461 The Tools and Organizers I Use (with some tricks)

[@jacquesmertens3369]

Your cat is essential. She provides you with wisdom and inspiration. Also, every KZbinr knows videos need a cat in it, preferably a cat that obscures the view every now and then.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree. She probably has more fans on KZbin than me ;-)

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

Get one like Daliel from Diodegonewild has.

[@matthiasmartin1975]

Indeed - Ben Heck for example has Bud, who is a great addition to his content.

[@mvadu]

Just few years ago (when this was filmed) you had only 70k subs, and now you are close to half a million!! Congratulations, I am really proud to be part of the journey!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed, an astonishing journey also for me ;-)

[@AndreasSpiess]

Here are the tools I changed over time: Soldering iron: www.jbctools.com/cdb-soldering-station-product-1605.html (very expensive!) Power supply: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dl1Zfxz Silicone Dupont wires (an upgrade): s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Deq7AeJ Crimper: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFUQOlN The milling machine was sold to a young enthusiast Eagle was replaced with KiCAD (and EasyEDA for small PCBs because it is so easy to order PCBs) Power Director editor was replaced by Davinci Resolve Atom was replaced with Visual Code (PlatformIO) The ESP8266 was replaced by the ESP32 The video cam was retired and replaced by the RX10 and the iPhone for mobile shots The subscriber counter was retired (KZbin stopped the feed of data)

[@ppdan]

Nothing beats those JBC stations. They are very expensive but certainly worth each cent. If you ever plan on buying a new hot air station ... Quick 861DW is amazing and very affordable.

[@joehoandroid]

What happened to your AIXUN T3A soldering station? And how does it compare to the original JBC? I plan to get a AIXUN T3B and I wonder if the JBC ist worth the higher price for soldering once per month. Do you know the Sequre S60 nano Lötkolben ? For USB-C Netzteil via Powerbank 12V / 60W kompatibel with JBC c210 Lötspitzen 3 Spitzen und EU Netzteil Review von SDG Electronics: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aH_UdaijmrCoqNk So you can use the good JBC Tips on the go

[@ppdan]

@@joehoandroid I guess if you are not soldering on a regular base it might be overkill to buy a JBC station. Those cheap cartridge versions perform pretty well and are an excellent alternative for the small hobbyist. I have used a Weller station for over 30 years but I thought it was time to seriously update that one and went for the JBC (CD-2BQWD) which is pricy but a good investment if you solder on a very regular base like myself. I also have a TS100 that I use when I am "on the move" which is simply powered by a pack of 18650 cells. Even with the standard cheap tips that were delivered with the TS100 I get good results and cannot complain. The S60 you linked looks like a nice soldering iron which seems to have good reviews and should be more than enough for casual electronics soldering (it'll probably outperform my old Weller station).

[@AndreasSpiess]

@@ppdanI agree with @ppdan. For occasional soldering I would use one of the TS... soldering irons. They can be used mobile with a battery too...

[@abdelnacer7721]

One of the best channels on youtube, thank you Mr Andreas

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@randomguy3784]

