Looking for organization tips for resistors and all other components that seem to pile up. I'm on my 14th build now and find myself just leaving all the diff values in their little baggies inside a big baggy so when I go to build another I gotta dump em all out and grab the values I need.....there must be a better way :)
Lots and lots of component draws :D Some people are cool with a messy work station. Personally I get lost pretty easily (with everything life has to offer) so I'm...quite...neat... :-[
Canadian Tire Tool Drawers (the 36 drawer ones) for caps, transistors, ICs, LEDs, Vactrols, boards, etc. Usually on sale once a month. Plano tackle boxes for knobs, pots, jacks, switches, and common value resistors, zip lock bags in order of magnitude for the rest.
I've got these storage units that have loads of little draws in. If you keep resistors on rolls you can easily get 200 in each draw without any problems, if the resistors are lose, probably more around 800-100 per draw.
I can't find a picture of mine at the moment but here is a link to them http://www.rapidonline.com/Facilities/Raaco-C11-44-Steel-Storage-Cabinet-44-Drawer-14-2078 (http://www.rapidonline.com/Facilities/Raaco-C11-44-Steel-Storage-Cabinet-44-Drawer-14-2078)
I read on diysb that one dude uses three ring binders with plastic sport card inserts. My old Pokemon and baseball card binders are going to be converted to holding resistors, caps, trannies and diodes on my next order. Just gotta label them. Seems like a great idea if you have a small work area and don't want to have a zillion component drawers like me.
Quote from: stevie1556 on January 28, 2014, 02:41:06 PM
I can't find a picture of mine at the moment but here is a link to them http://www.rapidonline.com/Facilities/Raaco-C11-44-Steel-Storage-Cabinet-44-Drawer-14-2078 (http://www.rapidonline.com/Facilities/Raaco-C11-44-Steel-Storage-Cabinet-44-Drawer-14-2078)
I recently bought one of these. Fanatastic cabinet. The draws are a good size. Metal chassis. Good stuff.
Even this isn't enough. Pic doesn't show the cart on the left side with six shelves or the two plastic bins under the table full of PCBs.
I got this delicious idea from someone else on the Madbean forum but for most of what I do it is great.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73135424/Madbean%20Forum/IMG_1464%20(Medium).JPG)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73135424/Madbean%20Forum/IMG_1465%20(Medium).JPG)
Basically it's just Caprisun (fruit juice drinks) boxes with the lids cut off and some #6 coin envelopes. Amazon or eBay has the best prices on coin envelopes..the office stores are expensive. I enjoy this method for my through hole components as it is easy to grab the box in the order you need when populating....grab the resistors box first, then grab the box with film caps and so on. It's really cheap, quenches your thirst, doesn't take up much room, and super easy to keep organized as they are all sorted by value low to high. If a device is ESD sensitive you can keep it in an ESD bag inside the coin envelope. I use little poly bags (like the ones from Tayda) to keep things organized or just use the poly bag the components came in. If the envelopes get a little ratty you can just replace it, no big deal.
When building, if I notice I'm running low on a value I will just write it down in a text file on my computer to ensure I have it for the next order to Tayda/Mouser/wherever.
For larger components like switches, jacks, stomps, etc...the fishing tackle organizers work good for me. I also have an old CD jewel case organizer that I use with cheap paper CD sleeves for diodes/transistors/ceramic caps etc...but its not the best as the envelopes fall over easily. Therefore, I'm not posting pictures of it and converting to Caprisun boxes soon.
SMD components...I use the little flip top interlocking boxes which work great for 603 and up size.
I also use coins envellope for all the 1/8 - 1/4 - 1/2 Watt resisistors, LEDs, LDR, Diodes and up to 50V radial capacitors.
ICs and Si trannies, Vreg are in the corrosion and magnetic protection tackle box type box.
Ge's are sorted in bigger tackle box, everything that is Axial or over 50v(Electros) are in drawers like Brian displayed.
All my pots, switches, jacks, sockets..well everything that is hardware at some point is in a 130 plastic part bin rack...like what you can see in electronic or mecanic shop sometime.
And... there's always improvement to be done.
