EEVblog #570 - LAB Cleanup And Shelving

[EEVblog]

Dave cleans up the lab and adds some shelves.
Exciting stuff.
Original lab timelapse build:

[Excavatoree]

Your monitor situation looks familiar.  As part of my self intervention, I made myself fix them and give them away.  I had plans to do something with them, but, after they sat for so long, I had to realize that it just wasn't happening.

I got rid of some computers, and I also need to <shudder> get rid of some Fluke meters. (or at least the cases - they take up too much room.  I have the large, C100 cases with 27/25/8025s in them)

Sadly, I realize the only solution is a two pronged one:  Organize by adding shelves, and, sadly, getting rid of stuff.

EDIT:  I also had a video game, and a cash register at one time, but, lacking the space you have, I got rid of them.  (Well, OK, I have the space, I just wanted other stuff.  I still have a problem, but at least I admit it.)  Now, to scrap the old Silicone Graphics Indy computers that are taking up space.  Sigh.

[ARGLaser]

Ah, the thin strip of visible floor to walk from the bench to the door without stepping on anything.

That's a sight I'm familiar with

[NickS]

Need someone to take away a few of the monitors in Sydney?

I only have 5 hooked up to my work computer at the moment. I'm not anywhere near the roof yet.

[daddario]

Well, the floor resembles my lab quite a lot, I just have less of it to fill up.

[electronics man]

Well done dave you have admitted it and finally got round to clearing up your lab. My lab is a mess too I only have a wooden table but now ear to put any thing I may utilise the space under the table too put some component sorter things. My biggest problem are lose resistors and jumper wires.

[rolandpenplotter]

I thought I was bad, with 6 TINY ISP routers, an old PowerMac G4, a VCR, a CRT 17" monitor, and old PC or two and a vintage... Roland Pen Plotter... but you're just the absolute limit my old mukka

What ARE you going to do with 22 LCD monitors?

Check yourself into "Freecycle" mate, and get shot of them:

https://groups.freecycle.org/group/FreecycleSydneyNW/posts/all

[PA4TIM]

Hi, my name is Fred and I have this problem too.
But I'm on the right track. I get a lot of gear offered for free. But I'm at the point I have all the gear I need . I do not look on things like ebay. I'm very proud I did not buy the Tek 556 a few days ago (but this was very hard because I really like the 556).

Things I do not use but want to keep go to the garage and if I have not used it in a year or so I junk it. I do no dumpster diving. I have more then enough parts on stock. The last week I rearranged  my lab too. I selected all the gear I really used and Added a shelf above my desk. I had a Tek 7603 and a 132 on the shelf above my table. That is so deep I had a 60 cm deep shelf. All the other gear was around 30-40 cm deep. So I placed an other shelf and put the 7603 on the bottom shelf of my 7704 Tekmobile. The result is more room because my desk could be closer to the wall, and I have now better acces to the gear I use.

My floor is now free of stuff and I want to keep it that way. It allready starts to become more easy to keep it like this.

[(In)Sanity]

You know your an electronics hoarder when.......

9 volt batteries are not really dead until they get below 5 volts or less, or start to leak all over  (Just tossed 6 that were < 7 volts)

That 1 inch piece of wire made of something that resembles a conductive metal might just be useful so you keep it.

Your wire bin is at least 4 cubic ft of low quality wire.

You've got at least 200 circuit boards to pull parts from (My current status    )

That bulged out cap still has capacitance...so you also keep it.

You can't find your favorite pair of tweezers...so you just buy another.   

You've got tubs of power cords,  an order of magnitude more then devices to go with them  (I qualify).

You think that connector might fit a future project..so you start a new bin full of them.  I can't recall the last time I used one.

So....you know your an electronics hoarder...when.....

[Radio Tech]

Yep, have this problem also

[david77]

Yeah, I know the problem, Dave. I can fill up any size of space with crap usefull things 

I'd turn the whiteboard-on-castors into a test-lead-hanger-thingie-on-castors.

[Tinkerer]

I have tons of stuff as well. I have reorganized things a couple times, but when things are packed together so that no amount of organizing helps, you know you have too much stuff stuffed into a space.

9 volt batteries are not really dead until they get below 5 volts or less, or start to leak all over  (Just tossed 6 that were < 7 volts)

So I am not the only one guilty of doing this sort of thing. Also has to do with the fact that I am at a loss as to recycling them. Feel its wrong to just throw them out but havent taken the time to take them to the proper location for recycling.

The only thing the stops me from accumulating more stuff is that I am simply out of space.(this doesnt only apply to electronics by the way even though I got enough of that; not really enough but you get me) Wont be too long until I likely move to a new place and can decompress all my stuff all over the place.

I have watched alot of the videos, but dont think I have seen that model raceway or whatever that is. What is that, I am a fan of models like that. Played table top games and all.

[Macci]

I guess all electronics nerds share the same problem as you Dave. I came to the same conclusion and just recently started to sort out the stuff in my room. But that really isn't a solution, it's just more organised mess, but it's the same mess
The trouble I have though, is that my "lab" is my room at the same time, so having the path of least resistance is not really acceptable when you have someone come over.
Luckily i have an old analog Tesla scope, so visitors have something to sit on

P.S: It's my first post here. I've been watching the blog ever since it was created and no sooner than today I finally decided to create an account. LOL

[GreyWoolfe]

Whoa.  My office/workspace isn't near as large as yours-9.5' by 22' (2.9 meters by 6.7 meters).  I can always see the floor.  After all, I must have room for my 4 legged office manager, rolling chairs, oscilloscope cart and toolbox.  Now, the 8' workbench, the 6' ham radio desk and the 8' by 9.5' 'L' shaped desk, the 2, 2' by 4', 5 shelf wire racks and the top of the military filing cabinet, those are another matter completely.  I guess that means I am not really a hoarder just a wannabe .

[(In)Sanity]

Is having a fire safe to store your home brew LiPo packs considered a hording problem when you've never done anything in RC models ?

[mikeselectricstuff]

I've got good at clearing out anything from the workshop that's wasting space to maintain useability - anything ebayable gets ebayed, but then there's a couple of levels of offline storage areas in rooms in the house.
My biggest problem is the stuff that's too big/heavy or too obscure/specialised/low-value to be worth ebaying, but too nice/potentially useful to throw away. 
For example :
Huge professional DLP projector full of nice optics and a gazillion fans, but with a dead bulb that is too expensive for it to be worth replacing. A couple of argon lasers. A few Helium-neon lasers. A collection of CCTV cameras, mounting brackets and lenses. A CO2 medical laser whose power is now dwarfed by a cheap Chinese tube. A few hundred oddball shaped TFT displays that were a bargain at the time. More oddball PCBs than I'd ever have space to make into a PCB wall
An Amstrad portable PC. An Acorn Risc PC. Approximately 1.75  Roland X/Y plotters
The obligitory Inkjet printer in unknown condition.  A huge box of random linear wall-warts. Big pile of electrical wall enclosures  that were cheap at the time and might come in handy, despite that any job that these would be used would have a budget that could easily afford new ones (if the right size). A jumbotron display module and some LED screen parts. Many  bags of leftover connectors and Richco PCB spacers which I had to buy a minimum of 1000 for a job that needed rather less but was profitable enough to not care. My "cabinet of curiosities" - many  wierd/oddball bits that should be in a glass display case if I had space or a glass display case. Enough silica gel, which if re-baked woudl  be enough to dessicate at least one dead body. Several  reels of white LEDs that were a bargain at the time but now look pathetic compared with what I can buy new from Osram for 3p each. 

..and that's just what I can remember without even going to look....

