No cost parts storage! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

harrym1byt · 1st Jan 2009, 6:30 pm

I don't know if this is still true, but five years ago Haribo used to deliver their loose sweeties to the sweet shops in some rather useful plastic boxes with attached lids. Once empty the sweet shops throw them out. These are a perfect size and shape for storage of various electonics bits and having perfectly square corners they stack easily on shelves - shoebox shaped, but a little smaller.

I collected about 50 of them from a local shop who were happy to just get them out of the way for free.

paulsherwin · 1st Jan 2009, 6:41 pm

These are certainly useful containers, but it's understandably difficult to persuade shopkeepers to save them for you if you're not a regular customer. You sometimes see them put out with other rubbish and can liberate them

Litre ice cream containers make good storage boxes too.

Paul

Oldtestgear · 1st Jan 2009, 7:00 pm

Another free storage option are the plastic trays used for mushroom packing. These trays are great for storing medium sized bits and will stack quite well. Thanks to some dodgy EU Regulation these are NOT returned for reuse but usually dumped. Try your local green grocer if one exists!
Definitely useful & helping your local shop to get rid of waste at zero cost also helps them.
Absolutely amazing what is thrown away in this country.

Phil

Tim · 3rd Jan 2009, 9:02 pm

That's a good idea Phil
I have recently started using Mushroom crates to store valves. Most of the B9A based series of valves(and any smaller) will fit upright in their boxes, and most others lying down. Of course the mushroom crates themselves are stackable, thus protecting your precious valves. Some boxes even have space for an index card

mikelect · 3rd Jan 2009, 10:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldtestgear

Another free storage option are the plastic trays used for mushroom packing. These trays are great for storing medium sized bits and will stack quite well. Thanks to some dodgy EU Regulation these are NOT returned for reuse but usually dumped. Try your local green grocer if one exists!
Definitely useful & helping your local shop to get rid of waste at zero cost also helps them.
Absolutely amazing what is thrown away in this country.

Phil

I recently aquired a load of these from one of our local Chinese takeaways theonly snag seems to be they are a bit brittle so more usefull for long term storage.

Mike

llama · 23rd Mar 2009, 4:28 pm

I use plastic milk bottles quite a lot - 1, 2 and 4 pint. Either cut the top off where it ceases to have parallel sides or, my preference, just cut off the spout and an area around it and you've got storage complete with a handle!
Graham

repairman 1234 · 24th Mar 2009, 10:16 pm

Try your local fruit shop, as well as the blue mushroom crates you should find much stronger and sturdier black or dark green trays which i think are used for butternut squash. Again they are just waste to the fruit shop so in most cases you should get them for free

All the best,

Chris.

David Simpson · 26th Mar 2009, 11:09 am

If you, or anyone you know, drinks Nescafe Cappuccino coffee - save the wee brown plastic containers that hold the chocolate powder. They are the ideal size for storing or transporting most B7G or B9A valves. Very tough, and there is just enough diameter to wrap the valve in some tissue paper.
For bigger valves, or for transporting the smaller valves complete with their original box - ask you local draper to save the h/duty cardboard tubes that bolts of cloth are rolled around, and cut to size. The internal dia is usually big enough to also take a layer of bubble-wrap.

Regards, David

Tim · 26th Mar 2009, 11:51 am

The boxes used for bottles of cough syrup and the like are perfect for some Octal valves.
I imagine 35mm film cans would also be useful for small parts, but I don't know how available they are these days.
And of course baby food jars.

paulsherwin · 26th Mar 2009, 12:05 pm

The cardboard boxes used for compact fluorescent light bulbs are excellent if you need to post valves. They're big enough to hold the smaller octal types. If you live in southern England, Robert Dyas are currently selling 10 for £1 - worth buying just for the boxes!

For bigger valves, the cardboard tubes containing bottles of single malt whisky are ideal. You just need to cut them down to the right length with a good pair of scissors. It gives you an excuse to buy more whisky too

Paul

richrussell · 26th Mar 2009, 12:09 pm

I changed which Chinese takeaway I go to in order to get stronger plastic containers.

paulsherwin · 26th Mar 2009, 12:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

I imagine 35mm film cans would also be useful for small parts, but I don't know how available they are these days.

