Containers for sorting parts

I already built K2 #4758, and getting ready to start a KPA 100 kit.  To sort the K2 parts, I used plastic utility  boxes with divided bins, and had no problem with the K2, but wonder if I was just lucky in that no solid state stuff  got damaged, to my knowledge.  I did put loose transistors in the plastic boxes, but  all solid state stuff which came on the safety mat was not placed in any container before installation.  I  used an egg carton which was expanded polystyrene? for the hardware, and heard later this stuff is prone to build up static electricity.  Was it risky to put hardware in the egg carton?   I'm thinking it's not safe to have it anywhere on the bench.   I always use an ESD wrist strap, and an ESD safe Hakko  936 iron, by the way.
 
So, what is the preferred safe container??  Is the semi hard plastic utility box ok?  I don't have any metal containers which are suitable..
 
Love my K2.  It still amazes me after 8 mos of great service.  In the ARRL dx test, it scored  many EU stations on cw while running only 2 watts, using my Telrex 20m mono bander (which is about 50 yrs old) fed with 27 yr old Belden RG 213 coax.  And I seldom had to call stations more than once.   Go figger!  It's also the only rig I ever had which draws unsolicited compliments on the nice cw note. Thanks, Elecraft, and thanks to you guys on the reflector who helped me previously.  I have been hamming for 51 years, and am having fun again!  Viva Elecraft!
Any suggestions on storage/sorting bins ?
 
Thanks, and 73 from George, N4YM
 
 
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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

No, hardware can't be hurt by foam containers but, like you, I'd rather not
have the stuff around.

ESD-sensitive parts should always be packaged either in an ESD-safe bag or
with the leads in black conductive foam. If you leave them in the bag or
foam, you're okay, even if you set them in (gasp!) Styrofoam(TM) containers!

Ron AC7AC





-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces+rondec=[hidden email]
[mailto:elecraft-bounces+rondec=[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
[hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 7:05 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Containers for sorting parts


I already built K2 #4758, and getting ready to start a KPA 100 kit.  To sort
the K2 parts, I used plastic utility  boxes with divided bins, and had no
problem with the K2, but wonder if I was just lucky in that no solid state
stuff  got damaged, to my knowledge.  I did put loose transistors in the
plastic boxes, but  all solid state stuff which came on the safety mat was
not placed in any container before installation.  I  used an egg carton
which was expanded polystyrene? for the hardware, and heard later this stuff
is prone to build up static electricity.  Was it risky to put hardware in
the egg carton?   I'm thinking it's not safe to have it anywhere on the
bench.   I always use an ESD wrist strap, and an ESD safe Hakko  936 iron,
by the way.
 
So, what is the preferred safe container??  Is the semi hard plastic utility
box ok?  I don't have any metal containers which are suitable..
 
Love my K2.  It still amazes me after 8 mos of great service.  In the ARRL
dx test, it scored  many EU stations on cw while running only 2 watts, using
my Telrex 20m mono bander (which is about 50 yrs old) fed with 27 yr old
Belden RG 213 coax.  And I seldom had to call stations more than once.   Go
figger!  It's also the only rig I ever had which draws unsolicited
compliments on the nice cw note. Thanks, Elecraft, and thanks to you guys on
the reflector who helped me previously.  I have been hamming for 51 years,
and am having fun again!  Viva Elecraft!
Any suggestions on storage/sorting bins ?
 
Thanks, and 73 from George, N4YM
 
 
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[Nick Waterman]

[hidden email] wrote:
> So, what is the preferred safe container??  Is the semi hard plastic
> utility box ok?  I don't have any metal containers which are
> suitable..

For ICs and transistors, I prefer to use the black antistatic foam that
Elecraft ships them in. there's usually a bit more space for some of the
other transistors that came bagged.

Caps, I prefer to push through a thin sheet of paper. This not only
keeps them together and groups them, but I can scribble the values on
the paper too, in readable-sized writing!

Diodes too, if there's enough of them to deserve sorting, though they're
usually a lot easier to re-read.

Resistors are usually in nicely-sorted build-order strips, so once
you've worked out which end to start, it's easy peasy. If they're NOT in
pre-sorted strips, I'll do something similar to the caps.

Resistor packs are a bit of a pain because the numbers never seem to
QUITE match up with what the manual asks for, but when inventorying,
it's usually easy enough to work out what matches what because the
quantities match and most of the last few digits are about right. I then
scribble the REAL number next to the part in the parts list so I can
double-check later when I've lost count.

Hardware you can use whatever you like. To be honest, apart from some
kits having 3 different sized screws, I've not had much trouble digging
the hardware bits out of a bag. In the parts list I'll sometimes
scribble "big", "medium", "small", so then when the manual says "fix
using some-horrible-imperial-unit stand-offs" I can quickly check, "ah
yup, that's the small ones".

--
"Nosey" Nick Waterman, G7RZQ, K2 #5209.
use Std::Disclaimer;    [hidden email]
Did you know: Pearls melt in vinegar.
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