..and that's not even starting on what's in the off-offline storage in the loft.

[rolandpenplotter]

I've got good at clearing out anything from the workshop that's wasting space to maintain useability - anything ebayable gets ebayed, but then there's a couple of levels of offline storage areas in rooms in the house.
My biggest problem is the stuff that's too big/heavy or too obscure/specialised/low-value to be worth ebaying, but too nice/potentially useful to throw away. 
For example :
Huge professional DLP projector full of nice optics and a gazillion fans, but with a dead bulb that is too expensive for it to be worth replacing. A couple of argon lasers. A few Helium-neon lasers. A collection of CCTV cameras, mounting brackets and lenses. A CO2 medical laser whose power is now dwarfed by a cheap Chinese tube. A few hundred oddball shaped TFT displays that were a bargain at the time. More oddball PCBs than I'd ever have space to make into a PCB wall
An Amstrad portable PC. An Acorn Risc PC. Approximately 1.75  Roland X/Y plotters
The obligitory Inkjet printer in unknown condition.  A huge box of random linear wall-warts. Big pile of electrical wall enclosures  that were cheap at the time and might come in handy, despite that any job that these would be used would have a budget that could easily afford new ones (if the right size). A jumbotron display module and some LED screen parts. Many  bags of leftover connectors and Richco PCB spacers which I had to buy a minimum of 1000 for a job that needed rather less but was profitable enough to not care. My "cabinet of curiosities" - many  wierd/oddball bits that should be in a glass display case if I had space or a glass display case. Enough silica gel, which if re-baked woudl  be enough to dessicate at least one dead body. Several  reels of white LEDs that were a bargain at the time but now look pathetic compared with what I can buy new from Osram for 3p each. 

..and that's just what I can remember without even going to look....

..and that's not even starting on what's in the off-offline storage in the loft.

Did you mean 175 Roland X/Y plotters... or actually "1.75"?

[(In)Sanity]

I think admitting you have a problem is one step.  Buying shelves is not really a solution at all.  It's just like saying...yes my problem has overflowed on to the floor so I'm just going to go vertical with the same problem.   The solution to your problem is selling stuff off and disposing (recycling) of everything else.   I've been in that very same process for at least a few months and have managed to not bring anything new in to the mix.    My "lab" still looks like a mess..but at least it's not getting worse.   It gets sooo frustrating working in a messing environment.   If your video helps even a single person it was worth it,  so long as they are not working on something evil and the clean space lets them finish

Jeff

[rolandpenplotter]

I've got good at clearing out anything from the workshop that's wasting space to maintain useability - anything ebayable gets ebayed, but then there's a couple of levels of offline storage areas in rooms in the house.
My biggest problem is the stuff that's too big/heavy or too obscure/specialised/low-value to be worth ebaying, but too nice/potentially useful to throw away. 
For example :
Huge professional DLP projector full of nice optics and a gazillion fans, but with a dead bulb that is too expensive for it to be worth replacing. A couple of argon lasers. A few Helium-neon lasers. A collection of CCTV cameras, mounting brackets and lenses. A CO2 medical laser whose power is now dwarfed by a cheap Chinese tube. A few hundred oddball shaped TFT displays that were a bargain at the time. More oddball PCBs than I'd ever have space to make into a PCB wall
An Amstrad portable PC. An Acorn Risc PC. Approximately 1.75  Roland X/Y plotters
The obligitory Inkjet printer in unknown condition.  A huge box of random linear wall-warts. Big pile of electrical wall enclosures  that were cheap at the time and might come in handy, despite that any job that these would be used would have a budget that could easily afford new ones (if the right size). A jumbotron display module and some LED screen parts. Many  bags of leftover connectors and Richco PCB spacers which I had to buy a minimum of 1000 for a job that needed rather less but was profitable enough to not care. My "cabinet of curiosities" - many  wierd/oddball bits that should be in a glass display case if I had space or a glass display case. Enough silica gel, which if re-baked woudl  be enough to dessicate at least one dead body. Several  reels of white LEDs that were a bargain at the time but now look pathetic compared with what I can buy new from Osram for 3p each. 

..and that's just what I can remember without even going to look....

..and that's not even starting on what's in the off-offline storage in the loft.

You know what you need to do Mike? Make an invisibility ray. I'm sure lasers and big optics and cooling would feature in the design somewhere. Then make the rest of the stuff leftover disappear too.

And then trip over it and injure yourself? Sheer genius. That's not solving the problem, because it's still there! If you want to be in denial... CLOSE YOUR EYES (and it's simpler).

[(In)Sanity]

I've got good at clearing out anything from the workshop that's wasting space to maintain useability - anything ebayable gets ebayed, but then there's a couple of levels of offline storage areas in rooms in the house.
My biggest problem is the stuff that's too big/heavy or too obscure/specialised/low-value to be worth ebaying, but too nice/potentially useful to throw away. 
For example :
Huge professional DLP projector full of nice optics and a gazillion fans, but with a dead bulb that is too expensive for it to be worth replacing. A couple of argon lasers. A few Helium-neon lasers. A collection of CCTV cameras, mounting brackets and lenses. A CO2 medical laser whose power is now dwarfed by a cheap Chinese tube. A few hundred oddball shaped TFT displays that were a bargain at the time. More oddball PCBs than I'd ever have space to make into a PCB wall
An Amstrad portable PC. An Acorn Risc PC. Approximately 1.75  Roland X/Y plotters
The obligitory Inkjet printer in unknown condition.  A huge box of random linear wall-warts. Big pile of electrical wall enclosures  that were cheap at the time and might come in handy, despite that any job that these would be used would have a budget that could easily afford new ones (if the right size). A jumbotron display module and some LED screen parts. Many  bags of leftover connectors and Richco PCB spacers which I had to buy a minimum of 1000 for a job that needed rather less but was profitable enough to not care. My "cabinet of curiosities" - many  wierd/oddball bits that should be in a glass display case if I had space or a glass display case. Enough silica gel, which if re-baked woudl  be enough to dessicate at least one dead body. Several  reels of white LEDs that were a bargain at the time but now look pathetic compared with what I can buy new from Osram for 3p each. 

..and that's just what I can remember without even going to look....

..and that's not even starting on what's in the off-offline storage in the loft.

You know what you need to do Mike? Make an invisibility ray. I'm sure lasers and big optics and cooling would feature in the design somewhere. Then make the rest of the stuff leftover disappear too.

And then trip over it and injure yourself? Sheer genius. That's not solving the problem, because it's still there! If you want to be in denial... CLOSE YOUR EYES (and it's simpler).

I would go more for a shrink ray and then put the item on a shelf in a box.   Once the box gets too full shrink it down and put it in a box...on a shelf....

Jeff

[rolandpenplotter]

I've got good at clearing out anything from the workshop that's wasting space to maintain useability - anything ebayable gets ebayed, but then there's a couple of levels of offline storage areas in rooms in the house.
My biggest problem is the stuff that's too big/heavy or too obscure/specialised/low-value to be worth ebaying, but too nice/potentially useful to throw away. 
For example :
Huge professional DLP projector full of nice optics and a gazillion fans, but with a dead bulb that is too expensive for it to be worth replacing. A couple of argon lasers. A few Helium-neon lasers. A collection of CCTV cameras, mounting brackets and lenses. A CO2 medical laser whose power is now dwarfed by a cheap Chinese tube. A few hundred oddball shaped TFT displays that were a bargain at the time. More oddball PCBs than I'd ever have space to make into a PCB wall
An Amstrad portable PC. An Acorn Risc PC. Approximately 1.75  Roland X/Y plotters
The obligitory Inkjet printer in unknown condition.  A huge box of random linear wall-warts. Big pile of electrical wall enclosures  that were cheap at the time and might come in handy, despite that any job that these would be used would have a budget that could easily afford new ones (if the right size). A jumbotron display module and some LED screen parts. Many  bags of leftover connectors and Richco PCB spacers which I had to buy a minimum of 1000 for a job that needed rather less but was profitable enough to not care. My "cabinet of curiosities" - many  wierd/oddball bits that should be in a glass display case if I had space or a glass display case. Enough silica gel, which if re-baked woudl  be enough to dessicate at least one dead body. Several  reels of white LEDs that were a bargain at the time but now look pathetic compared with what I can buy new from Osram for 3p each. 

