24 Sep
2011
24 Sep
'11
10:33 a.m.
Yogurt and other diary food plastic containers here. The large ones
(64 oz.) are great for storage--they accept a permanent marker for
indicating the contents (e.g. "PLCC sockets", "14-pin DIP sockets",
"4-40 spacers") and they have secure lids.
I find such containers very poor for this. The plastic used is designed
ot degrade, and afte a farly short time they fall apart scattering their
contents. They are also a static menace, whether you have a cat or not.
Metal biscuit tins are quite useful though. They don't degrade (although
they can rust), and are naturally faraday cages, so no static problems.
For holding parts while disassembling, the smaller
ones are great.
The best thing I've found for this are those divided plastc parts storage
boxes (I find Raaco are the best). Don't get the new, improved ones with
adjustable partitions, they tend to self-adjust at just the wrong time
(yet another case of an improvemetn for the worse).
When I take something apart, I put related hardware in a compartmetn of
the box. If I feel I am going to forget what thase nuts, screwes, etc
were holding on, I'll put a slip of paper in the compartment too saying
soemthing like 'Mains transformer panel fixings'
They too have lids, so there's no losing parts.
And they do double
duty as degreasing containers--just dump the degreasing solvent in,
shake and drain. There's virtually nothing that attacks
polyethylene.
I don't know if they're consducive to building up damaging static
charges as I don't have a cat to rub against them.
They are, and you don't need a cat to do it...
-tony