Storage solution for resistors needed - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 02:45:13 am
content: Does anyone bother to sort and store their PTH, non surface mount, resistors? If you do I would be interested in your solution, please post a pic, as now I store all of my non surface mount resistors in an old cake tin. Interested in whether you even think it's worth while.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 05:21:22 am
content: I have them all in (LIDL) small parts magazines, with a sticker on the drawer.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 05:25:51 am
content: I store them in their original case.https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804747550699.html

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 05:27:52 am
content: Keep them in the ammo packs (Tape & Box) line them up in a drawer or on a shelf. What's your time worth ordering, sorting, and handling resistors?

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 05:35:09 am
content: Quote from: Haenk on August 22, 2024, 05:21:22 amI have a set of those for my non surface mount ICs, not sure I would have the space for all the resistor values, but thanks. Maybe yours are smaller than I have?

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 05:36:53 am
content: Quote from: zapta on August 22, 2024, 05:25:51 amThat looks like a great idea, I could order the relevant sets and just dispose of the loose values I have.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 05:46:35 am
content: Quote from: Someone on August 22, 2024, 05:27:52 amI guess you use what you have, which I unfortunately don't. With regards to time and value that's my thought also, it's only come about because I found a neat solution for small parts and surface mount, but not quite suitable for the resistors. So I am in the middle of reorganizing all my components and storage, it's quite a mess at present but I am trying to group things in a semi logical fashion.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 08:09:07 am
content: I've tried many methods, the best for me in the last 30 years was to use paper-mail envelopes. First glue/seal the envelope then cut it in half, and put them all in a tray/box.The envelopes in the picture were bought in bulk (1000 pcs, glued and cut in half to get 2000 pcs - good for small capacitors, and for low power transistor, too). You can use as well envelopes from mailed paper invoices or other spam paper-letters in your mailbox, as long as the envelopes are the same size.Image fromhttps://hackaday.io/project/6261-new-a-free-lab-organizerThe merit is that it takes very little space, very easy to look for values (browse them like it were a Rolodex with addresses, the value of the resistor is written on the outside of the envelope). Keep the envelopes sorted from the smallest value to the biggest. Very practical for small amounts of TH resistors for prototyping or repairing something. Not good for storing many hundreds or thousands of resistors of the same value, not for large quantities.NOTE the 1k1 envelope is halfway-out of the tray. That is not for the picture's esthetics. That is a bookmark, because I've extracted the 1k envelope for use at the workbench (in the picture sited above the rest of the envelopes). Later, the 1k1 bookmark is used to easily place back the 1k envelope right in front of the 1k1 bookmark, without wasting time to search between which envelopes should the 1k be placed back.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 08:45:33 am
content: @RoGeorge, that is an excellent suggestion.

author: Victorman222
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 09:32:03 am
content: I use an organizer from matchboxes for small resistors, its quite convenient since matchboxes are just a bit longer than the resistors and they fit well lengthwise. It could be improved by matching the divisions values to E6 or E12 series.For bigger resistors, I use stackable round boxes, which are divided into 4 sections inside. The boxes have each decade divided by two, as in one box for 100R-500R and one box for 500R-1000R. This is suboptimal since there are more resistor values in the 100-500 range than in the 500-1000 range.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 09:39:15 am
content: I use envelopes like RoGeorge shows, except I use coin envelopes, which are thicker paper and have the flap across the narrow end.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 09:49:13 am
content: I have mine in a storage solution bought long ago from the "Hema" a Dutch department store.Still have to add the labels with the values though. Now it is counting to twelve to find the next decade.It holds the E12 range from 0 to 10M Ohm.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 09:51:53 am
content: @ Victorman222, I love the matchboxes.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 09:53:01 am
content: @jpanhalt, envelopes are more versatile than I realised.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 09:55:13 am
content: @pcprogrammer, I've gone to stores with less professional looking storage than you have, very nice.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 12:13:03 pm
content: I have many old Akro-Mils parts cabinets with the wider drawers which can hold long leaded parts along their width. Currently this is the only one they still make:https://www.akro-mils.com/Products/Types/Portable-Small-Parts-Storage/Plastic-Cabinets/10124.html

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 03:32:00 pm
content: for the quick grab small boxes. To refill from the big assortment box. The small boxes are probably 40 years old.The big box you can buy for about 8 euro over here in the netherlands.

author: hli
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 07:03:36 pm
content: One of these for each decade: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-inhalt-1-st-1564901.html. They fit each of the E12 series, and then you have some room left for other values. And they hold 100 pieces of each value (depending on their size).

