Keeping the workspace neat

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jackinnj

jackinnj

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Joined 2002
tech-diy.com
#1
I will admit, I am almost the worst at keeping my workspace neat -- even when I was in the world of finance I had a very messy office -- in Kindergarten I never colored within the lines --

I picked up this hint from Fine Woodworking -- every time you go to the bench put ten things away -- thank you "Miss Mary Ann" and Romper Room -- now i can find all those electrolytics which went missing, and my torx drivers suddenly showed up.
 
#5
My discovery after many frustrating years is that it is almost impossible to have too many bins, drawers, and shelves.

I got a couple of well made oak dressers with two rows of drawers (already beat up but solid with dovetailed joints and inexpensive at goodwill) and just marked the drawers - drills - allens - pliers - drivers - wrenches - C'clamps - etc on down. Everything just gets tossed back in at the end of day. No more fancy spray-painted pegboard silhouettes. When I need a tool, I just fish for it. Clean up is a breeze.

I then put up a whole wall of Arko type hangered red and blue plastic bins in various sizes. I used to work in a factory and got them at a good price (still probably 1000percent market up. just how much does it cost to crank these damn things through the molding machine anyway?). All of these contain nuts bolts screws springs hinges electronics nails washers rivets etc etc. I just walk the bins over to the project.

Lastly I put up wall shelves specifically for all of my cordless/corded hand tools. No wrapping up cords or buckling down lids. Just toss em into their individual spaces and grab em when i need em.

I have no idea how the hell i ever got by for so many years before these improvements. But I remember that I was almost always working amid chaos. I don't think I ever really "cleaned up" Now it's almost enjoyable to do.
 
#7
" ... it is almost impossible to have too many bins, drawers, and shelves. ..."

Yes, I have a) two car garage, almost full from our last move of 7 years ago ... plus a good sized work bench b) a kitchen table, usually strewn with the latest circuit buard stuffing project & soldering station c) an upstairs office (bed room) with all manner of computer equipment and other mess d) a space at the office dedicated to storage of boxes of parts in transit from home to office and back and e) a small working warehouse with an area dedicated to "testing" the latest audio mix and match system ... and still need more draws, cabnets, containers, hidey holes ... happy as a size four clam in a size three shell ... :smash:
 
#8
Hello,

I worked on a single project for two years, and I never cleaned anything up along the way. Now, I just look at the mess that I made because I don't know exactly where to start cleaning. However, if I had put ten things up each time I went to the bench, I would have messed up the flow of the project, and it would still be years from completion. I think I would rather deal with the mess. Actually, neither option is particularly appealing to me at this point. 😉

-mosin
 
#9
jackinnj said:
I picked up this hint from Fine Woodworking -- every time you go to the bench put ten things away -- thank you "Miss Mary Ann" and Romper Room -- now i can find all those electrolytics which went missing, and my torx drivers suddenly showed up.
Click to expand...

When I did this, I found the Lindbergh baby.

Actually, I've tried this three times since you posted and the place looks no better. I suppose I should just go with my Inner Slob and accept that my workshops will always look like disaster areas. The biggest improvement for me was keeping the cats out- no more surprise "hidden treasure" and many fewer broken tubes.


For non-Americans or those much younger than Jack or me,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romper_Room

Nancy Claster was a family friend. When my parents had her use my name with the Magic Mirror, I ran out of the room crying because I was just in my underwear and very embarrassed. I auditioned for the show, but refused to do it because I was worried that they'd put me in the TV of someone we didn't know and then I couldn't get home.
 
#11
I try to use a cardboard box for each project, often the ones I get from digikey when I order parts. When I'm not working on it all the relevant bits go into the box. The problem is that it's always harder to find motivation to finish a project once it goes into the box 🙁
 
#13
Hey Everybody,

Jack, I wish I had that! We live in a small townhouse with no basement or garage which means no workbench, lab, hobby roon. Nada! Just the kitchen table sometimes and my wife, who is very tolerant, will only let that go so far. FastEddy, you are a lucky man!

And then it is announced we are going to have someone coming over to visit, my whole little world crumbles. "Put it away"!
I get even... the next day, it is right back where it belongs (????) I think.

I guess the conclusion is.... little space, little mess (what a shame).

I hope all is well with everybody!

Regards//Keith
 
#15
"happy as a size four clam in a size three shell ... "

When I was a kid, my friend's father had a Navy term for this: A "Blivet"..... Ten pounds of $&!t in a five pound bag!

Do you think this is really in the US Navy handbook?
 
#16
Jackinnj- that's almost as bad as my place! Labeling isn't really complete though. Is that brown thing at the very top of the pile a Keithley 5 1/2 digit meter, the one that runs too hot? There were a bunch of Keithley instruments in that vintage of brown box, so I'm not sure. Is there a Fluke voltage standard on the floor to the left? Got a lot of knobs- must be something precise. What's all that stuff under the bench- looks like there might be another GR piece hiding there, the HF noise source, perhaps? I just saw an episode of Oprah with a clean-up expert. I was so inspired I loaded the trunk of the car full with stuff I needed to throw out and hauled it off to the dump, but it didn't make a visible amount of difference.
 
#18
Conrad Hoffman said:
Jackinnj- that's almost as bad as my place! Labeling isn't really complete though. Is that brown thing at the very top of the pile a Keithley 5 1/2 digit meter, the one that runs too hot? There were a bunch of Keithley instruments in that vintage of brown box, so I'm not sure. Is there a Fluke voltage standard on the floor to the left? Got a lot of knobs- must be something precise. What's all that stuff under the bench- looks like there might be another GR piece hiding there, the HF noise source, perhaps? I just saw an episode of Oprah with a clean-up expert. I was so inspired I loaded the trunk of the car full with stuff I needed to throw out and hauled it off to the dump, but it didn't make a visible amount of difference.
Click to expand...

I have two of the Fluke voltage standards -- the one on the floor is a parts unit -- once these babies were put together they can't be taken apart!

The brown box is a Keithley nanovoltmeter -- doesn't seem to run hot -- but I don't use it that often.

The XYL and I are driving up your way this weekend -- will take the scenic trip along the lake -- GPS makes these detours a delight.
 
#20
If I cleanup my workspace, I cannot find many tools and the parts. So I prefer them to be at the place where my memory is. Recently, I found my missing probe DMM in the wardrobe.

A cleaned up workspace leads to more search time. Then it feels homely once messed up.

My medical practitioner gives multivitamins that are in a nice small cardboard box. I keep small parts, with a label on these boxes, nowadays.

My vote goes for rare cleaning.

Gajanan Phadte
 
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