[sdiy] parts ?

[Michael Buchstaller]

>Some of us keep a pretty good stock of parts at home. I have 
>most generic parts, or substitutes for them to hand. Some 
>parts are new, while others I will salvage from second hand 
>equipment. I can usually find or adapt something from what 
>is there. If not and I am forced to buy, I will often pick 
>up a spare or two at the same time.

That´s true for me. Most basic parts like resistors are very
inexpensive, and it pays to have at least a 100-pack of every
value at hand. Often, electronic shops sell you a box with small
drawers stuffed with resistors for a small amount of money, often less
than you would pay otherwise for that box alone.

Personally, i do often look in local papers. Sometimes people give
up their electronics hobby and sell all their stuff together at a ridiculously
low price.

Whenever i have to shop for parts, i think if these parts are only be used for
a specific project, of if they could be generally useful. In the latter case, i try
to get 10 or 100 (depending on the price, of course) and add them to my parts
collection. So, over the years you will have nearly everything at hand, and only
have to go out for replacing empty drawers or exotic parts.


Only problem here: One has to be careful to sort and keep in order all those
parts. (A shoebox full of mixed resistors is very close to useless)
And the girlfriend always will ask you when you will throw out all that junk.


-Michael Buchstaller