..and that's just what I can remember without even going to look....

..and that's not even starting on what's in the off-offline storage in the loft.

You know what you need to do Mike? Make an invisibility ray. I'm sure lasers and big optics and cooling would feature in the design somewhere. Then make the rest of the stuff leftover disappear too.

And then trip over it and injure yourself? Sheer genius. That's not solving the problem, because it's still there! If you want to be in denial... CLOSE YOUR EYES (and it's simpler).

I would go more for a shrink ray and then put the item on a shelf in a box.   Once the box gets too full shrink it down and put it in a box...on a shelf....

Jeff

Or... just get rid of it all?

[mikeselectricstuff]

I've got good at clearing out anything from the workshop that's wasting space to maintain useability - anything ebayable gets ebayed, but then there's a couple of levels of offline storage areas in rooms in the house.
My biggest problem is the stuff that's too big/heavy or too obscure/specialised/low-value to be worth ebaying, but too nice/potentially useful to throw away. 
For example :
Huge professional DLP projector full of nice optics and a gazillion fans, but with a dead bulb that is too expensive for it to be worth replacing. A couple of argon lasers. A few Helium-neon lasers. A collection of CCTV cameras, mounting brackets and lenses. A CO2 medical laser whose power is now dwarfed by a cheap Chinese tube. A few hundred oddball shaped TFT displays that were a bargain at the time. More oddball PCBs than I'd ever have space to make into a PCB wall
An Amstrad portable PC. An Acorn Risc PC. Approximately 1.75  Roland X/Y plotters
The obligitory Inkjet printer in unknown condition.  A huge box of random linear wall-warts. Big pile of electrical wall enclosures  that were cheap at the time and might come in handy, despite that any job that these would be used would have a budget that could easily afford new ones (if the right size). A jumbotron display module and some LED screen parts. Many  bags of leftover connectors and Richco PCB spacers which I had to buy a minimum of 1000 for a job that needed rather less but was profitable enough to not care. My "cabinet of curiosities" - many  wierd/oddball bits that should be in a glass display case if I had space or a glass display case. Enough silica gel, which if re-baked woudl  be enough to dessicate at least one dead body. Several  reels of white LEDs that were a bargain at the time but now look pathetic compared with what I can buy new from Osram for 3p each. 

..and that's just what I can remember without even going to look....

..and that's not even starting on what's in the off-offline storage in the loft.

Did you mean 175 Roland X/Y plotters... or actually "1.75"?

No, 1.75 - I started modding one to be a pick/place before I realised that feeders, not X/Y positioning was the actual problem that needed solving.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I've got good at clearing out anything from the workshop that's wasting space to maintain useability - anything ebayable gets ebayed, but then there's a couple of levels of offline storage areas in rooms in the house.
My biggest problem is the stuff that's too big/heavy or too obscure/specialised/low-value to be worth ebaying, but too nice/potentially useful to throw away. 
For example :
Huge professional DLP projector full of nice optics and a gazillion fans, but with a dead bulb that is too expensive for it to be worth replacing. A couple of argon lasers. A few Helium-neon lasers. A collection of CCTV cameras, mounting brackets and lenses. A CO2 medical laser whose power is now dwarfed by a cheap Chinese tube. A few hundred oddball shaped TFT displays that were a bargain at the time. More oddball PCBs than I'd ever have space to make into a PCB wall
An Amstrad portable PC. An Acorn Risc PC. Approximately 1.75  Roland X/Y plotters
The obligitory Inkjet printer in unknown condition.  A huge box of random linear wall-warts. Big pile of electrical wall enclosures  that were cheap at the time and might come in handy, despite that any job that these would be used would have a budget that could easily afford new ones (if the right size). A jumbotron display module and some LED screen parts. Many  bags of leftover connectors and Richco PCB spacers which I had to buy a minimum of 1000 for a job that needed rather less but was profitable enough to not care. My "cabinet of curiosities" - many  wierd/oddball bits that should be in a glass display case if I had space or a glass display case. Enough silica gel, which if re-baked woudl  be enough to dessicate at least one dead body. Several  reels of white LEDs that were a bargain at the time but now look pathetic compared with what I can buy new from Osram for 3p each. 

..and that's just what I can remember without even going to look....

..and that's not even starting on what's in the off-offline storage in the loft.

You know what you need to do Mike? Make an invisibility ray. I'm sure lasers and big optics and cooling would feature in the design somewhere. Then make the rest of the stuff leftover disappear too.

And then trip over it and injure yourself? Sheer genius. That's not solving the problem, because it's still there! If you want to be in denial... CLOSE YOUR EYES (and it's simpler).

I would go more for a shrink ray and then put the item on a shelf in a box.   Once the box gets too full shrink it down and put it in a box...on a shelf....

Jeff

Or... just get rid of it all?

That's the problem - I'm not bothered about getting money for most of it, but it's too nice to just dump.

[rolandpenplotter]

I've got good at clearing out anything from the workshop that's wasting space to maintain useability - anything ebayable gets ebayed, but then there's a couple of levels of offline storage areas in rooms in the house.
My biggest problem is the stuff that's too big/heavy or too obscure/specialised/low-value to be worth ebaying, but too nice/potentially useful to throw away. 
For example :
Huge professional DLP projector full of nice optics and a gazillion fans, but with a dead bulb that is too expensive for it to be worth replacing. A couple of argon lasers. A few Helium-neon lasers. A collection of CCTV cameras, mounting brackets and lenses. A CO2 medical laser whose power is now dwarfed by a cheap Chinese tube. A few hundred oddball shaped TFT displays that were a bargain at the time. More oddball PCBs than I'd ever have space to make into a PCB wall
An Amstrad portable PC. An Acorn Risc PC. Approximately 1.75  Roland X/Y plotters
The obligitory Inkjet printer in unknown condition.  A huge box of random linear wall-warts. Big pile of electrical wall enclosures  that were cheap at the time and might come in handy, despite that any job that these would be used would have a budget that could easily afford new ones (if the right size). A jumbotron display module and some LED screen parts. Many  bags of leftover connectors and Richco PCB spacers which I had to buy a minimum of 1000 for a job that needed rather less but was profitable enough to not care. My "cabinet of curiosities" - many  wierd/oddball bits that should be in a glass display case if I had space or a glass display case. Enough silica gel, which if re-baked woudl  be enough to dessicate at least one dead body. Several  reels of white LEDs that were a bargain at the time but now look pathetic compared with what I can buy new from Osram for 3p each. 

..and that's just what I can remember without even going to look....

..and that's not even starting on what's in the off-offline storage in the loft.

Did you mean 175 Roland X/Y plotters... or actually "1.75"?

No, 1.75 - I started modding one to be a pick/place before I realised that feeders, not X/Y positioning was the actual problem that needed solving.

Ahh!

You may have guessed that I have one; a DXY-1100 - I may sell it. Any good to you?