Go to your local high street processor when they're quiet and ask if you can have some. If they process films onsite (most do, even now) they will have vast numbers to give away. The last time I did this I was given a carrier bag containing hundreds, and asked if I wanted any more

Paul

Tim · 26th Mar 2009, 12:31 pm

Quote:

The cardboard boxes used for compact fluorescent light bulbs are excellent if you need to post valves

I forgot about those!

repairman 1234 · 26th Mar 2009, 3:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by richrussell

I changed which Chinese takeaway I go to in order to get stronger plastic containers.

Actually since we have mentioned chinese takeaway's, our local chinese has started using little "tupperware" style boxes to store the food in. Not as sturdy as the tupperware version but good enough for small parts and best of all is the price...free when you partake of the superb food!

All the best,

Chris.

1st Jan 2009, 6:30 pm	#1
harrym1byt Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garforth, West Yorkshire Posts: 26	No cost parts storage! I don't know if this is still true, but five years ago Haribo used to deliver their loose sweeties to the sweet shops in some rather useful plastic boxes with attached lids. Once empty the sweet shops throw them out. These are a perfect size and shape for storage of various electonics bits and having perfectly square corners they stack easily on shelves - shoebox shaped, but a little smaller. I collected about 50 of them from a local shop who were happy to just get them out of the way for free.

1st Jan 2009, 6:41 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,928	Re: No cost parts storage! These are certainly useful containers, but it's understandably difficult to persuade shopkeepers to save them for you if you're not a regular customer. You sometimes see them put out with other rubbish and can liberate them Litre ice cream containers make good storage boxes too. Paul

1st Jan 2009, 7:00 pm	#3
Oldtestgear Hexode Join Date: May 2008 Location: Devon, UK. Posts: 307	Re: No cost parts storage! Another free storage option are the plastic trays used for mushroom packing. These trays are great for storing medium sized bits and will stack quite well. Thanks to some dodgy EU Regulation these are NOT returned for reuse but usually dumped. Try your local green grocer if one exists! Definitely useful & helping your local shop to get rid of waste at zero cost also helps them. Absolutely amazing what is thrown away in this country. Phil

3rd Jan 2009, 9:02 pm	#4
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,307	Re: No cost parts storage! That's a good idea Phil I have recently started using Mushroom crates to store valves. Most of the B9A based series of valves(and any smaller) will fit upright in their boxes, and most others lying down. Of course the mushroom crates themselves are stackable, thus protecting your precious valves. Some boxes even have space for an index card __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

23rd Mar 2009, 4:28 pm	#6
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,482	Re: No cost parts storage! I use plastic milk bottles quite a lot - 1, 2 and 4 pint. Either cut the top off where it ceases to have parallel sides or, my preference, just cut off the spout and an area around it and you've got storage complete with a handle! Graham

24th Mar 2009, 10:16 pm	#7
repairman 1234 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 749	Re: No cost parts storage! Try your local fruit shop, as well as the blue mushroom crates you should find much stronger and sturdier black or dark green trays which i think are used for butternut squash. Again they are just waste to the fruit shop so in most cases you should get them for free All the best, Chris.

26th Mar 2009, 11:09 am	#8
David Simpson Nonode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aberdeen, UK. Posts: 2,851	Re: No cost parts storage! If you, or anyone you know, drinks Nescafe Cappuccino coffee - save the wee brown plastic containers that hold the chocolate powder. They are the ideal size for storing or transporting most B7G or B9A valves. Very tough, and there is just enough diameter to wrap the valve in some tissue paper. For bigger valves, or for transporting the smaller valves complete with their original box - ask you local draper to save the h/duty cardboard tubes that bolts of cloth are rolled around, and cut to size. The internal dia is usually big enough to also take a layer of bubble-wrap. Regards, David

26th Mar 2009, 11:51 am	#9
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,307	Re: No cost parts storage! The boxes used for bottles of cough syrup and the like are perfect for some Octal valves. I imagine 35mm film cans would also be useful for small parts, but I don't know how available they are these days. And of course baby food jars. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

26th Mar 2009, 12:05 pm	#10
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,928	Re: No cost parts storage! The cardboard boxes used for compact fluorescent light bulbs are excellent if you need to post valves. They're big enough to hold the smaller octal types. If you live in southern England, Robert Dyas are currently selling 10 for £1 - worth buying just for the boxes! For bigger valves, the cardboard tubes containing bottles of single malt whisky are ideal. You just need to cut them down to the right length with a good pair of scissors. It gives you an excuse to buy more whisky too Paul

26th Mar 2009, 12:09 pm	#11
richrussell Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: No cost parts storage! I changed which Chinese takeaway I go to in order to get stronger plastic containers.