Component Cabinets  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Thane of Cawdor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2013, 05:57:27 am
content: Hi guys,Are there any good, preferably low cost component cabinets. Something like this:http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=HB6323but much larger.Thanks

author: SPRX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2013, 06:29:33 am
content: I have this:http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=HB6328from Jaycar, and ok for small quantities of component.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2013, 10:26:29 am
content: I have 10 of these:I paid $10 NZD each on special from memory (from The Warehouse for my fellow kiwis, normal price is $19.95; they do occasionally come up for a $10 sale, I could do with some more actually), I've seen the exact same style used by others sometimes in youtube videos etc so must be fairly commonly available in other countries.Nice long fairly deep drawers, the different sizes are handy, I split some of the drawers with a bit of card taped in the middle, or just bagged items inside.

author: Sinusoidal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 21, 2013, 12:27:23 pm
content: I have a couple of those:http://au.element14.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=136709101They are fairly high quality and the trays are nice plastic ones, not the shatter kind of the Jaycar ones.I would however keep an eye out as they are regularly on special for about $30-35.

author: Sinusoidal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 21, 2013, 04:08:21 pm
content: Quote from: Thane of Cawdor on November 21, 2013, 01:51:31 pmUnfortunately the steel is rather thin so they can be a little flimsy. I wouldn't recommend stacking them unless you affixed them to a wall or some sort of base first.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2013, 04:29:24 pm
content: Quote from: Sinusoidal on November 21, 2013, 04:08:21 pmYou can't stack them anyway because Raaco doesn't include the plastic feet anymore (required to fit the cabinet into the dents of the top of the cabinet below). The best is to put them on a shelf.

author: centon1
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 21, 2013, 08:19:18 pm
content: Personally I find Element14 well stocked but a little pricey here.I'm not sure where on the planet you might be but I have several Akro-Mils units from distributors here, which work well for me.http://www.akro-mils.com/Products/Industrial/Small-Parts-Storage/Steel-Plastic-Frame-Parts-Cabinets/Plastic-Storage-Cabinets.aspxI would also recommend the drawer 'dividers' accessory as the quantities of components I typical have look rather 'sad' in a full drawer.

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 21, 2013, 08:57:53 pm
content: Quote from: Sinusoidal on November 21, 2013, 04:08:21 pmReturns rate on these is very high! Very flimsy and often get bumps and dings in shipping. I've got a pile of them here in 99% ok condition but it would cost more to pack them well and ship them than they are worth.

author: Sinusoidal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2013, 05:11:07 am
content: Quote from: TopLoser on November 21, 2013, 08:57:53 pmI could only imagine. They are however the only half decent cabinets I have found that don't break the bank.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2013, 06:42:55 am
content: Quote from: TopLoser on November 21, 2013, 08:57:53 pmYou would not happen to have a pile of dividers for the Raaco 150 series would you?

author: Sinusoidal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2013, 08:39:31 am
content: Quote from: kaz911 on November 22, 2013, 06:42:55 amThe dividers are quite expensive for what they are, sometimes they cost more than the whole cabinet itself. A cheap solution I have found is to get a large sheet of acrylic and cut it to size. If you really want a cheap solution old cardboard boxes work almost aswell.

author: Sinusoidal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2013, 08:41:17 am
content: Quote from: Sinusoidal on November 22, 2013, 08:39:31 am

author: Sinusoidal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2013, 09:31:20 am
content: Found these really nice ESD ones on RS, and they stack nicely, but I'm not sure if the price is per compartment:http://australia.rs-online.com/web/p/esd-safe-cabinets-drawers-inserts/0575712/

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2013, 10:56:34 pm
content: Quote from: Sinusoidal on November 22, 2013, 08:39:31 am60 pieces for €6.90 over here.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2013, 10:57:43 pm
content: Quote from: Sinusoidal on November 22, 2013, 09:31:20 amThat's just the plinth.18 compartment drawer.36 compartment drawer.At those prices, Yikes!

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2013, 11:08:03 pm
content: note exactly what asked for, but I have bougt various sizes of these:http://www.adafruit.com/products/430and cliped those togheter, put them in an box or something.seeed also sells those:http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/organizer-boxes-c-63_68/?ref=sideSo far I have found two types of these, the one adafruit and seeed sells are the god ones, they are marked "wentai" on the lid, and its some text under them, but there are clones, that are very very bad, falls appart before you touch them, they don't have any markings.

author: AndersAnd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2013, 01:00:17 am
content: Quote from: Thane of Cawdor on November 22, 2013, 09:05:40 amRaaco makes ESD safe versions, however they aren't low cost.They have special black ESD safe plastic drawers molded with carbon fibre for conductivity unlike their regular systems with clear plastic drawers. And their ESD safe cabinets have unpainted conductive zinc surfaces where there's spade connector tabs for ground wires on the backside or bottom.We have had the ESD safe version where I've worked.You can get ESD safe turntables too, to build a carousel full of regular "wall" drawers. They are actually very handy, especially where there's not enough wall real estate for a full wall mounted drawer system. And you can take them apart and hang the drawers on the wall or put them on a table later instead, maybe if you change location.Raaco's ESD safe product lines:http://www.raaco.com/productsgroups-1120.aspx?GroupID=ESDRaaco is a Danish company so Raaco drawer systems and regular toolboxes are very common here in Denmark. But they're more expensive than most other "clones" I've seen, but also much sturdier and better quality.Cabinet's made of metal where many others use flimsy plastic cabinets instead. + Raaco they make ESD safe versions. And they have been making the same drawer systems for ages so you can always get accessories or expand your existing system.The ESD drawers also seem better qualty than the non ESD version. Softer and less brittle plastic (and thicker wall thickness I think) and with carbon fibers molded into the platic, so the ESD protection never wears off like it would if the ESD protection was just a sprayed on surface treatment.Some of their ESD safe products:

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2013, 03:26:24 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on November 19, 2013, 10:26:29 amSame price for that item over in the US.http://www.harborfreight.com/12-drawer-storage-organizer-99896.htmlI almost bought one of these:http://www.harborfreight.com/multi-compartment-utility-box-40528.htmlBut the yellow plastic parts were made of very brittle plastic. One of them on display at the store had a crack in it and flexing it made it seem like it would be very prone to snap.This one looks interesting:http://www.harborfreight.com/19-bin-portable-parts-storage-case-93928.htmlThe compartments come out like a cup.I did end up with one of these when they were on sale for $10http://www.harborfreight.com/toolbox-organizer-with-4-drawers-68238-8143.htmlIt's useful but I think I would rather have fewer but larger sections to fit things like diodes that have leads that are longer than the compartment.The dividers between the sections in the trays are very loose and parts tend to work their way underneath at times and migrate to other areas.