Finally an SMD organizer that makes sense - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 10:46:33 am
content: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DF74GXKL?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1These have spring up covers, and the three boxes dovetail together. Makes for a well organized and accessible parts source. Wish I could buy the boxes empty. No more "sample" books and taping the ends of the strips when you select a cap or resistor.

author: ksjh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 11:14:45 am
content: Quote from: watchmaker on August 29, 2025, 10:46:33 amLike these?https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32958213751.htmlI know, these are individual boxes, but they also dovetail together and have a spring-loaded lid. The quality of those boxes varies a bit, but usually, they are useable.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 11:27:52 am
content: A much cheaper solution is the little pill boxes from the pharmacy.Spring-loaded lids, 2x7, 3x7. 4x7 and 5x7 last I looked. Often also as modular boxes that can be hooked together.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 11:39:46 am
content: I agree, you may want brand name resistors, but if you like the boxes, you are are getting 24sealedcompartment boxes for $11 each (402's). I use Plano boxes from years ago for chip capacitors. The partitions are not sealed and that price is in line with what they cost today. My solution for the partitions was a little hot melt to hold them down. Those bonds have lasted more than 25 years. Of course, I can't store them upside down or vertically, but the lid opens easily.If the chips are in paper tape, I leave them that way, coil the tape and put that in the compartment. That's an advantage of a larger compartment. I occasionally will tape an end if it's loose. If the strip is longer (resistors are so cheap, most of my resistors are in that category), I just store them in the plastic sleeves that came with the assortment.Those boxes are interesting. How about getting a set and reviewing the box for its ease of use and mechanical durability?

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 03:28:58 pm
content: For a few years now, I've keep a few collections of SMD caps, stuck in sticky putty. And of course I have no idea what was what anymore, I guess they can stay where they are, for another few years.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 03:46:22 pm
content: Quote from: ksjh on August 29, 2025, 11:14:45 amI have / use these kind of boxes too for at least 15 years. They work really well.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 09:57:38 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what-is-your-solution-for-keeping-and-tracking-parts/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/surface-mount-component-storage/https://eevblog.store/products/%C2%B5sleeve

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 03:16:38 am
content: I've been using these stamp binders for a few years now. They are great except that I dare not turn them upside-down.https://imgur.com/a/smt-storage-jNQojEp

author: Simmed
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 04:07:13 am
content: i leave them in their tapes

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 04:09:33 am
content: Quote from: Simmed on August 30, 2025, 04:07:13 amThese loose resistor boxes are a nightmare (for anything smaller than 0603). They stick to the lids when you open them. Don't even think about dropping anything....Get the notebooks with the tape sleaves and leave the parts on the tape.

author: Simmed
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 04:34:44 am
content: logicallyi would thinkthe tapes straight original from factoryis the safe place for itno dust no contaminantsway back i too think little boxes work great and look amazingbut the dust bunniesthey comelike paratroopers they land and land and land and landsmd book is compact slim low surface area +can be shoved inside ziplokjust my 3 cents

author: hans
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 09:30:29 am
content: I also use those boxes linked by ksjh, they are quite good. I use them for bigger parts.Also big fan of these Aidetek boxes:https://www.amazon.com/Enclosure-Components-Tweezers-Compartments-Capacitor/dp/B005HHFW5Y25$ for 144 boxes. They are not the biggest, but it will fit a ton of 0805s to 0402s. Quality of lids are much better. There are also ESD variants and ones with bigger compartments.Only downside is you cannot rearrange your boxgrid like those individual boxes can. Folded open, it is as big as an A4 sheet of paper, so quite big if you have a small workbench.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 11:13:16 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on August 30, 2025, 04:09:33 amBut the problem with that is that assembling a prototype gets very tedious and time consuming because you need to peel the tape back and pick the components. The small boxes with flip lids are much quicker to work with.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 06:35:21 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on August 30, 2025, 11:13:16 amDisagree. With the tapes I peel out exactly the number of parts I need into a little tray and use them, then put the tape away (immediately so it doesn't get misplaced). Doesn't get any easier and I have much higher confidence some random value didn't hop bins at some point.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 06:40:50 pm
content: I leave them in the bag the tape came in. When the label fades I update it with a pen.Now they are even labelled clearly!

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 08:46:43 pm
content: Quote from: paulca on August 30, 2025, 06:40:50 pmI do that for cut tape parts I get from distribution.For the parts notebooks, each strip came pre-marked on the back.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 09:09:40 pm
content: The books are too damned cumbersome on the bench, and taping over the strip is one PITA. I totally agree the little boxes are a nightmare.I chatted with the Amazon seller, and he is trying to organize the sale of empty boxes. There is a seeler on Ali but he wants $12USD for ONE empty box as opposed to the three boxes provided in the kits.FWIW, I verified the COG capacitors in the Amazon kit with my Shannon Tweezers. A random selection of 3 220pF caps are 219.7, 220.6 and 220.2. The valuse in the books go off by by as much as 10pF!Here is the review I left:These caps are high quality. The COG rated caps in this assortment all measured within tolerance,This kit is a much better value than the "sample book" kits in which the values can vary well over 10%.Plus, the storage system is a real winner. The lids pop open yet are securely locked. Easy access to the SMD components. And the storage system does overtake your bench space when you are looking for the components.I hope the seller starts selling empty storage boxes; these are great for all sorts of small parts from other SMD components, to watch parts.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 09:52:35 pm
content: Quote from: Smokey on August 30, 2025, 06:35:21 pmI think it was mikeselectric that showed the trick of putting the parts on a piece of paper, when you tap the paper with your finger the part jump and flip so it is easy to get them right side up

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2025, 10:07:32 pm
content: Quote from: langwadt on September 01, 2025, 09:52:35 pmI've actually given up trying to get 0402 resistors all "right side up" when hand assembling boards. They don't print the value on the black side anyway.SOT-23-3 are still a pain to flip over with tweezers through. No choice there.