Cool Tools Bench Awards 2018

Howdy, all!

(After rereading the rules as well as being dissatisfied with the pictures, I decided to delete my original post and repost since none of my updates were taking effect. My apologies.)

Well, my story is pretty simple...I'm a disabled US Air Force vet who's retired and living in a 30 foot motorhome, so space can be a little difficult to come by. I'm a writer, I like to cook, and I'm a whacky inventor and have been since I was about 12. I use a little bit of everything from fine to light-medium tools when I'm working, so access from a central location is crucial to everything because it needs to be stored when not in use but able to be set up within 5 minutes. Since I'm on a budget, of course every little bit of value counts, so it's DIY all the way.

Since I have to run lean, there's no place to display (much less hide) surplus items due to lack of storage; I have to build what I buy. Conversely, when surplus exists, it usually gets sold on eBay or donated to charity if it's unlikely to be used again.

Sorry, element 14, no items to display, but I DO have proof I'm a customer and a surprise at the end!!

Proof: A verifiable invoice for some LEDs and switches I bought!! (I've actually bought quite a bit of stuff from Newark over the course of my 30 year electronic/computer career! They always had what I needed.)

I'm 6'2", 200 lbs, still fairly athletic but with a really bad back, so when I first bought this motorhome, I knew the dinette had to go within a moment after sitting in it.

Since there was storage above and below, I decided to chuck the old table and ratty cushions and turn it into a multi-purpose area. I ordered a 6' length of bamboo workshop bench and refinished it with many coats of polyurethane making it look like glass but toughening the bamboo below as well. I added a support stud along the wall and then set the bench on top of it, using deck screws to fasten it well along 3 edges. I cut a hole in the far corner to allow for hidden cable routing so there will be power to the desk without ugly extension cords running everywhere.

(Pardon the ugly orange cord. It's running the AC while I replace my power distribution box)

I added a strip of black foam edge protector along the long, sharp, hard edge and corner. I then cut boards and laminated them, using a micro-bamboo pattern/color to complement the bench, and set them where the seat cushions had been, creating large and attractive storage shelving under the bench on either side.

Underneath, on the left side, I tucked a UPS Backup unit and a wireless Brother duplex laser printer in the back. In front of that is an oversize art scanner that fits perfectly. Just underneath that is a slide-out drawer for small tool storage. Above the printer is a drawer that I adapted from a inexpensive nightstand kit, securing it beneath the bench, and added a latch for when the RV is in motion. The drawer is usually for small items like batteries but also holds the desk items when the RV is being driven.

On the right side, you can see lots of storage below the bench, and another drawer beneath that slides out, only this one hold electronic tools, modules, meters, and devices! Adding a small bookshelf on top with a powerstrip hidden behind it, secured by hidden pins, seemed like the thing to do to complete the first phase, having already added a padded office chair.

The writer's desk / office phase (with an optional view and natural light source) was complete. I was very pleased with the way this turned out. Since it's in the front room, it's in plain view and not ugly like the old dinette. It's also a nice place to have a quiet dinner for one...so 2 minutes later (literally)....

...but, hey, someone's gotta cook. Fortunately for me, I do, but the little tiny kitchen area isn't my size, so, with a very quick stash of stuff. I can fit everything I need to work with on this spacious kitchen countertop, and with that surface, I don't worry about spills, messes, heat...a wipe of a sponge, a stash of the equipment into the overhead bin and we're good to go.

However, this isn't Top Chef! It's a work bench contest!

Like I said, it's important to have everything close, stored as pictured earlier. Just thinking about setting up something complex or breaking out equipment from random places will kill the creative urge faster than anything else, so it's got to be accessible.

Less than 5 minutes later (again, literally):

As you can see, I have all the room I really need, centered completely around the workspace. Of course, I don't usually bust out almost all my equipment when I am working (like my power drill, clamps, mini-paint-booth, extra tools, and  2" bench vise, not shown), but bear in mind that I have lots of room below to put stuff handily out of harm's way but still within reach. My laptop has actually replaced all my bench equipment except for a variable power supply and multimeter.

Anyone can toss tools out on a bench and take a pic, though, right?

SURPRISE!!

LIKE I SAID, here's the surprise! Proof of the use of my bench AND the LEDs and switches that I purchased: A specialty grow light I invented!! Frankly, I honestly believe that there's no better advertisement than a successful and satisfied customer from the success of their projects. This grow light, not yet in production, has already outperformed far more expensive lights at a fraction of the cost. The LEDs themselves were the heart of the project, CRUCIAL to success and element 14 was the only place that had what I needed! Thanks, element 14!

After the Air Force, I was a prototype engineering technician with my own workstation, the best in the shop. I always missed that bench, too...until I built this. This works just fine! I can work here for hours...nice chair, nice cool air, TV, tunes, and the fridge is right behind me! (I'm putting in a 60" LED TV on a motorized swing-down mount to complete the place this coming week.)

Next, we're converting it into a 3D modeling studio, complete with motorized turntable and three 3D cameras so I can take some high resolution scans of an object I want to test copy on my new 3D printer (coming this Fall!!)

My wish list?

Like me, my tools are getting pretty worn out, so a good set of fine Duratools, that Milwaukee set, a solder buddy, but what I'd really love is a huge, deluxe clamp-on magnifier because I'm getting old and wearing two sets of reading glasses to solder and do fine work is not really working well. A mountable heavy-duty variable power supply would be awesome. Or a Porsche.

Hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did making and sharing it. Frankly, I would have no clue as to which category this is in...but it wouldn't be messiest!

