Part storage

[Jopn]

I don't think I've come across anyone storing their parts the same way I do yet, so I thought I'd post it up.  I've been using this system for about 2 years successfully, so I'm pretty confident that it's not just a good system "in theory".

I really is just 2 parts.  A box meant for baseball cards that holds the cards upright, and a box of coin envelopes approximately the size of (you guessed it!) a baseball card.

I absolutely love this system because it gets rid of almost all the dead space found parts drawers and tackle boxes.  It's got all of my resistors, capacitors, transistors and diodes in the 3 rows on the right and still have space to spare for extra envelopes so they are always handy..  The only exception is some larger germ transistors that I've got in bags on the left along with a few other unsorted items (or some "I'll sort these later" items).

It packs nicely away with a lid on to a shelf when not in use.  Obviously I have other storage methods for larger parts like pots/switches/jacks/etc.  But I thought I'd post this up to hopefully help someone else who's looking for something that works for them.



Cheers,

John

[rocket88]

Nice one John. I did something similar and it works great once you have if down for sure. I liked if a lot, but changed my method when I got too many of certain parts to really fit in the bags nicely. I get a little anal about stuff like that some times, I think it's from when I worked in a lab. I know I'm little odd and crazy at times.

[IvIark]

Yes I do similar with all my Dale resistors except in ziplock bags. Will probably do the same with my carbon comps if I can find suitable bags and case

[Jopn]

rocket88 wrote

... I liked if a lot, but changed my method when I got too many of certain parts to really fit in the bags nicely.

Ah, you see, I've got that covered as well.  For example, I have too many 100k resistors to fit in an envelope.  But not too many to fit in 2 envelopes!

[Chris60601]

LOL - yanno, somehow after reading that reply, then looking at the face, then back to the reply, then the face - absolutely fitting!!!

Well played Jopn, well played

[rocket88]

lol so very true. i'll show what i do once i get my effects lab back up and running. going to be moving tomorrow and friday. then in the basement i have to wall off a section for the lab, studio, and office. so i figure sometime next week i'll be up and running again.

to give an idea i use those wall hanging storage things with draws to hold things like pots, knobbies, switches, jacks, LEDs for indicators, etc. then i have long plastic containers that have parts in labeled plastic baggies. all my Ge's are sorted by name and hfe ranges of 10, ie: 60-69hfe, then in a big zip lock to hold all of the same types. my panasonics are in one of those compartment containers, in order, since i have something like 200 of each value, and more for more common values like 100nF, 10nF, etc. so i guess i still use the same method for a huge set of components, but not all.  anyways it's almost 2am, i just finished painting one room that i started at 9pm, god i hate painting, and i need to pass out to get up early to finish packing and start moving shit in so i can get back to normal.....

[dbat69]

I use a lot of those tackle type boxes with compartments and the "really useful boxes" - these are quite expensive but are good as they come in various sizes.  I also reuse the little plastic bags I get from Tayda (and the ones I bought from BitsBox) to seperate different components.  For ICs I use the IC tubes and mark them with a CD pen.
I would love to use the drawer cabinets but I just don't have the wall space for them.

Hope your move went well Zack and you have your man-den sorted soon

[Chris60601]

I have mine much the same as a few here - mostly in ziplock bags then into plastic containers.
However, when it comes to my IC's and box caps, I use these.



This image shows that while not the best way to store, they do hold a good bit.