I have been making boards for a while now but always buy parts as I go. Of course I have amassed a small collection of pieces but not much. How do you guys go about stocking your bench? I have seen lots for sale on eBay but am leery that this would be a bunch of junk not worth storing.
Thanks!
I'd stick to Farnell (or Mouser/Digikey if you are in the US) for most components.
I source other more hard to source components from the more specialist shops (eg. Doctor Tweek).
A good start would be a stock of common resistors (you can buy kits which are a worthy investment) and capacitors (eg. standard valus for film and aluminium caps).
1N4148 and 1N4001 diodes are another thing worth keeping a stock of.
Pots are a more difficult one, but there is no harm in keeping a load of 100KA's in stock.
You will start to notice that a lot of builds share common parts values.
A warning though; if you are a hoarder you might find keeping a stock of stuff quite addictive!
Good advice, thanks raulduke.
I will definitely heed the hoarder warning, I could see my bench becoming covered in parts I really don't need but just stack up crazily!
You have to be careful of the ebay vendors, but there are some good ones out there.
For ICs and transistors, POLIDA is a reputable chinese company, they have much better selection than Tayda, and their prices are really good. PT2399 @ $0.35 each, ICL7660SCPA @ $0.32, 4580D @$0.34, 1N4148 @$0.006 each, etc
For LEDs, SATISTRONICS is a solid supplier, and their waterclears are ridiculously bright.
CNRESOURCE is a solid supplier for passives (caps, resistors) and diodes. 1N4001 @ $0.01 each
Tayda fits the bill for most other general needs, and their pots are the most economical. Wish they had solid shafts, and they're missing a few values (like 25k). The linear pots test out within 10% (usually closer to 6%), the log pots are a bit more varied, but on a whole they test out the same as pots I've bought from Smallbear, Banzai, Musikding, etc.
Totally forgot about Tayda.
I've never used them but I hear (or read to be precise ;) ) good things about them.
I stay away from Fleabay personally; you can usually find what you want from reputable vendors without having to go there.
But yeah... I say start with a stock of Resistors and Caps and go from there dude.
Oh.... and buy some parts containers/sorters!
My first tayda order arrived today (to uk) have to say, we'll impressed! Except my black wire Is green? Will check the values and quantities when I'm home later and post the results here ;)
George
As above, buy some storage containers. I can't stress enough just how helpful they are for keeping things organised!
Here are my ones, soon to get a 5th one I think:
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/18/utupusys.jpg)
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For me whenever I need to order something, I order a bunch. I am mostly stocked up now, but say I run out of a kind of resistor, I buy 200, or need some PT2399s, I order 10 or 20, and on, and on and on!!
FCB electronics - china crap ( usa )
Valtek_2005 - hard to find stuff ( Romania )
i mostly use these 2 ebay sellers otherwise its smallbear or mammoth
A big, huge +1 on organisation. My system (ziplock bags in icecream containers marked 'RES', 'CAP', 'IC', plus big bags of hardware) is NOT good, and NOT fast.
i just throw a handful of caps at the cat.
the ones that stick are used in the next build.
the ones that draw blood i make sure are in the audio circuit ;D
I like stevie1556's storage system. Anyone have a good source for similar storage bins? Mine are somewhat abused and the local shop I used to buy them from no longer carries them.
Quote from: electricstorm on January 18, 2013, 12:28:10 PM
I like stevie1556's storage system. Anyone have a good source for similar storage bins? Mine are somewhat abused and the local shop I used to buy them from no longer carries them.
I got mine from Rapid Electronics. Great place for components as well if you are in the UK.
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So i just counted and tallied everything in my Tayda order, and i have everything, except they missed a couple of pf ceramic caps, out of one of the baggies, and my stranded black wire was solid core green?!?!
out of 1,000 items thats pretty good, and for $41 inc shipping to UK, i'm fairly pleased!
George
Quote from: hammerheadmusicman on January 18, 2013, 04:17:06 PM
...... and my stranded black wire was solid core green?!?!
I'll trade you the solid core wire for a bunch of stranded (I'll have to look up how much) if you don't mind it being blue....
Paul
i only ordered 2 feet, to see if the wire is any good, and they sent the wrong bloody one! haha, haven't treid solid core, seems really nice though, seems like it would be awesome for switch and I/O jack wiring.. i wouldn't dare use it for the pots, as i'd break it within seconds, keep lifting the board in and out!
Quote from: hammerheadmusicman on January 18, 2013, 06:50:23 PM
i only ordered 2 feet, to see if the wire is any good, and they sent the wrong bloody one! haha, haven't treid solid core, seems really nice though, seems like it would be awesome for switch and I/O jack wiring.. i wouldn't dare use it for the pots, as i'd break it within seconds, keep lifting the board in and out!
Use it to build your own PCB mount pots....you'll be ordering more of it on purpose next time
I've just used it for the switch wiring in a 1590a, neatest thing ever!! just wouldn't fancy using it for board or pot connections, as i like to be able to lift the board out etc..
But the mounted pots thing is a good shout!
George
Quote from: stevie1556 on January 17, 2013, 05:09:56 PM
As above, buy some storage containers. I can't stress enough just how helpful they are for keeping things organised!
Here are my ones, soon to get a 5th one I think:
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/18/utupusys.jpg)
Sent from my thumbs using Tapatalk!
Nice setup! I will have to invest in some organizers. I have my small collection of parts in a tackle box right now but that filled up fast.
Thanks for all the pointers on vendors gang, looking forward to stocking up here soon!
I will give one helpful bit of advice, if you get drawer units like I have, get a label maker. I got a fairly decent one for a tenner from ebay, and I'm in the process of putting different colours on different components. Red for caps, yellow for resistors, etc. It makes finding components a lot quicker, and the labels are easier to read then my hand writing.
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I've got about that much stuff,and damn if i'm not out of stomp switches. I though I had some,I thought wrong. Nother mammoth order!
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/31-11155
Those same caps are $0.02 each at Tayda
Quote from: DuctTapeRiot on February 05, 2013, 01:11:56 PM
Those same caps are $0.02 each at Tayda
That's my home away from home via the internet! It's like walmart for builders.
I love the place!!