- Will

Howdy, all!

(After rereading the rules as well as being dissatisfied with the pictures, I decided to delete my original post and repost since none of my updates were taking effect. My apologies.)

Well, my story is pretty simple...I'm a disabled US Air Force vet who's retired and living in a 30 foot motorhome, so space can be a little difficult to come by. I'm a writer, I like to cook, and I'm a whacky inventor and have been since I was about 12. I use a little bit of everything from fine to light-medium tools when I'm working, so access from a central location is crucial to everything because it needs to be stored when not in use but able to be set up within 5 minutes. Since I'm on a budget, of course every little bit of value counts, so it's DIY all the way.

Since I have to run lean, there's no place to display (much less hide) surplus items due to lack of storage; I have to build what I buy. Conversely, when surplus exists, it usually gets sold on eBay or donated to charity if it's unlikely to be used again.

Sorry, element 14, no items to display, but I DO have proof I'm a customer and a surprise at the end!!

Proof: A verifiable invoice for some LEDs and switches I bought!! (I've actually bought quite a bit of stuff from Newark over the course of my 30 year electronic/computer career! They always had what I needed.)

I'm 6'2", 200 lbs, still fairly athletic but with a really bad back, so when I first bought this motorhome, I knew the dinette had to go within a moment after sitting in it.

Since there was storage above and below, I decided to chuck the old table and ratty cushions and turn it into a multi-purpose area. I ordered a 6' length of bamboo workshop bench and refinished it with many coats of polyurethane making it look like glass but toughening the bamboo below as well. I added a support stud along the wall and then set the bench on top of it, using deck screws to fasten it well along 3 edges. I cut a hole in the far corner to allow for hidden cable routing so there will be power to the desk without ugly extension cords running everywhere.

(Pardon the ugly orange cord. It's running the AC while I replace my power distribution box)

I added a strip of black foam edge protector along the long, sharp, hard edge and corner. I then cut boards and laminated them, using a micro-bamboo pattern/color to complement the bench, and set them where the seat cushions had been, creating large and attractive storage shelving under the bench on either side.

Underneath, on the left side, I tucked a UPS Backup unit and a wireless Brother duplex laser printer in the back. In front of that is an oversize art scanner that fits perfectly. Just underneath that is a slide-out drawer for small tool storage. Above the printer is a drawer that I adapted from a inexpensive nightstand kit, securing it beneath the bench, and added a latch for when the RV is in motion. The drawer is usually for small items like batteries but also holds the desk items when the RV is being driven.

On the right side, you can see lots of storage below the bench, and another drawer beneath that slides out, only this one hold electronic tools, modules, meters, and devices! Adding a small bookshelf on top with a powerstrip hidden behind it, secured by hidden pins, seemed like the thing to do to complete the first phase, having already added a padded office chair.

The writer's desk / office phase (with an optional view and natural light source) was complete. I was very pleased with the way this turned out. Since it's in the front room, it's in plain view and not ugly like the old dinette. It's also a nice place to have a quiet dinner for one...so 2 minutes later (literally)....

...but, hey, someone's gotta cook. Fortunately for me, I do, but the little tiny kitchen area isn't my size, so, with a very quick stash of stuff. I can fit everything I need to work with on this spacious kitchen countertop, and with that surface, I don't worry about spills, messes, heat...a wipe of a sponge, a stash of the equipment into the overhead bin and we're good to go.

However, this isn't Top Chef! It's a work bench contest!

Like I said, it's important to have everything close, stored as pictured earlier. Just thinking about setting up something complex or breaking out equipment from random places will kill the creative urge faster than anything else, so it's got to be accessible.

Less than 5 minutes later (again, literally):

As you can see, I have all the room I really need, centered completely around the workspace. Of course, I don't usually bust out almost all my equipment when I am working (like my power drill, clamps, mini-paint-booth, extra tools, and  2" bench vise, not shown), but bear in mind that I have lots of room below to put stuff handily out of harm's way but still within reach. My laptop has actually replaced all my bench equipment except for a variable power supply and multimeter.

Anyone can toss tools out on a bench and take a pic, though, right?

SURPRISE!!

LIKE I SAID, here's the surprise! Proof of the use of my bench AND the LEDs and switches that I purchased: A specialty grow light I invented!! Frankly, I honestly believe that there's no better advertisement than a successful and satisfied customer from the success of their projects. This grow light, not yet in production, has already outperformed far more expensive lights at a fraction of the cost. The LEDs themselves were the heart of the project, CRUCIAL to success and element 14 was the only place that had what I needed! Thanks, element 14!

After the Air Force, I was a prototype engineering technician with my own workstation, the best in the shop. I always missed that bench, too...until I built this. This works just fine! I can work here for hours...nice chair, nice cool air, TV, tunes, and the fridge is right behind me! (I'm putting in a 60" LED TV on a motorized swing-down mount to complete the place this coming week.)

Next, we're converting it into a 3D modeling studio, complete with motorized turntable and three 3D cameras so I can take some high resolution scans of an object I want to test copy on my new 3D printer (coming this Fall!!)

My wish list?

Like me, my tools are getting pretty worn out, so a good set of fine Duratools, that Milwaukee set, a solder buddy, but what I'd really love is a huge, deluxe clamp-on magnifier because I'm getting old and wearing two sets of reading glasses to solder and do fine work is not really working well. A mountable heavy-duty variable power supply would be awesome. Or a Porsche.

Hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did making and sharing it. Frankly, I would have no clue as to which category this is in...but it wouldn't be messiest!

- Will