Coin envelopes for SMT part, where?

Joerg · Sep 1, 2007

Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind)
are practical for storing SMT. Much less space than all those cans the
size of aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as
airtight but that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary
shops, you name it. None had any, most didn't even know what I was
talking about. Where do you buy them?

Martin Riddle · Sep 1, 2007

Joerg said:
Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind) are practical for storing SMT. Much less space than
all those cans the size of aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as airtight but that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary shops, you name it. None had any, most didn't even know
what I was talking about. Where do you buy them?

Staples?

http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/s...0051&productId=37639&cmArea=SC1:CG23:CL142689

Cheers

Joerg · Sep 1, 2007

Martin said:
Staples?

http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/s...0051&productId=37639&cmArea=SC1:CG23:CL142689

Well, not quite. The smallest they have is 2-1/4" by 3-1/2", quite
large, doesn't fit into parts bin drawers. The coin envelopes I've seen
were a little over an inch square AFAIR, and much thinner than Brown
Kraft. But it was a very long time ago and in Europe.

Martin Riddle · Sep 1, 2007

Joerg said:
Well, not quite. The smallest they have is 2-1/4" by 3-1/2", quite large, doesn't fit into parts bin drawers. The coin
envelopes I've seen were a little over an inch square AFAIR, and much thinner than Brown Kraft. But it was a very long time
ago and in Europe.

Ok, 7/8x7/8 smallest size.
http://sheppardenvelope.com/envelopes/miniature.htm

Cheers

John Larkin · Sep 1, 2007

Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind)
are practical for storing SMT. Much less space than all those cans the
size of aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as
airtight but that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary
shops, you name it. None had any, most didn't even know what I was
talking about. Where do you buy them?

I have a box of 500, #3 coin envelopes, size 2.5 x 4.25 inches.
They're made by Westvaco/Columbian Envelopes, product ID CO545.

They're great. You can write the description and stock number on the
front, scribble any measurement notes, and tape the Digikey label or
whatever to the back. Packing density is a lot better than film cans
or drawers or whatever.

John

John Larkin · Sep 1, 2007

Well, not quite. The smallest they have is 2-1/4" by 3-1/2", quite
large, doesn't fit into parts bin drawers. The coin envelopes I've seen
were a little over an inch square AFAIR, and much thinner than Brown
Kraft. But it was a very long time ago and in Europe.

Get the bigger ones, 2.5 x 4.25, so you can write lots of stuff on
them.

John

DJ Delorie · Sep 1, 2007

Staples has 2x3 clear poly bags with a white writable area on them;
they fit into *my* parts drawers just fine

Not sure if putting parts in non-anti-static bags is such a good idea.
I usually leave them in their tape, in units of 10 or so.

Tom Bruhns · Sep 1, 2007

I have a box of 500, #3 coin envelopes, size 2.5 x 4.25 inches.
They're made by Westvaco/Columbian Envelopes, product ID CO545.

They're great. You can write the description and stock number on the
front, scribble any measurement notes, and tape the Digikey label or
whatever to the back. Packing density is a lot better than film cans
or drawers or whatever.

John

I do the same, with a smaller size...#2 probably. I'll often put a
drawing of the pinout on the envelope, too, for the parts complicated
enough to warrant it. The size I use stack very nicely three rows
wide in old Daytimer plastic boxes that we used to have a lot of
around, till everyone went to using Outlook to keep their calendars.
I much prefer the kraft paper ones to the flimsy tiny ones; the kraft
ones are much easier to file and to handle.

It is worthwhile to check that the corners are sealed well enough to
hold the parts you'll be putting in them. If you're into 0201
resistors and capacitors, it may be better to use the thin envelopes,
though I'd still put them into kraft envelopes for uniform storage
since many parts are too big (or I have too many of them) to put
everything into tiny envelopes.

Cheers,
Tom

D from BC · Sep 1, 2007

Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind)
are practical for storing SMT. Much less space than all those cans the
size of aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as
airtight but that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary
shops, you name it. None had any, most didn't even know what I was
talking about. Where do you buy them?