[EEVblog]

3. Have a place to put the new thing that is NOT the floor, or stacked on top of something else.

That was a tad hard without the shelves!

You've mentioned a few things recently you want to do to improve your efficiency and I have not been shy about trying to suggest new stuff is not the answer

Sorry to say, but it often is.
You often can't do *insert job here* very well without having the right tool for the job.

[EEVblog]

Buying shelves is not really a solution at all.

It is a big vital part of the solution.
Look at what just happen, I had a ton of stuff and it just covered the floor. Now I have that same stuff, and a ton of space left, and it's al neat and tidy.
Next step is getting rid of some stuff. But if I didn't get the shelves, and only got rid of stuff, then it would still look very similar to what it did without the ability to easily shelve and organise.

[sleemanj]

Having to clear a space to work (or walk) is just a sign of greatness.  Story goes when Jim Williams had to move his workbench once, he just wrapped the whole thing in gladwrap (cling film, saran wrap depending on your place in the world), moved it, and then cut it open at it's destination.

[rolandpenplotter]

Having to clear a space to work (or walk) is just a sign of greatness.  Story goes when Jim Williams had to move his workbench once, he just wrapped the whole thing in gladwrap (cling film, saran wrap depending on your place in the world), moved it, and then cut it open at it's destination.

Now that's a passionate engineer I'd love to meet him.

[Fsck]

Having to clear a space to work (or walk) is just a sign of greatness.  Story goes when Jim Williams had to move his workbench once, he just wrapped the whole thing in gladwrap (cling film, saran wrap depending on your place in the world), moved it, and then cut it open at it's destination.

Now that's a passionate engineer I'd love to meet him.

you're a little too late.

shelves are great though, I have a small apartment and I "rebuild" my bench by shuffle equipment to and from a set of shelves depending on the project required.

[BravoV]

Now that's a passionate engineer I'd love to meet him.

Jim Williams passed away on June 12, 2011 (aged 63).

[rolandpenplotter]

Now that's a passionate engineer I'd love to meet him.

Jim Williams passed away on June 12, 2011 (aged 63).

Aww

God rest his spirit.

[Hydrawerk]

I would never walk barefoot in my lab or room... There might always be a screw, nail, or a sharp metal piece on the floor.

[Rutger]

Dave, tip for bubble wrap rolls, buy some PVC pipe and tie to top shelve with some ties and you can hang the rolls up.

[c4757p]

I would never walk barefoot in my lab or room... There might always be a screw, nail, or a sharp metal piece on the floor.

That's how I find them

[calin]

I just love the almost dead plants in the plastic bin ... Claasic !!!

No worry Dave .. there is more to come in the new space

[all_repair]

Space and Time is tightly coupled.  It is the lack of time that eventually becomes a lack of space problem.

Self  help group for common disease here :-)  I have been forcing myself to have a paper list for most effective spending (effect over money).  Hobby stuff drop way down the list, and some that I would have bought on the first day, hasn't been bought for almost 3 years now.  The most effectively thing to spend is:
-- tidying up (zero money in, and getting biggest effect).

But now Amazon shipping to Singapore free* , and finding a cheap way to ship from Taobao, are messing up my plan again.

[EEVblog]

Space and Time is tightly coupled.  It is the lack of time that eventually becomes a lack of space problem.

Very true.
Every one of those items on the floor was "I'll just sit it here for the time being..."

[staxquad]

I'm looking forward to your next dumpster diving video.

EEVBlog instant auto reply, "don't hold your breath".

[(In)Sanity]

Buying shelves is not really a solution at all.

It is a big vital part of the solution.
Look at what just happen, I had a ton of stuff and it just covered the floor. Now I have that same stuff, and a ton of space left, and it's al neat and tidy.
Next step is getting rid of some stuff. But if I didn't get the shelves, and only got rid of stuff, then it would still look very similar to what it did without the ability to easily shelve and organise.

Ahh yes,  well valid points.  It sounds like you have the correct attitude toward the shelves.   Often we'll get more shelves and free up space only to just have room for more stuff.   It becomes sort of a vicious cycle.    It sounds like you ave a handle on it.

Jeff

[SeanB]

I did do a tidy up, now the scrap yard is getting a lot of metal in the 4 types he takes. Been looking at the pile of old VCR's and thinking that they will also go into the box for stripping and recycling. Hard to throw old PCB's because there still are usable resistors on them, or transistors.......

Anybody want a Tektronics Phaser 340, perfect working order, plenty of black wax free. Also there are 2 Umatic VCR's I really want to tear down, at least 50kg of scrap steel in each. Think there is still one Umatic tape around as well, though most went to the dump and had a compactor run over them ( video available with sound and vision but no smell) and I know where they are to around a 5 cubic metre range.

[Greg323i]

The first shop I worked in was almost as bad as Apex Electronics, in Sun Valley, but not nearly as big. I do not have pictures, nor do I want them! 

[daqq]

Impressive mess Dave! Though when compared to one of my professors and his lab and his cabinet (and his hallway), it pales. He stacks of stuff (tech, papers,...) so high that they actually managed to block out the sunlight from his windows. He had a clean path where you could walk to the desk. He is a good person, with this tiny flaw :-)

[Monkeh]

That's the problem - I'm not bothered about getting money for most of it, but it's too nice to just dump.

Need to let people come raid it for stuff they could use, then!

[victor]

I don't understand why you have your work benches on a narrow corner and have shelves on the center of the room. I would totally inverse that setup.

[peter.mitchell]

My mantra for a while was "the floor is the biggest shelf in the room"...
Lack of space really does become a problem though; shelving really helps it.
One of my issues is boxes; boxes are a big waste of space, unless they are full, they waste so much space.
The same applies to other smaller containers on the workbench. You almost always go to fill the empty one because you want it kept separate, however this just wastes space.
I solved my problem by having a few small tubs/containers, and only a couple of boxes, every week i'd empty tubs/containers my stuff into ziplock bags and put it in the box, after a few months, i'd sort them all back into the component storage.
For bigger things that you can't really do that with, shelving helps a lot. Need room on your bench but you have 5 projects running and there is no space in between? Dump everything from the project into a ziplock bag, put it on the shelf.
The other big thing is test equipment and leads. You have to force yourself to pack up when you're done. Put your stuff away, tidy up your leads, put your drivers and cutters away. You don't lose nearly as much stuff that way and it keeps the space clear!

[vk3yedotcom]

If anyone admits to having a messy lab, please post the photos

* There was the deceased estate radio/computer shed I crawled around on Saturday - but unfortunately no pics.

* The late Julie Kentwell on ABC TV will take some beating



KEY QUOTE: 'There are two types of shacks - those that are an absolute pigsty and those where nothing happens'

* More at

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=messy+shack+contest&espv=210&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=hOzcUr-SPIzfkgWFpYDQBg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=978

* More thoughts

Though often derided, there's actually some benefits of having junk all over the floor.  You can survey it. It's easier to find than if it was locked away in cupboards.   Shelves can make things look good for a while but if they increase the room's storage capacity they postpone the root problem which is 'too much stuff'.  A good approach is not to stop accumulating stuff but to insist on a rotation.  A condition of getting new junk is getting rid of a similar volume of old stuff.  20% of your most useless stuff gets sold / chucked each year to make room for incoming stuff.   Circulating stuff is healthy - we're lucky that there's still plenty of hamfests where this happens.

[Psi]

Could remove the whiteboard from its mounting frame and attach it to the roof so it can flip down when needed.

Then, when facing a difficult circuit problem and you need a different perspective, just lay down on the floor and look at the circuit on the ceiling 

[taiteki]

what a shame the plants! 

keep going!

