Building an Awesome Electronics Bench on the Cheap

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  • Опубліковано 25 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1 тис.

  • @douglasfogerty7153
    @douglasfogerty7153 5 місяців тому +437

    Saving $1000 is money that can be used for something just as important. DYI is also very rewarding and you customized it to your liking. Looks GREAT.

    • @josephking6515
      @josephking6515 5 місяців тому +7

      Yes it does and I am so envious of it.

    • @Dries007BE
      @Dries007BE 5 місяців тому +9

      That $1000 can go towards things you can't DIY!

    • @aserta
      @aserta 5 місяців тому +6

      @@Dries007BE There's nothing you can't DIY, just things out of your wheelhouse. Remember, NileRed is making hot sauce out of nitrile gloves.

    • @NeonSphinx89
      @NeonSphinx89 5 місяців тому +3

      And keeping things out of the trash is valuable just on its own.

    • @WowCreativeUsername
      @WowCreativeUsername 5 місяців тому +1

      @@aserta DIY me a new graphics card then.

  • @pmcquay1
    @pmcquay1 5 місяців тому +144

    "It's the weekend, I probably wont be out here to help". Immediately helping in the next shot.
    Got a keeper there!

  • @yoshiki7757
    @yoshiki7757 5 місяців тому +200

    Wifey helping out in flip flops, A+.
    Seriously though, she's always a ray of sunshine in your already enjoyable videos. You guys are a great team and make good content together.

    • @Andy_Hinners
      @Andy_Hinners 5 місяців тому +20

      Hey, those are OSHA approved steel toed flip-flops

    • @dancearoundtheworld5360
      @dancearoundtheworld5360 5 місяців тому +8

      my foreman doesnt wear boots either

    • @JustFixIt99
      @JustFixIt99 5 місяців тому +1

      @@Andy_Hinners I worked with a carpenter once that actually had a pair of steel toed sandals.

    • @tonyandjackieholmes9546
      @tonyandjackieholmes9546 5 місяців тому

      chinese safety shoes or here in Australia thongs

    • @maxko8327
      @maxko8327 5 місяців тому +2

      Nice T-shirt Mrs. Wes. Fun to see you still get along with Thomas; and an occasional joke cracking..😁

  • @Panhead49EL
    @Panhead49EL 5 місяців тому +172

    Sacrificing the second table hurt my hoarding soul. But that looks so much better than the shelf I would have rigged up. Proper.

    • @tsl7881
      @tsl7881 5 місяців тому +17

      I think a little ocd was going on. I would have welded up two shelves and had two less than perfect workbenches, pushed one in the back and piled crap on it. Just built one from scratch with storage drawers and cabinets like I have, but it does not look so lab like. Particle board and formica are expensive, not $2000 dollars expensive. Interestingly I think mine is painted blue because I saw a picture of these in a catalog (what's a catalog?)

    • @tsl7881
      @tsl7881 5 місяців тому +3

      Ok, looking around Wes's shop, maybe not ocd. Just wanted something really nice until he clutters it up.

    • @aserta
      @aserta 5 місяців тому +3

      Nah. He did right. Plus, we can see that the emperor's clothes really are ... what they are. The price asked VS the materials exposed by his cuts do not match. It's a grift. This is a good video to spread around so people don't get gipped by these grifters.

    • @Blueshirt38
      @Blueshirt38 5 місяців тому +1

      In my case, I would have absolutely made some abomination out pallet wood and scrap square tube.

    • @SeanBZA
      @SeanBZA 4 місяці тому

      The remaining pieces can still have use, as a set of shelves under the bench, to hold things like power bricks, and outlets for stuff always plugged in, plus a cheap set of drawers fitted to the one side (on castors so you can easily move it side to side) helps as well with storage of all those things you need.
      With the IPA a good thing is to get small HDPE bottles, and put small volumes in it, so it is easier to use, and less likely to spill. Works with flux as well, buying in bulk and refilling the pen, though I simply went and got empty dropper bottles, and filled them with flux, and the same for IPA, using nail polish bottles that hold 10ml each. Easy to use, and much better control of where you apply it. Little brush makes for easy cleaning, and you just rinse out the bottle when it is dirty, or move it to being the first wash bottle, and have a clean final wash one.

  • @danf4616
    @danf4616 5 місяців тому +11

    Nice setup. I worked as an Electrical Engineer for 30+ years and had a bench full of equipment from high end quad chan gigaherz O'scopes to logic and Spectrum Analyzers to TDRs and on and on... Thankfully retired now and only have a multimeter. Thinking about getting a portable o'scope for car troubleshooting, but I drive Toyotas and they never break. 😁 Thanks for the videos! 👍👍

  • @timothyeparsons
    @timothyeparsons 6 місяців тому +153

    Mrs Wes is super focused on the upcoming weekend!

    • @ScoobyMaxC
      @ScoobyMaxC 5 місяців тому +9

      I did enjoy that 😂.

    • @thewayidoit8895
      @thewayidoit8895 5 місяців тому +10

      Sure love that the whole family is included. So many youtubers don't have their families because of the weirdos. We've seen that Wes has other protections.

    • @rickchowsr2532
      @rickchowsr2532 5 місяців тому +4

      Mrs Wes doesn’t seem to like to work on shop stuff

    • @TheDistur
      @TheDistur 5 місяців тому +2

      Party time

    • @aserta
      @aserta 5 місяців тому +5

      She's a teacher. Nuff said.