Griezi Andreass, I'm a fellow tech enthusiast in his early thirties and I've been your a viewer of your channel for the past 3 years or so. Still, I've got no idea how I've missed this 1 year old video, since I've always wondered what your working environment would be. We'll, better late than never and now that I got to finslly saw that, I must say, it's exactly I've imagined! This tour around your workshop was truly wonderful and wholesome. It was so good that I've felt a whole bunch of emotions at once, which prompted me to write this long comment. Here we go. Since my childhood, I was always a weird guy. An oddball, who never had any interest in most things that the kids of my age enjoyed and I was always in the search for something that was genuinely fun and interesting to me. But since the resources available to a little kid is limited, I couldn't find anything that was interesting enough to keep me hooked or fills me with happiness. However, I was always fascinated with most subjects related to computers and electronics and whenever I see some cool electronics / computer project, my brain lits up like a Xmas tree and I suddenly get this burning sense of passion, curiosity and desire to learn and make some technical stuff. There were only a handful of stuff that makes me feel this way and whenever I feel this passion, it's like I'm finally about to find the true purpose of my life. (lol) But unfortunately, I've never knew what to do with all this burning passion towards technology inside me and didn't had any means to quench that thirst for learning cool stuff. I didn't had the proper guidance or means or knowledge to learn more about electronics so I would just suck it up and distract myself with other stuff. It went on like this, untill one day I've got my hands on my cousin's PC! That opened a window to my soul and little me had lots of fun playing games and tinkering around Windows xp! Fast forward to 2008 and I've got to watch a movie called "Ironman" and my little mind was blown, watching Tony Stark's workshop and all the cool stuff he creates with nothing but a curious mind and lots of tinkering ! (and a fair bit of engineering lessons of course). Tony instantly grabbed my respect and building stuff in my own workshop entered the top of my bucket list! I've felt a cocktail of wonder, excitement, curiosity, happiness and a sense of relief at that moment, because it was the moment my inner desire I've carried around since my childhood got validated finally! That movie clicked something in me and even though I didn't knew much about computers except for basic troubleshooting, I knew what degree I'm gonna pursue, when I grow up. Fast forward to some more years and now, I have completed my computer science degree. However, now I've started to feel bored with programming. Sure, I've had lots of fun in college, learning programming and it satisfied my desire to make something. I've developed some basic projects during my course but it never had any implications in my day to day life and the projects felt hollow to me. They weren't tangible and under the hood, all of them were just CRUD applications that processes data in a different way. Above all, these projects weren't made for my satisfaction, but they were done for just completing my course. They lacked meaning and purpose as they never had any impact on me in any meaningful way. So now that burning desire to make something is back with a vengeance, my mind began it's search for something to fulfill my inner desire. And that's when I've began to self learn electronics and dove deep into the amazing world of incredible projects and awesome people from the online community. That's how I've came across your channel and the making style of your videos made a deep impression and connection with me. Unlike most videos I've watched till then, your videos had a neat presentation style (still do), it was well researched, stuffed with all the necessary information required for a person to learn that particular topic and it didn't had any unnecessary stuff. Your videos are minimal, sharp and your passion towards technology is always radiating through your words. To be honest, I think they kind of have this theraputic quality to it (lol). You've had my admiration and respect since then and I've been a frequent viewer of your videos. But all of that went to next level, when I've watched your workshop and damn, I've felt like being a kid again, who got to watch Tony Stark's workshop for the first time! I know this sounds silly, but in my head, you have this superhero image and you're like a real life Tony Stark to me! 😅 You have now officially entered my list of idols and massive respect to you Andreass, for alturistically spreading your wisdom and guiding lost little kids like me in to finding their true passion in life. See? I didn't lie. You're really a superhero! 😁 I've made some IoT projects since then and I'm still continuing my tinkering journey thanks to wise, selfless and passionate people like you around the world. Now my new goal is to create a workshop like yours, sometime in the future and I wholeheartedly thank you for inspiring everyone in the community! Keep doing what you enjoy doing and may you and your loved ones stay happy forever! Sending lots of love from India! ♥

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for your long and personal comment. I am always honored when younger people are inspired, and this is one of the reasons I started this channel. I wish you luck on your journey to become a superhero, too! It takes some work and needs time, but the way is already fun.

[@Electester]

Best wishes and good health for you Andreas! I've been watching you for two years. Always waiting for another interesting and inspiring video. 🇵🇱 🇨🇭

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@robjordan63]

The Soul of a New Machine! I read it just before I started my career in computing / IT, it inspired me to enter the profession. What a great book!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I have to reread it one day to see if it still is so fascinating.

[@tomferrin1148]

OK, this comment has nothing to do with "tools" focus of your video, but rather is about books. As I watched this 2018 video I found myself looking carefully at the books on your bookshelf. You highlighted one of my favorite books, "Soul of a New Machine", a book in which I played a small part (the video of Seymour Cray talking about designing computers came from me; I got the video while working for the Univ of Calif and gave a copy to Brian Johnson when he worked for Data General). But a book that really caught my eye was "DEC is Dead, Long Live DEC." Having used DEC computers for many years (PDP-8 in 1971 through Alpha GS1280 in 2010) I really respected the company for their deep engineering roots. So I picked up this book used and look forward to reading it soon. Thanks for the tip!

