Tom Nardi
Sam Freeman 3:30 PM
Simplify - I try to clean up the tools at the end of the day, even if I know I'll use it tomorrow
|
Saveitforparts 3:30 PM
I try (not always sucessfully) to put my tools and parts away before starting another project, but it doesn't always happen
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:30 PM
(misread as "move cats to street".)
|
CIAndy 3:30 PM
Hackaday Berlin was an eye-opener. That was when I decided I have too much stuff. Some guy had a talk about how to design your projects so that people can recreate them. A key part of that was "don't use old stuff". But I just can't put it all away. So my question would be: "How do I decide?"
|
SimplifyAndAddCoffee 3:30 PM
@jed the car is the project
|
jed 3:31 PM
wife draws hard line at living room & bed rooms - for HER projects
|
|
jed 3:31 PM
good choice for cats, too
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:31 PM
Ha, I also have cat "helpers" who like to relocate cables and small parts for indoor projects
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:32 PM
I need to add some walls to the basement for more dedicated cat-free zones. So far it's mostly open, with just the pantry and my electronics closet off limits. But the electronics closet also keeps getting more and more stuff in it
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:32 PM
One thing I like for that space are foodservice bins. They close completely to (mostly) keep dust out of things, they can stack, and they're a fairly convenient size/weight if I don't over-fill them
|
|
CJ Keithley 3:33 PM
When our boy cat started eating plastic (including 3D filament) I instituted a “closed door” policy for my home office
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:33 PM
I'm trying to find more example photos of my organization areas without ignoring the chat too much
|
Matthew Trowbridge 3:33 PM
So after you've used a couple through-hole resistors of various values, what happens next? Do you guys put them straight back in the bins correctly, or do you put them in a "misc" pile/bin where eventually you'll have to sort through everything (or let them gather perpetually)
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:34 PM
batch sorting is easier than doing it always one by one.
|
|
CIAndy 3:34 PM
I try to put them back. 80% successful...
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:34 PM
though that is liable to the Eternal Tomorrow Syndrome.
|
|
jed 3:34 PM
I throw away used carbon resistors rather than sort - when I get low, I buy 100 more.
|
Keri Szafir 3:34 PM
hello there kitties
|
Paul McClay 3:35 PM
@CIAndy - about "don't use old stuff": yes design for reproducabiity vs new life for old thing are different. I'm in the process of learning that. I guess it helps to settle which kind a project will be before getting very far into it.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:36 PM
Thius is currently my electronics and 3D printing work area. Which has to be re-organized again because I haven't touched the 3D printers since I put them there...
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:36 PM
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:36 PM
the old vs new can also be alleviated by using "APIs"/standards. that odd sized stepper? make adapter that makes it look like NEMA.
|
|
CJ Keithley 3:36 PM
@Dan Maloney - can I share a comic?
|
Dan Maloney 3:36 PM
@CJ Keithley - sure, as long as it's SFW
|
|
jed 3:36 PM
good hint on odd steppers - I'll remember
|
|
CJ Keithley 3:36 PM
It’s SFW
|
|
CJ Keithley 3:37 PM
|
|
CIAndy 3:37 PM
@Paul McClay Yes, and I will keep old stuff. But some has to go. The Problem is to find the right criteria..
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:37 PM
lol
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:37 PM
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:37 PM
Garage bins (and messy work bench with, naturally, 4 different projects going on).
|
|
jed 3:38 PM
The copper in those comic adapters will send your great grandchildren to trade school!
|
|
Keri Szafir 3:38 PM
https://hackaday.io/project/188544-lab-hacks some of my own storage solutions
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:38 PM
In defense of hoarding wall warts, I pulled one out the other day and managed to light up a leftover strip of LEDs for an undershelf light. Nice zero cost win
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:39 PM
hey, AC adapters are handy! cut off the application-specific connector, attach a 5.5/2.1 barrel jack for generics, XT60 for highcurrent, USB for 5v, write the volt/amp rating with white paint pen on the case so it is easy to read. the laptop power bricks are the best, 19-20 volts, compatible with 5S Li-ion if you need portables.
|
|
Keri Szafir 3:39 PM
I generally hoard old electronic devices, vacuum tubes, transformers and other parts
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:39 PM
After many years of just having a rats nest of AC adapters, I spent a week untangling them all and sorting. They're still in a big box but at least each one is coiled up and fastened, and I've made an effort not to keep more than 3 identical ones!
