What do you keep components in?

[JimRayden]

One more idea to group your resistors is by the multiplier. I have a small "travel-box" with 5 divisions for resistance multipliers up to 5. So I have "reds" in one, "oranges" in the second, "yellows" in the third, etc. Then there are a few more pockets for other various items. Each resistor division fits like 30-40 resistors and I guess you won't need much more for travelling . The box literally fits in your pocket (a rather big one though) and includes enough of every resistor value you need.

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Jimbo

[bioroids]

I have the "odd" resistors in fishing-like plastic boxes divided by tolerances, but the more used values (like 10K) have their own little cardboard box.

I have this white cardboard boxes my wife gave me, I think they were for palm batteries. They are somewhat plastified on the outside. I glued like 20 of them on a piece of cardboard and I keep the more common resistor values there. This way I was able to speed up the mounting and soldering by a notable amount (and minimize the headache of "browsing bags for component values" as before).

For the pots and switches I have this bigger plastic boxes where the slips (underwear) came. I think I will buy more underwear just for the boxes

For other odd componentes like trimpots, 3mm leds (i use mostly 5mm), etc you can't beat the photo film boxes (those rounded little ones) I have plenty of them too.

Miguel

[bioroids]

Hey Miguel - Dulce de Leche jars are good for resistors - you can stand them sideways! We bought 2 at the Anglo Latin American Fiesta in London last Saturday - wonderful food from all over Latin America, empanados, choripan etc Argentine Wine, Chilean Wine.............
Stephen

Hi Stephen: seems like there are a lot of Latin American events over there! Anyway most dulce de leche comes in plastic thin jars over here, they break too easily!

Have you ever come to San Telmo in , Buenos Aires? This is were I live now (plenty of tourists by the way )

Luck

Miguel

[Joe]

Beginners might consider just dumping all the resistors into a large bin, it forces you to learn the color codes. I have only one resistor bucket to this day, saves a lot of time!

[Mike Burgundy]

ziplock baggies for the resistors - or to be honest, one big one, so I'm with Joe on the colour-coding.
I use some small tackle-boxes for the rest, roughly grouped (IC's of all types, Si trannies, Ge trannies, various ranges of caps, Leds, jacks etc)
Pots and knobs are also in big ziplocks, though.
I really should ge one of those wall-mount cabinets with all the little drawers...

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Beginners might consider just dumping all the resistors into a large bin, it forces you to learn the color codes. I have only one resistor bucket to this day, saves a lot of time!

I'm suprised how many times I've checked out the bench of EEs at home, and found them with 3 or 4 trays of mixed resistors, one tray for under 10k, then 10 to 100K and so on. I guess it saves space, but......!
The big advantage isn't that it makes you lean the code so much, as it forces you to actually MEASURE each resistor before use. Which I do anyway. Nobody ever lost time checking resistors BEFORE insertion.

[bioroids]

Ziplocs are good too, i have some things on them too (mostly battery connectors and knobs).

Is interesting how my vision developed.
When I started to use 1/8 resistors I HAD to measure to know the value. Now I'm able to actually see the bands and know what colour they are! At least for the common values I use (and I happen to be a little color-blind, mostly with greens)

Still hard for the blue metal films anyway (why they have to be blue??)

Miguel

[Melanhead]

I keep 'em in the pedals ... not sure why but when I take 'em out the pedals stop working 

seriously though .... I bought a plastic drawer thingy for resistors, LEDs, Switches and misc parts, I use a few old pick displays, from when I used to work at a music store for caps, and some stuff , is in static sensitive bags. Pots I hang on the wall in a large bag that contains smaller bags with the same values. I've been collecting parts for years so there's stuff everywhere in my shop! ...

[Melanhead]

Beginners might consider just dumping all the resistors into a large bin, it forces you to learn the color codes. I have only one resistor bucket to this day, saves a lot of time!

I'm suprised how many times I've checked out the bench of EEs at home, and found them with 3 or 4 trays of mixed resistors, one tray for under 10k, then 10 to 100K and so on. I guess it saves space, but......!
The big advantage isn't that it makes you lean the code so much, as it forces you to actually MEASURE each resistor before use. Which I do anyway. Nobody ever lost time checking resistors BEFORE insertion.

Mine are all sorted but I always check 'em anyways ... just to be safe !