I live in an apartment so space is pretty limited. I would love to have a setup like Brian's with drawers someday when I get a house. I have found a nice system in the mean time for all components other than resistors (I organize those like Rullywowr). I found these embroidery floss organizer boxes at the local Fred Meyer and the are perfect. I do have to trim the leads on diodes but the are perfect. Here is a pic:
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/29/ady8egy7.jpg)
Pedal size-appropriate stuff, caps, diodes and resistors go into 3" × 5" Ziploc bags then into cut-down cardboard Ikea magazine holders. Will hold thousands of resistors.
Bigger parts, pots, switches, jacks, transistors and the like go into small-drawer plastic cabs or those divided tray organizers etc. Enclosures into a shoebox, tubes into dresser drawers, paints into shoeboxes and on and on it goes.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/davent/IMG_3335.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/davent/IMG_3337.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/davent/IMG_3336.jpg)
dave
+1 on coin envelopes. (http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/842/xgco.jpg)
A whole lotta germs!
Drawers makes building way quicker.
Plus it's fun to sort parts when they arrive!
I remember the baggies inside of baggies thing. I get drawers for super cheap at harbor freight. $16 for 40 drawer cabinet. Quality is good enough for what I need.
I seriously need to get a lamp like that. Partly for photographing, partly to see better.
More ontopic, I've got some plastic containers that fit in another plastic thing. There are 5 resistor containers (0-1k, 1k1-10k, 10k1-100k, etc), a diode one, ceramic caps, box caps. I need to get more for the other componentry (they're still in plastic bag mode, apart from the ICs which are in an icecream container.)
Quote from: alanp on January 28, 2014, 10:28:42 PM
I seriously need to get a lamp like that. Partly for photographing, partly to see better.
Yeah. It's great for side lighting for pics. Adds drama and coolness.
Quote from: Leevibe on January 28, 2014, 10:09:44 PM
Drawers makes building way quicker.
Plus it's fun to sort parts when they arrive!
I remember the baggies inside of baggies thing. I get drawers for super cheap at harbor freight. $16 for 40 drawer cabinet. Quality is good enough for what I need.
What a nice workspace! I've got to make sure my wife doesn't see this, don't feel like hearing "Why can't you be organized like Leevibe?" Because I'm NOT Leevibe..... Sheesh.... Women
Quote from: billstein on January 28, 2014, 10:43:26 PM
Quote from: Leevibe on January 28, 2014, 10:09:44 PM
Drawers makes building way quicker.
Plus it's fun to sort parts when they arrive!
I remember the baggies inside of baggies thing. I get drawers for super cheap at harbor freight. $16 for 40 drawer cabinet. Quality is good enough for what I need.
What a nice workspace! I've got to make sure my wife doesn't see this, don't feel like hearing "Why can't you be organized like Leevibe?" Because I'm NOT Leevibe..... Sheesh.... Women
Ha! Call it a clean phase. I don't have any pics of when my bench was a closet door on saw horses on the living room with baggies everywhere!
Quote from: Leevibe on January 28, 2014, 10:33:42 PM
Adds drama and coolness.
I get enough drama from building the boards as it is... ::)
Quote from: alanp on January 28, 2014, 10:28:42 PM
I seriously need to get a lamp like that. Partly for photographing, partly to see better.
Lee Valley sell a bushing you sink anywhere into your work surface so you can get rid of that annoying clamp. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=70534&cat=1,41636,41637,70534
dave
[/quote]
Lee Valley sell a bushing you sink anywhere into your work surface so you can get rid of that annoying clamp. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=70534&cat=1,41636,41637,70534
dave
[/quote]
Thanks Dave! That is exactly what I have been thinking about! I've actually searched Home Depot for something that would work. Maybe I'll buy a few so I can move the lamp depending on what I'm working on.
I got a couple to do that with but just ended up adding a second light so one for each end of the bench. They're so much studier then those flimsy clamps that in my case at least, seemed to be always letting go.
Not my idea here! But got this CD case hanging around and is a pretty good solution for resistors, transistors, caps!
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/30/mezuqapu.jpg)
Quote from: davent on January 29, 2014, 09:09:58 AM
I got a couple to do that with but just ended up adding a second light so one for each end of the bench. They're so much studier then those flimsy clamps that in my case at least, seemed to be always letting go.
So for an extra $6 I have justification to buy another tool? I'm in!
How could you go wrong with a vendor called Lee?
When we named our daughter, i thought Leigh fit well as her middle name, had a nice ring to it, later realized that my affinity for that name was due to my Lee Valley Tools addiction.
dave
Quote from: davent on January 29, 2014, 10:56:42 AM
How could you go wrong with a vendor called Lee?
