/diy/ - Do It Yourself

pic related comes in all shapes and sizes with different drawer options. it's great for storing clusters of small shit, like nuts and bolts

as for using a soldering gun or iron, it will be fine. just don't hold the tip to the component too long that you end up frying it. you shouldn't need more than a couple seconds of contact. i've heard of people using small alligator clips to help buffer some of the heat.

I do the same. electronics.

1. if it has non standardised label = garbage
2.
resistΩrs - anything less than 1watt = garbage
caps - unless its rare rating, or $$$ = garbage
diodes - signals which i don't know, or common power types (including bridge ICs) = garbage
heatsinks - no fins = garbage
transformers - no labels = garbage
IC - need to desolder unless rare = garbage
transistors/regulators - common = garbage
polyswitches/relays/solenoids/pots - questionable if you don't know the useage, then you don't know the MTBF.

Always: insulator hardware for transistors, (easily desoldered) stand off pins, fuses and clips, mains connectors, cable anchors, spagetti insulation, common switches (except soldered mini slide switches), plugs (unless soldered).

OCD???

Keep that shit in check becauase you can easily become a hoarder, then have so much shit you get overwhelmed by the amount of junk you have, then get frustrated beause you cannot sort the shit, before you find more stuff to salvage and ....

>>286718
That thing is a beaut.

>>286753
Haha the OCD thing was wanting to keep the ends on the components, I'm not good enough as a solder-er-er-er to rely on little extensions and to still make a good IC with my scrap EE stuff.

Now, is the stuff I'd "scrap" really worth much? I found a normal 120V fuse and a 180uF 400v Capacitor, and see it online for ~$5.

Also, my biggest "motivation" towards doing this is for (first, enjoyment) primarily using these components to create my first (original-ish) IC. So, taking out low level diodes and cap's are still on the table then... right?

>>286816
new small value caps, diodes, transistors, resistors are incredibly cheap from places like digikey & mouser and aren't really worth scavenging. things like switches/connectors/headers/simple displays are worth desoldering.

i keep fairly new boards with lots of surface mount resistors available so i can just skim over and take whatever XXX value i need.

>>286753
I disagree. I collected a bunch of stuff junking boards when I was younger and I've had whatever I needed on hand for years. I am kinda a hoarder though.
!/4 W resistor? GOT IT
any cap in the uF range? GOT IT

>>286714
Samefag here

>>286718
This. It's awesome, and I want it but not for an arm and a leg (you know how much plastic shelve shit costs @ wal-mart). So, any suggestions on good online EE shopping sites?

>>286819
so far digikey and mouser, any others?
Sorry for the petty questions, and thanks for the help "Live Free or /diy/hardtards" :D

http://www.futurlec.com/Bestsellers.shtml

>>286718
I have a thing like that for resistors. Those are quite handy.


I agree with some of the other things that have been said - I rarely go for small, common components. Transformers, inductors, heatsinks, large caps, power resisters, motors, trimmers, potentiometers, sliders, switches, buttons, thumbwheels, some LCD displays, and any well labeled through-hole IC are what I go for. Common resistors, caps, and surface mount parts I tend to avoid.

>>286826
I've bought from Mouser and Jameco. I prefer Mouser, but Jameco isn't that far away and has a will-call office, so you can order stuff and go pick it up that same day.

What are you planning on building?

>>287083
Wow, futurlec has phenomenal prices.

>>287131
Actually, I'm not sure yet. I recently purchased an ammeter from Amazon ($10) and wanted to mod my computers old speakers, but I don't have a "I MUST DO THIS" first mentality. I've put about 5 hours into getting tons of caps trans diodes & resistors from an old computer monitor, and with a few different power sources (old computer charger lines) I have a decent start.

My first real circuit will probably have something to do with a photodiode that'll make a sound when light is or is not shined on it. But like I said, I don't have a "I must do this" idea in mind because I don't want to burn myself on EE, you know?

I discovered that bead stores and craft stores have all the tiny compartmenty storage containers you will ever need. They have some useful hand tools too, though mostly their tools don't overlap much with electronics tools.

>I don't want to burn myself on EE, you know?
Wise anon is wise. I wish I'd had your insight 20 yrs ago. EE to me has become fixing shit for others.FUCK, I used to love it.