[madworm]

Definitely go for casters for the new 'island' workbench - but not crappy ones. All of them should be on swivel mounts and come with breaks.

[EEVblog]

I don't understand why you have your work benches on a narrow corner and have shelves on the center of the room. I would totally inverse that setup.

Huh?

[chip273]

Well,
since now you have a lot of space, why don't you put a round table in the middle of the room for further teardowns and videos.
Benefits:
1) You can sit anywhere and put the camera anywhere, not just on 3 sides. A round table makes infinite possibilities.
2) Since a round table will be small, you will have to clean up between video shoots.
3) It's never been done before. Well not that I had seen any.
Just try it. You can still have a 2,10 m long table afterwards.

Also please make a fixed table, no wheels. We don't want shaky videos. Youtube is full of them.

[EEVblog]

Well,
since now you have a lot of space, why don't you put a round table in the middle of the room for further teardowns and videos.
Benefits:
1) You can sit anywhere and put the camera anywhere, not just on 3 sides. A round table makes infinite possibilities.
2) Since a round table will be small, you will have to clean up between video shoots.
3) It's never been done before. Well not that I had seen any.

4) I could have a swivel table and get 360deg rotational views (or a circular camera dolly track around the outside)

[chip273]

4) I could have a swivel table and get 360deg rotational views (or a circular camera dolly track around the outside)

Exactly, benefits are limitless 

[TiN]

Great vid, best way to clean and get rid of obsolete gear is to move to another country, then everything is sold/cleaned really quickly
What cannot be sold - goes to another dumpster collections
But after all, it's always too compelling and convenient to have needed part handy, rather than waiting days or weeks for orders delivery every time.

[lapm]

I wonder if messy lab is somehow related to fact that some people has brains for engineering. I like designing things even if im not engineer by work. And mess follows...

My electronics corner im re-organizing looks like a mess. My wife has asked me to clear out the junk few times now.  Figured i better do it before she does it. She might actually throw away something worth money...

Also Dave, what ever type of desk you deside to put in middle of room, make sure it has shelves under it for few plastic bins... Knowing how your lab lives, your going to need them eventually.

[(In)Sanity]

I think what we all need is a storage room right next to our "Lab" or "Shack".  It's a little easier to keep pushing the mess back in to the storage room so that when visitors come you can just close the door.   Unfortunately that's not practical for most people due to space constraints in our work environment.   It also takes some discipline to keep the mess inside.

I think it would be great if everyone who cares to stay organized shared ways to keep the lab clean.   Little tricks like hanging jumper wires from a peg.   I for one would love to know new tricks for organization while still keeping a productive environment.   It would also be nice to identify the most problematic items around the lab,  such as scope probes that never really have a good home,  etc.

Jeff

[PA4TIM]

I was pretty pleased with the result of reorganising my lab. Yesterday evening my wife entered my lab, that is she stopped in the door because she does mot dare to walk there without shoes.

I was searching a watch of hers I repaired a while back and told here. I know I have it because when cleaned up I have seen it and put it somewhere it does not get lost. Then she looked around and asked "really, are you sure you cleaned up ? "

[nihilism]

I have a 60m2 shed full of stuff i've collected over the years. I'm slowly trying to go through it all and throw stuff out.
The two main problems;
1) I have, and have had, too many hobbies. These include, in no particular order, electronics, woodwork, metalwork, fish keeping, fishing, cars and probably more i cant think of right now.
2) I work in a job where a lot of "too good to throw away" stuff follows me home.

I tend to put stuff in boxes and think i'll sort it out later, but i don't.

The more space you have, the more crap you will accumulate.

[BiOzZ]

I cant say i have the largest workspace ... but i can say i have a real problem keeping things clean ...

VIEW IT HERE
http://imgur.com/a/rSbbV

And yes take a guess who pays the most rent XPP

[Rutger]

Cleanup tips;

1) Donate back to the dumpster room, surely you don't need all this stuff
2) Donate monitors and UPS's to local hacker-space. They usually host there own webserver and can use the UPS's.
3)Get rid off the copy machine. Why do you need a giant copying machine anyway??? a small all in one printer does the same.
4) Take the bean bags home, do you really have time to sit in them?
5) Put things you don't want to trash on a website like graigslist or something like recycletheworld.org for free.

[Monkeh]

3)Get rid off the copy machine. Why do you need a giant copying machine anyway??? a small all in one printer does the same.

Without the speed.

[GreyWoolfe]

3)Get rid off the copy machine. Why do you need a giant copying machine anyway??? a small all in one printer does the same.

Without the speed.

And the cool factor.

[Monkeh]

And the decent paper tray. And the non-bullshit network printing.

[BiOzZ]

and the lower cost per page

[PA4TIM]

Thanks BioZz, I feel a lot better now 

[JackOfVA]

The most space efficient storage system I've run across was shelving with castors.

Top view looked something like this [----] is a shelf system, something like the ones Dave added but with wheels on the bottom and much stronger so that they did not flex significantly in any dimension. To access shelf system 3, you pulled it out

[1----]
[2-----]
=====[3----]
[4----]
[5----]

These were expensive shelves and ran on a track mechanism or smooth floor (not carpet). We used them for paper files back in the day before scanners and cheap digital storage, but they would work well for parts or equipment, provided nothing sticks out beyond the shelf width.

[Steffen]

I really liked the part of self-awarness that you have a serious problem Dave. :-D Insight is the first way to bless.
I really would do much to have such lab for my use. At work i have a L shaped desk with four monitors connected to 2 pcs and with the corresponding keyboards and mice. So no place for more stuff than few sheets of A4 paper. the shorter piece of the configuration is covered by a Tek TDS 460 scope (triple Hameg PSU on top), power bar at the middle and on the right side (de-)soldering stations from weller and paper registers. Files and function generator and Keithly 2000 Multimeter need to take place at a wall mounted flying shelf above. Insulating transformer and R&S FSP7 are on a small desk-high cabinet opposite the L-ankge. Tools, Stuff and measurement stuff need to find place in containers with casters under the desk.
 
In reality i have roughly one square metre to work on electronics. So my place has to stay clean and tidy. 
Few cardboard boxes behind me at the window in front of the radiators will go away when all parts are assembled to cables and put to the XFEL tunnel.
But I'm pretty okay with that. I like tidy places and would keep it tidy before it starts to get messy.
But in my lab are more colleagues and we have really not much space to mess something up. Dirty mechanic work like drilling, milling and grinding is done in another room or in field installations are done there.

At home i have to be comfortable with my one room and there is also not much space for messing stuff up. I like it to have save space around me without hazard to step on something sharp or tremble over heavy parts.

[Barny]

My hobby-room was even worse.
At the moment that I couldn't open the door and couldn't enter the room I thought thats time to tidy up.

It took me a 3 weeks till the room was useable 
Sorry no photo.

[SeanB]

Whiteboard can easily have the big board removed and a simple bar placed as a top. Then you have storage place for the bubble wrap rolls and for all test leads as well. I made one out of scrapyard railing for that at work, as we use enough bubble wrap that a stand was useful. Cost about $20 and a half day of welding to make it from scrap steel only. Heavy enough that it is hard to pull over.

[hikariuk]

Ah, the thin strip of visible floor to walk from the bench to the door without stepping on anything.

That's a sight I'm familiar with

I used to have a similar arrangement in my bedroom for many years...actually I couldn't even used my bed for quite a while because it was covered with stuff there wasn't room for elsewhere.

[hikariuk]

I don't understand why you have your work benches on a narrow corner and have shelves on the center of the room. I would totally inverse that setup.

