Updating your workspace for more organized and efficient hacking

workspace-upgrade

If you’ve ever looked at one of [Todd Harrison’s] teardown or how-to videos closely, you would likely notice that his work bench looks like a standard hacker workspace. While we all try to keep our work areas clear of clutter, it’s not uncommon for components to pile up, cords to tangle, and things to get messy. [Todd] decided it was time to get a bit more organized, so he recorded a video showing how he went about the process.

Part of [Todd’s] work revolved around adding shelves to his bench so that he didn’t have measurement equipment stacked on top of one another. He also spent a good amount of time adding 30 additional plug sockets to his work space, replacing the single socket he had been struggling with for years.

Obviously this is not really a hack in and of itself, though this sort of reorganization is an important to efficient hacking all the same. We like the fact that [Todd] took the time to explain his process and materials in great detail – it will no doubt be helpful to those new to hacking.

Continue reading to see [Todd’s] video in its entirety, or swing by his blog for more pictures and details.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYtp7P9GPD0&feature=player_embedded#!&w=470]

Comments

  1. aarku says:

    Those screwdrivers sticking up look somewhat dangerous. 99999/100000 times no big deal, but that one time someone stumbles and impales their eyeball on one of the pointy things is not worth it to me.

  2. coligny says:

    Totally irrelevent, it seems to be a magnet holder risks of injury are close to none. And below the risk to be hurt while falling face first on a project waiting on the bench.

    • deathventure says:

      It doesn’t take much to take a spill and bring one of them down with you, so there is ALWAYS some risk for some sort of injury.

      • Xyroze says:

        If you feel that is a concern worth mentioning, I would strongly recommend a hobby not involving tools or electricity for you.

  3. rawe says:

    Electronics Workbench Flickr Group:
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/elwb/

  4. Brian says:

    I do so much need shelves above my workspace.
    But magnets for tool-holders does not seem like the best idea. It irritates me when a pair of pliers will not let go of a smd component because it is magnetic.

  5. Love it! I have to say: with a layout that great, perhaps some lights other than the ceiling light should be integrated. Then maybe some music… love a workspace with a killer vibe.

  6. gigavolt says:

    He should pick up another oscope…Can’t have to many of those.

  7. Dr. James says:

    I thought that the national electrical code limits the number of outlets on one 20A circuit to something like 8 or 12. Whatever the number, it’s certainly less than 30.

  8. n0lkk says:

    Getting stranded wire in solidly under screw coovtion can become bearcat if you are doing a lot of wiring, personally I’d stick to solid wire. In the event you have a hard pull you should have installed ax to facilitate the pull. I can’t remember off the top of my head what the NEC requires, but the requirement is a good guideline in practice. When I was kid we used those Leviton Bakelite surface mount devices, running romex between them. I ran across some not to long ago, man are they expensive now Just may as well do it the “proper” way, it would be cheaper.

  9. Praetor says:

    This is very informative for a garage/basements shop idea. Cool, like “This Old Workshop”.

    “I’m ToddFun and Welcome to This Old Workshop; see, has a nice ring to it! Not original, but still a nice ring.

  10. Doktor Jeep says:

    It must be nice having someplace permanent to live 🙁

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