  • @alanfenwick9307
    @alanfenwick9307 5 місяців тому +9

    BOOM, the way you were beaming when you showed off your homework said it all Wes! Great job and thank you for sharing.

  • @ingmarm8858
    @ingmarm8858 5 місяців тому +48

    Mate you warm my heart lol. A "mechanic" who knows more about ESD than half the wannabe "technicians" on the YT. I am very pleased!

  • @mnieh9869
    @mnieh9869 5 місяців тому +36

    Wes, in case you didnt know: You can get thread inserts for 3D prints, which get inserted using a soldering iron. they basically melt into the plastic, allowing you to repeatedly screw and unscrew stuff. For this project they're not needed tho. Fantastic job, enjoyed watching it

    • @fredmartin126
      @fredmartin126 5 місяців тому +3

      @@JobyFluorine-ru4bd
      Looks to me that was recycled 3D materials. An excellent use the second time around. You fool.

    • @zephyfoxy
      @zephyfoxy 2 місяці тому +1

      I've also seen people suggest adding a pause to the g-code on a specific layer and then dropping in a metal nut, maybe supergluing it down as well, and then resuming printing manually.

  • @leradze7125
    @leradze7125 5 місяців тому +17

    i'm not a huge electronics guy, but that setup looks fantastic. Building your own shelf was pure genius.
    Really looking forward to future shop videos regarding lifts and air plumbing etc.
    I'm certain your shop is gonna turn out amazing.

    • @dougjones9493
      @dougjones9493 5 місяців тому

      It's shocking how good it looks 😂

  • @tomdixon1213
    @tomdixon1213 5 місяців тому +48

    I love it when Mrs. Wes, the dog and your children are involved in your projects.

    • @Jon-wg8vr
      @Jon-wg8vr 5 місяців тому +10

      Pretty sure the dog is stunned😂

    • @elesjuan
      @elesjuan 5 місяців тому +2

      ​@@Jon-wg8vrWILLARD! YA STUNNED?? 😂😂😂

    • @Jon-wg8vr
      @Jon-wg8vr 5 місяців тому +1

      @@elesjuan I was hoping Wes was going to catch it I could swear I remember him making a comment about Pegg once

    • @elesjuan
      @elesjuan 5 місяців тому +1

      @@Jon-wg8vr oh Wes absolutely has made Peg references. LOVE IT.

  • @danjirak7123
    @danjirak7123 5 місяців тому +14

    I'm very appreciative of all the content you post, regardless of the subject matter. I enjoy watching content where the host takes pride in their work....a dying breed unfortunately. Between your pride, knowledge base, and ingenuity, you have a pretty damn good channel here! Thanks for investing your time to post content, it pays off!

  • @troubleis5271
    @troubleis5271 5 місяців тому +85

    Who else squealed "yeah" when the table legs clicked so nicely into the printed holders? Nice project Wes, happy for you.

  • @thardyryll
    @thardyryll День тому

    As someone who will do something myself even if it costs more and takes longer, I applaud the creation of this table. But she has a point. Years ago I installed a gable-end vent on my shop while my father-in-law watched from the ground below. After I went on about how much money I saved, he uttered, “Of course, your time’s not worth anything.” One of these days I will order a brass plaque with those immortal words.

  • @n1dp
    @n1dp 5 місяців тому +12

    Went through the same sticker shock on pro benches. Wanted one because we used those kind in the service in our Avionics shops. I ended up using a red Husky storage rack from Home Depot, replacing the metal wire shelves with plywood. Might be a good idea for another bench in the shop for heavier work. Sweet find on those two benches!

  • @chucklengyel6882
    @chucklengyel6882 5 місяців тому +6

    I had the same color and style Benches back in my electronic tech job in 80's, An excellent project, well done, looks Great too!

  • @michaelgould5467
    @michaelgould5467 5 місяців тому +31

    Wes,
    New bench looks great. As a 35 year tech in and out of Navy facilities I like it.
    I understand why melamine ESD tops cost so much. Melas are small fuzzy woodland creatures that are only found in a tiny area just east of Gotland Sweden. It takes a lot of them to make a benchtop so the prices stay high due to over hunting and loss of habitat.
    In addition to all the general stuff.
    On my bench I also keep a solder sucker. I find sometimes it works better than solder wick.
    I have one of those cheap Chinese 1/4" drive screwdriver sets with about 75 different bits with everything from screwbits to nut drivers. The one I have has a screwdriver handle that also accepts a ratchet. For 95% of the small fasteners I run into it does the job before I open up the Xcelite tool suitcase.
    I really like the Whia precision screwdrivers.
    A set of Knipex automatic squeeze type wire strippers is handy.
    As I got older I found I needed a board microscope. I like the LCD type better than the fixed eyepiece. They are getting cheap to buy now. ~$250.00
    I bit the bullet and bought one of the Weller 6966 heat guns you showed. Pricey but I have to say I love it. Thank You
    ---M---

  • @Rottrsq
    @Rottrsq 5 місяців тому +1

    That internal sense of accomplishment cannot be duplicated. Every time you use that bench you will instantly recall the project and have that feeling again. I know, I get it too when my projects/repairs work out. Wes, disregard unkind or chippy comments. I like to hear you talk and explain your thinking as you work. It's how I learn. If someone wants silence, they can always mute the volume. I like all your projects - not just auto/truck - the wood splitter rehab was perfect. If you want to fix it - do it. I say "soder" also, people need to learn there are silent consents in English. To de-solder try a red sucker bulb. Looks like a kid's clown nose W/a white tip. Melt the solder, then squeeze the bulb and suck it into the bulb to be emptied later. Much better than wicks. Like your channel V-much.

