Tips and Tricks

Tips and Tricks

Storing parts and projects: Over the years, I have used many different ways to store parts and projects, but then I discovered the plastic pencil box. Whether these boxes are available around the world I do not know, but in the USA they are plentiful an cheap when the kids go back to school. First, let me show you how I use them and include some part numbers. Once I started using the pencil boxes I ran short and ordered a carton of S6's from Soho Corp., www.sohocorp.com/stuffman.html.

Electronic and Hardware Parts: I have the parts divided by types: Drivers, Mosfets, BP transistors, etc. I generally leave the parts in the bags they came in, as you can see by the picture. The box is then labeled using a Brother P-touch labeler. At present, it takes 50 boxes to store my development inventory. I am out of boxes, but school is just around the corner. These are Soho S6 box and were also purchased from Office Depot.

For bulk devices such as resistors and diodes I use a case made by Flambeau Cases sold by Mouser, www.flambeaucases.com. The Flambeau A155 ,which is available from Mouser, is great for storing resistors and diodes. Flambeau compartmented storage series, K and T are handy, but check and see if Mouser stocks the ones you want.

Parts in a pencil box.

Resistors in a Flambeau A155.

Parts on the shelf.

Micro Projects: The projects are stored in a larger pencil box, one of which is shown below. These are made in Canada and were being sold by a local chainstore. I raided every store in town and bought 25 at $1 each. This box holds a single slbb which works for most of my projects. A similar box, Soho S2, is sold by a number of stores including Walgreens and Office Depot. The T4000 from Flambeau works for projects that take two slbb strips and is available from Mouser.

I usually have only one project at a time on the bench, keeping the others boxed and within reach. I have spares of the slbb addons and, generally, can keep a project intact.

A project in a pencil box.