Decent lab bench for a beginner EE?

[FrankE]

Bench and shelves I assume you have.
Safety; an isolating transforner / rcd. Emergency stop push.
Bench environment : articulated light, magnification, workpiece holding.  You can have all the fancy soldering stations and test gear you want but if you can't hold the workpiece still or see what the hell you are doing you the results will not be satisfactory. A second hand milling / machine vice is fine for smaller items, a bernstein or similar swivel vice is handy.  I think the PCB holders are a bit pricey. An old woolen sock filled with dried mung beans or other pulses is handy so sit irregular boards on and get them to co forn.
PSU. Make one or get a good one that'll last many years.. Pick up a used HP/Agilent/keysight on ebay. It's worth waiting for a good deal on one. You could repurpose an old ATX PSU  in the meantime if you have the facilities to drill penetrations for fuseholders, binding posts and switches.
A cheap set of calipers. You'll use them frequently to measure pin spacings, apertures, replacement screws, battery sizes ...
Dispenser bottles.
I wouldn't bother with  a logic analyser.

[nanofrog]

...not real sure about the need (or diff) of linear or switched.

The DC Power Supply Basics Tutorial page over on radio electronics' site may be of interest (covers the basic differences and the pros & cons of their use). 

[Muxr]

Used HP linear power supplies are great. There are tons of them on ebay and they are usually reasonably priced for what you get. Personally I own a HP3611A and a E3620A for dual rail stuff. They are dead silent and deliver very clean power.

[Kamkut17]

http://www.circuitspecialists.eu/adjustable-dc-regulated-linear-power-supply-with-usb-power-port-csi-1501x/

This looks like a very good general purpose PSU, although its not a huge brand, it does look like it will do the job, and its worth nothing! Definitely consider this one

[MrSlack]

You need a hammer for widlarizing.

[PaulAm]

I'll second (or third) the idea of used HP power supplies.  They can be very cheap, although you might have to replace the odd filter cap on the older models.  I have 3 of them on my bench.  Don't like analog meters?  Either replace with a digital meter or get a 6114A and punch in 3.30 if you want 3.3V output.   I found one of those for $60 that was 100% functional.  That one is good for 40V at 2A.  Power Designs is another good brand to look for.  Something like a TP325 will take care of most simple requirements.

Also spend some money on good hand tools.  I like Excelta pliers, which I think are a great deal for the money, but there are other good brands.  You'll also need screwdrivers, nutdrivers, torx drivers, tweezers, etc and some way to organize them.

Also some good jumpers, clip leads, test leads, patch cables, bnc cables, etc and a way to organize those.  Don't forget some hookup wire.

[fmiz]

I'm in the same position as KayEE, I'm an EE student and I'd like to setup a decent lab at home.
I have used an hp/agilent e3631a at my university's lab, and I found useful having 3 outputs.
I've searched for a few days online for bench PSUs, reviews, used prices on ebay, and I don't know what's the best approach.
I'm in the EU and shipping PSUs from the US looks VERY expensive. So far, I've found 2 old looking Thurlby dual output PSUs, a cracked BK precision 1651, a used HP E3630A for 250$, then brands that I don't know anything about: GW instech, Iso tech. While searching, I found the very cheap Korad KA3005P, then the bigger KA3305P and the related eevblog thread. I can buy a new KA3305P from reichelt for 200€ (around 230$, rebranded RND lab, I hope it is still the same thing...).
I don't want to make anyone angry at me for putting this KA3305P in the same line as an HP E3630A, but would you still buy the hp one for that price?
The old hp unit does not have constant current mode, no on/off soft button, no serial port (not that I care about this at this point), unlike the korad.
What other name brands can I search for (maybe that are more common in the EU)? What do you think is a reasonable price for a used 3 output linear psu (with constant current mode capability)?
Sorry for going off-topic: I'm also looking for two multimeters, I was thinking of buying the aneng 8009 for 20$ on bangood and 121GW for 280$. Is it better to instead buy 2 identical meters (like the EX330 (60$) or BM235 (105$))?