  • @bigunone
    @bigunone 5 місяців тому +41

    As an older guy I would add a bench mounted lit magnifying glass, and if your eye sight is really getting bad a set of jewelers loops that mount on your glasses

    • @DeweyCheatumNHoweLLC
      @DeweyCheatumNHoweLLC 5 місяців тому +1

      I have 2 Optivisors, one for each workbench, plus the magnifier with light

    • @SMEEON
      @SMEEON 5 місяців тому

      I’ve started doing some board level repair on small electronics. Ive got a vintage microscope I’ve added LED lights and a circuit board holder to.

  • @darylnicklen3685
    @darylnicklen3685 5 місяців тому +1

    Thanks Wes you did a great job on your Electronics Bench. Some people just don't understand about building something to save money and setting it up as you want it to be Looks great in that corner of the new room.

  • @Thesecret101-te1lm
    @Thesecret101-te1lm 5 місяців тому +7

    Great setup!
    Two suggestions:
    A: Add a few mains power switches. One that switches on the lights and any measurement instruments and whatnot. Another that switches on outlets for devices you are working on, and your power supply. This way it's easy to not forget something switched on, and also it's easy to use this as an emergency off if something goes poorly.
    B: Maybe have that cable holder on a hinge so you can swing it out to be able to reach it while sitting at the table. Or possibly just mount it on the wall to the left of the table.
    P.S. you will miss the additional bench, but you made the right choice to use it for a shelf. In my experience it's a bad idea to have more than the absolutely minimum viable bench space, as it tends to accumulate half finished projects. I strongly recommend installing cabinets everywhere, as they are great storage but won't get used to drop things that you intend to put in their right place later, like shelves tend to do.

  • @dogguy2012
    @dogguy2012 25 днів тому

    extremely well done and i enjoyed the video immensely. My fathers electronics bench he originally set up in the late 1960's is still going strong with everything you could use, but sadly i live 200 miles away so its a real bummer to no longer have it and his expertise so immediately available. !

  • @meme2287
    @meme2287 5 місяців тому +16

    A pin sticking out to slide the solder wick reel onto would be a good idea :)

  • @brianworley7705
    @brianworley7705 5 місяців тому

    Wes, Well done on the ESD protective bench. It has been a few years since I did much with that kind of setup. I have the soldering iron, some wick, solder, both tweezer and standard flush cutters and a few odds and ends. I even saved a cut-off protective mat that was discarded when fitting a new mat on a bench years ago. It works for small projects. I miss doing it, actually. My freshman year of college, I spent a portion of my afternoons working to assemble strain gauge assemblies for the college. They had two companies that ordered assemblies with their labels on them for lab type class use or similar. I remember wiring the strain gauges and the boards plus the hook on the load bar, then testing and package. Find memories, besides not having probably enough ventilation for the space. Been a lot of years ago. Thanks for sharing the video and bringing back several memories.

  • @damonhill4909
    @damonhill4909 5 місяців тому +9

    And don't forget the ESD mat for that Electronics workbench. I would also recommend a soldapult solder sucker and a "third hand" to hold and keep things steady while soldering.

    • @MikeyMack303
      @MikeyMack303 5 місяців тому +2

      A third hand with lighted magnifier is nice.

    • @1pcfred
      @1pcfred 3 місяці тому

      ESD isn't the problem today it was in the past. Early CMOS was very sensitive. Such fragile devices haven't been made in decades now. We have made progress on that front.

    • @damonhill4909
      @damonhill4909 3 місяці тому

      ​@1pcfred I worked in the QA engineering dept/test lab for Parker-Hannifin Corp in their Automation Division in northern California for years. All of the benches had ESD mats with drain wires to ground. Technicians are required to wear ESD shoes and wrist straps with drain wires too. I would do the same and not take a chance on zapping an expensive piece of electronics. You have no idea what parts the circuit is built with. Better to be safe than sorry!

    • @1pcfred
      @1pcfred 3 місяці тому

      @@damonhill4909 if it worked it wouldn't need to be worked on. Some things aren't worth fixing either. A lot of rules are just about obedience. There's a certain type of person that likes when others do what they're telling them to do. Wear the shoes and the straps! Some like being told what to do too. So it all works out.

  • @DiomedesDominguez
    @DiomedesDominguez Місяць тому +5

    17:30 It is to me bro, great job and very inspirational to redoing mine workstation.

  • @terryrogers1025
    @terryrogers1025 3 місяці тому

    Some how I missed this one I don’t know how, but, thanks Wes, nice job setting the bench up, looks very handy, hope you enjoy using it and that it meets your expectations. Enjoyed watching you set it up.

  • @martylost167
    @martylost167 5 місяців тому +36

    The winner of the Oscar for "Best Wife Actor!" goes to:
    Wifie
    All the women taught her well. That's word for word, for word, what they say.
    That's why we love them so.
    Your very, very smart and determined, Wes and I hope you know that.

  • @TheBrookian
    @TheBrookian 5 місяців тому +1

    Add a solder sucker, a metal trash can (for flicking hot solder blobs into), and a mini fridge. (Need beer for the hot tedious electronic work). I have a dremel on mine too because little files are too tedious. GREAT VIDEO!!!

  • @mito-pb8qg
    @mito-pb8qg 5 місяців тому +6

    Really digging these shop videos!

