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Controls Cabinet Laptop Stand.

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alliedtech12887

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've seen a lot of guys in the field make their own custom cabinet laptop holders. Just wondering what's out there and if anyone has any advice on where to buy one or how to make one? Thanks
 
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#3 ·
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#7 ·
joey791 said:
I use a box of Windy City Wire on new installs and a Homer Bucket with a flat cover on service
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Did that years ago....Way too old for that, the back cannot handle it.
 
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#8 ·
MaxBurn said:
I have a couple of these, one for the laptop and one for me. They fit in my backpack. About $9.

Image


I must admit after a couple hours in this my knees hurt so I'll likely upgrade to a full chair some day.
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I use the Wally World camping chairs (go with the 400lb rating, the 200lb rated chairs are crap!) and a canvas camping table. I've had the table for roughly ten years now and this chair for two or three. Chair: $30-40; table - $10?

I take a lot of flack from the other Bubba's on the construction sites but they're light and fast to set up and tear down.
 
#10 ·
Actually, the magnets don't pose any real treat to a laptop, unless you positioned the laptop hard drive right on top of one of the magnets. Then you might have a problem, but most hard drives are pretty well protected. I have used the MagBench Workstation for a year and carry it in my backpack with a laptop without any problems. I like the fact that in 2 seconds, I have a workbench at the right height. I've needed this for the last thirty years. I tested it on 10 gauge steel and it held 35 lbs. I also use the security strap kit and it locks my laptop in place while I'm away testing sensors and wiring issues. A little pricy I agree, but compared to the chair and bucket solutions, its a better more professional fit, and it made here in America and that's worth it to me. I used a discount code ( save10 ) to get 10% off on everything at checkout. http://www.magbench.com
 
#14 ·
orion242 said:
Ditto. That rackpak wire makes a great desk / chair. Buckets, boxes of filters, or ladders on their side also work in a pinch.
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Yeah, I've used all that and much more, whatever was handy when the need arose. The problem is that if there isn't a big project going on at the time, some of those "make do" materials aren't readily available. The other problem is that some things are a bit unstable and/or easily knocked over. Especially if there is extensive work being done in the area and various trades people aren't watching what they're doing, are in a hurry, etc.

So my preferred solution is not elegant and can sometimes be a pain. Years ago I bought a Rubber Maid Heavy duty service/utility cart, but a small one. Has a top and bottom shelf, 36 inches long by 24 wide and 34 inches high. High impact, chemical resistant plastic of some sort. Pretty darn durable, been hauling that sucker around for at least 15 years in every kind of situation you can imagine. She's still structurally sound and intact except for staining over the years that just doesn't scrub off any more.

Fit's in the back of my pickup w/topper just fine. But it can be a pain at times. Like when an elevator is not available. But I'm so used to just stooping down and sliding a hand under the center of the top shelf and then standing up with it at shoulder level that I hardly think about it. I don't think it weights more than 50 lbs, and when I can't pick that up one handed and walk up the stairs or whatever, I'm gonna retire. It'll be time.

Depending on what I'm doing and on what else is available on site, I keep a folding chair in the back of the truck and if I feel the need for it, slide it in on the lower shelf. Slap my laptop bag on top, and just pull her to where I need her. Laptop bag also contains the minimum essential hand tools and some meters, it's wheeled and has an extensible handle.

Added a multi-receptacle box , bolted on the side rewired with a different power cord, 70 foot, which I keep coiled when not in use on a small u-shaped holder I installed on one of the legs. Velcro strap keeps coil in place when I'm not using it. Got tired of finding myself in the need of an extension cord because there wasn't a nearby receptacle. Then trekking back to my truck to get one.

Works for me. I only break it out when I actually need it. But when I do, it's handy as heck. Doesn't knock over all that easy, stable as heck. Once I've set up the lap top the bag, plus my lunch box go on the bottom shelf, out of the way but still handy. Power strip means I can plug in multiple items.

No pics of it to show, looked for one on line but evidently Rubber Maid no longer makes the exact model. And I left it on a job site this evening so can't take a pic of the one I have right now. I did notice Rubber Maid now makes a kind of nifty alternative. They call it a convertible utility cart. Same basic item in dimensions. BUT can be converted into a low table cart for hauling loads (bottom stays as it but top folds up and rotates into vertical position at one end as a "handle" to shove cart around), or it can all fold down flat, in which case it's 24 wide by 36 long but only 11 inches high.

Added benefit of my cart, when I'm moving from place to place at a job site, all I need do is unplug my power cord and and roll the cart from place to place. No need to fold up the laptop, put it and any necessary cables, accessory devices or whatever away in my bag then yank em out later.

Of course, everyone has their preferred solution.
 
#16 ·
I have tried the carts and like them for jobs that provide easy access for them.

When the elevator stops at the 11th floor and the mech room is on 12....well that cart becomes a headache. They really need 4" wheels to clear all the cords laying on the floor on top of a mag lev option IMO.
 
