Let's Build a Workbench!

[Chuz Life]

Yes, I did that with my work tables in my garage. Its nice to just hook up the ground clamp to your table when welding. and sometimes you can just tack weld the work piece to the table. so handy

I was spoiled by the setup we had at work. They even allowed "government projects" to be worked on, off the clock. For training and experience benefits.

 

[Chuz Life]

Work is still in progress. I'm using some scrap pieces and my old benchtop (pieces off an old wardrobe my grandmother had) to make a side bench.

 

[toobfreak]

Work is still in progress. I'm using some scrap pieces and my old benchtop (pieces off an old wardrobe my grandmother had) to make a side bench.

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Be sure to sand the corners rounded to take the sharp point away. Nothing worse than carrying a big, expensive amp and accidentally jamming the sharp corner of your table right into your thigh hard while trying not to drop it.

 

[Chuz Life]

Be sure to sand the corners rounded to take the sharp point away. Nothing worse than carrying a big, expensive amp and accidentally jamming the sharp corner of your table right into your thigh hard while trying not to drop it.

I thought about really rounding them (paint can trick) but I had to use some leftover threshold trim to hide my splintered end cut.

The threshold is slightly rounded but not in the corner.

I may have to lop the corner off at a later date.

We will see then.

At the same time, I'm trying to save scraps for a cradle.

Would like to pick your brain and @scruffys too, for a team effort on a bias probe idea.

 

[Chuz Life]

Let's see what the Golden screwdriver can do with this! Behlman p1352 AC POWER SOURCE.

It supposedly has full isolation so, it's either get this going or invest in an isolation transformer.

I noticed the cover had been off, so I had to open it up and see what the last guys did.

 

[Chuz Life]

Looks promising!

Loses settings when powered down though. Back to the manual we go.

 

[Chuz Life]

Looks promising!

Loses settings when powered down though. Back to the manual we go.

View attachment 1248857View attachment 1248858

Well, drat, the P1352 does not have a memory settings option. I don't know how eager I am to modify it, but I might consider a standby mod at some later date.

I think I'll just clean it up some, fix a few amps, and see how it goes. Takes about 5 minutes to dial it in. Not a huge time suck.

Next, I have to build a dim bulb test rig, and I have an LCD display (power meter) to add to my variac.

LOL, all ideas I've borrowed or stolen from others and their youtube videos.

 

[Chuz Life]

I'm getting closer and closer to having the bench and workspace I need. Cleaning, sorting and jig building in progress!

scruffy toobfreak

 

[Chuz Life]

Every bench needs a good computer, right? So, let's see what this one will do. Brand new and ASUS M4A79XTD that is already too obsolete for Windows 11. **** Zuckerberg!

Looks like I need to modify the power supply for the video card.

Dang it.

 

[JohnDB]

I know you went for polyurethane varnish for a finish for the top coat...
I used to do the exact same thing. Often and repeatedly. It's what I was taught.

Yeah.....that's coming off next year in bits and pieces....mostly flakes.

Next time....try a clear epoxy finish.....they tend to hold up longer.

Tried it and its not the same....grips the wood harder.....less bubbles from heat/moisture. Resists chipping and flaking better.
Most workbenches dont even get a finishing.....rough wood works most of the time.

Epoxy finishes take a LONG time to cure out.....some require 3 weeks to fully cure.
Most set inside of 24hrs but will be sticky. But if you have the time and patience.....epoxy tops are the way to go.

Tools? Mine shift with the many many projects.

 

[toobfreak]

Yeah.....that's coming off next year in bits and pieces....mostly flakes.
Next time....try a clear epoxy finish.....they tend to hold up longer.
Epoxy finishes take a LONG time to cure out.....some require 3 weeks to fully cure.

Bingo. Chemically, the longer the time it takes for a material to set and cure (chemical changes), the longer lasting and more durable they are.

But I would still place a thin ESD mat over the top to both absorb dings and scratches, and to dissipate standing electric charges.

 

[Chuz Life]

I know you went for polyurethane varnish for a finish for the top coat...
I used to do the exact same thing. Often and repeatedly. It's what I was taught.

