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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: monster_of_electronics on October 30, 2015, 08:08:57 pm

Title: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: monster_of_electronics on October 30, 2015, 08:08:57 pm
What are you your go-to storage tools? (sizes, models, brands, etc.)  Bin types, shelving, tool organizers, benches/tables, etc. that are decent quality, economical and compact?  My needs are constantly evolving, so I want to categorize areas of my basement for different stuff and buy a little more than I need right now to to stay organized in the future.

I basically have 2 areas of my basement shop right now - #1 mostly small repairs, soldering connectors, RC maintainenance, product disassembly, making small projects, etc.  #2 wood working, drilling, vice, dremel drill press, filling, large wrenches, etc.

What  tools do you use a lot of to organize all your stuff to make it is easy to find when you need it?  I often run into problems of not being able to find something when I need it.  :'(
Title: Re: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: dr.diesel on October 30, 2015, 08:12:09 pm
Look through the "Show us your bench" thread, plenty of examples to fit a variety of layouts.

Edit, this one:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/whats-your-work-benchlab-look-like-post-some-pictures-of-your-lab/?topicseen (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/whats-your-work-benchlab-look-like-post-some-pictures-of-your-lab/?topicseen)
Title: Re: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: ez24 on October 30, 2015, 09:10:44 pm
Trash can
Title: Re: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: KL27x on October 30, 2015, 09:35:17 pm
Quote
What are you your go-to storage tools? (sizes, models, brands, etc.)  Bin types, shelving,
Check out Uline. Good selection. Fast delivery.




Title: Re: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: vk3yedotcom on October 30, 2015, 09:44:40 pm
I use Sistema containers like these that often come on special at supermarkets.  http://www.mashupmom.com/sistema-food-storage-containers-on-zulily/ (http://www.mashupmom.com/sistema-food-storage-containers-on-zulily/)

They tend to spend more time on the floor than stacked but their transparent lids mean you can see what's inside. 
Title: Re: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: German_EE on October 30, 2015, 09:47:45 pm
The stacking plastic baskets that are used by some stores for stock delivery and available from most hardware outlets. Mine are 50cm x 80cm and 15cm high and I use them for everything. Put some runners in a frame and they can be used as drawers but the same units can be stacked in the corner of a basement full of those items that get used once in a blue moon.
Title: Re: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: Electro Fan on October 30, 2015, 10:10:05 pm
I don't have these - but only because I don't have a place to put them on a wall - but they sure look like they would be better than draping a couple dozen cables over the back of chair.

http://www.amazon.com/Pomona-Holder-Slots-Black-Diameter/dp/B0000WU3U0 (http://www.amazon.com/Pomona-Holder-Slots-Black-Diameter/dp/B0000WU3U0)
- come in different sizes....
Title: Re: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: Ampere on October 30, 2015, 11:59:07 pm
I use these for some misc. parts. They're stacked on a shelf and then I carry them over to my bench as I need them or just individual compartments if I just need a few things. There's no need to label the compartments. You can see the parts through the lid, but I usually cut out the labels from the little Digikey bags and stick them in the back of the compartment so I can identify the part specifications without needing to search for a datasheet.

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-25-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B00005QWYF/ (http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-25-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B00005QWYF/)

Everything else that doesn't have a permanent home on my bench is either in a 40-drawer Harbor Freight storage cabinet (resistors, caps, inductors) or a shelf full of stackable Sterilite drawers (small tools, salvaged components).
Title: Re: Common tools for organizing all that STUFF in a home hobbyist shop?
Post by: pickle9000 on October 31, 2015, 12:25:31 am
For surface mount

Resistor books

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_odkw=resistor+kit+book&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=resistor+sample+book&_sacat=0 (http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_odkw=resistor+kit+book&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=resistor+sample+book&_sacat=0)

Hockey / Baseball card storage.

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_odkw=hockey+card+storage&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=baseball+card+storage&_sacat=0 (http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_odkw=hockey+card+storage&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=baseball+card+storage&_sacat=0)

Just label everything with index cards. I prefer books, easy to use on the bench when prototyping.