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 08:08:09 pm
content: When I got serious about having a wide selection of discretes around, I started with the kits offered by DigiKey. They put all of a given value in a small plastic bag, then group those bags in sets of 5-10 in larger bags. Works so well that I've stuck with it and just order replacements as the parts are consumed. Specific values are easy to find, stay sorted nicely, and consume very little storage volume.

author: CaptDon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 10:05:19 pm
content: Mine are in the plastic drawers in the metal cabinets. Two drawers per decade arranged like 1 to 4.99 then 5 to 9.99 followed by 10 to 49.9 then 50 to 99.9 and so on. Also I have this sort of doubled as there are the drawers for 1/2 watt and smaller and an identical set for 1 to 5 watt. The much bigger resistors are in a larger drawer in plastic bags by decades and on the other side of the divider in that big drawer are my 100 and 225 watt resistors. Some of the big guys are N.I. marked non-inductive. I use those for audio amp testing and R.F. below 10MHz. My inventory is huge mostly built up when companies I worked for decided to no longer store 'through-hole' components. It is a treasure for my friends who still build stuff and I give most of it away.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 10:11:08 pm
content: @DavidHess, great storage and so neat.@BennoG, those orange boxes look very practical and interesting.@hli, those purpose made boxes like BennoG look very interesting.@IDEngineer, Digikey is one of my prefered suppliers thanks for the tip.@CaptDon, that is quite a collection and the larger resistors can be very bulky but it sure saves on having to buy them.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 11:30:37 pm
content: I have four stages for resistors.1) a resistor book with 140 values. When I notice a value is running out, I put it on the shopping list and order another pack from Altronics/etc.2) drawers with values more commonly used. I have about 120 of those.3) for values I use a lot - 330R, 560R, 1K, 10K, etc., I get the 1000 packs from Altronics so never run out.4) surplus box - it has a few of those assorted resistor packs from Altronics/Jaycar, and any surplus packs that don't fit in the drawers from stage 2.Being an OCD logistics nut from wayback, all my parts are in excel and can be easily located and restocked.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 11:45:34 pm
content: @johnboxall, buying resistors in 1000 for a single value, you must build a lot! OCD has its uses.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 11:58:52 pm
content: If your resistors are on ammo tape, then storing in long (ideally thick, heavy-duty) ziplock bags, or envelopes, could be an attractive option.I purchased a kit of resistors from Farnell/Newark, and they came in such bags (10x25 cm) in a cardboard box, and all labeled with a sticker. I like it, they are easy to sort in order, and take up little space.I think 50 or 100 resistors on tape all fit with the tape folded once, in a 25 cm long bag. I don't take out the entire tape, I just pull off a resistor from within the bag.Screenshot of example bags that might be suitable (I've not tried those) are attached.For SMD resistors, I have some ready-made book kits, but have a DIY solution set too, which was the small florist envelopes/coin envelopes similar to the ones shown by@jpanhaltwhich can easily house a few hundred resistors on their tape (cut into lengths of about 15-20 resistors). They all go into a 'record card' storage box (which has more than twice the width of the envelope, but I stuffed a piece of card or thin wood in the center, to have two columns of envelopes to thumb through.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 12:49:09 am
content: @shabaz, I am surprised at how diverse and creative the solutions are.

