Kit Building And My Workbench.

Kit building and my workbench.

I've been a builder of electronic kits for many years, and in more recent years, concentrating more on audio kits in fact very recently I successfully completed another stereo headphone amplifier kit (my third now) needed for my home studio recording work. Thankfully I've reached the stage in my kit building where I'm mostly confident of success, at least with reasonably straightforward audio printed circuit board stuff although the 'early days' were a somewhat different and (variable) story. A long time ago the only satisfaction a certain stereo integrated amplifier kit gave me was when after many fruitless attempts to get it working, I threw it out a window. I did derive a slightly perverse sense of pleasure in watching it hit the ground from a substantial height! I eventually gave it to a more electronically knowledgeable friend who fixed it and got it going to a high level of performance. I said he could keep it, which he did! It was all a much needed 'learning' experience though.

However most of my kit building efforts in recent years, despite my worsening eyesight have been mostly highly successful and I am personally gratified to see some excellent audio kit designs being released along with high quality components, for example low noise and high stability metal film resistors and premium semiconductors. That is a nice touch actually. Not so long ago slightly mediocre carbon resistors (very noisy in comparison) were frequently supplied in audio kits! In recent years the excellent designs available through Elliott Sound Products have kept me busy!

So, where do I build my kits? That's an interesting question actually. Over the years, I have been known to build kits in various places, like the kitchen table, which is not ideal especially when 'someone' wants to prepare a meal, to various beds (a dangerous place for a hot soldering iron and yes there are burn marks to prove it), to the floor in various rooms. However mostly now I have a 'workbench' downstairs where most assembly takes place. The 'workbench' is an old wooden table, a couple of chairs and needed accessories such as a soldering station, tools, desk fluorescent lamp, magnifying helmet etc....and as is evident in the photograph......well, it is a mess! However as long as I can find enough working space, the general set up is entirely adequate, although I'm always losing things in the mess!

In fact on slightly overcast and rainy days like today, being at the work bench building (or trying) to build something is a nice place to be! The general area is my 'general construction area' for things as diverse as electronics circuitry to radio antennas of all types including simple wire dipoles to large loop antennas and VHF yagi antennas where owing to hole drilling etc (I love my drill press), large quantities of aluminium shavings frequently litter the area....a definite hazard to walk on! Wearing shoes in the area is basically a very good idea! In Australia, there is an old expression about a man needing a 'shed' where he can carry out his various hobbies to this hearts content. Well, whilst my work bench isn't quite a shed, it is my version of it!

I don't get lonely down there as I've made an old AM car radio into a decent sounding system matched with one of my surplus old Hi Fi speakers and a home made 'tuned loop' antenna for providing me with radio programs, should I feel the need to listen to something whilst I work. My home gym is also located in the same general area downstairs. Very much a 'multi functional area', in a sense! The top of the table was just higher than the peak height of the floodwaters earlier this year here, for which I was most thankful as there was a lot of general stuff stacked on that table in preparation for the floods. I was hoping that the table top would be high enough. It was, 'just'! Well the floods are now a distant memory and that table has resumed its primary purpose as my construction workbench! It's essentially an open area and quite pleasant especially during the peak months of summer and even winter, however the mosquitoes can be a 'bother' during the rainy season as there is a garden and trees in the general location as well. A lighted Citronella candle/ and or a burning mosquito coil is mandatory at those times!

I guess apart from anything else, being at that workbench is quite a therapeutic place to be! It is one of my two favourite spots to be, the other being my Ham Radio shack/ home studio/ computer room....actually this room. They're both refuges in a sense, places to reflect and build and get one's self 'together'. I think that's rather important. More to come! Felix.