  • @schwartzenheimer1
    @schwartzenheimer1 5 місяців тому

    Some things have to be built, just because they can! A few years back, here in San Diego, a division of General Dynamics closed down, leaving 100's of those benches to be liquidated. I know at least 4 start-ups that populated their entire lab/production areas with them (at about $100 a pop). I worked at several of them over the years...right place right time.
    Your bench came out beautiful. It was definitely worth the effort...
    Hyah, you electrons, get along!

  • @fixins
    @fixins 5 місяців тому +20

    Wes is becoming my favorite woodworking channel on YT!

    • @aserta
      @aserta 5 місяців тому +2

      Woodworking WESnesday.

  • @douglasmayherjr.5733
    @douglasmayherjr.5733 5 місяців тому

    Pretty Nice Bench, Wes. Didn’t Sound like Mrs Wes had much faith in the job going smoothly, glad it did. I liked that the whole family was helping push the bench into position, even Max followed along. Thanks for the Videos

  • @paulpatenaude3208
    @paulpatenaude3208 5 місяців тому +8

    Congrats on your new office and electronic work space,you deserve the upgrade!

  • @jbrukardt
    @jbrukardt 5 місяців тому +1

    You're one of the best practical electronics troubleshooters i've seen, would love some episodes on the bench about what/how to do that. Your style would lend very well to that.

  • @tetedur377
    @tetedur377 5 місяців тому +1

    That's how I learned about those carpet sliders; from my now late wife. Actually, I learned a lot from her, particularly in the area of home maintenance tips and tricks. I can frame a house, do drywall, and all kinds of things, but she knew all the hacks.

  • @Mrflash222006
    @Mrflash222006 5 місяців тому +38

    Mrs. Wes is working smarter, not harder and she didn't break a sweat moving that table

    • @josephking6515
      @josephking6515 5 місяців тому +8

      Mrs Wes has a Masters Degree in Mathamatics. She is one extremely intelligent and very smart person. Massive respect for her and Mr Wes.

    • @Jon-wg8vr
      @Jon-wg8vr 5 місяців тому +3

      I knew the moment I seen flip-flops and knowing the weight of that table that this was not gonna be a good idea for her turns out she had a good idea, but she did give it to college. When she tried lifting; yeah, nope!

  • @rodneypidcock6903
    @rodneypidcock6903 5 місяців тому

    Great work, as always, Wes. Could probably use the leftover pieces and add a few more and make another shelf to sit atop the first one, if you need or want a little more space.

  • @Levent_Ergun
    @Levent_Ergun 5 місяців тому +6

    Result turned out much better than I expected, great job Wes

  • @ChiefsFan62
    @ChiefsFan62 5 місяців тому

    Wow! I love the way it turned out! Brilliant use of the second bench to make your shelf and save a LOT of money. I'd love to have bench and shelf like that for my own tinkering. I don't do much in the way of electronics, but I always seem to have something that needs fixed or odds and ends to work on. Having a designated space for that kind of thing is priceless. Nice job and congrats on your new working space!

  • @JohnnieBravo1
    @JohnnieBravo1 5 місяців тому +19

    Nice bench! I get to use all that stuff on my kitchen table. Then put it all away when family comes over, and hide some of the stuff from myself, then play "try to find the stuff I put away where I know I'll find it", which seems to always be somewhere I can't find it until I don't need it. Then it's "oh crap, there's where I put that".

  • @DELirious97
    @DELirious97 5 місяців тому

    For less than 1000 bucks you basically have the same thing looks the part. Love your slowly makeing the shop more efficient and cleaner. Been watching for a few years now and you have always worked around madness. It's amazing how you could work around everything. You are finally scratching that itch

  • @JamesArmstrong-t7b
    @JamesArmstrong-t7b 5 місяців тому +7

    As a 79 year old life long antique auto shade tree mechanic and retired A T & T special services test center technician i am amazed to see the CNC machines work .. Your skill set is Macgyvish !!

  • @IamDerick
    @IamDerick 5 місяців тому

    That conversation with the wife plays out several times a year here as well. She has a point about half of the time and the rest of the time she gives me pause and I wind up with a faster. most times better solution. My electronics bench went from a time consuming home brew to a modified IKEA adjustable standing desk with stainless steel restaurant shelves. It was so much better and less time consuming than the original plan. Your solution was off the chain man, wow. Cheers.

  • @jordangochnour7356
    @jordangochnour7356 5 місяців тому +5

    Never gets old seeing you impressed with yourself Wes

  • @darrenstorey495
    @darrenstorey495 5 місяців тому

    Thank you for the electronics video. I do electric assembly on a 16 foot bench that I have modified and added an upper shelf to also. Having strippers, crimpers, side cutters, & needle nose pliers at arms reach is invaluable.

  • @eldoradony
    @eldoradony 5 місяців тому +65

    $500 for the hutch plus shipping and tax is definitely like the $600 toilet seat. Only school districts and large corporations would pay that because the purchasing agent is spending someone else's money. You did a great job with what you had.

    • @leocurious9919
      @leocurious9919 5 місяців тому +1

      2000 $ for that thing and it is made from plywood... I do not know what to say.

    • @firesurfer
      @firesurfer 5 місяців тому

      @@leocurious9919 High density particle board. :)

    • @mrmotofy
      @mrmotofy 5 місяців тому

      Normally anyone would needing the setup but not able to build it

    • @MichaelSteeves
      @MichaelSteeves 5 місяців тому

      I work in a large industrial plant. You are paying for far more than the item. You have to request bids and paperwork before your product is selected. You have to follow established procurement and quality standards. You have to deliver it in a way that takes minimal setup time.
      There is a whole ecosystem built around supplying to industry. When someone tries to go cheap, they quickly find out why it exists. If it takes someone is stores half an hour to sort out non-standard paperwork, and two technicians an hour to assemble, all your savings have just disappeared.