[@AndreasSpiess]

It is always astonishing what kind of viewers I have on this channel! Interesting story about your video. Indeed, DEC was the best company I worked for, and I cried when I read that Compaq bought it. A rare event for me ;-)

[@nousagi7437]

Thank you for everything Andreas, I've been following your channel since my university days and I've gotta say your channel was one of the biggest influences in my interest with electronics

[@AndreasSpiess]

I am glad to read that! Thanks.

[@ddavid2]

And now, 425k subs. Many people here already know you're doing a great job!!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@PhG1961]

Although I've seen this video before, as I have seen all your videos..., I still enjoy the beauty of your workshop. Wonderfull tools and equipment. What a pleasant way to start my Sunday.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you! Indeed, I also liked to watch it again and see what stayed the same and what was exchanged in the last 5 years...

[@JerryEricsson]

Thanks for the excellent tour! I really enjoy your channel and I will have to admit, I have learned a LOT from watching you work and play. I am amazed at the fact that you have so many subscribers yet are able to answer comments on a regular basis and actually remember much of what we have said in comments in the past. When I visit your channel, it is almost like meeting you in a cafe for coffee as I used to in the old days when I was a cop on the beat meeting friends for a quick cup and a chat.

[@AndreasSpiess]

That is precisely why I answer all comments. Over the years, I met a lot of friendly people like you! I hope you are well and your situation has stabilized.

[@Rpol_404]

Nice lab setup Andreas! The size, layout, storage, and work areas are almost identical to my home office/lab. The biggest differences are I don’t have a 3D printer and I have to share my lab with my elliptical exercise machine (which is used almost daily). Congratulation on increasing your subscribers from 70K to 425K!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I like my 3D printer a lot and use it often. So I have to exercise elsewhere ;-)

[@Misha2010Tube]

Thanks!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for your generous support!

[@rajaramanv]

I could virtually smell your browning old books. Big nostalgia trip!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I am an old man ;-) Still, some of this old stuff is valid up till now...

[@factotumindustries]

Thanks again for the in-depth tour of your shop and tools!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@squall513]

took me a few moments to realize this was a re-run. Kept thinking "I've seen this before, but it's a new video right?" Then I remembered the post from earlier. Hope you're having a great Holiday!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you! Indeed, this is the summer procedure as every year ;-)

[@JeffGeerling]

2:44 you're also left handed! So glad you include tools for both hands... few things more annoying than going for scissors and finding they're right handed. Ouch!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I was forced to write with my right hand. So I can do things with both hands. Sometimes an advantage...

[@JeffGeerling]

Nice! A decidedly impressive feat, as my right hand writing looks like a toddler's. I did do sports right-handed though-my Dad told me if I wanted to play, I'd have to use right hand equipment, no budget to get everything for a leftie :D

[@W1RMD]

Very cool! You are a man of many talents. Thanks for sharing them with us.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@kiranjoshi2025]

Wow perfect work envirnoment. Pretty comprehensive for every electronic work in house 👌. Thanks for sharing

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for the compliment!

[@Steelplayer59]

Amazing how closely my own lab corresponds to yours. I also value price/performance ratio. In the US, Walmart and other retailers sell plastic shoeboxes for about $1US, which make great storage containers. I use static dissipating bags in the plastic boxes on sensitive parts. Fishing lure containers are also great for smaller parts organization. I was lucky enough to find a used machinist’s toolbox, which works great for small tools in the lab. You have me thinking about the binoculars now, lol! Great job on the video(s). Thanks!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I am sure you will never regret it if you buy a binocular! One with a zoom is particularly useful.

[@DanielHofer]

Thank you for sharing your workspace. I struggle with many projects on my desk and never can find something, when needed. Have to tidy it up like you.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed, these boxes help a lot for not too much money. But still, I have to search things ;-)

[@willmaccarty9561]

Just moved to Switzerland and hoping to upgrade my workshop /lab so this is great timing. I guess it’s finally time to subscribe since if I ran into you on the street I’d never live down the shame of not supporting the channel!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed it is a good idea to subscribe to the channel ;-) Welcome!

[@scottfoulk7480]

Thank you for this. I am an older newbie to electronics and really needed this 'quick' start for equipment and supplies. I also really like notepad++...

[@AndreasSpiess]

So welcome to the hobby!

[@douglasrank-im1gp]

I'm newly retired and a beginner. I appreciate your help ever so much.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Enjoy your new hobby! It offers a lot of possibilities.

