Storage: once in a lifetime opportunity

[PerranOak]

We’ve just moved house and are in the process of updating some rooms.
SWMBO asked me what I wanted to do in the “hobbies room” in re storage and such. She asked me! 

So, I have this one chance to get the storage of all those pesky little components sorted.

Can anyone please help with ideas/suggestions/products for great ways to put it all away in an easily accessible format? I’ve never done it before, they’re all in dozens of separate boxes, etc.

Cheers.

[AndyC_772]

I've been an electronic engineer for over 25 years, and some of the parts I still have are probably older than that.

I've come to the conclusion that storing a lot of components is a fool's errand. Space is hugely expensive and valuable; old parts are not.

I have regular stock of some things, of course. Lab kits of resistors and caps in common sizes and values. Wire. Connectors that I frequently use. These things are worth keeping, but collectively they don't take up much room.

Everything else? Unless you know you'll need it for a project in the next few months, into the bin it goes. Which reminds me, I have a pile of STM32 dev boards that I'll never use again...

[tggzzz]

Partly depends on size of the components and how many different kinds there are.

Realise that component storage is not so much about being able to find something instantly, but more about being able to instantly exclude 99% of the places they might be.

Consider starting with several of these https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/drawer-storage/0230627 Those are hideously expensive, but occasionally you can get them for £15 from Aldi/Lidl.

For passives, ICs and similar components, don't have reserve a single drawer (or sub-compartment) for each type, but do put all types in a small labelled ziploc bag, and several of those in a drawer. I have several sizes of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224447210165 from 50*50mm to 90*50mm.

Larger components, e.g. dupont flying leads or SMA leads can go in the larger bottom drawer.

For naked devkits and similar, find some cheap cuboid food boxes with clip-on lids, and stack those.

[tggzzz]

I've been an electronic engineer for over 25 years, and some of the parts I still have are probably older than that.

I've come to the conclusion that storing a lot of components is a fool's errand. Space is hugely expensive and valuable; old parts are not.

I have regular stock of some things, of course. Lab kits of resistors and caps in common sizes and values. Wire. Connectors that I frequently use. These things are worth keeping, but collectively they don't take up much room.

Everything else? Unless you know you'll need it for a project in the next few months, into the bin it goes. Which reminds me, I have a pile of STM32 dev boards that I'll never use again...

The counter-argument to that is that keeping a stock of components, bits of wood/metal/plastic means that you can often avoid stopping work, locating a supplier, then going there or waiting for a delivery.

Neat example of that is that sheet metal+fixings from a dismembered HP5371 were used to make a shelf for a small oven - which enabled me to have a nice Christmas dinner. No, I'm not going into the circumstances, but I will be using it for the third time next month.

Clearly there is a tradeoff, which will be different for each person.

[voltsandjolts]

OP beware: the more space you have, the more sh1t you keep! Don't ask me how I know.

[thm_w]

I have thousands of parts in a few binders, takes up very little space: https://eevblog.store/products/%C2%B5sleeve

Not saying I don't have other crap as well, but, a few binders and some multi compartment storage bins (photo here) should cover most of your needs in terms of components and modules.

[EEVblog]

I've been an electronic engineer for over 25 years, and some of the parts I still have are probably older than that.
I've come to the conclusion that storing a lot of components is a fool's errand. Space is hugely expensive and valuable; old parts are not.
I have regular stock of some things, of course. Lab kits of resistors and caps in common sizes and values. Wire. Connectors that I frequently use. These things are worth keeping, but collectively they don't take up much room.
Everything else? Unless you know you'll need it for a project in the next few months, into the bin it goes. Which reminds me, I have a pile of STM32 dev boards that I'll never use again...

As someone who owns two storage units, I have to reluctantly agree.
It's just so easy and cheap to order what you need these days, it doesn't really make sense to keep anything but the basic kits as you mention.
And even those kits are cheap and readily available these days.
And few component storage cabinets for common connecters and headers and whatnot.

[wilfred]

OP beware: the more space you have, the more sh1t you keep! Don't ask me how I know.

Nature abhors a vacuum.

But that's not why I've found 6 old Dyson vacuums in the last few years. It's also not that I like housework either. The real reason I added them to my "box of dreams" is they may(?) provide hobby amusement fixing the batteries or 3D printing a battery adapter and so on.

I get the reward from having kept something useful just often enough to justify stuff I keep. But from time to time the pendulum swings and I feel oppressed by too much stuff and I have a clear-out.

Maybe I inwardly feel superior to the wasteful people who discard "good" stuff that needs only minor repair or none at all. But the world doesn't really encourage repair and a lot of consumer goods aren't made to be repaired anyway.

[PerranOak]

That’s great, thanks for the advice all.