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Cool Tools Bench Awards 2018

Hello Community Members and happy June.

 

It is officially summertime here at the element14 offices, which is enough of a reason to celebrate but as we batted around some ideas we thought - why don't we involve the Community in some fun?  We have already been asking you about your favorite tools for our RoadTest reviews and now we'd like to present to you the Cool Tools Bench Awards!

 

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Starting today and going through the entire month of June, we want you to submit photos and/or videos of your own bench or workspace for other Community members to see.  Then in the month of July we'll pick out some winners every week and send them some of our favorite Cool Tools chosen by us and other Community members like the ones below:

 

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Duratool PL 501 Cutter

Klein Tools 4-1 Screwdriver

Duratool PC Maintenance Tool KitDuratool Soldering Station
Milwaukee Bit SetDuratool Wire Stripper

 

We will have ten (10)  winners total for the following categories:

 

•      Where’s my Cat? (messiest bench)

•       Tony Stark’s Dream Bench (state of the art bench)

•      Fire Hazard Award (Worst cable management)

•       Pepped to the Post Award (Best coffee mug)

•      Totally Screwed Award (Worst organisation of screws, nuts and bolts)

•      Bat Cave Award (Award for wide range of tools)

•       Mom Would Be Proud (Neatest bench)

•       Man Cave Bench (Best use of personal space for a bench)

•      Jury Rigged Award (Most improvised or makeshift repair or bench)

•       Time Machine Award (Best piece of Retro Tech on display)

 

Along with the above, we'll also have a special “In Their Element" award (best representation and love of element14)

 

Let's have some fun with this and show us the benches and workspaces where all of your amazing projects come to life!

 

Comment with your photo/videos on this post through June 30th.

Attachments:
imageCool_Tools_Bench_Awards_2018_Contest.pdf
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  • image

     

    I would like to submit a picture as a candidate for the Man Cave Bench (best use of personal space for a bench) category .

     

    I occupy a 10X10 room in our home that has not been subjected to the stylising demonstrated in television home improvement shows  that my spouse is addicted to watching and then attempting to apply. I have made callout notes on the picture to demonstrate some of the techniques I have employed to make best use of the limited space.

     

    Callout 1 is the art of stacking. A pen basket, stacked on my HP printer, stacked on a plastic pullout draw for cables, stacked on top of a night stand with drawers for holding supplies. Access to the bottom drawer is limited without first finding space to move the breadboard setup.

     

    Callout 2 is demonstrating the art of balancing, a technique using one drawer in the night stand to double as a support to a plywood board containing, power supplies, breadboard and holder for Raspberry Pi’s and Arduinios. This needs to move in order to access the storage below.

     

    Callout 3 is called flooring. An unused space to start projects that have moved further along out growing the space provided in balancing.

     

    Callout 4 is another demonstration of stacking and balance in tandem. The laptop stacks on a scanner for operations but needs to balance on the desk the rare times the scanner is required.

     

    Callout 5 is the napkin space. It is the most efficient and effective area of the work bench when it comes to projects. Using disposal media it reduces the cost before production. Items in this space tend to flow towards the wall like a wave of white burying objects in its path.

     

    Callout 6 is a bookcase to the right of the desk that sits below a window. Notice several techniques deployed. In addition the window well provides spill over deep storage. Storage for completed projects, projects in suspension and materials utilize this space..


    I would also like to draw attention to the shameless promotion of Element14 (in the hope to improve my prize winning) by pointing out that one computer monitor is responsible for monitoring the groups website.

     

    To the left (not shown in the picture) is a closet that doubles as grandchildren toy storage, suit case storage and computer parts storage. The only bench space not used in this room is the path to the door to escape. One chair is ideal in the space but two can be accommodated if short term guest are entertained. Long terms guests cannot be handled in the space because it limits access to the bathroom for one of the chairs.

     

     

    Sean


     

  • in reply to colporteur

    Great description.

    I wish my workspace was that organized.

Comment Children
  • in reply to dougw

    G'Day,

    Not according to my spouse. Wanting to clean and organize the room has been on her wish list for years. It is verboten! The oce space in the house that sometimes can belong to me. No designer frills please. I would love to have an an equipment room rack, then maybe I could move some flooring space projects. I am told to come out of retirement if I want to see computer racks again. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

     

    Sean