[@imignap]

Have the same micro and camera setup... love it

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@davydbar]

Hermoso taller Andreas! Espero que mi pequeño espacio siga creciendo y algún día llegue a algo similar. Tus videos son siempre interesantes e informativos. Gracias por compartir tu espacio y conocimientos. Saludos desde Santa Fe Argentina!

[@AndreasSpiess]

¡También espero que puedas ampliar tu laboratorio!

[@matthiasmartin1975]

Great workshop - I did the same thing to get even lighting over my desk without the bulk, i just hung a naked LED panel over it like you did. So I feel vindicated and affirmed.

[@AndreasSpiess]

These panels look ok without anything else. And I can put my cables on them when I do not use them

[@matthiasmartin1975]

@@AndreasSpiessfunny you say that, that's where i keep my crocodile clip cables too.

[@bmacdoug]

Andreas, your lab is wonderful. I realized as I watched that a lot of what you showed was familiar to me. Your books, the part numbers (2N2222 for example), the ESP boards, and the lab equipment. It was an interesting realization for me that you have a similar setup to what I use. I am somewhat jealous of your binocular dissecting microscope however. Thank-you for all you do!

[@AndreasSpiess]

If you do not have a binocular, you are either very young (with good eyes) or rightly jealous because it is extremely useful! I use it nearly every day.

[@portfedh]

I love your content! I learn a ton. Thank you for all the effort!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Happy to hear that!

[@luisgongod]

Waste basket as essential! I had to smile on that one. It really is! is a "tool" that i really noticed when is not near by or misplaced

[@AndreasSpiess]

Absolutely!

[@KaiseruSoze]

:) I used to work with a PDP 10 and PDP 11/45. I loved those machines!

[@ivekuukkeli2156]

I really would have liked to see PDP and LSI-11 etc series to be the main line in microcontrollers too. The architecture is much better for high level programs than Intel products, faster.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Alpha was as fast as Intel's stuff 10 years later. Still, the company is gone, and Intel still is here :-(

[@Tennouseijin]

My favorite part is the stylish hat. It's essential for ensuring the maker is seen as a genius scientist (with Victorian / steampunk vibes) and not as a basement-dwelling life form.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed it became a brand like "the guy with the Swiss accent" ;-)

[@satchell78]

Great tips! One recommendation for the PC monitor is upgrading to an ultrawide. Not having a split in between the screens is clean.

[@AndreasSpiess]

A good tip! Still, one good thing about having 3 screens is the handling in Windows (I never need only one large screen).

[@davem3325]

WOW, so much of your lab is just like mine, exact Same size. even your desktop laminate is the same as min!, i use plastic storage bins just like you for projects, I have 3 x 3d printers, 1 is resin. but for storage of components i use a SLATWALL system like the retail stores use! I build all my own cabinets.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Slatwalls are an excellent solution. In my case, most of the boxes are in front of a large window that must be opened occasionally...

[@bitosdelaplaya]

05:00 : Binocular, i've used it at a past work (lectronic board manufacturer) and it's really a top tool to have when you have to solder or repair smd board. But for a hobbyist it's very expensive

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree, it is expensive. But it will last till I die and my kids can sell it then ;-)

[@FrankGraffagnino]

after watching this I went and read the book "The Goal" and just finished reading it. It is indeed an interesting book. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I also read it more than once. And I always was hooked till I finished it

[@dj9choco]

I really like the lights hanging, I have something similar at my desktop

[@AndreasSpiess]

And you can place some wires on them when not used ;-)

[@verskonq6785]

Nice lab walkthrough. Thanks for sharing. Good tip about the binoculars. The Microsoft Garage project Mouse without Borders has been a very useful app for controlling multiple computers and monitors with a single set of interface devices. A keyboard, mouse, joystick/pad ect plugged into a hub or kvm switch keeps everything tidy. It's easy to copy/paste between computers. You can seamlessly switch between controlling a single computer/monitor and multiple computers and monitors as if they're all extended desktop monitors or clones.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for the tip for The Microsoft Garage project Mouse. I did not know it. Since I have 3 monitors on my table, I usually use remote desktop applications (also because I have some Linux systems). But your solution is much cheaper!