I guess you're not into origami paper art...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami

Perhaps get some heavy paper,a glue stick and scissors and make a
bunch.
Maybe pay some kid $2.00 to make'm.
Don't forget to say that it'll be fun to do

D from BC

Jim Flanagan · Sep 1, 2007

Joerg said:
Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind)
are practical for storing SMT. Much less space than all those cans the
size of aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as
airtight but that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary
shops, you name it. None had any, most didn't even know what I was
talking about. Where do you buy them?

Here is some 1 11/16" x 2 3/4"
$21 for 500

Try this link:
http://www.actionenvelope.com/ae/control/category/~category_id=7116/~pcategory=7064

Good Luck
Jim

Ecnerwal · Sep 1, 2007

DJ Delorie <[email protected]> said:
Not sure if putting parts in non-anti-static bags is such a good idea.
I usually leave them in their tape, in units of 10 or so.

A customer I do some work for has been storing parts in the Digi-key (et
al) bags, which is costing some serious time (thus money). It's quite
tedious to find the right bag, wiggle the strip of SMT tape out of the
bag, get a few parts, and wiggle it back in. I suggested going to test
tubes or culture tubes - space for labels (or a flag label if you need a
lot of info) and easy access - pop the lid off, get out the part tape,
pop it back in, pop the top on. Easy to organize in racks. Easy to see
what and roughly how many are in it. Many different sizes available. If
you're olde fashioned, you could even color code the resistor tubes -
and can certainly use color coded lids for different categories of
parts. If you're very organized, you could use barcodes and maintain an
up-to-date inventory with stock levels and reordering reminders before
you run out.

He has not gone for the idea as yet, perhaps because any effect is
somewhat indirect (if it takes me, or him, more time, I presume it's
being rebilled to the end customer, as it's not a production
environment) so saving time is not directly saving him money - but it
would help productivity. Despite billing by the hour, I dislike
inefficiency and prefer to spend my hours as productively as possible.

At home I'm still in the stone age of through-hole parts, but I'll
probably get a pile of test/culture tubes as I move my own projects to
SMT.

Robert · Sep 1, 2007

Joerg said:
Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind) are
practical for storing SMT. Much less space than all those cans the size of
aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as airtight but
that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary shops,
you name it. None had any, most didn't even know what I was talking about.
Where do you buy them?

You might look at Stamp Collecting and their Supply houses for such
envelopes. Or for other gear to hold them in sheets.

Robert H.

Tom Bruhns · Sep 1, 2007

A customer I do some work for has been storing parts in the Digi-key (et
al) bags, which is costing some serious time (thus money). It's quite
tedious to find the right bag, wiggle the strip of SMT tape out of the
bag, get a few parts, and wiggle it back in. I suggested going to test
tubes or culture tubes - space for labels (or a flag label if you need a
lot of info) and easy access - pop the lid off, get out the part tape,
pop it back in, pop the top on. Easy to organize in racks. Easy to see
what and roughly how many are in it. Many different sizes available. If
you're olde fashioned, you could even color code the resistor tubes -
and can certainly use color coded lids for different categories of
parts. If you're very organized, you could use barcodes and maintain an
up-to-date inventory with stock levels and reordering reminders before
you run out.

He has not gone for the idea as yet, perhaps because any effect is
somewhat indirect (if it takes me, or him, more time, I presume it's
being rebilled to the end customer, as it's not a production
environment) so saving time is not directly saving him money - but it
would help productivity. Despite billing by the hour, I dislike
inefficiency and prefer to spend my hours as productively as possible.

At home I'm still in the stone age of through-hole parts, but I'll
probably get a pile of test/culture tubes as I move my own projects to
SMT.

Be wary of ESD from glass or plastic that's not antistatic.
Officially even paper envelopes aren't approved, though in our
relatively moist climate here they haven't given me trouble that I can
identify.

You can get antistatic plastic vials roughly equivalent to test
tubes. The ones we use have captive snap-on lids. They are MUCH less
space-efficient than the coin envelopes though. A recipe-box size
container will easily hold a complete set of E24 resistor or capacitor
values over six or seven decades, likely in a couple different sizes
if you're not going for many hundreds of each value.

Cheers,
Tom

Mike Harrison · Sep 1, 2007

Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind)
are practical for storing SMT. Much less space than all those cans the
size of aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as
airtight but that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary
shops, you name it. None had any, most didn't even know what I was
talking about. Where do you buy them?