    • @leocurious9919
      @leocurious9919 5 місяців тому

      @@MichaelSteeves Those things exist for reasons, sure. But this is not such an item, nor are his examples. Nobody needs multiple hours to install a toilet seat. These are cheap, every day items.

  • @sokoloft3
    @sokoloft3 4 місяці тому

    Thanks for sharing. I've been using a white folding table for now. It works but I need a shelf for my hot air station and bench power supply. Also that fume extractor just hides the smoke, it doesn't actually protect you much. The (I forget the term) toc? levels are still there. Ideally you pump the air outside. Also if you ever come across a microscope cheap, or want one. I bought a amscope SE400Z. Its alright, I mounted it to a vesa monitor mount I got for cheap second hand. Also upgrade from that 858D. The atten ST-862D is about $150 from WGP. Well worth it. Cheers

  • @CAPNMAC82
    @CAPNMAC82 6 місяців тому +33

    Howdy @Mrs Wes.
    A good bench is its own reward. Tough part is keeping them from reducing to havign only 2 square feet of open space, no matter the bench size.

    • @GrandsonofKong
      @GrandsonofKong 5 місяців тому +4

      Amen to that! I've got one about 9 feet long and wish I had 2 square feet! Stuff is multiplying while I sleep is my estimation

    • @dfross87
      @dfross87 5 місяців тому +3

      Workbenches and sheds suffer from the same problem. They are NEVER big enough.

    • @ProtonOne11
      @ProtonOne11 5 місяців тому +1

      Yeah, it builds up quickly in the tools. Next up, you want a hot air station, a rework station with smd solder tweezers and sucking soldering iron. Then you need a multi voltage power supply, then you need your magnification with a microscope of some kind, signal generators, VNAs, spectrum analyzers, hot plates or board preheaters... And the "active" projects need some space to live at as well! It seems like a never ending expanding cycle. But i like that 😅
      I think what Wes' desk is missing is some more storage drawers, but they are probably easy enough to add with some office trolleys that you get cheap/free when corporations throw out "old" furniture.

    • @tsl7881
      @tsl7881 5 місяців тому +1

      I thought the clear area of the workbench was the vice jaws.

  • @laserhawk64
    @laserhawk64 5 місяців тому +1

    Well done, Wes!
    A couple notes from an electronics hobbyist and retrotech guy (as well as artist, budding writer, and all-around computer neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrd). One, Hakko is NOT an "off-brand" -- and, sadly, many "name brands" aren't any more (for instance, Zenith is now Funai Tech... you should see the guts I pulled out of _that_ LCD TV, what a joke). Two, fume extractor is... more hype than anything else. So-called "solder smoke" is only boiling-off flux and nothing more -- the metal smell is from the solder melting. Solder doesn't atomize, only the flux does... and rosin flux is nothing more than, basically, boiled pine sap (no, seriously, Wiki it, it's pine sap that's been rendered the way pig fat is rendered into lard). It's fine. Three... 0.031in solder (0.8mm in civilized units) for through-hole, use the hair-thin stuff only for super tiny surface-mount stuff unless you want to go through it waaay too fast.
    Four... antistatic mat is also hype. Unless you're working on something made literally in the 1970s, and it has very specific kinds of chips, you're fine without it. Done plenty of work, and plenty of _rework_ -- never bothered with the wrist strap. Literally the only stuff that needs that kind of protection is the really, really early CMOS-process stuff -- first-gen 4000-series glue logic and first-gen ROMs/RAMs that used CMOS tech. The HMOS, PMOS, and NMOS stuff, you can walk across a football field during an electrical storm holding that in one hand and a bare CB radio antenna in the other, and the chips will wind up better off than _you_ will. Anything TTL, or 1980s-and-later, same story, because by then they'd learned how to do proper ESD protection on chip dies. Tube stuff, same story, it's just too rugged. Literally if you're working on, e.g. an original Pong arcade cabinet from Atari, or "big iron" from IBM or DEC or the like that has actual chips in it, you _probably_ want the antistatic mat and wrist strap, but for anything more modern, or anything old enough to be discrete-component-only, you've not got to worry about it.
    Other'n that -- looks good to me. It's certainly cleaner than what I've got.
    Oh, two other things. Learn to use a logic probe and you mostly don't need a 'scope for what most folks use it today -- I have a $17 Elenco, it's the one that Blondihacks uses (aka Quinn Dunki) and she is an absolute literal living legend... as for multimeters, keep a couple Cen-Techs from Walmart around, or the $10 bargain-bin ones from Ace. Use the Fluke (or whatever you consider "nice", for me it's a $15 Sparkfun job) for the important stuff, use the cheap ones where you think you might screw up, so that you're not left swearing a blue streak because you blew up the _expensive_ one -- that's actually a BigClive tip.
    But, I'm a bit more shoestring than you are. No worries. We all have our limits, and they're all a bit different.
    One last thing, I mean it this time. Maybe up where you live it's different, but in MY house, "weekend" is Saturday and Sunday -- Friday and Monday only count on federal holidays, and even then it's only Friday evenings... and I don't even work! (I'm too incoherent to moonlight, even, so SSDI is all I have to work with. You'd be surprised at what you can do with a kludged-together 6v battery drill and hand tools and nothin else.)