[@PY4SR]

My friend, you deserve millions of subscribers. Congrats for all valuable info. 73 from PT2land

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@jtmuzix]

You sir, are amazing! :) Your videos are very inspiring to really dig in even just in experimentation.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@johnv.va3dpzv821]

In as few words as possible as it is 3:32am or 7:32UTC, you have a wonderful channel and I am so happy I found you about 1.5 to 2 years ago when I finally took my HAM radio (amateur radio) exam and easily passed my Basic with Honours in Canada. Thank you for all the information that you share. It has been priceless to helping me thought many many time of questions. VA3DPZ

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for your kind words. I hope you have already found my second (HAM radio) channel. 73 de HB9BLA

[@Heisenberg2097]

Great video! It also makes me happy that I'm mainly a software developer... so I kind of need much less equipment 😀The half-life of electronics became so fast... but also the current evolutions of esp. display technology are astounding. Same for micro-controllers. And many reasonable applications. For instance E-Paper. Just there is no device to burn stubborness out of peoples minds... so if you visit me here in Germany in thirty years... the paper waste that was already unnecessary thirty years before... will be the same.

[@AndreasSpiess]

This video was produced 5 years ago, and many things stayed the same. I did not expect it like that ;-)

[@Equinox52]

May you live long and prosper. Thank you for being here.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@Torsan1977]

Awesome lab! The only part I would improve is a shelving system where each IKEA box could be pulled out individually. 😊

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree that would be cool. But it would reduce the number of reachable boxes (which is a no-go for me ;-)

[@OhHeyTrevorFlowers]

It's interesting to see the shift in how people view 3D printed parts. The signals of quality in injected molded parts like smooth surfaces are absent in most 3D prints so it's easy to believe that they're crap, no matter how much better they are in function. I think it's slowly changing, though, as more people make and use 3D prints.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree that the surface still is an issue. The rigidity can be an issue, too, for some applications. And if you order 3D-printed parts from JLCPCB, the surface seems okay. They use pretty expensive printers, I think.

[@MeinElektronikHobby]

vielen Dank, dass ich in Deine Werkstatt schauen durfte. Einige der Tools stehen auch bei mir (herum) - aber so schön aufgeräumt habe ich nicht. Und vielen Dank für Deine lehrreichen Videos - freue mich immer, wenn was Neues kommt.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Es ist auch nicht immer aufgeräumt hier. Ich versuche, nach jedem Video wieder einigermassen Ordnung zu schaffen, aber je mehr Dinge ich habe, desto schwieriger wird es...

[@Johadart]

Andrea’s you make a wonderful content , it’s actually nice to see the real you in this video, great job buddy keep up the great work 🤙🏼🇦🇺 Joe from Australia 🤙🏼🇦🇺

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed, I did not appear often in my videos ;-)

[@ВасилийС-к4н]

Thanks for your time and passion!!

[@AndreasSpiess]

My pleasure!

[@bertdegenhartdrenth6282]

Thanks Andreas, funny you quote “the soul of a new machine”. The best chapter imho is “the case of the missing NAND gate”. I am 100% sure you can relate to the feeling from that chapter. 73! pe1cfd

[@AndreasSpiess]

I no more remember, but I decided to re-read it!

[@SureshGM4u]

Dear Andreas, Nice to see your lab and learn how to be organised in life. Your video is a motivation for me as I am trying to loose interest over time. Most of the time I think 'what's the use of doing?' Running in my mid age, problem of vision bothers most time. Thank you for keeping me motivated.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Motivation is essential in life, you are right! Here it comes from my curiosity...

[@SureshGM4u]

Thank you

[@justinssleeyt]

This was both useful and interesting. Thanks!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@fernandosantos3576]

Thank you, Andreas. The 'organization" subject is of most importance to me, as I tend to get "unorganized".

[@AndreasSpiess]

This is a physics law. Without investing energy, entropy always gets bigger ;-)

[@smithy2170]

I love these videos, very insightful. Thank you

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@vianacode]

Awesome tour. Tanks for share!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sergioabdalla8698]

Me salvou,boas dicas.Minha bancada está bagunçada.Para meu gato deixei uma almofada,traz boas energias.Valeu!!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Um gato no laboratório é sempre bom (exceto para ESD)

[@aquahoodjd]

I bought the Ender 3 S Pro and it works great as well. I watched a guy talking about both of those machines and he said that they were both very comparable years being slightly better

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@SwissPGO]

I have still a few years to go before retirement.... but i'm collecting valuable ideas... Thank you and greetings from Fribourg area.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I started this lab before my retirement, and it went smoothly...

