@Cerebus : thanks for the details on the (vinyl) cutter. Sounds like a nifty little device especially for the price you go tit for used !
Making stencils to paint stuff appeals to me, easy way to customize stuff...
The technical limitations you detailed clearly make it unsuitable for my main purpose though. As one could expect, doing lots of fine text is not where it shines, so would still need to investigate the other options.
@ resistors : well it's a bit of a mess... I think it's just not worth me keeping these precision resistor (be it value precision, or tempco) around. I mean if I can't even be sure 100% what the bands means, forget it.
Plus it's a pain to read them one by one to see what I have. Plus I probably won't need more than one of those every year at best in averages, let's be real, I am not into precision stuff day and night. So the chances of finding exactly the value I need, is slim to none, and the tremendous amount of time it would take to destroy my eyes looking at all those 1/4W resistors... to then realize no, I don't have it... just not worth my time.
So I think I will just throw them all away, bar the few that are clearly marked in plain English, not colour bands.
Workflow for the rare occasions I might need a precision resistor will be I think :
1) Standardize on 1% metal resistors, E24, as a daily driver. Then if more precision is needed, or an out of E24 value is needed, then :
2) If it's a repair, just put a couple resistors in series or // as required, to get close enough for proper operation.
3) If it's a new design, use a fixed resistor + a trimmer combo, at prototype stage. Then once the actual value is figured out, order the proper resistors, brand new, for the next prototype or final product.
@ Terra operative : looking much better !
I am sure Dwagon can make you a smurf blue 3D printed foot ! Like he did for Papa smurf for another Tek scope IIRC.
Storage :
- just received today an Amazon package containing 5 plastic boxes. smallish 320x255mm ones, with separators. Except I did not order them (I prefer cases with removable bins).
Called daddy... turned out he bought for me a week ago but forget to tell me about it...
OK so I normally would not have ordered this particular style of cases but... now that they are here and 100% free, and no less than 5 of them... think I will use my imagination to make use of them .?!
I don't want to use this style of cases to store lots of small / discrete components because once they are in the box, it's pretty much set in stone... you can't reorganize the case, or grab the contents of a "cell" to empty it on the bench and search for what you need. But... I guess if I put the components in small zip-lock bags, then put the bags in the case, that would fix that problem.
Cases could also be used to store bigger pieces where this is not such a problem. Like say I don't know, organize all my coaxial sockets and plugs and adapters and what not.
If I remove a few dividers to make larger cells, I guess I could use it to store stuff for prototyping, like small bread boards, small SMD->TH IC adapters, Dupont wires, strip headers, and what not.
Yeah, I guess I will figure out ways to make use of those cases....
Then went to the flower shop to go get my amazon parcel containing my second batch of small Kraft paper envelopes to finish sorting my resistors.... only to find a closed door.. they decided to close on Wednesday afternoons, that's my luck
Then I drive all the way to the other side of town, to get to that H/W store to get another of these smurf blue drawer units. The medium size one that used for the electrolytic caps, with several sizes for drawers. I am thinking of using that sort all my other caps : film caps and ceramic caps. I checked their website before making the trip of course, to ensure they still had them in stock. They did... only ONE left ! No kidding. So I spent an hour driving there and back, only to find out that yes, they did have one left but... it was badly damaged !!!
the frame is metal, and the top of the unit was concave, and the whole frame was kinda skewed. Clearly took a bit hit from the top
So I lost one hour of my life and so expensive petrol, bummer.
Asked a seller in there. He looked it up in his computer, says some more have been ordered, 5 units, which should be there on Monday.
So... I don't have my envelopes, I don't have my smurf blue drawer unit... but I do have 5 unexpected plastic cases.. so it's a bit f mixed bag today !