  • @andykilmer6837
    @andykilmer6837 5 місяців тому +5

    For tapping holes in 3D prints, my shop has found great success with ribbed rivet nuts. All you have to do is make your hole slightly smaller than the OD, and then press them in with a hot soldering iron. The heat transfers through the steel and melts the plastic enough to get the m seated.
    You get a bit stronger hole than just tapping the plastic itself.

    • @mrmotofy
      @mrmotofy 5 місяців тому

      As well as just making that section thicker

  • @josephking6515
    @josephking6515 4 місяці тому

    Only thing I can see missing is a hot air station for the surface mounted items. Then you'll need a snazzy microscope so you can see the SMD pieces.
    Real nice desk Wes and you could remind Mrs Wes that since she was off for the _weekend_ she *cannot* share in your ritcheous glory of building an excellent electronic workbench. Only thing I would have considered changing would have been to put Dome Bolts in the part the held the shelf legs together. That would have been the _je nais se qua_ for the _piece de resistance._ Bravo! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

  • @ronaldheit196
    @ronaldheit196 5 місяців тому +1

    I had that work bench Wes showed with more accessories when I was service manager for the largest amusement vending equipment company in the upper Keys.
    It definitely was way cheaper back then.
    Just like Wes I did a bunch of mods to it to fit my needs.
    I had a dual trace scope I could hook up to my P.C. and save signals I'd get on problem chips on Arcade and pinball games circuit boards for future reference as well as what this signals should look like on a working board to compare so I built myself a library of both.

    • @WatchWesWork
      @WatchWesWork  5 місяців тому +1

      Yeah I have a Pico scope that let's me do that. Worth it's weight in gold for some jobs.

  • @TheMacdoug
    @TheMacdoug 5 місяців тому +28

    The repeated improv comedy of “it’s the weekend” was just gold.

  • @elesjuan
    @elesjuan 5 місяців тому

    Excellent electronics bench. Only thing I would add is a laptop or small form factor PC for schematics and research.
    Also, as always, really love Mrs. Wes. That lady is such a gem.

  • @johnburch6927
    @johnburch6927 5 місяців тому +4

    Back in the eighties I worked with a guy at a local Ford dealer that turned me on to having a personal oscilloscope. Of course I haven't upgraded since those days, and adjusting range is more akin to adjusting squelch on C.B. radio.

    • @alskjflaksjdflakjdf
      @alskjflaksjdflakjdf 5 місяців тому +1

      An oscilliscope has been on my "to buy" list since the 90s when I first got into the workforce. Any decade now I'm going to pull the trigger on one. :) Maybe I should ask the family to buy me one since they're always wondering what to get me..

    • @joecoyne5660
      @joecoyne5660 5 місяців тому

      @@alskjflaksjdflakjdf An O-scope is a very handy tool if you learn how to use it. For a couple of hundred dollars you can get a pretty good scope with digital memory, and digital readouts for both voltage and frequency. I bought a Hantec DSO5102P a few years ago and have been very happy with it. The controls are almost identical to the hugh dollarTexas Instruments scope I use at work.

  • @falksweden
    @falksweden 5 місяців тому

    Well done! That screwable cap just gave me a solution for a similar problem. Thanks Wes!
    And, by the way. Just want to add one small word of wisdom - people should not go for the led free solder, it's crap. Use something like Stannol Kristall 60/40 or similar. It's like night and day, and will save you a lot of times in the future.

    • @1pcfred
      @1pcfred 3 місяці тому

      63/37 is the good solder. 60/40 is kinda the crappy stuff. 63/37 is the eutectic melting point alloy. Or lowest melting point of lead/tin.

  • @Midwest-small-engine
    @Midwest-small-engine 5 місяців тому +3

    Definitely a sweet looking workbench setup

  • @stagggerlee
    @stagggerlee 5 місяців тому

    From someone who spent 19 years at an electronic work bench, very nice. I often wish I had it back.

  • @bearddevil
    @bearddevil 6 місяців тому +12

    That shelf looks fantastic. Very well executed.

  • @gregharrison5737
    @gregharrison5737 5 місяців тому +1

    Awesome project. Your wife's facial expression and comments at the beginning were perfect

  • @TerryLawrence001
    @TerryLawrence001 5 місяців тому +15

    That's the first time I have ever seen a flying squirrel!

    • @jimgrady7458
      @jimgrady7458 5 місяців тому +4

      Unfortunately for the squirrel, it was the "Boeing" subgenus.

    • @999torino
      @999torino 5 місяців тому +3

      I said to my son, look he's a flying squirrel now. Glad to see others are on the same track.

    • @redeyedmongoose2963
      @redeyedmongoose2963 5 місяців тому

      Can’t believe the eagle flew away. He was in gun range.

  • @theondono
    @theondono Місяць тому

    I was going to comment "You don't really need one of those workbenches for ESD", and then I saw the carpet... Good call!!
    That looks also an interior room, not sure were you are located, but humidity also plays a big role on ESD.

  • @jasonatkin6787
    @jasonatkin6787 5 місяців тому +3

    I do electronics for the US DoD...what you say about the pricing of and preferred market for ESD-approved workbenches is spot-on. People with budgets do not buy such benches new. Only the largest companies and government are buyers.