[@ulfholt6434]

That’s a nice way to organize a working area! It gave me some useful hints, though I cannot afford it all. By the way, I agree that DEC is the best company I have ever worked for. Best regards Ulf H.

[@AndreasSpiess]

It also took years to get the stuff in my lab. So do not give up ;-)

[@remy44444]

Great video as always! If you load huge projects you can also add M.2 NVME drive using pcie free slot, you can get an adapter for few buck online. Also regarding to your 3D printer, everything your machine have a cheap Ender 3 can be upgraded to, however you 'pay' with time for setting up all these upgrades. Also, if you print alot with PLA/PETG/ABS (basically no fancy materials), you might consider a microporous coatings glass bed, so you won't need to use glue anymore and after it cools down it de-stuck (it's like a magic!).

[@AndreasSpiess]

Before my Prusa, I had a Chinese printer and did a lot of enhancements. As you write, it consumed a lot of time. But I am sure newer printers have become better.

[@billgrabbe9992]

This was fun and interesting. I have a simple, tiny lab, but there are a couple of things that I keep handy which I did not see. 1) hook and pick set(s) (think "dental tools" - super cheap) to go where tweezers fear to tread, and 2) custom adapters/patch cables/connectors that I use a lot (power/audio/MIDI). The first is a lifesaver and the second is a big timesaver - both make the experience more enjoyable. Maybe a companion video about workflow would be equally interesting.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for the tip with the dental tools. And, of course, I have a lot of premade cables, too. They are convenient.

[@wonderwang1585]

I love your attitude! Its amiable and selfish less

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!

[@Rainer_Landes]

Thanks for this 1st class video! Very useful and well presented content in a compact form! ...and I noticed that I own many of the same tools and components, but am not organized as well as you are. Btw. I was a user and administrator on DEC device in the 80s and 90s. I fully confirm your mentioning of "the best company". Then I had a stint at IBM for 18 years, before I started with RasPi and Arduino and 3D printing after 2015... So, I really enjoyed this video! Thank you, again!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I am glad you liked it. It was made in 2018, and for me, it was also nice to watch it again...

[@garryrice5280]

Good Lab setup, looks very much my lab (was a bedroom once). I have much of the same setup , 3D printer in the lab, Mill and lathe in the garage. Have two chairs one for me, once for the cat,Tippy

[@AndreasSpiess]

My mill is also gone by now. An excellent choice to put it in the garage!

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

CNC mill - NOT in the workshop! It does not need attention- set it up and return when finished- put it somewhere you do not have to watch/hear it. Mine is in my garage, in its own enclosure. Storage boxes- make a frame with tabs that support the lip- you can then remove without disturbing the others in the stack. Drawers- single item depth stops the need to scrabble through them.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I agree entirely, it is a mess. Mine is now even further away: I sold it because I did not use it anymore due to my 3D printer and JLCPCB...

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

@@AndreasSpiess I am curious about how many CNC mills actually get used. Many feel they need one, but either the learning curve to use one, or the lack of need for what it can produce, means they either lie there or are moved on. A couple of my favorite YT sites got one, fanfared its installation, only for it never to be heard of again. 3D printers are certainly used a lot more- the ratio between my prints and my CNC machining is probably 100:1. But they will do things that are almost impossible otherwise. I built a second, smaller but more rigid, machine for metal. It can do in minutes what would take hours with lots of re-mounting on my manual mill.

[@RickRolling-tc7vb]

Danke Andreas, it's a good laboratory. We don't have basements here, so I'm often jealous of the European style of house. Enjoy your summer!

[@AndreasSpiess]

If I had a room on a higher floor, I would use it ;-) But the other one is my radio room.

[@fareedalsahafalvarez4946]

Thanks for sharing. Great video

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@aacasd]

I love the skunkworks book. I've got the ebook and it was a fun read!

