Ideas For Multiple Resistor Values

[Terry Bites]

My sources tell me that Petra may have been dead at the time I did this. So was it shep?
Both crap techs anyhow.

[John B]

Learn reading color codes?

To be fair these look like the cheapo resistor packs, and to save on $0.00000000000000000000000000001 per resistor they use the same paint for brown, orange and red.

To the OP, don't spend more on storage than parts are worth. A cheap way to organise resistors like this is to use envelopes, which I then put into $2 kitty litter trays. You can write on the envelopes, put them in order of values, and flick through them like an old library card system.

Most storage systems are way disproportionate to the value of parts inside them.

[Someone]

Most storage systems are way disproportionate to the value of parts inside them.

SMD for the win: https://www.aidetek.com
They sell both empty cases and populated kits.

As the OP ended up with, envelopes or small zip lock bags (they can be ordered with a white stripe for hand written labels) sitting in a cheap or repurposed box is very reasonable for through hole part storage.

[John B]

Here's how I organise my SMD collection, which is much larger than my through hole resistors nowadays. Another thing to remember is how expandable the solution is, when you purchase another value and have to slot it all in. I leave them in the anti static bags because they're already labelled and there's a few types. 0805, 1206, MELFs. Only cost me a bit of tape, hot glue and a few manilla folders. Free bunnings boxes FTW 

[MrAl]

Learn reading color codes?

To be fair these look like the cheapo resistor packs, and to save on $0.00000000000000000000000000001 per resistor they use the same paint for brown, orange and red.

To the OP, don't spend more on storage than parts are worth. A cheap way to organise resistors like this is to use envelopes, which I then put into $2 kitty litter trays. You can write on the envelopes, put them in order of values, and flick through them like an old library card system.

Most storage systems are way disproportionate to the value of parts inside them.

Hi,

See Reply #23.  I found tiny 2x3 inch plastic baggies you can get 100 for $3 USD.

[hli]

I use sevon of these boxes. Perfect when you have a E12 series - each box has 20 compartments, which means you have some left for more specific values. I use 1 box for each decade. They can hold something like 200 resistors per compartment. Its not the most space-saving solution, but the values are easily retrievable.
(Edit: I bought these from Conrad in Germany: https://www.conrad.de/de/p/tru-components-sortimentskasten-l-x-b-x-h-250-x-180-x-24-mm-anzahl-faecher-20-feste-unterteilung-1-st-1564901.html, but when you search for 'TRU COMPONENTS box 1564901' you can find other sellers as well)

[rstofer]

My needs are simple and this assortment has carried me for a very long time:
https://www.jameco.com/z/00081832-Jameco-ValuePro-540-Piece-1-4-Watt-5-Carbon-Film-Resistor-Component-Kit_81832.html
I have two values per drawer.

If I need intermediate values or higher wattage, I buy them for the project and dump the leftovers.  I don't have room for a cabinet that could hold 100 values and sorting through a random pile is a waste of time.

These days I usually use SMD resistors and the only reason the having the axial version is for breadboarding.

[Martinn]

I have this kit (see pictures), might be https://de.farnell.com/multicomp/mf0w4ffe006kit/widerstand-kit-0-25w-1-e6-0207/dp/9342362
Very handy.

[MrAl]

I use sevon of these boxes. Perfect when you have a E12 series - each box has 20 compartments, which means you have some left for more specific values. I use 1 box for each decade. They can hold something like 200 resistors per compartment. Its not the most space-saving solution, but the values are easily retrievable.

Hi,

Oh nice.  I could not find boxes that nice they fit good in the compartments.

[MrAl]

I have this kit (see pictures), might be https://de.farnell.com/multicomp/mf0w4ffe006kit/widerstand-kit-0-25w-1-e6-0207/dp/9342362
Very handy.

Hi,

Looks like they came that way, that is very handy.  I'll probably get the other resistors i need in packs like that but maybe less at a time i dont usually need that many of one value anymore, just maybe 10 to 20 for each value.

[MrAl]

My needs are simple and this assortment has carried me for a very long time:
https://www.jameco.com/z/00081832-Jameco-ValuePro-540-Piece-1-4-Watt-5-Carbon-Film-Resistor-Component-Kit_81832.html
I have two values per drawer.

If I need intermediate values or higher wattage, I buy them for the project and dump the leftovers.  I don't have room for a cabinet that could hold 100 values and sorting through a random pile is a waste of time.

These days I usually use SMD resistors and the only reason the having the axial version is for breadboarding.

Yeah i forgot about Jameco.  I have ordered from them since the 1970's i think it was.  Havent ordered much from them recently though.  They have some good stuff.
Some of the other places went out of business like BgMicro.

[hli]

Oh nice.  I could not find boxes that nice they fit good in the compartments.

I added a link to where I bought them, and the article number to my post.

[dobsonr741]

Plastic baggies into business card binder:

[coppercone2]

https://www.adafruit.com/product/432

[MrAl]

Plastic baggies into business card binder:

Hi,

Hey that's a neat idea.  You could store them on a book shelf.  I'll have to look into getting one of those binders.
Dang, i just bought two more plastic boxes too.

[MrAl]

https://www.adafruit.com/product/432

Hi,

They look pretty nice.  Might be a little small for my purpose though unless i bought a lot of them.

[coppercone2]

I make them into laptop sized units and stack them for 1W+

I think its worth it because a resistor is a very important object and can make or break a device

[magic]

Please don’t give people the idea that it’s primarily the brand that defines the color. It’s not. It’s the type of resistor. Carbon film resistors are tan, metal film resistors are blue. Pink are fusible resistors.

Yeah, until you start buying on eBay which is full of Chinese blue carbon film resistors, usually mislabeled as MF by sellers

[tooki]

Please don’t give people the idea that it’s primarily the brand that defines the color. It’s not. It’s the type of resistor. Carbon film resistors are tan, metal film resistors are blue. Pink are fusible resistors.

Yeah, until you start buying on eBay which is full of Chinese blue carbon film resistors, usually mislabeled as MF by sellers

I think we can agree that nobody should be buying eBay and aliexpress resistors, period! :p

Even for breadboarding they suck, with their hair-thin leads that just bend…