Cheap 12V DC bench top power supply

-
67Dart273 said:
You can also simply measure the ripple with a multimeter set to AC volts
Click to expand...

Yes you can, IF you have a GOOD multimeter, a cheap Harbor Freight POS isn't going to do the job. Most people don't have good accurate test equipment (and don't know the difference) unless they have been in the electronics business for many years. I still prefer a scope, I'll see not only ripple but any distortion and harmonics on the output as well. Your multimeter isn't going to show you all that. But then again, most people don't have a scope either, I guess. :(
 
Lots of $10 car stereo noise filters on Amazon that work nicely. Think you can get them in the 10 -20 amp range which would handle most workbench tinkering.
 
Great idea, I'm going to steal your setup ideas. I have a beefy 110 to 12v converter that came from a base station radio setup when I was driving tow trucks. At the time, they used a truck 12v radio in the office to communicate with the trucks. When the changed to a new radio system, they threw away the power supply and I gave it a new home.
 
You can get about 20 amps out of an atx computer power supply, but they need a minimum load to regulate properly.
 
nm9stheham said:
Would you come and clean MY bench up? LOL
Click to expand...
Ooh, I'm next!

bench.jpg
 
pishta said:
Ooh, I'm next!

bench-jpg.jpg
Click to expand...

Oh my. Are we twins separated at birth? This very much resembles the impenetrable wall-o-crap in my shop which extends floor to ceiling in every direction. I have a really nice workbench area about 24"x72" that I haven't seen in almost 20 years. It is covered in crap.
 
My work bench is 2" square tube with 5 legs It measures 3'x10' I made it to fit my tool box underneath. The top is 10' long 4'x10' 1/16" steel sheet. This is bent 90° down 2" across the front , and 90° up 10" across the back as a backsplash. I used 1" square tube to weld up 2 permanent shelves 10' long attached to the work bench for my books, and other supplies. The shelf tops are 1/8" masonite screwed down. I figured if I was gonna make one, it was gonna be big !!! and out of welded steel tube!!!

My pops workbench was 2x4s and plywood. Granted it was better than nothing when I was 15 and starting out working on cars, but I always hated that thing. He is used to doing everything with nails, or screws and bolts. No welder in his vernacular. Which brings up a funny sidebar. I'm talking to pops on the phone one day as he lives in another state. I'm telling him I am building a workbench for my new shop that's 3'x10'. He says what the hell do you want to make it that size for?? Eveybody knows plywood comes in 4x8 sheets. My reply was who said I was making this thing out of plywood and 2x4s lol!!!

I also installed some 2&1/2" tubing in 3 locations on the work bench. You can see the middle one in the picture between my welding rig and my tool box, however theres 2 more, one on either end. These are for my bench vise, and bench grinder. I then made mounts like a reciever hitch out of 2" tubing for my bench vise and my bench grinder. This way I can put either one of these tools in one of three spots on the work bench to use them. Or just remove them altogether to get them out of the way.
 
Last edited:
halfafish said:
Oh my. Are we twins separated at birth? This very much resembles the impenetrable wall-o-crap in my shop which extends floor to ceiling in every direction. I have a really nice workbench area about 24"x72" that I haven't seen in almost 20 years. It is covered in crap.
Click to expand...
At least you guys have a bench. The top of my tool box is filled to the brim.
 
moparmat2000 said:
My work bench is 2" square tube with 5 legs It measures 3'x10' I made it to fit my tool box underneath. The top is 10' long 4'x10' 1/16" steel sheet. This is bent 90° down 2" across the front , and 90° up 10" across the back as a backsplash. I used 1" square tube to weld up 2 permanent shelves 10' long attached to the work bench for my books, and other supplies. The shelf tops are 1/8" masonite screwed down.

I also installed some 2&1/2" tubing in 3 locations on the work bench. You can see the middle one in the picture between my welding rig and my tool box, however theres 2 more, one on either end. These are for my bench vise, and bench grinder. I then made mounts like a reciever hitch out of 2" tubing for my bench vise and my bench grinder. This way I can put either one of these tools in one of three spots on the work bench to use them. Or just remove them altogether to get them out of the way.
Click to expand...
Great ideas!
 
moparmat2000 said:
My work bench is 2" square tube with 5 legs It measures 3'x10' I made it to fit my tool box underneath. The top is 10' long 4'x10' 1/16" steel sheet. This is bent 90° down 2" across the front , and 90° up 10" across the back as a backsplash. I used 1" square tube to weld up 2 permanent shelves 10' long attached to the work bench for my books, and other supplies. The shelf tops are 1/8" masonite screwed down. I figured if I was gonna make one, it was gonna be big !!! and out of welded steel tube!!!

My pops workbench was 2x4s and plywood. Granted it was better than nothing when I was 15 and starting out working on cars, but I always hated that thing. He is used to doing everything with nails, or screws and bolts. No welder in his vernacular. Which brings up a funny sidebar. I'm talking to pops on the phone one day as he lives in another state. I'm telling him I am building a workbench for my new shop that's 3'x10'. He says what the hell do you want to make it that size for?? Eveybody knows plywood comes in 4x8 sheets. My reply was who said I was making this thing out of plywood and 2x4s lol!!!
Click to expand...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
pishta said:
Ooh, I'm next!

