Once the magic smoke comes out, it won't work any more.
John Kasunich
jmkasunich@fastmail.fm
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Sat, 31 May 2008
I've spent much of the last month remodeling one corner of the basement. It's funny how projects happen...
Back in March I ran across a great deal on a stereo microscope at HGR Surplus. I've wanted one for quite a while, so I bought it. When I brought it home and took it downstairs, I realize that I didn't really have a place for doing precision work like electronic soldering and surface plate work. My surface plate has been living on the floor for several years now, and I either use it there, or temporarily clear off a spot for it somewhere. So I decided I need a new workbench...
I went back to HGR, and found some 95" x 30" blue formica workbenches with sturdy steel frames for $35 each. At that price, I figured I might as well get two. I figured out where I wanted to put the first bench, but I knew I would want storage space above the it. That meant yet another project - framing and wallboarding the wall, so I wouldn't have to anchor stuff directly to the concrete blocks.
After the wall was done, I painted the wall and the floor while there was nothing to get in the way. Then did a little welding on the workbench frame - I decided that the front crossmember at the bottom would interfere with legroom, so I ground off the welds and moved it back about 8", then welded it back on. That was my first real welding project.
Once the bench was inside it was time for storage above it. I spent at least two weeks building the shelves in the photo below.
I finished the shelves and got the area cleaned up last weekend, and since then I've been slowly moving items over there. Today I used some of the scrap wood from the shelves to make a box for my ER20 collets.
And that is how "buying a microscope" turns into about six or seven projects that take a couple of months...
(posted: 31 May 2008 23:24) (permalink)