Lets See Your Work Bench.

tjdreams Jan 23, 2023

  1. tjdreams

    tjdreams TrainBoard Member

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    We are always showing off what is on our work benches, But what about the bench itself. Lets see your work bench / model building area.
    Do you have a dedicated work bench or are you just making do with the kitchen table?
    Tell us a little bit about it. Did you buy it? Build it yourself? Have it built for you?
    What tools do you have? How are they organized? Got any special tools tips for modeling?

    I'll start with a few pictures of mine. but first a little history about my setup

    I started converting my old Computer desk into a work bench about 5 or 6 years ago. The desk top drawers/organizers are a modular systems that I got from Hobby Zone and CMRI back before the pandemic
    The under shelf lighting is made from 3 strips of LED Lighting that are both Dimmable and Color Temperature changeable. I built the flex-able arm light out of some Lock-line tubing and a Dimmable color changeable LED Light panel and mounted it so it could be folded up against the wall out of the way when not in use.

    The plastic containers stacked on top are Crayon Holders from Walmart. The handles fold up and lock the lid in place for a nice secure small pares holder. and at just 0.49 cents they were affordable.

    I built the drawers stacked where the computer tower use to sit myself. They all have full length sliders for easy access to the entire 28" length. The depth of each varies to match its intended use. Most have built in adjustable divider slots, Others have sliding trays and some have custom made tool holders to keep things organized for easy access.

    To the right are my Hakko Soldering irons with various tips and other soldering tools / parts / supply's stored n the drawers above them. There are several small fans and a charcoal filter hidden under the shelf that the computer is sitting on. They are wired to turn on/off with the soldering station and do a nice job of drawing any smoke or fumes away from me

    On the left is my digital Microscope It is a Andonstar AD407 Pro series Soldering Microscope with the upgraded stand and a aftermarket LED Light Ring that I modified to fit. With 270 X magnification displayed on a 24" screen its easy to check decoder clearance and if the over/under LED mounting bord I made will line up with the headlight and mars light pipes on A cutaway E8 shell.

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  2. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Holy smokes-that's really organized!(y)
     
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  3. CNE1899

    CNE1899 TrainBoard Member

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    David,
    Great work space and wonderful organization!

    Scott
     
  4. Zscaleplanet

    Zscaleplanet TrainBoard Supporter

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    OK Dave, you win the "Most Technically Advanced Work Bench" award....:D Ohhh, and the National Tweezer Corporation called, and they want to buy back some of their inventory to support the rest of the global economy that needs tweezers.....:p

    The digital soldering microscope looks very intriguing, but probably a pretty penny as well. Granted, I know you do a boatload of decoder and sound installs, but if push came to shove and you had to do without one or the other, which would it be --- the digital soldering microscope, or the Hakko soldering irons? I guess my question is -- which is more useful to the average Joe Z-scaler who may only be installing between 5-15 or so decoders?

    ((( UPDATE --- I just checked the price on the ANDONSTAR AD407 and they have it running $199 on Amazon. That's not bad at all )))
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2023
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  5. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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  6. pomperaugrr

    pomperaugrr TrainBoard Member

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    While I model in N scale, the workbench translates to all scales. ;)

    Here is a shot of my workbench tucked under a corner of my N scale Housatonic RR layout. I have the same lighting over the workbench as I do over the layout to assist with color matching.

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  7. Zscaleplanet

    Zscaleplanet TrainBoard Supporter

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    As you state, a nice cozy corner .... which appears to be plenty full of tooling and gear --- nothing wrong with that.

    When I see others work benches and see the technical tools they are using, I starting wondering what I do and do not need.....(n) I have yet to really start digging into decoder installs and the like. I've done plenty of DC loco teardowns and refurbs, OH and one very successful DCC install. But I have yet to get into the more complex electronic areas. Focusing as we speak on track laying and the layout, as well as an occasional building here and keep me sane.
     
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  8. tjdreams

    tjdreams TrainBoard Member

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    Yea well the large collection Tweezers is because i couldn't find the ones i knew i had when i needed them so i bought more (on several occasions) I finally got tired of spending money to buy more tools because i couldn't find the ones i had. Which is a big part of why a started making built in organizers. everything has its place and its easy to see if something is missing.

    The microscopes have come way down, I paid nearly twice that when i got mine 5 or 6 years ago.
    I would give up the Microscope long before the soldering iron setup. Its easy enough to replace the Microscope with a good Magnifying glass. While Andonstar makes nice scopes, their cabling isn't the best I'm on my 3rd replacement cable and it takes 4 to 6 weeks to get them. oh and their remote to operate the built in camera has a extremally limited range 12 to 18 inches at best.

    But the soldering station well when soldering in tight spaces and close to other solder joints You need a iron with a tip that is the correct size & shape and capable of heating/melting the solder quick enough to make the connection with out getting the surrounding components too hot or melting the solder on the next tab over. And when working on electronics it needs to be EDS safe. Weller makes a nice setup too but no one seamed to have the model i wanted in stock when i was looking. The Hakko was in stock, had similar specks was only a little more, had a huge selection of tips and when the iron is placed into the holder it puts it to sleep and reduces the heat. So I gave a try. I started with the FM 2027 iron and the verity pack of tips. I added the FM 2032 iron with micro tips a year or so later. For anyone considering A Hakko setup Be ware of the cheap aftermarket tips they don't last long.
     