When we named our daughter, i thought Leigh fit well as her middle name, had a nice ring to it, later realized that my affinity for that name was due to my Lee Valley Tools addiction.
dave
There is that!
Quote from: Gledison on January 29, 2014, 09:49:09 AM
Not my idea here! But got this CD case hanging around and is a pretty good solution for resistors, transistors, caps!
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/30/mezuqapu.jpg)
That's great!! *starts looking to see if the Dutch household has one of those*
Paul
My problem is I procrastinate putting parts orders away and end up with half a days work sorting parts.
Quote from: DutchMF on January 29, 2014, 11:22:07 AM
That's great!! *starts looking to see if the Dutch household has one of those*
Paul
heheeh, you might have to throw it away some Anouk CD's..ehhehe, hope not!
Quote from: Leevibe on January 28, 2014, 10:09:44 PM
Drawers makes building way quicker.
Plus it's fun to sort parts when they arrive!
I remember the baggies inside of baggies thing. I get drawers for super cheap at harbor freight. $16 for 40 drawer cabinet. Quality is good enough for what I need.
I'd love to go the drawers route, but it seems like you'd have a lot more values of components than you'd have drawers for. That's a sweet setup for sure. My challenge is that I typically work on my studio/computer desk so I have to be able to pack it up.
Quote from: Jabulani Jonny on February 05, 2014, 02:13:21 PM
Quote from: Leevibe on January 28, 2014, 10:09:44 PM
Drawers makes building way quicker.
Plus it's fun to sort parts when they arrive!
I remember the baggies inside of baggies thing. I get drawers for super cheap at harbor freight. $16 for 40 drawer cabinet. Quality is good enough for what I need.
I'd love to go the drawers route, but it seems like you'd have a lot more values of components than you'd have drawers for. That's a sweet setup for sure. My challenge is that I typically work on my studio/computer desk so I have to be able to pack it up.
I used the little craft bead sorting boxes like the one in stomptown's pic for a long time. They are portable and cheap. The biggest issue I had was being able to keep stuff sorted by value. You can't reshuffle them like you can a drawer. Still, for you they could be just the ticket because they're easy to move around and you can stack them.
I'll second Leevibe's HF storage Bins. I use a couple of 41 Drawer Units (http://www.harborfreight.com/40-bin-organizer-with-full-length-drawer-94375.html) a couple of Storage Flats (http://www.harborfreight.com/24-divider-storage-container-94458.html) from Harbor Freight and a couple of Stack-On 36 Drawer Units (http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=124553-941-DSB-39&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3063213&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=rel&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1) from Lowes. I like the Stack-On ones as they're a little sturdier, but for the price I have a VERY hard time justifying the extra $5 over the HF ones, especially since they aren't the nice hard crystal clear plastic like they show in the pictures. They now come with the milky flexible plastic, just like the ones from HF. I do like the larger drawers at the bottom of them for housing projects that are in progress, upcoming PCB's to populate, switches, or a stash of premade boards. Since I had to purchase a bunch of 1/8w size components , I will be getting another pair of the 41 Drawer units form HF and one of these 18 Drawer Units (http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/085529/085529400425lg.jpg) since it is all large drawers. Condense all of the large drawers into one unit and recycle the Stack-On's to the wife for her Craft materials. Least I can do since she handed down her rotary tool to me when she got a new Dremel kit for the holidays.
I have some NDA work on the bench right now that precludes me from snapping a shot of it. These will give you an idea
(http://szerszamkell.hu/custom/szerszamkell/image/cache/w500h500/product/csavartarto_doboz_horgaszdoboz_szerszamkell8.jpg)(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/0/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_14911.jpg)(http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/085529/085529400456lg.jpg)(http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/085529/085529400425lg.jpg)
Yep I use storage bins too, just like the ones above. Really, really worth the investment.
I should get some bins/tray pull outs for switches and stuff like that.
I do as Davent does using a partitioned box for resistors/caps:
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Beedoola/243DCEB3-910E-474B-95C8-ECE2807D5569-17876-00000A015DF88678_zps4b01b6dd.jpg) (http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Beedoola/media/243DCEB3-910E-474B-95C8-ECE2807D5569-17876-00000A015DF88678_zps4b01b6dd.jpg.html)
I'd like to take a slight turn here, but still related to your organization techniques. How do you keep track of what you have? Does anyone use software to manage their inventory? If so, what?