    • @gordonborsboom7460
      @gordonborsboom7460 5 місяців тому +1

      Because of cheap imports, we all have a distorted view of what something cost when made locally.
      That being said, people need to be more creative on their own, like Wes

    • @tsl7881
      @tsl7881 5 місяців тому

      He's mostly right, all the prefab workbenches at the box stores , Sam's, HD , HF, Lowes are nearly all imports. I have seen some USA Craftsman and Husky tool cabinets, but few.

  • @captnsquid8151
    @captnsquid8151 5 місяців тому

    I like that table a fine job. I always shake my head at what some of these outfits ask for simple things as the know many do not have or wish to put in the time to build one for 1/4 of the price. Thanks for this Vid Wes..

  • @arvidjedlicka6237
    @arvidjedlicka6237 6 місяців тому +3

    Awesome bench and many ideas I will need to copy. Thanks.

  • @davel2223
    @davel2223 5 місяців тому

    Way to go Wes, your bench was well engineered and just as effective as the much more expensive ones. My congrats to you, enjoy the fruits of your labor

  • @DelButch
    @DelButch 5 місяців тому +3

    Wes man how satisfying is this watching a Fella scratching his itch “ your electronic bench “ my tool shed !😊happy for a guy

  • @OfBronzeandBlaze
    @OfBronzeandBlaze 5 місяців тому

    I really appreciate that you show your other interests outside of mechanical repair. It’s really cool to see people who don’t like to be pigeonholed by social conventions

  • @chrisj2848
    @chrisj2848 6 місяців тому +4

    Nice, I have workbench envy. And a new storage "solution" to explore 😊

  • @Stephen.in.Virginia
    @Stephen.in.Virginia 5 місяців тому

    Wes this one one of your best non-diagnostic videos, I did similar so I could roll a long work table fitted with 100w halogen 2 level work lamp along hallway and thru doorways without taking doors off of hinges

  • @major__kong
    @major__kong 5 місяців тому +14

    You can even tap balsa wood. If I remember the procedure correctly, just drill and tap as usual. Get some CA glue aka super glue and dose the threads liberally to harden them up. You'll probably want to get the thin CA glue for hobbies not the thick gel stuff from the big box store so that the threads get a good soaking and you don't end up with globs of glue. After it hardens, chase the threads again with the tap. It's a tried and true method for building attachments for RC airplanes. I use nylon bolts not metal because nylon will fail before the CA infused threads and saves you from repairing primary structure after one too many hard landings or taking off on rough ground. But for a static application in the shop, metal should be fine.

  • @kevinfergusson8239
    @kevinfergusson8239 5 місяців тому

    Excellent result. Love the interaction with Mrs Wes.

  • @jeffwilson1399
    @jeffwilson1399 5 місяців тому +3

    I'm not an electronics guy. . But I am a workbench guy. Nice work!!

  • @aleastwood1698
    @aleastwood1698 5 місяців тому

    Well Wess I think that was banger. Electronics is an integral part of the modern Auto and now you have a place to work that part of it. Keep em rolling.

  • @Rorschach1024
    @Rorschach1024 5 місяців тому +7

    Do we have Clearance Clarence?

    • @njnear
      @njnear 7 годин тому

      Roger!

  • @preston963
    @preston963 5 місяців тому +4

    I've been an mechanic & electronics tech for 40+yrs fixed thousands of dead laptops & phones not to mention read & writing eeproms & modules on my old wood tongue & groove bench with masonite over it never ever had a problem.

  • @chakathewolf
    @chakathewolf 5 місяців тому

    Retired lab tech. here. Spent most of my life soldering. Your bench looks great! The only thing I'd add is a magnifying glass / lamp of some sort. Personally, I'd have two multimeters, but that's just me.

  • @7eis
    @7eis 5 місяців тому +5

    Only wife in the northern hemisphere who pleads with her husband to just buy the damn tool he wants😂

  • @zoidberg444
    @zoidberg444 5 місяців тому +1

    Mrs Wes cracks me up. haha
    Spiffy bench though Wes. Interesting application of 3D printing. Your office is really coming along.

  • @Cumminsproject01
    @Cumminsproject01 5 місяців тому +3

    Wes im 3 minutes into the video and it sounds like your wife is giving you permission to buy tools/shop supplys don't argue with her 😂

  • @richied6319
    @richied6319 5 місяців тому

    Well done Wes!!! While you where needing a shelf, I thought why not make one yourself and you did! Great Job!

  • @93Martin
    @93Martin 6 місяців тому +21

    "We're building an electronics table" "We?" LOL for a moment there I thought I might be watching Stuff Made Here

  • @justovision
    @justovision 4 місяці тому

    Really nice bench. I shed a tear when you chopped up that other bench but the end product was satisfying. A couple of other useful tools on the bench are a cheap function/signal generator. They've gotten pretty inexpensive and, if you do AC, a variac and an isolation transformer.

  • @IAmUndersteer
    @IAmUndersteer 5 місяців тому +9

    “…it’s Thursday.” 😂😂

    • @Andy_Hinners
      @Andy_Hinners 5 місяців тому

      Windsor Ontario has a phenomenon known as the "West End Weekend". It runs Tuesday through Saturday.
      I'll leave it up to you to vision the demographic that follows this calendar.

  • @IGDZILLA
    @IGDZILLA 5 місяців тому +2

    I bought the same scope for the same reason. And it was more than 10-11 years ago Wes. Time marched on. I just unboxed and assembled my 3D printer yesterday after it was sitting in the box for longer than I am going to admit. That was a sweet bench you made. I'm still on a "temporary solution I made out of and IKEA desk and other junk I got from their remnants room. The IKEA JERKER desk is the only product IKEA made that I recommend. Naturally the newer ones are not near as good.
    Your 3D printing is also of interest to me now.