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:39 PM
buckboost modules are excellent for matching a design to just-any power supply too.
|
|
Keri Szafir 3:39 PM
and then I reuse them in my projects
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:40 PM
Likewise I sorted my computer cables into categories (USB, video, audio, network, etc), and I occasionally go through and purge any that have too many duplicates.
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:40 PM
there is something like too many duplicates?
|
|
CJ Keithley 3:41 PM
@Saveitforparts - I also recently went through all my AC adapters… untangled the cords, labeled them (V & mA) clearly, got rid of a lot.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:41 PM
I feel like I only need so many USB 1.0 A to B adapters...
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:41 PM
many kinds of commons can be reused. rj45 ethernet is a general purpose everything. hdmi is excellent for highfreq differential. old vga ones are triads of shielded high-ish freq analog, and some additional wires...
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:42 PM
I might own one device that still has a USB B port... and of course I have a dozen cables that fit it!
|
Todd 3:42 PM
just recently I got rid of 3 shoeboxes worth of spare USB cables.
They really need to stop sending them with every product.
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:42 PM
usb-b is nicely robust. better than the smaller-than-small ones that fall off the board when you look at them wrong way.
|
|
Paul McClay 3:43 PM
something I've thought of and kind-of-but-not-really tried: keep front/back photographs of PCBs in some db and add text notes about identified components.
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:43 PM
weird. i never have enough usb cables.
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:43 PM
better: run the boards through AI.
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:44 PM
@Paul McClay -- sounds like a job for machine learning
|
|
CJ Keithley 3:45 PM
I recently came across a product with a vertical mount through hole USB-C receptacle. I thought “hey, I could use those…don’t know when or what, but I *need* them.” Found them, bought 50 for ~$10. Will I ever use them? Hard to say…
|
|
Paul McClay 3:45 PM
AI/machine learning PCBs: yes. Not sure I'm the guy to tackle that but it does seem like some practical win could be reasonably achievable.
|
|
CJ Keithley 3:46 PM
Bought the receptacles, not the product that used it
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:46 PM
I believe Jasmine Lu, who did the EcoEDA thing I pasted in earlier, is working on that. I should invite her on for a Chat
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:47 PM
you will. handy for making ad-hoc cables. solder the wires, use hotmelt glue for housing.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:47 PM
Not exactly on topic, but for kitchen organizing we recently got one of those big stainless shop workbenches with a million drawers and a nice wood top. It fits into the kitchen surprisingly well!
|
|
Paul McClay 3:48 PM
@Saveitforparts you've published a lot of super-specific local Alaska history. That's neat. And a different flavor vs most of HaD
|
Patrick Hickey 3:48 PM
cables have similar properties to biological proteins in that they can interact, stick together forming complex configurations. i have around 1 cubic meter of cables needing untangled, perhaps one night i’ll tackle it listening to music and enjoying a beer or two.
|
|
jed 3:48 PM
Only my Garmin GPS use USB-B. I keep cables in special envelope on USB cable shelf for updating.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:48 PM
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:48 PM
That's exactly what I'm looking for to organizer tools and parts in my shack. Alas, Harbor Freight is sold out of the one I want
|
Mark J Hughes 3:49 PM
Gabe -- have you found an inexpensive LiFePO4 charger you like?
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:49 PM
@Paul McClay I assume you're referring to my Funter Bay history and Obscure Railroads projects on my website.
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:49 PM
toilet paper rolls are handy for organizing cables.
|
|
jed 3:49 PM
Harbor Freight had sale - that's probably why
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:49 PM
https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage-organization/tool-storage/roller-cabinets/26-in-x-22-in-single-bank-roller-cabinet-black-64432.html
|
|
Paul McClay 3:49 PM
@Saveitforparts yeah, that stuff.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:49 PM
I grew up in Funter Bay and collected a ton of history about the place, so I post that when I find new things.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:50 PM
The railroad history is going to be a book eventually, I was actually working on that project this morning.
