#2
Post
by dtsh » Mon Nov 29, 2021 5:36 pm
My workspace is a 6' bench which serves as my home office (IT), microscopy, and all of the other tasks that pop up (the odd electronics fixes, bug counting/sorting, misc repairs and tinkering, etc). I have 3 microscopes which remain on the bench, a Leica Microstar IV, an American Optical series 10, and an American Optical Cycloptic; so that accounts for half the bench. My workstation accounts for about 1/3 of the surface area, leaving the remaining space for whatever needs to be worked on. My workstation is a laptop so if I don't need it for the task, I can close it and place it against the wall to gain more working area.
For me, the biggest win is my shelving. Nearly the entire wall where my workbench sits is occupied by shelving upon which I store most of the frequently accessed small items my various hobbies use; often in clear plastic tubs that fit nicely on the shelves, each tub dedicated to particular tasks. I have larger tubs that fit under the bench that hold heavier parts which won't fit on a shelf. That said, the shelving is well secured to the wall with an inordinate amount of screws which are sunk into the framing in the wall. Space is at a premium for me as it all fits into a 3mx3.25m (10'x11') room which serves as office, bedroom, and project area combined.
All that said, it's important to put things away when they are no longer being used. Small, delicate items that would benefit from a case but don't have one often end up in pill bottles or in 3D printed cases designed for them. Filters I place into small stackable round plastic containers, using tissue between individual elements. As for keeping track, I have a sheet of paper in each tub with an inventory of what's in it to help reduce digging around for item X. It's not exactly ordered and neat, but it works for me.