What do you use to store spare parts?

[Ghudda]

I need some suggestions on common household bags/containers that are good for storing spare parts, specifically motherboards. I have some GBA SP/PSP/etc mobos that i've, up until now, have kept in baggies. I don't really want to invest in anti-static bags but are there any other common households bags that are safe for storage? Are baggies typically a bad idea? I know that paper bags are a commonly recommended solution, but I don't like the lack of translucence that comes with that and paper isn't quiet as neat to store.

Just wanted to see how you all go about storing extra parts.

[Ziggy]

I don't really want to invest in anti-static bags

They're not very expensive.

[Ghudda]

I don't really want to invest in anti-static bags

They're not very expensive.

Ah, thanks for that! That's actually not bad at all, i'll scoop some up next time I make an Amazon purchase.

[Hobie-wan]

I have a number of them from my own PC upgrades as well as some from work. If you're friendly with a place that assembles PCs or does upgrades maybe they could save some.

[fastbilly1]

When I had lots of spare parts. Antistatic bags and large plastic drawers, like these:


I had three of them at one time, so I just stacked them, glued them, tied them to the wall, and boom instant storage system. Just make sure you label what goes into each drawer.

[Ghudda]

I have a number of them from my own PC upgrades as well as some from work. If you're friendly with a place that assembles PCs or does upgrades maybe they could save some.

Being that I just recently moved, I havn't built ties at any relative places, but I did end up ordering some bags on Amazon as Ziggy suggested. So I should be set.

When I had lots of spare parts. Antistatic bags and large plastic drawers, like these:


I had three of them at one time, so I just stacked them, glued them, tied them to the wall, and boom instant storage system. Just make sure you label what goes into each drawer.

Yeah I actually have a micro version of those drawers that sit in my closet. I learned early on that in a hobby that tends to accumulate a ton of things, organization is key.

Speaking of organization, is there a solid organizational thread on the forums? Of people posting their organizational/storage solutions, etc.?

[fastbilly1]

It depends on what you are organizing. There are a bevy of topics you can find about organizing collections, controllers, etc. Since this topic is about spare parts, you will find no better thing than a set of drawers and a label maker.

Personally I also keep small tins around - altoids, snus, whatever people give me. They are the perfect size to fill with screws or just small bits. I keep a couple dozen of them around for whatever projects I am working on.

[Ziggy]

I have a number of them from my own PC upgrades as well as some from work. If you're friendly with a place that assembles PCs or does upgrades maybe they could save some.

Yeah, I have a ton from HDDs and other PC parts that have been purchased over the years. I even have a few mobo sized ones. I never had to buy any, and that's what you get for being a pack rat.

[Anapan]

I use big, cheap plastic drawers, with antistatic fabric softener sheets laying around (wipedown removes static and keeps things fresh), and cut to size corrugated cardboard between layers of motherboards/graphic/sound cards).

Honestly the static stuff has never ever been an issue, and I mess around with electronics a lot. Most of the computer guys I know have never given it a second thought, tho one guy had a grounding wrist-strap he used for installations (came with a part so he's used it every time since). It's been proven that static electricity can discharge into components and destroy them so it's best to play it safe and follow manufacturers guidelines. I have a box stuffed full of old antistatic bags and I do keep some favorites inside those bags, but I'd never buy them. I mostly use them for mailing stuff since it seems more professional. On larger components I've mailed which I don't have bags for I just stuff a bunch of fabric sheets around them, and eliminate the plastic altogether. I use cardboard and starch/cellulose-based packing peanuts (no possibility for static charge, biodegradable and can be dissolved in water).

I've even tried to induce damage in multiple computer parts and small electronics when it was winter and dry. I shuffled my feet on the carpet, grounded boards, hard-drives, solid state stuff, and anything else that I was planning to dump and zapped them all as good as I could. I used a wire into the CPU's of some devices, rubbed a balloon on my hair and tried to make something break - no damage, and no interesting side effects.

The only way I've induced weird stuff, interesting side effects, or permanent damage to electronics is with one of those plasma balls. They can light tube lights and charge capacitors from a distance. I once bought a usb powered one that fried my computer. They can power battery operated stuff from a distance, screw up memory chips, discharge into IC chips and affect displays too. Very cool, but most electronics are able to recover and work normally after having their power reset.

[Ziggy]

Honestly, I've never had static discharge fry something on me either. And I've been pretty cavalier in the past. But the fact of the matter is that it CAN happen, so why take the chance? I used an analogy in a thread once (I wish I could find it) that went something like this: I can cross the street in front of my house without looking and 9 times out of 10 make it safely to the other side. But all it takes is that one time, and that's why we look both ways for traffic EVERY time.

I finally got a static wrist band because it was cheap enough. Long ago, I got into the habit of touching ground before working on electronics (to discharge any static build up). I don't always do it, but whatever. But I got the static wrist band so I could open a computer in a carpeted room and not worry about it. If the computer is used in a carpeted room, I'm not gonna take it out into another room just to check something real quick or some other in and out job.