The shelves are in a corner and the workbench is against a wall...

[hikariuk]

3)Get rid off the copy machine. Why do you need a giant copying machine anyway??? a small all in one printer does the same.

Without the speed.

And the cool factor.

Also the copier was a dumpster dive item, iirc.  So free.

[skipjackrc4]

The most space efficient storage system I've run across was shelving with castors.

Top view looked something like this [----] is a shelf system, something like the ones Dave added but with wheels on the bottom and much stronger so that they did not flex significantly in any dimension. To access shelf system 3, you pulled it out

[1----]
[2-----]
=====[3----]
[4----]
[5----]

These were expensive shelves and ran on a track mechanism or smooth floor (not carpet). We used them for paper files back in the day before scanners and cheap digital storage, but they would work well for parts or equipment, provided nothing sticks out beyond the shelf width.

Yep.  I just came up with this idea last week for storing things under my bench.  I made a prototype out of a 2x12, and so far it works wonderfully.  I'll build a few more once the weather warms up.  I can now use the full 4ft depth of my bench for storage without having to climb around on the floor to get to things.  Total cost for me was about $40 per shelf, including casters.

[papo]

Check this out, I have a similar mess! Pictures are attached. This room was used by several students who were involved with silicon molding and none of them had the time to clean up when their project was over. The rest is my own mess  . Granted, no way I can top Jim Williams but it's still quite a mess.

[wilheldp]

3)Get rid off the copy machine. Why do you need a giant copying machine anyway??? a small all in one printer does the same.

Without the speed.

And the cool factor.

Also the copier was a dumpster dive item, iirc.  So free.

Enablers!

[open loop]

Interesting to see this considering that I am redoing the study I mean den.

I admitted that I have a problem as well - my garage is not pretty but I have plans for 2014.

I was using the desk in the office as a bench and always had to pull stuff in out out leave on floor etc. I then decided why don't I just get a bench with a shelf instead of the desk. The desk was a cheaply bought one from 12 years ago so it's to off to the recycling centre with it. I scored a nice bench that needs lots of work on it but it will be worth it. :-). Nice to have he smell of fresh paint and I am installing LED lighting while I am at it. Sadly I do not have photo of my old mess though.

I think there are possibly a number of charities that could use the monitors, is there a local school that could use the whiteboard?

As for the extra bench would you need to rethink the lighting issue? And would a mechanics style tool cabinet may be useful for the often used tools that can then be moved from bench to bench. Like (very quick google search)

http://www.justtools.com.au/prod2954.htm

You would need to line the draws but this is just an idea. The often used test gear could live on top...

[cydermaster]

Not a lab as such, but this is what happened to me and my flat a few years ago .....

[fed0r]

These guys are the best homebrew teslacoilers of my city. Check out their dwelling (i think it's way beyond hoarding). BTW, they do some really awesome stuff, too.

[EEVblog]

These guys are the best homebrew teslacoilers of my city. Check out their dwelling (i think it's way beyond hoarding). BTW, they do some really awesome stuff, too.

Awesome!
Is that bare feet?

[IanJ]

Hi all,

My workshop..........but I daren't show you the other room where I keep the heavy duty tools (drill press, bandsaw etc) as it's a lot worse.

Ian.

[fed0r]

Awesome!
Is that bare feet?

Yep, they say that it's more convenient than accidentally crushing the circuits, but i can't tell for sure

[lowimpedance]

These guys are the best homebrew teslacoilers of my city. Check out their dwelling (i think it's way beyond hoarding). BTW, they do some really awesome stuff, too.

One word - IMPRESSIVE ! .

Just look at that glass work

[ablacon64]

It looked like my lab before cleaning. I gotta do something like that, sometimes I find myself pushing things around to get some space to work...

[David_AVD]

As for the extra bench would you need to rethink the lighting issue? And would a mechanics style tool cabinet may be useful for the often used tools that can then be moved from bench to bench. Like (very quick google search)

http://www.justtools.com.au/prod2954.htm

You would need to line the draws but this is just an idea. The often used test gear could live on top...

We bought a similar unit from Bunnings to keep tools that are used by everyone, but not all the time (dremell, spanners, crimpers, etc).

Each workbench has it's own small set of drawers with screwdrivers, pliers, cutters, etc of course.

As for shelving, we have shed loads of industrial stuff.  Putting stuff on shelves (and in marked boxes) saves it getting damaged and saves time rummaging through piles, moving things around as you go.

[romantronixlab]

I thought I was bad, with 6 TINY ISP routers, an old PowerMac G4, a VCR, a CRT 17" monitor, and old PC or two and a vintage... Roland Pen Plotter... but you're just the absolute limit my old mukka

What ARE you going to do with 22 LCD monitors?

Check yourself into "Freecycle" mate, and get shot of them:

https://groups.freecycle.org/group/FreecycleSydneyNW/posts/all

I think Dave might do this monitor wall thing on the next room as soon as it is organized.

[rolandpenplotter]

These guys are the best homebrew teslacoilers of my city. Check out their dwelling (i think it's way beyond hoarding). BTW, they do some really awesome stuff, too.

One word - IMPRESSIVE ! .

Just look at that glass work

Yep - they'll be looking at them when they fall down and smack them on the head!

Just one thing that bugs me is the motherboards that are hanging on the wall... a little bit as if they think they are "art" ... it makes me cringe when people take random circuits and put them on display like this; maybe I have the wrong impression, but I've a strong feeling that's what is going on here. It's like when people who build props for films, spray silver paint all over any old bits and bobs and stick them to the costumes to make them look "clever" and "complicated".

[EDIT]

Yep - I'm pretty sure about the above; they're young guys and have a tedious meme "troll face" cutout stuck on a shelf, and then there's the "pre-requisite-to-be-validated-as-a-maker" "token laser", staged for the photo, firing a beam to look all clever and sci-fi...

Please...

That's a rant over - the workshop looks messy, but then - so what - so's mine

[c4757p]

Just one thing that bugs me is the motherboards that are hanging on the wall... a little bit as if they think they are "art" ... it makes me cringe when people take random circuits and put them on display like this

Yep - I'm pretty sure about the above; they're young guys and have a tedious meme "troll face" cutout stuck on a shelf, and then there's the "pre-requisite-to-be-validated-as-a-maker" "token laser", staged for the photo, firing a beam to look all clever and sci-fi...

Oh, just let 'em decorate how it makes them happy...

[rolandpenplotter]

Just one thing that bugs me is the motherboards that are hanging on the wall... a little bit as if they think they are "art" ... it makes me cringe when people take random circuits and put them on display like this

Yep - I'm pretty sure about the above; they're young guys and have a tedious meme "troll face" cutout stuck on a shelf, and then there's the "pre-requisite-to-be-validated-as-a-maker" "token laser", staged for the photo, firing a beam to look all clever and sci-fi...

Oh, just let 'em decorate how it makes them happy...

Haha!


Yeah, just expressing, that's all - it's just so predictable; I bet they're called "makers"...

[c4757p]

Eh, they never claimed to be interior designers. Hanging up some crap that represents your interests can hardly be the worst way to decorate a "workspace".

(And don't even get me started on "maker". It sounds similar to "wanker" for a reason...)

[rolandpenplotter]

Eh, they never claimed to be interior designers. Hanging up some crap that represents your interests can hardly be the worst way to decorate a "workspace".

(And don't even get me started on "maker". It sounds similar to "wanker" for a reason...)

Nooo!! It'ssss a "HACKERspace"

I agree; harmless yeah

"Maker Faire" or "Steam Punk"

Uhmm... okay. The titles used by people who spend more time thinking up "edgy" names for their hobbies and all making their own "individual" clothes for their stereotype group, than actually getting on with some proper engineering which is actually useful and saleable? Yup.