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@YoutubeBorkedMyOldHandle_why]

Good job Andreas. My work area is about the same size, has most of the same elements, although it's not nearly as neat and tidy as yours ;-) One little thought: I have a LOT of small parts in MANY containers (just like you.) But despite everything being fairly well organized, it can still be difficult to find parts, since each container can hold a LOT of parts ... even a LOT of parts that I completely forgot that I have. So I keep lists of the "stuff I have", which more-or-less match the contents of the containers. Nothing special, just text files which are not too detailed nor up to date, but are a good first approximation. When I order something new or use some parts, I update the lists. Then when I need a bunch of parts for a project, or I'm considering a new design, the first thing I will do is consult my lists, rather than dig through all the containers. If something is not in the lists, then I can look further. It saves me a lot of time.

[@AndreasSpiess]

A good idea if you are disciplined. I tried it but failed miserably because I never trusted my list.

[@ob1skywalker82]

major workshop/lab envy!

[@AndreasSpiess]

:-)

[@abdelhakimallal3753]

Thanks a lot, this video has very much helpful ideas👍 BTW, Ive noticed the middle finger gloves 😂

[@AndreasSpiess]

I only noticed it after a viewer mentioned the fact ;-)

[@I000I]

6:51 - never heard of this book "The Goal", it's incredible! Thank you for this recommendation. Great lab you have! But not enough cats on the video, if you ask me! 😆

[@AndreasSpiess]

You will never forget it. At least it was a game-changer here.

[@RetiredParatrooper]

Great information and videos. Thanks.

[@AndreasSpiess]

My pleasure!

[@michaeldoherty7434]

The Art of Electronics is my favourite too but, as you said, the internet is now a much better resource. I also have the Students Guide.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I did not know they offer a students guide. Thanks

[@LubosMedovarsky]

Being pretty much SMD oriented (except connectors) and after lots of research, I cannot recommend BOXALL storage boxes enough against losing lots of 0603's, which was a normal before.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@klassichd10]

Thanks again and greetings to Marwin. Up to now I have no 3D printer. I have a collection of project boxes and a lot of cheap or IP rated junction boxes. Usally it is faster (and way cheaper) to modify these boxes.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I promise that you would use a 3D printer as soon as you have it. Boxes are just the beginning. Now I print all sorts of things, and it runs a few times every week... I will greet Marvin. He still is my neighbor.

[@klassichd10]

@@AndreasSpiess Thanks! Up to now, every time I think to need a 3D printer I find a different solution. E.g. Empty toothpaste tube as protection for a reed contact1

[@chiparooo]

Cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@animabelle58]

Thanks for sharing. Top content as usual.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Evgen-Evgen-Evgen]

Oh I Use the same stripper, so cheap and works absolutely fine. I once bought Leatherman pocket stripper and it was so much worse that i decided use this one.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed, these are cheap AND good...

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Thanks for the many tool tips.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You're welcome!

[@lucianbetke]

Ein sehr schönes, liebevoll gemachtes Video. Danke

[@AndreasSpiess]

Gern geschehen!

[@andrewjackson2078]

Please consider adding Fred Brooks' The Mythical Man Month alongside Kidder's Soul of the New Machine. Both brilliant. Loved the other suggestions. Thank you!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for the tip! It must be an important book because it was reprinted 20 years after its appearance!

[@OmarMekkawy]

Nice lab setup. I recommend you to buy some Barlow lens for your microscope like 0.3x, 0.5x, and 0.7x. You will need them a lot. @12:07, just try trillium instead of Evernote. It's self-hosted and has a docker server + PC software and they can synchronize with each other.

[@AndreasSpiess]

My binocular has a zoom. So I agree that you need different amplifications ;-)

[@StuartJ]

I gave up on ABS. I much prefer PETG. It doesn't add fuel to a fire, which is good for electrical boxes.

[@AndreasSpiess]

My Prusa is good with ABS (or ASA). But I sometimes also use PETG because of its lovely colors and finish.

[@localixdots9698]

Всегда интересно посмотреть рабочее пространство авторов технических видео. Спасибо.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Я рад, что вам понравилось видео!

[@Patrick-rd9qo]

If you like the prusa, you'll love bambulabs carbon x1 - it prints in a fraction of the time, to a higher quality, with fewer failures.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thanks for the tip. My Prusa is now 5 years old and still ok. It could always be faster ;-)

[@pyrhockz]

Love your content, thank you!

[@AndreasSpiess]

You are welcome!

