[sdiy] Storing ICs

[R. D. Davis]

Quothe Ken Stone, from writings of Sat, Sep 16, 2006 at 10:32:28AM +1000:
> If you are going to use foam of any sort, use expanded polystyrene, covered
> in several layers of thin aluminium foil. As already stated, tubes are the
> best option.

Is it the black sponge-like foam that damages the chips?  I haven't
noticed any problems from the pink styrofoam-like foam.  Still, I plan
to purchase some tubes for storing those as well.

Having a few old ICs that were improperly stored, with leads that have
turned black, I'm wondering: have the leads become brittle, or is this
just tarnish, and what's the safest way to restore the leads and make
the chips useable?

-- 
R. D. Davis 410-744-4900  Beware & halt the National Animal ID System (NAIS)! 
www.rddavis.org             http://nonais.org  http://www.libertyark.org 
www.danglingspiders.com   http://www.rddavis.org/equitation/freedom-vs-id.html
Dangling Spiders Electronic Music Studio       http://www.stopanimalid.org