests. I think they tweaked it a bit, but same unit. I have the rack version, just a bit wider.

I don't qualify for this thread. When the carpenter built my bench I told him I wanted enough depth to hold classic test equipment, and then that much more in front to actually work on stuff. I don't think my equipment would fit in a 6' x 6' x 6' cube, much less on a bench that would fit in a 6' x 6' room! I figure I'm OK until I reach the point of a friend of mine who has 3 full rooms and the garage completely full.
Click to expand...

That is when you move to acreage and have a barn you can fill up too.:banana:
 
Ok, here's a shot of the quick 'n dirty bench I threw together in the basement last week when my main shop in the garage got too cold for comfort. It's a piece of 5/8th ply clamped into an old Black & Decker workmate. Add in a power bar and a couple of halogen lights and it's ready to go. Set-up time = about 30 min. Not pretty, but it works. Scope and sig gen are still freezing in the garage until I need them.

That's a Scott 299 about half way through restoration front and center.
 

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zandru said:
Somewhat quaint, Yet! extremely efficient, that will go toe
to toe with some of the best home benches out there!. Of
course I have a slew of equipment tucked away under my
bench and eslewhere. However; what you see is what I
normaly use. Please try not to be in the least way; fooled
or amused by the antiquated equipment I use. Your Golden
Age Designers & builders used some of the very same
equipment that I use. All & all, vintage Test equipment is
fine to use as long It's been properly restored and maintained.
Although I wouldn't hesitate to recomend a digital mutlimeter,
D-oscilloscope & signal generator.

Additionally:
My bench equipment unit is a typical assemble-it -yourself cubby, book, nick-knack
case that's 48'' W x 24' H x 12'' D, that had been slightly modified and sits on the long
back end of a metal utility bench that measures 54'' W x 32" D x 32' H .This bench set
does not have a a large footprint. The assembly was picked up at a thrift store at
a very cost effective price.
Click to expand...

I use a transistor signal gen. just for the lower distortion. Us tubers sure don't need to add distortion while testing our creations for it. My B&K puts out a nice clean signal. Other than that and my o-scope, I think older is more fun to use and maintain.
 
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