Every drawer is labeled and transparent so it's easy to see what is/isn't inside.
Quote from: SmoothAction on January 28, 2014, 02:44:45 PM
I read on diysb that one dude uses three ring binders with plastic sport card inserts. My old Pokemon and baseball card binders are going to be converted to holding resistors, caps, trannies and diodes on my next order. Just gotta label them.
When I first started out, I did exactly that, until the first time I picked up the binder upside down and it all went everywhere. But then I eventually grew out of the binders anyhow. So my only advise would be to watch which side is up ;-)
Quote from: Clayford on February 05, 2014, 07:32:36 PM
I'll second Leevibe's HF storage Bins. I use a couple of 41 Drawer Units (http://www.harborfreight.com/40-bin-organizer-with-full-length-drawer-94375.html) a couple of Storage Flats (http://www.harborfreight.com/24-divider-storage-container-94458.html) from Harbor Freight and a couple of Stack-On 36 Drawer Units (http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=124553-941-DSB-39&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3063213&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=rel&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1) from Lowes. I like the Stack-On ones as they're a little sturdier, but for the price I have a VERY hard time justifying the extra $5 over the HF ones, especially since they aren't the nice hard crystal clear plastic like they show in the pictures. They now come with the milky flexible plastic, just like the ones from HF. I do like the larger drawers at the bottom of them for housing projects that are in progress, upcoming PCB's to populate, switches, or a stash of premade boards. Since I had to purchase a bunch of 1/8w size components , I will be getting another pair of the 41 Drawer units form HF and one of these 18 Drawer Units (http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/085529/085529400425lg.jpg) since it is all large drawers. Condense all of the large drawers into one unit and recycle the Stack-On's to the wife for her Craft materials. Least I can do since she handed down her rotary tool to me when she got a new Dremel kit for the holidays.
I have some NDA work on the bench right now that precludes me from snapping a shot of it. These will give you an idea
(http://szerszamkell.hu/custom/szerszamkell/image/cache/w500h500/product/csavartarto_doboz_horgaszdoboz_szerszamkell8.jpg)(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/0/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_14911.jpg)(http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/085529/085529400456lg.jpg)(http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/085529/085529400425lg.jpg)
How is the quality on the harbor freight rack? I was reading reviews on their site and got a little concerned by some of the negative reviews. .. I figure, they're drawers...they can't be that bad: )
The 40 drawer cabinet is pretty typical HF low quality. I find them entirely adequate for sorting duty though.
Quote from: bcalla on February 06, 2014, 02:51:43 PM
I'd like to take a slight turn here, but still related to your organization techniques. How do you keep track of what you have? Does anyone use software to manage their inventory? If so, what?
Yep, Excel. I try to keep a running spreadsheet of what I have, what the various projects I'm working on need, etc. It's kind of a pain, but it helps to make sure I don't get to the end of a build and am missing a component. Well, most times any way. ;D
I tend to keep a LEAN manufacturing strategy for my components. I have the odd pot, cap, and resistor on hand, but I usually order what I need when I have a build.
If I order something I don't have, I get a good qty of it. If I'm low, I order more. It's like stocking a kitchen with ingredients. If you have all the ingredients on hand, you can make anything you want.
Quote from: Leevibe on February 06, 2014, 03:49:11 PM
The 40 drawer cabinet is pretty typical HF low quality. I find them entirely adequate for sorting duty though.
Yup they're drawers. They work for a single value of a component. You can label the drawers if you're careful, and even get a second oddball value if you use a baggie. If I were making a living - I wouldn't use them. I'd get the Arko Mils 64 (http://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mils-10164-Plastic-Storage-Hardware/dp/B000LDH3JC/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_z) and the complimentary types you find on the page.
Quote from: rullywowr on February 06, 2014, 06:03:48 PM
If I order something I don't have, I get a good qty of it. If I'm low, I order more. It's like stocking a kitchen with ingredients. If you have all the ingredients on hand, you can make anything you want.
Agreed - 5 bucks for $25 of a cap or 12 for $100. If it's a standard value - I bulk it out as I need it. I'm set on 100n's between my MLC's and the ECQ-V's I got from Chromosphere. If it's an odd ball I'll order 10 for the break and call it a day.