author: blue_lateral
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 12:55:57 am
content: For the space challenged, zippered plastic bags, arranged with a hierarchy by the multiplier band.Well almost. I'm a bit old fashioned, and I use the multiplier band as it would have been with 5%-10%-20% resistors no matter how many bands were actually used. In other words, 1K is always red and 33K is always orange no matter how many bands are are actually used or what tolerance. This means modern 1% and 2% resistors are always shifted by one color. If you use primarily modern resistors, you might want to go the other way.OK so each value is in a zipper type snack bag with a piece of paper, usually a folded over post it note. On that piece of paper is about a 3/4"(19mm) dot of the color, the name of the color written out, the value in Ohms, and the wattage. So for 1.2K 1/2W, the big red dot, "Red", "1.2K" , "1/2W". Markings can't get rubbed off the bags this way. Each ohmic value has it's own little bag.All 1/2W "Red" bags go in a slightly larger bag marked "Red" although you can tell anyway from all those big red dots in the individual bags inside. Each 1/2W color gets it's own bag like this, silver through blue so far.All the 1/2W bags go in a yet larger bag. Identical bag hierarchies exist for 1W, 2W, 3W, and 1/4W. All these bags go in a yet larger bag with a piece of paper inside listing the type of resistors, "carbon comp" in this case, and the wattages inside. By now this is all quite huge, and the top level bag is some enormous zipper bag meant to hold several pairs of shoes, or something like that.I've also done this with my modern film resistors, in 1/2W, 1/4W, and 1/8W, although as mentioned earlier the colors are intentionally shifted by one.Since all the bags are clear, it is incredibly fast to drill down and find the resistor you are looking for. It also makes it obvious when there is a value missing, and easy if you need to add a another value in-between. My Akro-Mills and similar cabinets were really getting out of hand. I've got rid of most of them. I just don't have the space.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 01:18:24 am
content: @blue_lateral, fascinating, I agree the draw style cabinets can take up a lot of space.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 07:18:34 am
content: Here's how I store my resistors.I have two cases: one for values of 3k3 and below and one for 3k6 and above.There's one tube for each value, apart from 1R to 8.2R and 1.2M to 10M which only have E12 values and are sorted as 1R to 1R5, 1R8 to 2R7, 3R3 to 4R7 and 5R6 to 8R6 and 1M2 to 1M8, 2M2 to 3M3, 3M9 to 5M6, and 6M8 to 10M respectively. Then there's >10M which is is empty at the moment, as I don't have any resistors in >10M and <1R which is quite full. The short fat tube at the bottom right is filled with miscellaneous resistor values.Resistor case outsideResistor case inside

author: RAPo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 07:22:05 am
content: I have the same solution + a small box with used parts from old projects.Quote from: RoGeorge on August 22, 2024, 08:09:07 am

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 08:44:38 am
content: @Zero999, looks like some sort of biological samples case, clever.@RaPo, thanks for the +1 for the envelopes.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 09:09:47 am
content: I recently adapted something similar to organize my modules and other stuff.I boughtanti static zip lock bagson Aliexpress and labeled them with stickers I still had lying around.The boxes I bought at the "Action" store and they fit perfectly on my shelves.Very easy now to get something when doing a project. Before this I had a bunch of smaller containers stacked three deep and three high without labels. Was a nightmare to pick something from those.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 09:18:10 am
content: @pcprogrammer, I am using similar boxes, but larger, one size for inside a cabinet and a larger size for under a piece of furniture. I use ziploc bags of various sizes to sort and separate the items stored inside the boxes.

author: TizianoHV
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 09:31:31 am
content: I found that mouser bags fit old floppy disk cases perfectly.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 09:42:06 am
content: @TizianoHV, it's been ages since I've seen the old floppy disc cases, remember when Office came on something like 30 floppy discs. A modern repurposing.P.S. MS Office 97 = 45 floppies, MS Office 97 Professional = 55 floppies.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 09:50:23 am
content: Quote from: TizianoHV on August 23, 2024, 09:31:31 amNow there is an idea. I have a bunch of those floppy disk cases waiting to be repurposed.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 10:50:18 am
content: Quote from: pcprogrammer on August 23, 2024, 09:50:23 amAnd I thought of myself being a hoarderI think I tossed them all like 20 years ago, as I went with CD writers pretty early.(Anyone remember the MacOS 7.x installation disks? I think I had a three digit number of installation disks for the various versions. Crazy. Solved everything by using the Developer CDs instead.)

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 11:16:14 am
content: Quote from: Haenk on August 23, 2024, 10:50:18 amI still have original floppies of Xilinx Xact, Orcad, Protel PCB, and who knows what lying around. Even have some 5 and a quarter inch floppies for a TRS-80, even though the TRS-80 is long gone. They don't take much space.A lot of the old stuff I had went to the dump. No longer working Aplle II's, TRS-80's, old PC's etc. My collection of old Mac's I donated to someone when we left for France, but for the rest of the stuff I thought it would be fun to play with once the house was finished. When I finally got round to playing with them a lot was broken down and I could, at the time, not be bothered to fix it and the wife convinced me to get rid off it. Do have some regret now.

author: hli
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 11:36:39 am
content: For bags (and other stuff where large boxes are not the best solution) I use a lot of these:https://www.auer-packaging.com/us/en/ESD-rack-boxes-and-material-flow-boxes/ESD-RK-3109.html. I selected ESD in a size fitting perfectly into these, and store nearly all ICs and discrete part in them. They are also quite inexpensive (although I have no idea how much shipping to the US would be, here in Germany its reasonable).

