Ideas for a Multipurpose Garage Workshop?

WTFmonkey asks: "Having looked at several woodworking websites and magazines, I've got some good ideas for the woodworking part of my planned shop. Sadly, I can't find any shop ideas specific to electronics and computer repair. What is considered essential for a good workbench? Dinner-table height or counter-top height (I'm 6'2"), and what is an adequate depth? Lighting strategies, handy equipment, organization issues? To put it succinctly, what are the most comfortable and effective benches you've worked at, and why?"

You must have:

[Pantheraleo2k3]

-Music. Whatever kind you like. Preferably off of a HDD MP3 player

-TV. If you want it (sports?) Not a must-have though

-Stable box. You can play your MP3s from it. Use for downloading drivers, etc

-Generic K, V, & M. Nothing with special drivers. USB and PS2 for the K and M sound good

-KVM Switch. Go from your stable box to whatever your playing with. Put the cable in an easily accessible place

-Outlets. Can never have too many

-Light. Can never have too much, IMO

Just remember what YOU find comfortable.

Are you willing to build one?

[nathanh]

I have some ideas after using several inadequate electronics benches. Some of these ideas I've put into practise but some are still on my wishlist.

Make sure the bench is not too deep. Deep benches accumulate more clutter and it's too difficult to reach the back to retrieve things. Sit down and reach across a table; the depth you can reach to is how deep the bench should be.

A bench is most useful when you can use it sitting down or standing up. So make the bench high and get a stool, rather than making it the height of a desk and using a desk chair.

Powerpoints! Lots of powerpoints, each with their own indicator light and switch. These need to be off the bench and within arms reach.

A grip (ie, a vice) on a movable arm. This can be mounted to the side of the bench, just so long as the arm reaches to where you work.

A shelf about 1 foot above the bench to hold all your test equipment, power supplies, etc. It must be within arm's reach so not too deep and not too high.

A flouro just below the shelf to illuminate the whole bench. Make it bright. Put a thin strip of wood in front (attached to the shelf) so the flouro doesn't shine in your eyes.

A second much brighter lamp on a movable arm (eg, halogen). Attach it to the shelf to keep the bench space clear.

A vertical rod coming out of the bench, off to one side, to hold spools of your most commonly used wires, solder, etc. About a foot long is all you need.

Attach a raised lip (about 1cm high) around the entire bench. There's nothing worse than crawling around the floor trying to find tiny pieces that rolled off the bench.

A kickback across the back of the bench. Same idea as the lip but go all the way up to the shelf. It stops tools falling behind the bench.

A sliding drawer under the bench, off to the side, with compartments to store all your most commonly used tools (eg, side cutters, needle noses). Btw, don't go overboard with things under the bench (eg, drawers, cupboards, etc) because they just get in the way of your legs.

I hope some of this has been helpful.

Re:height? Neither

[NoStrings]

If you have the room, you might want to use 2 benches. I have one tall bench (good for use standing or sitting on a stool) & a desk that can be used sitting in a regular chair. This is in my basement, and the way its set up, the desk is away from the wall (next to a telepost). This works great because I can easily access the back of any boxes I'm working on simply by walking around the desk - no need to swivel the computer around, pushing other stuff off the desk, tangling cables, etc.