[c4757p]

Uhmm... okay. The titles used by people who spend more time thinking up "edgy" names for their hobbies and all making their own "individual" clothes for their stereotype group, than actually getting on with some proper engineering which is actually useful and saleable? Yup.

I'm not going to take this thread any further off topic - the whole "maker" phenomenon is something about which I'd actually like to write with some thought, and may start a thread on that. But I will respond to this...

Everybody (I can hear a select few "I don't care what people think about me" dudes clearing throats and warming up keyboards... ahem, the vast majority) wants to be seen in a positive light. That includes what you call your hobby. And nobody is always getting on with some proper engineering. We all take time to do other things, and the part of your brain that might come up with cool names for your interests doesn't go to sleep when you wash the dishes.

As to the old "'individual clothing' herp derp, their group all dresses alike" cliche: personal dress and style in general is not a way to look completely different from everybody else. If that were the goal you could just go around naked, I'm sure you have a unique birthmark or three. It's a way to identify with your group.

useful and saleable

This is what employment is for, not hobby.

[manicdoc]

Wow. I suspected a floor overflow flag was going to trip soon...

My garage workshop goes through a similar cyclic ebb and flow to/from the floor to shelves - the period determined by my wife and a 'if in doubt throw it out' mindset... Yes, ouch!

[Gribo]

I hope my wife will not see this thread.. https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/grin.gif

[singera]

hey dave
why the yamaha receiver isn`t at home connected to the TV set? back to the future sound better with dolby digital surround sound.

Arnon

BTW
this article hasnt have link to this tread.

[CJWarlock]

While I'm generally OK with wilfred's post I'd like to add something to 1 of his thoughts.

6. Don't go into the dumpster room without something to contribute.

That would be hard to do - the dumpster isn't a shop, one can't just think "hey I'd like to..." and just go there and find what he needs. The character of the dumpster makes it hard to predict logicaly when there will be something worth collecting.

I think it's more an intuition thing, sometimes called 'the gut feeling'. I personally would trust my intuition and go to the dumpster whenever I'd feel it might be a good idea. Hey, at last brains are something like complex antennas - one looking for some interesting equipment might subconciously receive a thoughtpattern of someone who is just about to throw such equipment. The purpose of the equipment is to be found later, if it is really interesting thing - just take it.

[bronson]

In the video Dave sez

So it looks full but, yeah, the idea is that I'm going to sell a lot of that stuff so that's only temporary.

Spoken on just about 100% of Hoarders episodes.   

[CJWarlock]

Not a lab as such, but this is what happened to me and my flat a few years ago .....

Is this episode of "How Clean Is Your House" really about your home? (I mean if it is not meant to said as a joke or something)

If yes - IMO you won our little unannounced contest in this thread.
The second place goes IMO to the Russian Teslacoilers.
The third would go to  Julie Kentwell with his HAM radio and television lab.
Everyone else's lab/workplace - meah, you're behind the masters of the mess.

Of course this is only my subjective opinion.

I'd post some photos of my friend's house (2 floors, 3 rooms and tons of electronics and stuff everywhere) or my home lab from ca. 8 years ago (just moved, haven't got much furniture yet) but the first I can't (privacy + I don't have such photos) and the second I won't (too messy to show, besides it didn't last long). I'll probably write something later about my experience with sorting and managing collected stuff.

[EEVblog]

I think he like many who follow the Eevblog have a mind filled with ideas and ambitions and the piles of stuff is just a physical manifestation of that.

That sums it up entirely and concisely.

[tbbw]

Thank god i'm not the only one... i was starting to think everyone but me where collecting usefull stuff until space became an issue.

[Scratchy]

Here's a toobench replacement video that makes Dave look like a sloth (bare feet and all) 
http://youtu.be/91L8BdM5b_c

BTW, that Costco toolbox bench on casters (2:15 into the video) would be a nice addition for the bench you are looking for to put in the middle of the room, with one end against the wall.
It would be great to be able to reposition it for same larger VideoBlog tear-downs.
Altough I'm not sure if you want to spend $500 bucks on something this nice - stainless steel and all with solid wood block top.
I have seen it at the store and it is a thing of beauty.....

Art

[digital]

Dave your lab looks about the same as my lounge logic analysers, computers and test gear all over the place but it is all useful

[CJWarlock]

Here's my promised input to the topic. I quote my comment from YT, then share practical thoughts. It's large but I think many of you will enjoy reading it.

I like the humorous style of this episode very much. It's good to have such episode once in a while.

One thing: collecting tools and materials with a purpose in mind isn't a mental problem - many of our grandfathers surely did collect such. Especially if they were engineers or technicians. It's called preparation and respect to the technology. They probably tended to have the stuff better organised though. It's having a mess and not doing anything about it what could be a symtom of having a problem.

Anyone who knows how big idea stands behind a particular product would respect particular technology. It's only nowadays that the consumerism is a tool to brainwash all people. Don't compare to a consumerism mindset. Such comparison is a trap (as it feeds on primitive instinct of the need to feel a part of the herd and as it may evoke a hidden sense of guilt - thus disturbing one's normal creativity and thought clarity).

Analyse your approach, analyse approach of those you consider an example, compare results, introduce adjustments.

Now, wouldn't you like to give my comment a thumb up for "teardown of the process" and for it's motivating expression?

PS.Of course I do support very much the idea of "sell what you don't need and what you have already fixed". And the idea of recycling/reusing the unrepairable. Just wanted this to be clear.??

I have a decade experience, conclusions and practical solutions I'd like to share about organising technical (mostly electronic) stuff that I brought or already had home. I share them for the commond good of all electronics-gatherers.


1. Every hobby/work has its specific needs and characteristics. A collection of common parts aswell as unusual but technically valuable parts/modules can be and oftenly is one of such attributes.

2. There's nothing wrong about having more developed imagination and technical sight and technical approach to things than a common (usualy less or more conditioned) consumer has. It's a skill, definitely worth satistying and developing further. Actually, it is a form of being rich. Richness doesn't mean only money. Just the same way as "enriched life" doesn't mean life with more money - it means having interesting, inspiring, developing things in it. If similar aspects are inside your mind - then, in that context, you're probably richer than you think.

3. More hobbies = more of thematic collections of stuff (more items/parts, more boxes), so more storage space needed. That's not weird, that's logical and natural.

4. Lack of storage furniture is an invitation to the loop of mess and demotivation (at some point just looking at the mess and not having any clue where to put it and in what order can demotivate very much). Like it or not, we all have our subconcious convictions and traumas which until cleaned or changed - can be our silent, hidden saboteurs of motivation and mind's clarity. We like order (order of things is natural - look i.e. at Fibonacci sequence in the plants and other things in nature) and making the workplace just a bit tidier can work miracles about the motivation to tidy more (it can be a trigger). Of course it's better to have storage furniture from the beginning and storing things "realtime". If you can't look at the mess in the work/fun place - just take a walk to relax and think about the solution in a more relaxed environment. Also pay attention to air quality - fresh air, enough of oxygen, and definitely no mold spores and dust particles! The mold spores physilogicaly make people demotivated due to release of toxins into the bloodstream. They feed on sugar so if you breathe mold spores and eat sugary things - probability of bad mood and demotivation rises. That's why clean air in the work/fun place is important and corelated with general motivation, thus tidyness.