  • @clayfree7428
    @clayfree7428 5 місяців тому +13

    The wife looks as interested in the project as cleaning week old road kill off the street!🤣🤣

  • @infocpctrainer
    @infocpctrainer 5 місяців тому +2

    wow, that 'kiddo' is growing up so fast, great to see him. nice project, cant wait see some action

  • @robpeters5204
    @robpeters5204 5 місяців тому +3

    Some women don’t get it. “Speedy delivery???”
    It’s always nice and easy when they say speedy delivery when you are paying for it but when they have to pay it’s a totally different answer. That’s when they say you can do without or you’ve done it this long what’s a little bit longer
    I can’t believe she won’t back you on this Wes. You are working hard and deserve some nice things to continue to do your work. You’ve put in your time so now you can enjoy the fruits of your labour.
    Nice job buddy!

  • @wigf173
    @wigf173 5 місяців тому +1

    To us, Wes, all your videos are 'bangers'! You do you, we'll be here for it.

  • @woopimagpie
    @woopimagpie 5 місяців тому +13

    Wife: "I will not be helping."
    5 seconds later: shows wife helping.
    I have one of those wives too. We're lucky fellas Wes.

  • @boe4448
    @boe4448 5 місяців тому +1

    Wes,
    Very nice E table. I enjoyed your video and seeing your family. Boe

  • @Andy_Hinners
    @Andy_Hinners 5 місяців тому +5

    I've got a cat that dines on squirrel every chance he gets. He leaves nothing but the tail.

    • @Jon-wg8vr
      @Jon-wg8vr 5 місяців тому +1

      You would think the cat would love all that extra hair to cough up in your house😂

    • @Andy_Hinners
      @Andy_Hinners 5 місяців тому

      @@Jon-wg8vr
      I've seen what's produced at the other end the next day. Must all get dissolved no fur. no bones.

    • @Jon-wg8vr
      @Jon-wg8vr 5 місяців тому

      @@Andy_Hinners you dig up your cat turds

  • @SeanBZA
    @SeanBZA 4 місяці тому

    Do not forget that old landline phone indoor cable is a valuable asset as well. Used for jumper wires, and for connections as well, and you can get it in up to 500 pair bundles, with a good assortment of 10 colours and with stripes as well. Old copper network cable is also useful, makes for great links, and the flexible one for wiring up front panels. Generally available at every building demolition if you look for it in a dumpster, and you only need a few meters of it (or for the USA yards, close enough for the work you will use it for) to last a long time. Bonus as well it comes pre tinned in the most case as well for the phone cables, which is a great help soldering them, though the PVC insulation does tend to pull back when soldering.

    • @1pcfred
      @1pcfred 3 місяці тому

      No one's throwing scrap wire into a dumpster. Even with insulation on it the scrap price of wire is just too high.

  • @dougjones9493
    @dougjones9493 5 місяців тому +9

    In the fine print of the marriage certificate, the wife must support the husband no matter how foolish his endeavors seem. Woman math, I saved $1000. By spending the day making it myself.

  • @garyb2516
    @garyb2516 5 місяців тому

    This build was so nice, I had to watch the video twice. Thanks for sharing this with us Wes!

  • @brucemitchell5637
    @brucemitchell5637 5 місяців тому +11

    $2200.00 for a formica topped bench? That's absolutely ridiculous! I can't believe that these people are still in business!

    • @M.TTT.
      @M.TTT. 5 місяців тому +3

      yea the govt can only buy from certain dealers, its crazy the costs of stuff

    • @kechumgreen8893
      @kechumgreen8893 5 місяців тому +3

      yep, just after he said the price i immediately thought government sales and large corporations.

    • @tsl7881
      @tsl7881 5 місяців тому

      Schools, institutions must spend your money on these or something like them. Also, This is a ESD formica, which you can't buy at lowes.

  • @williamj3843
    @williamj3843 5 місяців тому

    There are current limiting ground monitors that work with the mat and wristband. They are designed to protect your circuits while also protecting your health. Nice bench!

  • @topcat5988
    @topcat5988 5 місяців тому

    Looking like a real office/electronics room!
    Probably should mount some sort of foam sound deadening on the walls to help with sound.
    Great work!!!
    Thanks for the video!

  • @FlatThunder
    @FlatThunder 5 місяців тому

    I feel ya....I can't bring myself to overspend on items I can make, but often overlook the time and effort required. Nice work station upgrade! 👍😁

    • @1pcfred
      @1pcfred 3 місяці тому

      Why, what are you doing that's so much better? When you do things for yourself you can't count that time.

    • @FlatThunder
      @FlatThunder 3 місяці тому

      @@1pcfred Time is money and you can never make more time. Sometimes I spend extra time building a version of my own widget over buying an off the shelf product. Perfect example; I built a homemade auger for my 843 Bobcat instead of buying or renting one. It turned a small part of a task into a major project on its own. I have a working version of an auger for 20-25% the cost of a purchased unit. The better option would've been to purchase one and resell it. Oops, that's what I mean 🙄

    • @1pcfred
      @1pcfred 3 місяці тому

      @@FlatThunder Time is not money. Time is relative to the observer. I make time all the time. What you cannot do is buy time though. Any rich person on their deathbed will tell you that. Personally my favorite thing in the world to do is waste time. I do most like it when I waste my time how I see fit to waste it though. Sometimes I like to waste time on inane projects of my choosing too.