The Electronics Hobbyist » tools http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com/blog A Passion for Curiosity and Play Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:54:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Workbench Challenge Update http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com/blog/workbench-challenge-update/ http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com/blog/workbench-challenge-update/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:22:35 +0000 Natalia http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com/blog/?p=575

Wire messBack in April I posted about a goal I had for this year: setting up a decent workbench for myself in a corner of my (minuscule) home office. As the year comes to an end, I think it’s time for an update.

Did it happen exactly as planned? No…

Did I make progress? Yes!

So what happened?


We’re in limbo right now. We live in a rented apartment, which the owner has put on the market for sale. That means at any given day we may get a 30-day notice to vacate. I simply didn’t feel it was worth it to go all the way with getting rid of stuff to make room for a bigger table (it will inevitably happen when we have to move) and buying the table/bench (that would have to fit the exact dimensions of the space available here, possibly not being the ideal size for the next place) just yet.

I did make some improvements: I doubled my work area (with an additional table – another dinner tray table! – I use when I’m working on something) and I added a few items to my set of equipment. I got a digital multimeter (my old one is analog, which I still keep as I read it can be useful to show changes in values) a bench-top power supply, hot glue gun, several large breadboards, much needed tools and a myriad of parts.

All in all I don’t have the workbench I had envisioned (yet), but I have a bigger workspace, much needed new equipment and a lot more parts to play with!

On a related note, I came up with ideas for two bigger projects I want to work on which will be ongoing, in addition to the small stuff I build for learning purposes. I’ve placed quite a few orders from DigiKey, Jameco clearance center and CuteDigi lately, that I’m sure my husband now fears I have a shopping addiction… I am excited to start working on these projects and sharing them here. Stay tuned!

My current setup:

Messy home office

The work area:

Messy electronics workbench

And storage:

Messy electronics storage

How about you? What is your workbench setup like? Are you planning any improvements and/or additions in 2012?

You might also enjoy:

  1. The 2011 Workbench Challenge

]]> http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com/blog/workbench-challenge-update/feed/ 5 Starting Out on an Electronics Hobby – Tools http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com/blog/starting-out-on-an-electronics-hobby-tools/ http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com/blog/starting-out-on-an-electronics-hobby-tools/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:40:00 +0000 Natalia http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com/blog/?p=8

Whether your interest in an electronics hobby stems from the desire to build your own gadgets or to modify existing electronics devices so they perform better – or at least differently – it is important that you take the best approach possible in order to get the most enjoyment from your hobby.

When you are first starting out you should put together a kit of essential tools. A simple kit should have the following set of basic, good quality tools:Soldering station

If possible you should get a wooden board/bench to use as a dedicated work area.

For introductory courses on electronics as a hobby checkout the website below:
http://www.hobby-electronics.info/links/courses.php

You might also enjoy:

  1. Starting Out on an Electronics Hobby – Resources
  2. Basic Hobby Electronics Vocabulary Part 1 of 4 (A-C)
  3. Basic Hobby Electronics Vocabulary Part 2 of 4 (D-G)
  4. Basic Hobby Electronics Vocabulary Part 3 of 4 (I-R)

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