Lab storage and organization solutions - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: gregallenwarner
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2014, 11:27:00 pm
content: I'm looking around my lab here and noticing that the organization problem is running away from me pretty quickly. I've got some wire shelves and a few plastic bins, but I was wondering if anybody's got a suggestion for a real good (and cost efficient) storage/organization solution that you really like for keeping track of odds and ends, halfway completed projects, or bundles of related components that are part of an ongoing project?

author: gibbled
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2014, 12:52:00 am
content: I like these guys methods.http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?doc_id=1285208

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2014, 09:16:29 am
content: Quote from: gibbled on December 14, 2014, 12:52:00 amSome nice labs, but I wish eetimes could have included larger images.@gregallenwarner I find stackable plastic storage cubes are good. The solid ones, without holes. They come in a few sizes, so you can optimize space used depending on the amount ofjunktreasure you need to keep in a set.Just be careful. Every manufacturer of these cubes uses slightly different dimensions. Cubes from each company are not compatible with any others. Which is really annoying when you've bought a lot of one type, then that one becomes unavailable. Kitab, looking at you!Or, the poorman's solution is plastic shopping bags of stuff, piled in cardboard boxes. This is what I use for stuff more to the junk end of the spectrum. But just a little bit too cool to throw out.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2014, 09:31:44 am
content: http://www.1800gotjunk.com/ca_enSeriously, at some point it just becomes trash.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2014, 09:46:02 am
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on December 14, 2014, 09:31:44 amBut it's my preeeeeciouuuuuusssss junk.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2014, 11:00:47 am
content: Yup, I got $100 as scrap metal after the last clean out. Going to have to do it again soon, the pile is growing and the drum of scrap steel is getting full. Soon as I get another drum to replace it it will go to the yard. Luckily we use a lot of cardboard drums at work. Just have to get some with good lids and locks.

author: rx8pilot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2015, 02:51:57 am
content: I use a bakers rack with trays. I tend to work off the trays and when I need to do something else, I just put the tray in the rack and get another tray. It allows me to juggle 10-15 projects without any cross-talk.Ill take a pic if I can remember.

author: gregallenwarner
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2015, 02:01:40 pm
content: Quote from: rx8pilot on February 20, 2015, 02:51:57 amWhat sorts of trays do you use? I went to eBay to buy a couple of (approx) 19 cm by 28 cm black ESD conductive plastic trays. They're handy for holding a couple of breadboarded experiments, but they're awfully expensive. Looking for a more economical, yet still ESD-safe solution.