[@siamsurf]

Watching this video may get expensive... 🙃

[@aneeshprasobhan]

same for me lol

[@111elf1]

already did. but now i have a decent power supply and sorted my stuff in a manner that actually makes sense.

[@AndreasSpiess]

It is always your choice ;-) Here, I try to stick with reasonable price-performance to not spend too much.

[@electechyt]

But I love it... My wife spends more on exotic plants and plastic grass. My Lab/Office is also outgrowing the bedroom extension too. I should have retired a few years ago but I am still working to fund my retirement hobby. Yes, that means the latest IOT and Ham radio gear. Thank you for inspiring me but also I have video proof for XYL that I'm not the only geek nerd but there's a whole community out there too.

[@ivekuukkeli2156]

Thanks to A. Spiess for this presentation. The main content is "how to organize" not "what to buy". For example 3D-printers are in Finland in public libraries to be used with the price of the plastic. AS's content points out, that a hobbyist need not buy boxies from shops and drill them, custom made cheaper.

[@derjansan9564]

There are a lot of transparent IKEA Samla boxes on your shelf. I am still not a big fan of those, because they become brittle over time (no UV seems to be required) and the lids and boxes break. But unfortunately I do not know of a better alternative, so we may have to replace them every ten years or so.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Just keep in mind: Life is short, Focussing on the important stuff is therefore important ;-)

[@tonysfun]

Great video as usual Andreas! I assume that the Rubik's Cube is on hold, since there aren't R-Pii's available. But you put several R-Pii's out of business, so you could finish the project - right? I would love to make me one for sure. Thank you for your videos and great and useful information you always provide Andreas!

[@AndreasSpiess]

Indeed, it is sitting on the bench. It worked once, but not perfectly, and Andrea's project advanced too. But it will no more appear on the channel, I think.

[@tonysfun]

I understand, sometimes a project doesn't make it. But it would make a great conversations "gizmo".

[@ParadoxTransistor]

Excellent video, i will take some tips i have a similar space where i have been building an small lab.

[@AndreasSpiess]

Glad it was helpful!

[@icefox13]

Nice video, thank you! Be careful of the VOCs when printing ABS!

[@AndreasSpiess]

So far, I am still alive ;-) But I put the printer in an adjacent room...

[@SheeplessNW6]

The Soul of a New Machine is such a great read - or at least it was for young me, back in the 1980s. Four decades later, I suspect I would be less impressed by the management style it describes.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I decided to re-read it. Then I can determine if you are right. However, I am not sure if these old-fashioned management methods were completely wrong if I see how unhappy people are with current practices ;-)

[@SixTough]

The probes on the multimeter are gigantic like a pitchfork... We have the same one. I hate those probes. I have little hook ones but I'd like smaller prongs as well.

[@AndreasSpiess]

You get smaller hooks, but they are very delicate and easily bend :-(

[@W3GYV]

Great Video I have hemostats too. Which Ikea boxes are you using they looked great!

[@AndreasSpiess]

They are called "SAMLA"

[@andereya99]

Amazing lab...however, the jumble of wires and cables under the center monitor, lawwwddd 🤣

[@AndreasSpiess]

I did not recognize them :-(

[@baconsledge]

Soul of the New Machine is one of the best...read it 3-4 times.

[@AndreasSpiess]

I have to reread it, too, I think.

[@korneo7636]

Hello Andreas, i like the powersupply you use, and i have a similair one, and i wonder if you are able to use it in bridge mode to get up to 80V, thanks for the video!

[@AndreasSpiess]

I never tried it because I am afraid of high voltages (>24V) ;-)

[@korneo7636]

@@AndreasSpiess ah, allright, do you know how it may be achieved though? Something with putting a diode in between right?

[@AndreasSpiess]

@@korneo7636 You have to be sure that the second one does not have a death reference. Otherwise you create a short.

[@korneo7636]

@@AndreasSpiess oh ok, i will look into it, thanks again!

[@FelixRusu]

Nice one. But no mention of your favorite ultraportable autoranging current meter, the CurrentRanger? Ha jk, but really, after showcasing all your dev boards and tools I was almost expecting it to pop into view next 😅 I forget which revision you have, I should send you the latest..

[@AndreasSpiess]

Hi Felix! I am not even sure if I had your device when I made this video ;-)

[@TheMrR9]

awesome stuff

[@AndreasSpiess]

Thank you!