How often do you stock up on components?

BuddytheReow

BuddytheReow

Moderator
Maybe a better question is how often do you order parts? When I first started out in this hobby I was making a Tayda run almost monthly like clockwork. With each run I started buying extra just to keep for a future/free build until my inventory got pretty substantial. Component runs since then were on an as needed basis along with the "since I'm putting a cart together might as well throw this in there." This past year I've been much slower in my builds simply because I've been focusing my time on practicing (you know, with a metronome?). Aside from today, the last time I did a components run was back in August.
 
I'm pretty lame. I have a pretty good stock of everything. I, usually, start a project and see how far I can get. Then I add the missing parts to my list. I make an order, every two or three months. If I notice a common part is running out, I add that to my list. Also, if I notice an unstocked part for a new project, I add that to my list. Some times it takes 2-3 months to finish a project.
 
I order PCBs in batches, used to be 2 or more times a year, but now that I've built a lot it's slowed to like once per year. After I've made the PCB order, I take the BOMs and compare to my stash, making a shopping list of things I need. Then I order the parts.

Then what happens when I realized I overlooked a part? Well, I either initiate a new order or wait until the next batch.
 
spi said:
I order PCBs in batches, used to be 2 or more times a year, but now that I've built a lot it's slowed to like once per year. After I've made the PCB order, I take the BOMs and compare to my stash, making a shopping list of things I need. Then I order the parts.

Then what happens when I realized I overlooked a part? Well, I either initiate a new order or wait until the next batch.
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👆this.
 
As needed. I try to order for a batch of 10 or so builds at a time. I usually start by seeing how much I can populate the PCBs with what’s on hand.

When there’s a PPCB sale, the backlog grows 😁

When I go to order parts, I do an amazing job of forgetting one or more things. So I make another order with the missing stuff and stock up on common parts to get more out of the shipment. I also order my enclosures separately so I don’t have to wait. So that’s 3 tayda orders!

I’ve been learning what I like and don’t like at Tayda- I mainly get passive components, enclosures, some knobs, toggle switches.

I’ve been digging the “pro” enclosures at SBP lately. They are thinner and easier to work with when you use a hand drill.

Oh- uhh how often? If I look at 2024, I stocked up at least 10 times. But that was my first year of pedal building. Finished about 70 or so. I’m guessing that will slow down a bit.
 
I first started building pedals back in September, I started with 3-4 builds at a time for each order. I’d place an order about every 3 weeks and building up my parts stash. I made sure to buy extra of everything so I’d have spares for mistakes or for the next round.

Now I’m ordering 10-15 PCBs at a time, so my orders are way bigger but less frequent. One big change I’ve made is switching from Tayda to Mouser for resistors. They’re only 1.1 cents each when you buy 100 in bulk, and there’s no tape to tear off. They fit perfectly in my parts drawers, and the leads are sturdier, which is awesome for breadboarding. Of all the values I had from Tayda, I have replaced about 60-70%. I should just do it all in one order but that would make too much sense.

I just stocked up on cheap greenies from Tayda for breadboarding. If I bend a leg too many times and it snaps off, it’s only 3 cents to replace, compared to 40 cents for a Wima. Not a huge deal but I can keep better inventory that way on my nerdy inventory spreadsheet.

Now that I’ve got a decent stockpile of parts and have most of the essentials will be on hand future orders will be restocking or specific parts and enclosures.

2025 I will slow down the speed I do builds, will still do probably around 30 I assume but will really start diving into each pedal, learning how it works and really playing them, finding the best tones from them.
 
tcpoint said:
I'm pretty lame. I have a pretty good stock of everything. I, usually, start a project and see how far I can get. Then I add the missing parts to my list. I make an order, every two or three months. If I notice a common part is running out, I add that to my list. Also, if I notice an unstocked part for a new project, I add that to my list. Some times it takes 2-3 months to finish a project.
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This pretty much sums it up. I can have 2 or 3 builds going at any given time.
 
For over a decade solid I have over-ordered everything a BOM calls for, within reason.
Now, if I am going to build something I check the BOM against my inventory. If money allows, the missing parts are added to inventory the same way, in some sort of lot where there was a price break, or an arbitrary number higher than 1.

As a result I have parts piled to the ceiling. The entire process fails critical thinking, it's kind of wonderful.

One of these days, I'll post an inventory of things available for trade or outright adoption *before* the shelves sink through the floor.
 
I've got my parts collection to a decent stock.... I order parts pretty much monthly or every other. I basically keep minimum 12 of every value of pots I use. I try to keep 50 of every value of cap. I'm really bad about keeping up with foot switches and toggles because they cost the most so im always running dangerously low. So generally when I make an order I need a switch.,.. I glance over the normal counts and place my orders.
 
When I need something for a build, I inventory what I have (look in the drawers) and add whatever I'm low on to the list.
 
The less expensive stuff I have typically over ordered, because it's pennies. Anymore that's just resistors…

tl;dr
I tend to just order for my queue to save on shipping costs.

Caps I've tended to order very few beyond what the bom has.

BJTs… ask @jwin615 how we've subliminally egged each other on to amass them like preppers collect freeze dryers. Although he's got me beat anymore, especially on the germ side.

On second thought, we both did kinda the same thing with mica caps…

Pots I've ordered for my queue all at once.

Normie ICs when they're cheap, anything else is per project/queue.

Nowadays my buying is quite limited.
 
I order about every 2 months or so, sometimes i find myself ordering from multiple vendors at the same time.

Made a mouser, tayda and stomp box pots order on the same day back in march.

I try to keep most everything on hand, i do a fair amount of requests (1-2/week) so ill often just order a variety of colors from tayda and knobs and keep most everything normal on hand so if i get a request i dint have to add multiple shipping charges into the cost etc but its not like you get a blue pedal with green knobs.
 
I've taken to picking up annoyingly mojo parts from eBay when they come up relatively cheap.

Because...reasons.

I've got a sizable stock built up, so serious orders are relatively rare.
 
Unless the component itself is pricey, I order 5 minimum of everything if there's less than that called for in a given circuit. And usually way more if it's a cap or resistor. ICs can kinda go either way--I only ordered two of the subharmonic synth chip I needed for my Meatbox clone (shit was expensive!) but for something like a TL072 they're affordable and ubiquitous so why not buy at least 15?
 
Main orders from Mouser around 8 times a year, but something comes in from somewhere at least once a month.
 
When I first started I was ordering parts more often, but now I have a decent backstock of resistors and caps etc. It helps that they are so cheap. There are so many different vendors it's hard to keep track of who has what, so sometimes I'll forget a component and have to wait on that build. But my main time sink is getting good weather for paint, so I never feel like I'm waiting on components.

Nowadays I'm more concerned about what knobs to order than what resistors or whatever. Though I do need some 15k resistors, and some BC550s
 
Big Monk said:
I order mechanicals like switches, pots and jacks from Tayda, as well as my enclosures. I also order test parts from Tayda.
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I notice you use the tayda-branded pots over the alpha ones. Do you find them to be 100% equivalent?
 
spi said:
I notice you use the tayda-branded pots over the alpha ones. Do you find them to be 100% equivalent?
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It's all about that cool lookin Alpha stamp.

I'd probably keep buyin em even if you told me they're worse.
 
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