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 11:56:36 am
content: Quote from: hli on August 23, 2024, 11:36:39 amI bought a number of those with a wall mount from ALDI a while back, quite usefull for hardware etc.

author: DavidKo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 12:18:40 pm
content: Quote from: pcprogrammer on August 22, 2024, 09:49:13 amLooks like the ones fromMars Svratkathat I have. I have created dividers for the drawers - you can put 4 different values of 0.25W resistors into one drawer.https://www.printables.com/model/588318-dividers-for-mars-svratka-storage-drawers

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 12:19:18 pm
content: Quote from: moffy on August 23, 2024, 08:44:38 amI got it for free from where I used to work. They were going to throw it out. It's branded RS, but the pictures don't show it, since the logo is on the other side.I've had a quick look and couldn't find a simular thing, but I found this on instructables, using test tubes. You could buy some foam and an instrument case, to make a similar thing.https://www.instructables.com/Resistor-Organizer-and-Storage/

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 01:36:30 pm
content: I'm using storage cabinets with small drawers, one drawer for each resistance value (E24). Works best for me since I often have more than the standard 0.25 W type in stock. 5W or 0603, doesn't matter, all in one drawer. And more rarely used E96 values go into small and cheap zip bags (in a large drawer). Similar setup for caps and any other components.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 03:28:34 pm
content: Quote from: DavidKo on August 23, 2024, 12:18:40 pmYep, look the same. I have a bunch of dividers that came with the cabinets, but do not use them. Makes getting something from the drawer a bit more difficult and they tend to slide up allowing parts to mix. Sure I can use glue to fix them to over come this. Do not need it because I have plenty drawers that are still empty.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 10:28:01 pm
content: Photo of a through-hole kit using the plastic bags method.. it would be an improvement if the resistor value was more prominent and larger on the label.For SMD resistor DIY storage, I previously stored 0603 resistors in the little vials shown in the photo, but gave up on that because it's a lot of effort. Now I prefer to either use ready-made resistor books, or use the florist/coin envelopes. There are about 170 different values in the filing card box on the left in the photo, so it's very compact, and there's a lid for it although it mostly gets left open. For a dozen or so frequently-used capacitor values (1nF, 10nF, 100nF, 1uF, 2.2uF etc)., I have those in a much smaller card filing box, in a few different sizes (e.g. 0402, 0603, etc.). Wurth and others make some great ready-made kits though, in a plastic box with little pots.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 11:06:37 pm
content: @madires, that's a nice way to do it but needs a lot of wall or shelf space. But if you have it, it's very convenient.@shabaz, pictures really help, like the envelope method but transparent.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 11:37:13 pm
content: I use business card sleeves and store them in 4-ring A4 binders.Like these:https://www.amazon.com/Pockets-Business-Sleeves-Binder-Ultra-Clear/dp/B0B79X879B/They have side entry for the pockets, so the resistors are pretty secure if the binder falls over.Putting a sticker on each pouch is easy.And expanding your selection is also easy: just buy another binder and more sleeves.Downside is that they have 10 pockets per sleeve, which doesn't fit well with E12, E24 values.Upside: the binders fit on any shelf.Cheers.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 12:00:48 am
content: Quote from: Benta on August 23, 2024, 11:37:13 pmIt's a great method. I have a Susumi resistor kit and a tant cap kit that both use that. They have small plastic resealable bags with labels on them, the bags are just the right size to slide sideways into the pockets, so the pockets themselves don't even need labels if that's desired.The susumi kit uses very small rings, to keep the binder slim too.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 12:15:19 am
content: @Benta, that is a great solution, the pockets are almost a perfect size for 1/2W resistors.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 04:00:22 am
content: Thank you for all of your excellent suggestions, I ended up going with Benta's suggestion because it fit with the modest quantity of resistors that I have.

author: dustooff
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 07:36:00 am
content: I have two A5 ring binder folders, one for SMD analog IC's the other digital IC SMD's.Using old 3.5" floppy sleeves, fits most antistatic packets from the usual suspects,fold the packet so you can read the label while flipping through.2-3 packets/pocket, 2 pockets/sleeve, ~10 sleeves per folder.(actually 4 pockets/sleeve if you use the sleeve label area.)