Yeah.....that's coming off next year in bits and pieces....mostly flakes.

Next time....try a clear epoxy finish.....they tend to hold up longer.

Tried it and its not the same....grips the wood harder.....less bubbles from heat/moisture. Resists chipping and flaking better.
Most workbenches dont even get a finishing.....rough wood works most of the time.

Epoxy finishes take a LONG time to cure out.....some require 3 weeks to fully cure.
Most set inside of 24hrs but will be sticky. But if you have the time and patience.....epoxy tops are the way to go.

Tools? Mine shift with the many many projects.

I actually just used what I had. Ine can had stain I think it was Polyurethane and the other (clear) was some kind oc acrylic.

The finish doesn't matter to me all that much. I expect it will be exposed to a lot of abuse.

I just had the stuff on hand to stain and protect it for now. It was mostly scrap lumber too.

toobfreak , I used the pink plastic for static.

 

[JohnDB]

I actually just used what I had. Ine can had stain I think it was Polyurethane and the other (clear) was some kind oc acrylic.

The finish doesn't matter to me all that much. I expect it will be exposed to a lot of abuse.

I just had the stuff on hand to stain and protect it for now. It was mostly scrap lumber too.

toobfreak , I used the pink plastic for static.

Oh I get it....done the same thing myself many a time. Like I said....I normally don't put a finish. Bare wood is good.

 

[eagle1462010]

Been my work shop most of my life.

 

[toobfreak]

I actually just used what I had. Ine can had stain I think it was Polyurethane

Poly can be very durable if applied right.

I used the pink plastic for static.

Isn't the pink the stuff which uses a soap film? Long ago, someone discovered that a certain type soap film gave ESD properties.

Don't forget to connect the plastic to a drain (to earth ground), maybe put a 1 meg resistor in line if you want.

 

[Chuz Life]

View attachment 1255326

Been my work shop most of my life.

When I was in maintenance at a stamping plant. We used those for the heavier tools. Those cribs made my roll-around box look like a kid's "Big Wheel."

 

[eagle1462010]

When I was in maintenance at a stamping plant. We used those for the heavier tools. Those cribs made my roll-around box look like a kid's "Big Wheel."

Nice work bench bro. Just messing with ya LOL

I like your electronics section.

I remember troubleshooting with an OSCOPE and Octipus attachment

 

[Chuz Life]

Poly can be very durable if applied right.


Isn't the pink the stuff which uses a soap film? Long ago, someone discovered that a certain type soap film gave ESD properties.

Don't forget to connect the plastic to a drain (to earth ground), maybe put a 1 meg resistor in line if you want.

I don't know if the story was true, but when I was in electronics school (1981) and I first learned about ESD, it was kind of a brand-new thing for our instructor to teach.

He told us that there was a semiconductor manufacturer that was having an increasingly high failure rate of their transistors. When they investigated the lot numbers, they found out (eventually) that the most failures were from devices packed on one shift, where nobody was smoking, but the devices packed by smokers had a much lower failure rate.

And that eventually lead to the anti-static products.

Smoking was permitted on the job back then.

Staff Sgt Snow, USMC. Funny, I still remember his name.

 

[JohnDB]

View attachment 1255326

Been my work shop most of my life.

Never seen the drawer like that.
Seen the desks, the ones with back trays, side trays and etc. Double locks are best so the corners don't get pried up.

All sorts of various locking mechanisms....some work some don't.

Gang boxes....lived out of them for years too.

 

[Chuz Life]

Nice work bench bro. Just messing with ya LOL

I like your electronics section.

I remember troubleshooting with an OSCOPE and Octipus attachment

What kind of electronics work did you do?

The "octipus" takes me way back. A few O'scope makers actually built those (component testers) into their scopes and I have one that I was going to restore. . . but then I learned of the Huntron Tracker

Which is an Octipus with it's own CRT all in one box.

I have two actually (model 1000 and 2000) but my 2000 blew the display transformer which is no longer available. So, one of my future projects is to replace it's crt with an LCD display.

I can't wait to figure that out.