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:50 PM
Perfect size for a 3D printer on top, tools in the top two drawers, parts in the rest
|
|
CIAndy 3:50 PM
Here in Europe there's a company making affordable assortment boxes and bigger boxes for the boxes. They could be stacked and I put a stack on rollers. That was really useful if anyone is interested.
|
|
Paul McClay 3:50 PM
@Saveitforparts neat. and takes no space in the garage
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:50 PM
@Mark J Hughes do you mean one of those portable power banks, or a desktop charger for random cells?
|
|
Paul McClay 3:51 PM
@Saveitforparts saw your intro about growing up far from supply and keeping/reusing stuff
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:51 PM
@Paul McClay the Alaska research defintely has several shelves worth of my bookcase... and some boxes of extra material!
|
|
Mark J Hughes 3:51 PM
Random cells
|
|
Mark J Hughes 3:52 PM
I've been collecting LiFePO4's from Amazon Vine.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:52 PM
@Mark J Hughes I actually haven't gotten into bare lithium batteries in any serious way. I know some folks who fish scooters out of the river and salvage the cells for DIY projects, but it's not a field I have much experience with.
|
|
Todd 3:52 PM
I have dozens of these, of two different heights, and some I have dividers, but all parts are in static bags and labeled inside https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CBGKLH8
|
|
SimonAllen 3:52 PM
I collect lithium batteries from discarded vapes.
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:52 PM
thought. charger that has a nfc reader and a nfc tag on battery that configures it for the given battery.
|
|
Mark Fraser 3:53 PM
|
toybuilder 3:53 PM
Hi. Just dropped in real fast to see the chat, and I have to run back out -- but I've been using a wheeled baker's rack with trays and that have been a big help over using wire shelving designed to hold 600+ lbs. The backer's rack is so much lighter it glides on the floor very easily.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:53 PM
@Todd those are great as well! I bought far too many fishing tackle organizers and have stuff in those all over the place
|
|
Mark J Hughes 3:53 PM
NP. Thanks
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:53 PM
Bigger tackle boxes are nice as well. Most of my SDR gear is in the biggest tacklebox I could find.
|
|
Paul McClay 3:54 PM
@Saveitforparts so publishing has potential to reduce volume of stuff. maybe. segue to another aspect of "keeping": for paper artifacts that are more than just the text on the page: when is a scan good enough to warrant dumping the original?
|
|
CIAndy 3:54 PM
Check out "Kistenberg". With their bigger boxes, the smaller ones work like drawers. That's really nice.
|
|
toybuilder 3:54 PM
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:55 PM
@Paul McClay it depends. I definitely have a thing for books and printed material, which is why one wall of my office is bookshelves. Another aspect of hoarding I guess!
|
|
jed 3:55 PM
baker's looks GREAT for lots of things - good thought!
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:56 PM
I also don't have time to necessarily scan everything in every book I own. I might only need one or two pages now, but maybe later I'll want to go back and look up something else. I could probably downsize if I started digitizing my reference and history books, but I'm not sure I'd finish that project once I started.
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:56 PM
Where do you get something like that?
|
|
Todd 3:57 PM
the tackle box racks I've bought are just OK - they tend to be very cheap and the welds break easily.