#17 ·
The Trane guys around here have a really slick wire rack that hooks on to the control cabinet. Not sure where they get them but they are the only people i have seen with them. They usually tell me it was in the truck when they got it.
 
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#19 ·
orion242 said:
When the elevator stops at the 11th floor and the mech room is on 12....well that cart becomes a headache. They really need 4" wheels to clear all the cords laying on the floor on top of a mag lev option IMO.
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True enough about the elevator thing. But as I mentioned, I don't always use the cart. Flat impossible in some situations. In which case I make do using whatever other methods are available. Either makeshift means, or I've been known to drag out another item:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifetime-30-Personal-Folding-Table-Almond/20690055

That isn't the exact one, I don't think. But if not, it's close. Actually my wife bought a few some years ago, at Costco, I think. For around the house. I grabbed one for my use in case it'd come in handy while working. And it has, time to time.

A friend of mine uses a similar item almost exclusively. Uses a light weight folding hand cart to haul around folding table, folding chair, laptop bag, etc. Not my choice for the way to do things, but it suits him and that's all that counts ... for him.

As to the wheel thing, cart I have has 5 inch wheels. Came with that size. I replaced em tho, some years ago with a set of the same diameter, but with wider, rubber wheels of higher quality. The thing is there are always obstacles, but I put up with them just like other trades on a job site. But ... my service cart is smaller and lighter ... so I have an easier time of it. At only 24" wide can navigate easily through some tight spaces.

And even when I can't get right up to the exact place I want to get to with the cart, depending on what all I need to drag along with me for a particular job I might yank out the cart just to keep from having to carry (or pull) around laptop bag, tool bag, and other assorted stuff. Darn laptop bag has wheels and extensible handle, but sometimes I need additional stuff like a couple magnehelics, other pressure gauges, maybe the bigger/better DMM, plus maybe the big clamp on amp, portable drill/driver, couple extension cords, etc. Have one of those big open bay, heavy canvas bags with shoulder strap I use when I have to haul around a load. But would just as soon toss all that stuff on my cart and get as close as I can using it. Then hand carry the stuff the rest of the way if need be. I'm getting lazy in my old age.

I'm sure as heck not trying to sell anyone on my solution. To each his own. As others are doing I'm simply offering alternative ideas.

The hanging of my laptop from a magnetic tray doesn't appeal to me all that much. I'd be sweating the idea of tray falling, or tray getting tilted and laptop falling off. Damage to my laptop ... the prevention of same ... is one of my prime considerations. Isn't the replacement cost of a new laptop. Could hardly care less about that. I HATE having to get a new laptop just like I HATE having to get a new work truck. I have a LOT of assorted software loaded on my laptop. Some of it proprietary controls related stuff ... easily replaced and mostly not that expensive if already licensed and I just need to reload because I'm changing laptops. But it's a pain. Takes friggin hours. Then there is the reloading of MS Office, to include Visio. We have corporate licensing for that stuff. But again it seems to take forever to reload it. Then configure it so it works the way I want it to work. Downloading and installing Firefox and Chrome (I don't use IE), getting Java installed. Then there are probably at least 30 other utility programs I use routinely, made by others, and all free ... but gotta download them, install, and configure. Have a backup USB hard drive where I keep things archived. For instance, one folder named "Manuals". With many, many sub-folders to keep things organized. Just did a fast check, over 5300 files and greater than 10 gigs just for that folder. Then I have a "Jobs" folder, likewise with many, many sub-folder, and each sub-folder having many sub-folders. 38000 files and over 14 gigs, would be larger but I offload to archive stuff that goes back more than a couple or 3 years. Folder containing templates and examples for various tasks, folder containing literally thousands of graphics and stencils, and so forth. Would have to load all that stuff back onto a new laptop. Have done all this before, takes days before I have everything back the way I want it so I can work fast and efficiently. Cost of a new laptop is nothing to me compared to the aggravation of getting it all loaded up, configured, etc so it works just the way I want it to.

Kinda like getting a new work truck. Oh it's nice to have a new truck ... but then I'm fooling around forever to get stuff stashed into it just the way I want so that I know exactly where everything is and what I need most often is in an easy to access place. Last time I got a new truck, couple years ago, must've taken me 2 months to get it arranged, the re-arranged, and so forth until I was happy with everything. Until then I frequently was cursing silently and getting aggravated with the thing.

I HATE having to monkey around on a job. Want what I need NOW, easily gotten to, easily set up and worked with.
 
#20 ·
I've been using my MagBench without any problems and it fits in my backpack. I tested it on 10 gauge steel just to see how much it could hold and it held 45 lbs. so it falling isn't a problem. When I use the security straps I can't pull my laptop off even if I trip over the cords. I bought this because I wanted a quick portable solution that gets my laptop off the ground and sets it at waist level where t is safe. I also bought the MagShade to protect it from rain and it cuts down on the screen glare. Both are better than the boxes I've used in the past.

http://www.magbench.com
 
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