Component Organization: Which Values??

[Joben Magooch]

So for Christmas I got a few of those multi-mini-drawer organizer thingies. I think they’re like 30 drawers each and I’m planning to use to organize my components. But I’m curious for those of you have done similar… which values are you making space for? I suspect it doesn’t make a ton of sense to set aside a drawer for EVERY resistor value, for instance, so I’m interested in seeing what others are finding to be their most frequently used, which ones are “drawer-worthy,” if you will…

How are you handling parts organization and deciding which values to make dedicated space for? Which oddball components/values don’t get their own spot(s)?

 

[jwin615]

For me.
Big parts go in bins
Small components go in binders.
Transistors and fets:

If you go this route, I recommend the 6 pocket variety of sleeves. I'm slowly moving everything to those. Bags of more that w few components like to ride up the 9 pocket ones.
You'll want bags, which are cheap, 7c each or so.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0qRfbW

60x90 for 9 pocket sleeves
65x120 for 6 pockets.
This keeps everything within arms reach, alphabetically sorted and easy to add new inventory for a lot less $ and takes up less space.
My 2 bays of bins are all hardware, PCBs, bezels, etc.

As far as your initial question, multiples of 10s, 22s, 47s, 68s.

 

[finebyfine]

I use dividers from “bin better” to divide each drawer of 2 64 bin drawers akro mils cabinets for resistors and non electrolytic caps. (Because EC caps are bigger I have one value per drawer - although I could probably do 2)

The way I do it is that each drawer holds 4 values except for drawers of heavily used values hold 2 because of how many of those I have. So for resistors up until 1K they all hold 4, the drawer for 1K holds 1K and 1K1. My 100K drawer also has 91K, etc.

Regardless of how you go about it I’d try to balance ease of grabbing parts out of a drawer with how much you use up their space. Part of the reason I keep EC caps one value to a drawer is so I don’t need to look that closely when I grab them. With resistors I’m probably grabbing a bunch so I don’t mind having to double check what value is where as much, even though the way I have my drawers labeled is related to which divider has what.

 

[peccary]

You're heading down a dangerous path, friendo. Condense while you can!

 

[szukalski]

E-6 and damn anyone who uses more precise values.

E series of preferred numbers - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Erik S]

I keep 60 values of 1/4w metal film in drawers. Those get me through most builds.

Just counted my overflow storage and there are another 17 funny values in there. Partly my fault for blindly ordering whatever is on the BOMs though. I’m sure I could get away with the next closest value on a lot of stuff.

 

[KR Sound]

I need that type of organizer

 

[Robert]

Anyone ever used the parts bins from Harbor Freight?

 

[KR Sound]

Anyone ever used the parts bins from Harbor Freight?

I’m headed there right now to check them out.

Edit- they were totally sold out.

 

[KR Sound]

Ended up getting these from Menards. Had the gift cards and 15% off whatever you can fit in their paper shopping bag

 

[steviejr92]

Anyone ever used the parts bins from Harbor Freight?

I was really thinking about getting those but i dont if they will hold up the test of time...

 

[Erik S]

I need that type of organizer

https://www.amazon.com/Craftsman-CMST40730-SMALL-DRAWER-ORGANIZER/dp/B09BDKWRS3/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=20NU462B4BMMV&keywords=craftsman+30+drawer&qid=1704145041&sprefix=craftsman+30+drawe%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2

I went with those because I was trying to fit them to some existing shelves. Not the cheapest ones out there, but they’re pretty nice.

 

[KR Sound]

@Erik S

Ended up with these Black and Decker ones from Menards. Looks like the same thing pretty much.

BLACK+DECKER® Bin System 30-Compartment Small Parts Organizer

BLACK+DECKER®: Bin System 39-Compartment Large and Small Parts Organizer

 

[derevaun]

Anyone ever used the parts bins from Harbor Freight?

I use this one at work:

40 Bin Organizer with Full Length Drawer

Amazing deals on this 40 Bin Organizer With Full Length Drawer at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I like the big drawer at the bottom. The main drawers aren't very baggie-friendly, and I have somehow got them less organized than just a big bin of roughly-sorted baggies. It's also not confidence-inspiring for heavier stuff.

 

[Erik S]

@Erik S

Ended up with these Black and Decker ones from Menards. Looks like the same thing pretty much.

BLACK+DECKER® Bin System 30-Compartment Small Parts Organizer

BLACK+DECKER®: Bin System 39-Compartment Large and Small Parts Organizer

Nice! Yeah, those look exactly the same. Probably same manufacturer just sticking different names in the corner.

I felt a little silly spending $100 on 4 of those, but I’ve never regretted it for a second.

 

[finebyfine]

I use this one at work:

40 Bin Organizer with Full Length Drawer

Amazing deals on this 40 Bin Organizer With Full Length Drawer at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I like the big drawer at the bottom. The main drawers aren't very baggie-friendly, and I have somehow got them less organized than just a big bin of roughly-sorted baggies. It's also not confidence-inspiring for heavier stuff.

I worked at a place that had some of these and agree with this. It wouldn’t be my first choice but I wouldn’t be mad at it.

Vintage akro drawers can be found for pretty good prices on ebay. In my searches, even with shipping they’re still about $15-20 cheaper than new. When I move I’m probably gonna pick up a handful to supplement the newer ones I already have.

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

I used to have them sorted by groupings of significant figures, but I not just have all of my resistors in baggies in a shoebox and a fish around for a frustrating amount of time until I find the value I’m looking for.

 

[Erik S]

I worked at a place that had some of these and agree with this. It wouldn’t be my first choice but I wouldn’t be mad at it.

Vintage akro drawers can be found for pretty good prices on ebay. In my searches, even with shipping they’re still about $15-20 cheaper than new. When I move I’m probably gonna pick up a handful to supplement the newer ones I already have.

I’ve had a lot of racks of little drawers in my life, and up until that last set they had always been scrounged/ used. Some of the old stuff is real nice, but there is something really nice about having a bunch that are all the same size and fit together.

 

[Erik S]

I used to have them sorted by groupings of significant figures, but I not just have all of my resistors in baggies in a shoebox and a fish around for a frustrating amount of time until I find the value I’m looking for.

I think there’s something to be said for the single-box method if you can make it work. My overflow resistors are all standing up together in order in a single bin (still in the tayda bags) and they’re not really any slower to get at than the ones in drawers.

Betty was on to something here:

Post in thread 'Why Should We Clean Boards From Flux?'
https://forum.pedalpcb.com/threads/why-should-we-clean-boards-from-flux.17089/post-202099

 

[jessenator]

Had good luck with the ACE hardware brand drawers (right) which come in different configurations. They have an overdraw(?) tab that doesn't catch on the drawer dividers, unlike whatever I bought 10 years ago (left):

I need to adopt the method of putting something opaque down before I write on it. Apparently my moon brain overlooked that. I would use the label maker stuff, but I keep rotating as I get different values, and sharpie just needs a hit of iso to erase.

Left side needs a bit more organization on the lower drawer…

Even though I've got some diodes in those drawers on the right, most semiconductors go in boxes after getting the ESD bagging. Time to put my @jwin615 binder sheets to good use!