But, I have a "travel" tackle box-holder which holds 4 regular sized tackle boxes - great for cons/travel.
|
|
toybuilder 3:57 PM
They are a little pricey for the volume, but being able to dynamically change tray (shelf) position is a big win. I'm planning on switchinging out a few more wire shelves with bakers racks.
|
|
Mark J Hughes 3:57 PM
@Dan Maloney They're all over the scrap yards down here for about $2.50/lb x 17 lbs.
|
|
Dan Maloney 3:57 PM
I really need to find a decent scrapyard...
|
|
Mark J Hughes 3:58 PM
Or roadtrip to SoCal.
|
|
toybuilder 3:58 PM
The baker's rack I purchased from Walmart online new. Webstaurant has them listed, too. I recently saw a craigslist post of a place that sold used ones for less, and am tempted to get a bunch (but they look a bit yucky and no idea how well they clean up)
|
|
Mark J Hughes 3:58 PM
But realistically, if you can get square tube, angle tube, and a pop-rivet gun, you can make one in a day.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:58 PM
|
|
Mark J Hughes 3:58 PM
Welding would be better -- but a lot more work.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:58 PM
Here's a better pic of the garage small-stuff-bin situation
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 3:59 PM
pop rivets ftw! also, pop rivets with threaded holes. can add arbitrary mountpoints to EVERYTHING.
|
|
Paul McClay 3:59 PM
"bakers rack" good to know, thanks. I've wondered if such a thing exists. The idea of a bunch of trays of small-project-in-progress that are basically multiple portable desktops. Take one out to work on, then put it back in the rack without having to clean up the in-progress state.
|
|
Saveitforparts 3:59 PM
My photos are also not well organized! And I'm a bit of a digital hoarder
|
|
Mark J Hughes 3:59 PM
@Thomas Shaddack Abso-freaking-lutely.
|
|
toybuilder 3:59 PM
You can very easily re-shuffle trays as needed.
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 4:00 PM
digital hoarding is easier. you can't run grep through a shelf of boxes, you can't put dozens of terabytes worth of stuff into pocket.
|
|
Mark J Hughes 4:02 PM
Also @Dan Maloney Check out business liquidation auctions. Restaurants go out of business every other day. SOme of those are bakeries.
|
|
Dan Maloney 4:03 PM
We're up to the top of the hour, and while I don't want to stop the conversation, I want to make sure we're being properly respectful of Gabe's time. If you've gotta head out, no problem, but if you want to stay, that's cool too.
|
|
jed 4:03 PM
Thanks Gabe and all! It's been interesting.
|
|
SimonAllen 4:03 PM
It's interesting reading the answers. I just don't think there is a solution.
|
|
CIAndy 4:03 PM
About digital hoarding: A while ago I read back an old Seagate backup tape. Only to find all my old PC-8201 Software. Then got aware that I sold my PC-8201 years ago. Now I got a working one again...
|
|
CJ Keithley 4:03 PM
@Dan Maloney - thanks for setting this up!
|
|
Paul McClay 4:04 PM
Digitizing books: might be able to find an academic department or such who would do that
|
|
CIAndy 4:04 PM
Thanks Gabe!
|
|
CJ Keithley 4:04 PM
Thanks Gabe!
|
|
Paul McClay 4:04 PM
Thanks Gabe - and all y'all for ideas.
|
|
Saveitforparts 4:04 PM
Thanks everyone! There have been some great ideas on storage and organizing!
|
|
Mark J Hughes 4:04 PM
Thanks Gabe!
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 4:04 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_library
|
|
phillipdp 4:04 PM
Thanks Gabe, appreciate your time, videos and ideas!
|
|
CIAndy 4:04 PM
Agree, learned a lot today, thanks all...
|
|
Saveitforparts 4:05 PM
Maybe I can do a video on organization... if I clean up enough of the piles that my work space looks presentable!
|
|
Dan Maloney 4:06 PM
Thanks to Gabe for his time, and thanks all for a great discussion! Transcript coming up soon
|
|
Thomas Shaddack 4:07 PM
Step 1: preclean the space with a small tactical nuke...
|
|
Saveitforparts 4:09 PM
Thanks again @Dan Maloney and everyone else. I'm going to take off, maybe I'll organize my office now that I'm motivated by all these ideas :-)
|
|
Dan Maloney 4:10 PM
Thanks Gabe!
|
Hack Chat Transcript, Page 2
A event log for The Hoarder's Dilemma Hack Chat
Better to have it and not need it -- or is it?
Discussions
Become a Hackaday.io Member
Create an account to leave a comment. Already have an account? Log In.