[ POLL ] Do you Before or After?

Do you straighten up the bench before or after doing any work ?

  • Always After

  • Usually After

  • Randomly

  • Usually Before

  • Always Before

  • Never

Results are only viewable after voting.
fig

fig

Village Idiot
I just walked into my lab to do a bit of soldering, and faced the usual mess from the previous day. That's when it hit me....no I didn't fart, I came up with this poll....which also got me out of cleaning that mess up.
I'm sure there has been some psychological study that explains the A/B/C types of this muse, and I was always the kid that squeezed every second out of the day, and it did kinda stick.

Thanks for reading. :)
 
Big Monk said:
Once I have a project completed and boxed up, breadboarded or modifications done to an existing pedal, I clean up the bench that day/night.

I answered "Always After" because I typically go to work on a clean bench.
Click to expand...
So it's more project-based than a daily thing..makes sense.
 
It's hard to say for me. It's usually after one project and before the next one. I guess by definition it will be "before" then. My workstation will be untouched for a number of days at a minumum in between projects.
 
grabo99 said:
Once I hit my limit on messiness I get angry and clean. Depends on how much building I do.
Click to expand...
Almost same here. I pretty much always go to work on a messy bench, I just clear enough space for the current project at hand. The thought is always "I have a dozen projects in the works right now, I'll clean everything up when all the projects are done." The problem there is that I don't wait until all of them are done to take on more, I have a constantly rotating cycle of a dozen projects at any given time. So I clean when my wife hits her limit on my messiness, which per the poll I translated to "never" but is realistically more like every 3-4 months.
 
I try to clean as I go, but only because I hate cleaning up when I've got something finished. I also do a lot of cooking at home and I think that's where I picked that up. When I'm finished with a project I'll leave whatever mess there is (usually not too bad) and then clean up on a day when I don't have anything else to do. I also take that time to see if I'm running low on any staples.
 
I surprise my self on keeping my bench quite clean/organized which would not have even been imaginable not that many years ago. I use individual plastic storage bin for each individual projects I have going on. Once I'm done for the day or evening, I put everything back in the bins and place the bin on the shelf. I'll keep some notes in the bin on my next step or missing a components or if trouble shooting needed. I keep the component list and the schematic in the bin as well. Allows me to work on multiple projects and keep everything organized. I Also use storage bin for the tools i'm using for a specific task instead of being spread out on the bench. This way, I can just close the bin when I'm done for the days and get back to it as easily when I get the opportunity. It's a little extreme and probably not the fastest way to get things done but it's the only way I can keep up and not loose track.
 
pcb rookie said:
I surprise my self on keeping my bench quite clean/organized which would not have even been imaginable not that many years ago. I use individual plastic storage bin for each individual projects I have going on. Once I'm done for the day or evening, I put everything back in the bins and place the bin on the shelf. I'll keep some notes in the bin on my next step or missing a components or if trouble shooting needed. I keep the component list and the schematic in the bin as well. Allows me to work on multiple projects and keep everything organized. I Also use storage bin for the tools i'm using for a specific task instead of being spread out on the bench. This way, I can just close the bin when I'm done for the days and get back to it as easily when I get the opportunity. It's a little extreme and probably not the fastest way to get things done but it's the only way I can keep up and not loose track.
Click to expand...
Who let you in? :ROFLMAO: It's how I used to be when I was more active in the workforce. Somehow I've gotten all soft and lazy. Not flabby mind you!
 
fig said:
Who let you in? :ROFLMAO: It's how I used to be when I was more active in the workforce. Somehow I've gotten all soft and lazy. Not flabby mind you!
Click to expand...
I still have plenty of time to get back to old habits ... don't worry!

As for who let me in, you tell me .... I answered "don't know" to the secret question "how many is enough?"
 
I usually leave everything where it lands when working on a build(s), then when I get back to it, I tidy up before continuing. I always straighten up before starting new projects, as I've taken to doing 3-4 at a time lately, so they may drag on for a month or so
 
I work at the dining room table, so I gots to keep up with it immediately after and often during. My wife takes issue with the colorful bits of wire insulation and clipped leads while having dinner.
 
I have a big old computer, no laptop. I need to look at files, instructions and forums while building. So I build where I do everything else, on the desk in my bedroom (a simple white plank and trestles). I can't leave it dirty or full of tools because i need the space for many other things. For exemple, I eat on the same plank, watching news or some old samurai movie.

I don't have much tools : screwdrivers and such are in 2 little Heinz beans cans near the soldering station, a drill, a DMM, and a little cookies box where all my parts are piled up. Some paintbrushes, acrylic paint, varnish and that's all. The real problem is : where can I put all these stompboxes...they're everywhere in the room now. I need to keep them in sight, or I will forget they even exist, and I'll never use them...
 
Last edited:
I lack space, so I pack up what needs to be packed up when I'm finished working in my tiny work area.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fig
cwsquared said:
Until I get a real bench, I work at a small table in my basement. It is easily accessible to my 3yo twins, so cleanup is important. Complete cleanup happens as soon as I finish work.
Click to expand...
Necessarily a necessary necessity (y)
 
Small space ✔️
But I clean before as of now. Baby on the way so maybe that will change. I generally finish things late in the evening so cleaning up isn't my idea of a fun way to end the night. But I like to get it pristine prior to beginning a build. Makes me excited.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fig
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top