[Test-Equipment] Sturdy Bench Ideas, in V31#5

[Phil Barnes-Roberts WA6DZS]

test-equipment-request at mailman.qth.net said the following on 11/17/2006
1:01 AM:
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:23:42 -0800 From: Gary Fiber
<gfiber at clearwire.net>
Subject: Re: [Test-Equipment] Looking for test bench ideas
To: Dennis Wade <sacramento.cyclist at gmail.com>
Cc: test-equipment at mailman.qth.net
I don't think after looking at the web site IKEA still sells them, but I
use an Attitude Kitchen Cabinet. It's heavy, uses the NUMERÄR counter
top, does have plastic doors. I made a double decker test gear shelf for
the top out of 2 x 4's and plywood for it. A little small but works for
me. I put a Wiremold plug strip under the bottom shelf of the test gear
shelf.  Yes no leg room but I deal with that ok and it has storage under
it. I use a small wood stool I put a foam and fabric cover on to sit at
the bench.
---------------
Gary K8IZ Dennis Wade wrote:
The IKEA website says the max load for Jerker is 165 lbs.  Might be a
problem considering the equipment he has.
--------------
Dennis On 10/17/06, jbarnes <jbarnes at aztec-net.com> wrote:
Blair and the group.

Go to Ikea and look at the desk system called Jerker.  Yes, they choose
the name not me.

It has adjustable shelves and additional shelves can be added.


Regards, John.
----------
Hi All:

I like to putter around with electronics, make projects and fix old
radios, etc.  I have a lot of heavy old test gear, mostly HP: a couple
of HP-141t spectrum analyzers & tracking generators, HP-8640 generator,
power supplies, distortion analyzer, DVM's, assorted generators, bridges
and counters.

I'm building a new work bench.  At first, I was going to have a deep
sloping shelf to hold gear, until I realized that if I sloped it, I
couldn't stack gear.

I'd be very grateful for suggestions or advice about building a new
bench.  If you have a digital camera and a nice bench or shop, please do
(directly) send me a photo.
Also, thoughts about power conditioning, grounding, etc.
Sincerely, Blair
-------------

This all reminded me;

I've been using a hand-me-down bench from my old partner, made from 4x4
and 2x6 lumber, and it holds everything solidly, even 80+lb BAs.  It's
backed-up to my 8x10-ft. storage shelves in the 1910 garage, made
egg-crate style from pairs of 2x6's and 1x12 shelves, to fit pairs of
common Xerox paper boxes from work that I use for storage.  Those were
originally made to fit a self-storage unit, counterbored and lag bolted
front-to-back, with crossed guy wire on the backs, but got disassembled
and moved.  When they were moved in here, they got 1x2 struts to the
overhead joists - in earthquake country.

To those, I had screwed some pegboard for hanging tools, replacing the
wire, but have put in so many plastic parts drawers, there's little room
for pegs.  A recycled Kennedy box solved that.

More recently, for a test-equipment shelf, I lag-bolted up a couple of
heavy triangular welded shelf-supports from Home Depot, and across (and
screwed-to) them, bridges a 16x72" panel of 3/4" plywood captured in
dadoes in 2x4s on both sides, down 1/2" from the top edge - glued &
screwed (or nailed), much like a modern floor joist.  The Wiremold is on
the front of that, with microphone hangers etc. below it, but is barely
enough outlets; another underneath would be a help.

In a garage, the current code IIRC calls for GFI receptacles, which
could also be served by just feeding with a GFI breaker, for basic
safety.  Serious grounding is a good idea, with short ground runs for
any RF work.  (Still to be done here; the last 20 years have been
kludged-up, not pretty.)  Grounding also includes anti-static mat with
industrial-salvage banana jack-snaps for wrist straps; the idea is to 
avoid potential difference in a zone around modern gear, where just a 
few volts of ESD can zap a junction.

If a photo of this mess can help, let me know, I'll send it.

73, Stay Safe! de Phil WA6DZS