View attachment 1715458286
Click to expand...
Good Lord, your organizationally challenged lol. I am pretty organized because I kinda have to be. I have so much supplies and parts for different projects that I cant live in absolute chaos like that. I look at your pic, and I wouldent even know where to start cleaning that up. I think I'd have to start with some steel shelving units with particle board tops, and a trip to walmart for some of those clear plastic sterilite tubs that I can label up and seperate items out. All my home repair **** is in sterilite tubs separated out. One tub for plumbing, one for electrical, one for construction stuff etc. This way I need something I pull out the tub, get what I need and put it back on the shelf.

We are redoing the floors in my sons 69 cuda from firewall to tailpanel. Every night when we are done working on the demolition part, its sweep up, toss the scrap metal in the scrap trailer, and inventory our tools back where they belong. This probably comes from working in the aviation industry where you inventory everything in your toolbox at the end of each and every job you have worked, and at the end of the day, EVERY DAY!!! This is to prevent a lost tool being left in an aircraft, which could roll around and jam up something like the cables running to a flight control. This can have disastrous consequences.

20200125_181213.jpg


20200125_185255.jpg


20200125_181854.jpg


20200125_181229.jpg
 
Last edited:
moparmat2000 said:
Good Lord, your organizationally challenged lol.
Click to expand...
I just have too much stuff and not enough room. I need to clean house though. Most of the stuff in my garage hasn't seen the light of day for a decade or better. I don't want to throw it away though. :BangHead::BangHead::BangHead:
 
toolmanmike said:
I just have too much stuff and not enough room. I need to clean house though. Most of the stuff in my garage hasn't seen the light of day for a decade or better. I don't want to throw it away though. :BangHead::BangHead::BangHead:
Click to expand...

I dont throw anything away, but a 10x12 storage building with shelves and plastic tubs to organize the stuff you dont use often, should give you some needed space. Yes I have stuff piled in the shop, but as we piece that 69 cuda together most of that big sheetmetal will go back in it.
 
moparmat2000 said:
I dont throw anything away, but a 10x12 storage building with shelves and plastic tubs to organize the stuff you dont use often, should give you some needed space. Yes I have stuff piled in the shop, but as we piece that 69 cuda together most of that big sheetmetal will go back in it.
Click to expand...
I can't talk the wife into a yard shed. Need one bad. :BangHead::BangHead:
 
Sams has these. Nice cabinets and could free up a lot of clutter on my tool box. (plastic boxes and chemicals)

Capture.PNG
 
See you buy 2 of them. Make one into a "she shed" for her, make it inviting, put a little heater in it, decorate it, maybe a mini fridge etc. Sell her on the idea. Then make one for you, sell her on the organizational qualities of the thing. Plus tell her you will stuff the lawn mower and gardening **** in it.
 
Northern tool has 16"×36" footprint 5 shelf steel shelves with particle board tops on sale for $49. You could buy 2 of em for less than that cabinet, and have double the storage space. Drawback is no wheels, and not lockable. I took mine and put backs and sides on it out of thin masonite with screws, washers, and nuts to keep **** from falling out the back.
 
Last edited:
My bench was made from an old fire door. Neighbor had it and was going to move to folks home so he told me to take it and make a bench out of it. Its nice and solid. got some 2X4s and a chop saw and fabbed up the 2 tier bench. Its very long. I was going to put locking casters on it but decided against it. I was always misplacing screwdrivers so I just drilled 45 degree holes in the 4X4 legs one day and stuck them in order, works great. My wifes been sick for a month so I have not had a chance to work or clean up out there so its in rare form in this pic. Trying to work on 2 1978 cassette decks with about 10 minutes a night if Im lucky. Most of the tools you see out are usually in the tool box. But Ill admit most of the other stuff is usually pushed to the back of the bench in some order. Truth is I know where everything is, but I did forget the leaf blower was under there. That turbo belongs in the other corner....
 
pishta said:
My bench was made from an old fire door. Neighbor had it and was going to move to folks home so he told me to take it and make a bench out of it. Its nice and solid. got some 2X4s and a chop saw and fabbed up the 2 tier bench. Its very long. I was going to put locking casters on it but decided against it. I was always misplacing screwdrivers so I just drilled 45 degree holes in the 4X4 legs one day and stuck them in order, works great. My wifes been sick for a month so I have not had a chance to work or clean up out there so its in rare form in this pic. Trying to work on 2 1978 cassette decks with about 10 minutes a night if Im lucky. Most of the tools you see out are usually in the tool box. But Ill admit most of the other stuff is usually pushed to the back of the bench in some order. Truth is I know where everything is, but I did forget the leaf blower was under there. That turbo belongs in the other corner....
Click to expand...
You should see my wife's office at her work. LOL
 
I saw the Turbo but not the leaf blower. Thought maybe you guys were referencing the Turbo as the leaf blower like a joke. Lol
 
moparmat2000 said:
I saw the Turbo but not the leaf blower. Thought maybe you guys were referencing the Turbo as the leaf blower like a joke. Lol
Click to expand...
Dang, could do an "I spy" game with that embarrassing pic. I spy with my little eye....a Hughes 904 Torque converter!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top