[mzzj]

I'm in the same position as KayEE, I'm an EE student and I'd like to setup a decent lab at home.
I have used an hp/agilent e3631a at my university's lab, and I found useful having 3 outputs.
I've searched for a few days online for bench PSUs, reviews, used prices on ebay, and I don't know what's the best approach.
I'm in the EU and shipping PSUs from the US looks VERY expensive. So far, I've found 2 old looking Thurlby dual output PSUs, a cracked BK precision 1651, a used HP E3630A for 250$, then brands that I don't know anything about: GW instech, Iso tech. While searching, I found the very cheap Korad KA3005P, then the bigger KA3305P and the related eevblog thread. I can buy a new KA3305P from reichelt for 200€ (around 230$, rebranded RND lab, I hope it is still the same thing...).
I don't want to make anyone angry at me for putting this KA3305P in the same line as an HP E3630A, but would you still buy the hp one for that price?
The old hp unit does not have constant current mode, no on/off soft button, no serial port (not that I care about this at this point), unlike the korad.
What other name brands can I search for (maybe that are more common in the EU)? What do you think is a reasonable price for a used 3 output linear psu (with constant current mode capability)?
Sorry for going off-topic: I'm also looking for two multimeters, I was thinking of buying the aneng 8009 for 20$ on bangood and 121GW for 280$. Is it better to instead buy 2 identical meters (like the EX330 (60$) or BM235 (105$))?

This one from peaktech brand is IMO decent general purpose power supply:
https://www.reichelt.com/de/en/laboratory-switching-mode-power-supply-30-v-3-a-peaktech-6225-a-p178728.html?&trstct=pol_3

It's a switch-mode one so not exactly low noise but useful for most of the things.

HP 6632B is pretty common on second hand market with 150...200 euros price range. Big, heavy, fragile and works as a space heater but also very accurate and works as a LOAD!
I once bought 30 of them when the price was right, rear suspension on my car was maxed out

[nanofrog]

So far, I've found 2 old looking Thurlby dual output PSUs, a cracked BK precision 1651, a used HP E3630A for 250$, then brands that I don't know anything about: GW instech, Iso tech.

Thurlby Thandar's are decent, as is the BK 1651, and GW Instek as well (i.e. GPC-3020). Shipping is expensive because they're linear supplies, not SMPS (big heavy transformers & heatsinks). Noticeably lower noise and ripple though, and if possible, I'd suggest getting a linear over an SMPS if at all possible.

Between the GW Instek GPC-3020 and the BK Precision 1651, I'd suggest the GPC-3020 (I know this one has switchable input voltage as well as both CC and CV modes).

I don't want to make anyone angry at me for putting this KA3305P in the same line as an HP E3630A, but would you still buy the hp one for that price?

For that particular model, Yes. They're still in production and go for $698 MSRP. I would suggest getting a unit with CC mode though hence the recommendation above ^ (the linked seller ships to Italy).

What do you think is a reasonable price for a used 3 output linear psu (with constant current mode capability)?

Depends on the market.

Comparatively speaking, they're cheaper in the US than anywhere in the EU/UK as there's just so much more of it available (supply & demand). Since there's so much less of this type of stuff in your market, the prices tend to be a lot higher and the selection more limited.

Importing from the US is a possibility, but you'd have to be sure it's input voltage is switchable on the linear units assuming the shipping rates are feasible as well as any customs duties and fees.

Sorry for going off-topic: I'm also looking for two multimeters, I was thinking of buying the aneng 8009 for 20$ on bangood and 121GW for 280$. Is it better to instead buy 2 identical meters (like the EX330 (60$) or BM235 (105$))?

Multiple meters is generally a good idea as you'll likely encounter the need to take simultaneous measurements. It's also another way to get specific features/functions. Having identical meters gets you the first part, but not the second.

Is there a specific feature in the 121GW you need? If not, you could better spend your funds on say a BM235 or BM257, and add in an Aneng and even a Uni-T, say the UT-139C (no idea what you really need). All for less than the cost of the 121GW.