Inexpensive, space efficient cap/resistor organization idea

[mort]

I hate plano boxes. For small parts, they really waste alot of space. Especially if you need to organize more than just a few types/values of parts.


So I was using ma' thinker and this is what I came up with...


There are these cheap, resealable bags called "team bags". They are used for sports card collecting and cost about 2 bucks per 100. Organize your caps/resistors into the bags, and label/seal them. Eventually(years) the seal wears off on them but they are cheap and easy enough to replace as they get worn out and will always be readily available.

Ultra Pro Team Set Bag Resealable - 100ct Pack - $2.19 : Blowout Cards - Sports Cards and Trading Cards Wholesale Online Store




Then, they can be easily stored in cardboard boxes that were specifically made to hold that size bag. They are made for sports cards and can be found in all sorts of sizes, depending on how much storage you need. It wouldn't require a very big box in order to organize 100's of values of resistors, and the same goes for caps, dependent upon their size. They are available at any hobby card shop or online. They even make foam dividers for them...















I can't think of any other method that would be cheaper to buy, and take up less space in the shop.

Thoughts?

[Enzo]

We recently had a thread about parts storage over at DIYAudio. My suggestion was small manilla envelopes, probably similar in size. They are called "coin envelopes" in the trade. Ah, I have a box right here. The ones I use for small things like diodes and little transistors is 3-3/8" x 6". They come smaller and larger. I call them manilla, but I see they call them kraft paper. Like these:

StaplesŪ #5-1/2, 3-1/8" x 5-1/2" Brown Kraft Coin Envelopes with Gummed Closure, 500/Box | StaplesŪ

I write what it is on the flap in a standard format I have made up. And I stand them in a row, flaps on top facing me, and in order by value or by part number. I am sure the same as how you use yours. If I want to write more information, I have the whole side of the envelope. SOmetimes I peel the sorting sticker off a baggie from Mouser and stick it to the envelope. In one sticky step I just saved the Mouser stock number and other pertinent data. Other data might include OEM part numbers, like a 1N4744 might also have a Peavey part number and a Yamaha part number and so on.

I have a whole bunch of those 60-drawer plastic parts units, but even 100 little 1N4148 diodes barely puts a dent in one if the little drawers. I have a 60-drawer bin just for diodes, one drawer per zener voltage, plus other diodes. I can put them all in envelopes and the entire thing now fits into my hand.

I have sets of Wurlitzer tines sorted this way, ordered by key number. They have been in these envelopes for at least 30 years, and still holding up just fine.

This frees up my drawers for bulkier things like TO3 transistors and pots.

I like Plano boxes. I use them for things like odd small pots or trimmer pots, for my assortments of screws and nuts. I have one just for pot nuts and washers, sorted by size. Little tactile switches come in 2 and 4 leg types and in several dimensions and multiple actuator height. Plano to the rescue.

[R.G.]

Let me add to that. I've used coin envelopes for over 30 years now. The size 4 1/2 envelope fits nicely in most shoeboxes. In one shoebox, I have the whole 10 ohm to 2.2M range, with as many as 100-200 1/4W resistors per envelope. I don't use the bigger resistors, but a larger envelope in a larger box would take care of that. I've expanded that system to include axial diodes as well. I also use it for the smaller, flatter caps.

Smaller electros go in a plastic compartment box where I can see the contents, as do smaller film caps. For physically larger parts and parts over about $0.50 each, I let Mouser do my stocking. I happen to live where ground shipping from Mouser is next day, and they ship same day if you order by 7PM central.

[defaced]

Coin envelops here too. I use a 5-1/2 size, but the photo boxes I'm using are a little shallow for putting a lid on them, so I just keep them open. I'd like to get a drawer type system setup, but alas, finding suitable sized drawers are proving to be somewhat difficult/expensive for a hobby builder such as myself. I stuff everything I can in coin envelopes because it saves me all the time in the world when I go to add a new part to the inventory, but there are some limitations, for example: Small loose parts tend to bunch up at the bottom of the envelope if you have alot of them (caps, transistors, LEDs, etc). IC's need to be mounted on foam otherwise they bunch up as well/pins get damaged (not to mention possible static concerns). Pots, knobs, jacks and other large parts don't do well in smaller envelopes, so I currently keep mine in the ubiquitous plastic boxes.

[Enzo]

I think the envelopes are best used for small flat things like resistors or diodes. TO92 transistors do fine too. But i agree, things like IC or other things with legs sticking out or other pointy surfaces are best stored some other way. I thinkof th envelopes as freeing up storage space for bulkier items.

I agree also, that when I have a whole series of parts like resistors and get some new value in between, it is so much easier just to stick a new envelope in the row, than to move all the drawers in my bins down one space.

[bob p]

I really like the OP's idea to use clear containers. clear envelopes make it really easy to quickly count and identify your parts inventory. I think that the use of clear containers would be the standard that everyone uses today, if it weren't for the fact that everyone started off using opaque envelops a long time ago (in the dark ages before clear ziploc bags were invented). old habits die hard.

i've been given several boxes of unwanted parts in coin envelopes by other hobbyists who were cleaning house. i hate the envelopes because i can't see through them. that and i when i order new inventory, i don't want to waste my time writing things on the outside of a hundred little envelopes.

i like the fact that newark and allied send their passives in little clear ziploc bags with printed inventory labels already attached to them. the pre-printed label has all of the line-item information from your order, which makes re-ordering the same part really easy because the manufacturer's part number, supplier's part number and the detailed part description are all printed on the label. the little baggies are just the right size -- just big enough for an ammo reel snippet to fit inside. the fact that they are clear makes it really easy to know exactly how many parts you've got on-hand without having to open a bunch of little manilla envelopes to do head counts.

my method of organization sounds like it's no different than everyone else's, it's just that i'm using clear baggies instead of coin envelopes. i just sort the little see-through baggies into stacks based upon value, put a rubber band around a decade stack of them, and toss them into a small box.

to the OP: if you order from Newark, the parts will come in little ziploc bags with labels on them, so you don't have to spend your money on the clear baseball card sleeves. hth.