  9. tjdreams

    tjdreams TrainBoard Member

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    Its taken me nearly 60 years to Aguirre my tool collection.
    As for what tools you do or do not need. You are the only one who can answer that question. How? Well as my boss always says "only one thing worse than a failure and that is a failure to try"
    So Before you runout and buy a bunch of tools that you may or not need. Try to accomplish the task with the tools you all ready have. If you can than you don't really need that tool, Or maybe now that you have tried you know that the tools you have are inadequate and need to be upgraded to achieve better results.
    If you can't then you know having that tool might increase the odds of accomplishing the task. But remember just because you now have that special tool it doesn't guaranty success.
    or maybe you just want a new fancy tool because you want it.

    In any case now that you have decided to upgrade or buy something new Ask yourself How many times will you use that tool. once or twice? a couple times? all the time? if your only going to use it once or twice by something cheap to get by with otherwise buy the best you can afford so you don't have to keep replacing a cheaper model every time it brakes. Also do you need or have to have it right this minute? if not put that project on the back burner do some research and wait for a sale. I've got a dozen or so projects that i tried but realized that i was going to need a mill and lathe to complete. So they have been on the Back burner for several years giving me time to save enough $$ so i can buy the proper tools when they go on sale.
     
  10. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nothing fancy here.

    Train Room Right Side 8-17-21 2.JPG Train Room Right Side 8-17-21 1.JPG Train Room Back 8-17-21.JPG
     
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  11. Zscaleplanet

    Zscaleplanet TrainBoard Supporter

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    …..and some would die to have that much room to work in…..;)
     
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  12. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Alright, although extremely impressed, the theme here appears to be very organized and Clean work stations. I feel people are cleaning up to take the photo's :) It's a joke people. Very nice spaces indeed! So with that said, here is my portable work bench, a folding table, one storage unit, other stuff hidden in attic, and not much at that, and messy work bench too :)

    IMG_2678.jpg IMG_2680.jpg

    That's all I got for you :)
     
  13. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Mine is a total mess right now, as I am in the middle of building a brand new workbench, so there is 12 feet on the left and 16 feet on the right. There is a 50 watt Fiber Laser, a 30 watt and a 12 watt CO2 laser, a paint booth, a paint baking cabinet, 5 assorted dremels on a self retractable stalk, assorted UV Cure and other gooseneck lamps for workspace lighting. A small heated chemical tank for etching brass and stainless is also here.

    There are two 2' x 3' self healing cutting matts, 4" vise, SMD soldering station, 2 roll arounds, a small power tool bench, 250 watt resistance soldering station, and 12' x 30" of soon to be window boxed TTZ module space with RGB+CCT lighting. There is a vacuum pump and vacuum chamber for resin bubble removal, and a large air compressor for a soon to be acquired pressure pot too.

    There is a 660cfm exhaust system for fume removal, and automated dust extraction system which is in the process of being connected to the small power tool bench area. I installed a 45000BTU natural gas heating system, a drink fridge, a 12000 BTU portable AC AND, it's a total MESS. I am still wiring in the layout tier lighting.

    What am I missing? A CNC milling system, resin 3D printer, and white metal spin casting equipment to complete my dream do it all workshop. :D
    Shop.jpg
     
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  14. Zscaleplanet

    Zscaleplanet TrainBoard Supporter

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    Guilty as charged! I moved a small stack of bills on the corner and a couple of pieces of laser board from a laser cutter test I am running. :whistle:

    Otherwise, what you see is what you get. Bought this corporate computer office desk years ago and has served me well. Generally, I’m pretty organized and hate a messy desk.
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    My laser cutter is pitched on the floor in the corner. I have to run it into the garage for certain cuts and test as the wife complains it generates smoke.

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  15. Zscaleplanet

    Zscaleplanet TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sage advice Dave. I am very frugal and agree that if I can make due with what I got, I will. But if I find something I need, or feel it would make the job better, easier and more professional, and then I may pull the trigger and buy it. But only after I have “excessively” shopped it.
     
  16. CNE1899

    CNE1899 TrainBoard Member

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    My train shop is in my workshop, witch is in my dark, dank, cold little basement.:(
    I am also not an organized person, but I'm working on it.:eek:
    I am currently in the process of organizing it and integrating my dad's Z collection.

    Scott
    IMG_3657.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2023
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  17. Zscaleplanet

    Zscaleplanet TrainBoard Supporter

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    Being organized is either in your DNA or it isn’t. I’ve always been organized.

    A few minutes after I was born, I was organizing the diaper pins in the newborn infants viewing area at Porter General Hospital in Denver.:unsure:
     
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  18. Mark St Clair

    Mark St Clair TrainBoard Member

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    To keep it real I turned around and took this picture without cleaning anything up. As it turns out, about as neat as it ever gets. Left to right: folding table for extra flat space when needed, old pocket camera on tripod, 20+ year-old lathe on stand/shelf with lathe and mill accessories, shop apron my wife made, somewhat newer mill (neither machine tool is CNC), workbench inspired by Tom Knapp's as seen in recent articles with Amazon sourced drawer towers and homemade center piece, stuff from my current project on the surface, various handy tools, ancient Optivisor, Metcal soldering station, trusty old Shop-Vac. The drawers are filled with various tools, raw materials, chemicals and parts. To the right out of view is storage for work in progress. The garage (not pictured) contains an old paint booth in the process of being brought back to life and an LED hobby laser. They are out there for exhaust purposes. The workbench shares a 10' x 10' room with my computer desk and files for all our financial records, domestic activities, etc.

    Stay safe,
     
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  19. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    No photos! Something happen to them?
     
  20. CNE1899

    CNE1899 TrainBoard Member

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    I forgot about my second work area.
    My wife took pitty on me and has allowed me temporary use of this desk in a spare bedroom.
    May be a little better organized?:rolleyes:

    Scott
    IMG_3658.JPG
     

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