5. Choose one or two systems of boxes with following characteristcs: enough volume to put your items in, durable enough, available easy, cheap (or better - free). There's no need to invent a wheel, neither to lose money on something you can get free and re-use. I mean if you consider yourself rich enough and/or need specific boxes- great, that's a good approach. However there are already good boxes available for free. Do you know these 60x40cm cardboard boxes/crates for apples/oranges/tomatoes/etc.? These are being left at almost every marketplace and in some grocery shops. Check your locacal marketplace/shop for such boxes. You'll need undamaged, clean boxes (no mold, no sticky residue). You may collect the smaller versions also. These cardboard crates are stackable up to 15 in height.

6. You want to be able to see the items inside the boxes when stacked or (better) shelved - don't use closed boxes. These cardboard crates (or their plastic equivalents) are very good for that - they have a few cutouts to look through.

7. Keep rational division of items: first through hobbies (i.e. electronics, computer/it, mechanics), then through items' categorries (i.e. mainboards, power supplies, cables, optical drives). This is very convinient for your memory, imagination (you easily remember where is what - this helps to imagine projects), and in the meaning of easy access - you just go to the shelves/stacks and reach the particular box. Labelling the boxes could be also helpful.

8. Respect your money, time and energy. Don't throw your money now and in the future - analyse what parts/modules to salvage, even if they are cheap (20 cheap items can sum up to big amount and then you could regret throwing these items out, besides, life's life and economics are economics - money may come and go, and it's always faster to go to the shelves that to the shop or wait for eBay buys to come). And only because nowadays technology can be cheap it shouldn't blind you - always look at the practical characteristics of an item first. One screw can be cheap and not worth saving but if it is saturday evening and you could just finish/fix something if you only had that screw... you could regret not having it stored. It's really easier and more efficient to put items/parts/modules to categorised boxes and later just reach for needed item than it is to waste your time, energy and money all together to buy new what you already had in your possesion.

9. Recycle really destroyed and unsalvageable equipment/parts. Copper, aluminium, steel, ABS and other plastics, glass, batteries- it all can be recycled nowadays, so make use of this system and gain some money for your parts (allthough not all materials are purchased, some are just collected for free by recycling companies).

10. Ocasionally go through your stuff and analyse what you can sell and what you'd rather need to make your work, projects, hobby. For example: I keep some old motherboards of known technical state just for the sake of testing PSUs, RAMs and so on - I wouldn't risk valuable mainboards for that. Of course I thought for a few times I'd sell or scrap these mainboards but I've analysed this and it's much cheaper and convinient for me to keep them. I don't like to be left without tools just when I need them. Imagine this: my friend calls me after his work, he needs to check and repair his computer ASAP, this evening, I say "no problem, mate" because I am perfectly sure what test/repair parts/equipment I have in storage. I like to reach for my toys exactly when I have an idea that needs to be checked. I'm a big boy now and have a lot of storage space, so... Pff, I can do what I want.

11. Some of the items/modules/parts can became a sudden yet useful tool, especially if you analyse/repair stuff. Look at example above.

12. Why the dog licks his balls? Becuase he can!   You CAN collect any item that speaks to your creativity so... do it, no shame, just a joy of discovery, you deserve it, just do it the way that is right for you.

13. Separate room (even small and without windows) can be very good for storage. This way the stored items don't tempt your eyes (and mind) and you don't end up having too many items on your workbench or floor.

14. Keep a sheet of paper with your planned projects. This way you won't forget about any of them and you can keep parts/items stored until really needed. It's really convinient to have only a sheet of paper on the workbench (plus of course some usual stuff) and just go to the storage room/area and pull out a box with specific items than to store all that boxes and/or items stockpiled aroud you.


That's all I can think of for now. I've lived through "unordered storage of things on the floor" and tidying, through different systems of storage and I have quite a few hobbies, so... look @ point 3. I have a separate small storage room. I hope you find this post interesting as I've seen quite a interest in this (forever actual) topic. Pictures of cardboard crates attached below. You can print the above list of conclusions and put it onto your lab's wall so every guest can understand you better now.

Sources of pictures (just to be fair to the original owners):
1. http://anniekateshomeschoolreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/046-360x480.jpg
2. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uXEMQ17wHRQ/TH_E7F44z4I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/WfxW9Mnlij4/s1600/BallDesign-MasterCartonSample_WilsonsTomatoes-sm.jpg
3. http://www.freshplaza.it/images/2010/1117/cassetta_cartone_con_arance_Navel.jpg

[abdullahseba]

mine is messier

[spicolli]

Dont think my last post worked...lol

Dave i think i may have a bigger mess than you. I try to pick up but as my wife puts it i always "find something to play with ".. 

My mess is starting to spill out into the laundry room and the kids play room.....

I think i need help and some storage space.....

[jubjub7]

Dave,

What were those black plastic parts drawers you had lying on the floor?  I am looking for something like those. They were labelled Diodes, MOSFETS, etc.  I have attached a picture.

Regards,
jubjub7

[EEVblog]

What were those black plastic parts drawers you had lying on the floor?  I am looking for something like those. They were labelled Diodes, MOSFETS, etc.  I have attached a picture.

No idea, found them in the garbage room!

[andtfoot]

Dave,

What were those black plastic parts drawers you had lying on the floor?  I am looking for something like those. They were labelled Diodes, MOSFETS, etc.  I have attached a picture.

Regards,
jubjub7

AFAIK, they are document drawers from Officeworks.
www.officeworks.com.au/retail/products/Office-Supplies/Desktop-Filing/Document-Trays/OWDD113BK

[EEVblog]

AFAIK, they are document drawers from Officeworks.
www.officeworks.com.au/retail/products/Office-Supplies/Desktop-Filing/Document-Trays/OWDD113BK

Ah, thanks. I needed some more.

[kolbep]

Hi Dave & Fellow EEVBloggers, Here is my Video Response to your LAB Cleanup. Showing how my Lab / Garage looks at the moment
Check it out here :

[victor]

I don't understand why you have your work benches on a narrow corner and have shelves on the center of the room. I would totally inverse that setup.

Huh?

This is what I meant.

I think would be a better use of the space, and you can set tripods and lamps around your work, and will have plenty of distance to shoot.

Just a suggestion anyway

[kolbep]

Well, I am making progress. (With my Messy Lab)

Was given 3 racks of shelving for my birthday.
You can see them on the right hand side of the pic.
Now just to continue sorting out.

Now how it looks:


Original Video :

[David_AVD]

I like stuff in it's place. Part of the shelving at work shown below.

The tubs are from IKEA and are $5 or $6 each.  Each has a square of plastic on it to write the (often changed) contents on.

[tuo]

This thread suits me pretty well. I got depressed last year, so my head has been messing up alongside my lab attic. Now, that I'm getting back on my feet I also should do something about the situation, as I'd like to do some hobby work again, but the mess is in the way. Here are a few pictures. 

The main view from the stairs.



The place on the front right was my storage space that has now flooded all the way around the corner and into the middle of the floor.



The bench itself is also pretty populated with all kinds of stuff.



And yes, this really is an attic. So far I haven't fell off leaping over this pile, but I need to clean it before that happens.

[linux-works]

I don't own my own place (I rent) and so I can't quite do a nice setup like that; fear of the cost and effort of moving (and not even being sure about what size of room I'll get, next, where I move) means I have to have more stuff piled on top of each other and less workbench and shelf space.

I sometimes wish I was only into software rather than hardware.  to develop and be functional in software, you need a laptop and you can do ok with that.  for hw, otoh, you need TONS of stuff.

I work with software guys (day job) and they have no clue at all what it takes to be effective in the hardware scene.  those buggers have such an easy life

[moemoe]

Bench, what bench?

But at least, less space means less time to clean up