For stuff on tape, I've found a couple of solutions - film negative binder pages, and similar
products with smaller pockets used for storing baseball/cigarette card collections

http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/smd_storage.html

John · Sep 1, 2007

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary
You can always try the gang at rec.collecting.coins to see where they
buy theirs.

Ecnerwal · Sep 1, 2007

Be wary of ESD from glass or plastic that's not antistatic.

Most parts that actually care about ESD are in antistatic tape. I leave
parts in the tape, it's much easier to deal with than loose parts. I'm
not sure how much difference having the antistatic tape packed in an
antistatic bag actually makes, .vs. packing the antistatic tape in a
non-antistatic tube. I do know that the prices on antistatic tubes are
vastly higher than the prices for normal tubes, which is not very
surprising.

Resistors, inductors and capacitors are generally not very picky about
ESD, and come packaged from the distributor in tape in regular
polyethylene bags, which are not antistatic. That would appear to imply
that antistatic packaging is a waste of money for those parts.

You can get antistatic plastic vials roughly equivalent to test
tubes. The ones we use have captive snap-on lids. They are MUCH less
space-efficient than the coin envelopes though. A recipe-box size
container will easily hold a complete set of E24 resistor or capacitor
values over six or seven decades, likely in a couple different sizes
if you're not going for many hundreds of each value.

Packing density loses to ease of organization for actually using the
things - If you're trying to squeeze the maximum amount of material into
a briefcase for traveling, fine - for bench use, laying hands on what
you want without thumbing through 100 tiny envelopes wins, IMHO.

Terry Given · Sep 1, 2007

Tom said:
Be wary of ESD from glass or plastic that's not antistatic.
Officially even paper envelopes aren't approved, though in our
relatively moist climate here they haven't given me trouble that I can
identify.

You can get antistatic plastic vials roughly equivalent to test
tubes. The ones we use have captive snap-on lids. They are MUCH less
space-efficient than the coin envelopes though. A recipe-box size
container will easily hold a complete set of E24 resistor or capacitor
values over six or seven decades, likely in a couple different sizes
if you're not going for many hundreds of each value.

Cheers,
Tom

I use film canisters. They're free, and there is plenty of room for a
big sticky label.

Cheers
Terry

Fred Bartoli · Sep 1, 2007

Ok, guys, I've read it many times that coin envelopes (the paper kind)
are practical for storing SMT. Much less space than all those cans the
size of aspirin packages that stuff the cabinets here. Ok, not as
airtight but that should be fine.

I asked at all kinds of stores, Tarjay, Walmart, Longs, stationary
shops, you name it. None had any, most didn't even know what I was
talking about. Where do you buy them?

Not quite what you've asked but I ordered some of these and am very
pleased with them. Also exists ready filled.

http://stores.ebay.com/smtzone_Empty-enclosure_W0QQfsubZ17QQfrsrcZ1

Fred Bartoli · Sep 1, 2007

I use film canisters. They're free, and there is plenty of room for a
big sticky label.

I thought about this once but try to store the full E96 range.
That might be OK though for big items like ICs, Al or Ta caps, DPAKs,
small SMPS inductors and such.
I find the lidded enclosures I posted below very practical when it comes
to use them and do some real work. And $25-35 for 128 values is a quite
reasonable price.
I bought them stuffed be cause I wanted to spare me the time to fill them.

I guess the ideal thing is a combination of these for the everyday parts
plus some film canisters for the big parts and some coin envelopes for
the small infrequently used ones.

Jeff Liebermann · Sep 1, 2007

DJ Delorie said:
Staples has 2x3 clear poly bags with a white writable area on them;
they fit into *my* parts drawers just fine

Not sure if putting parts in non-anti-static bags is such a good idea.
I usually leave them in their tape, in units of 10 or so.

I got tired of sequentially looking inside the coin bags. So, I
switched to ESD pink plastic bags from:
<http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_7850.asp?desc=Uline+4+Mil>
and have lived happily ever after. There are other sources:
<http://www.thomasnet.com/products/bags-antistatic-reclosable-96061668-1.html>
Ebay also lists quite a few odd sizes.

For non ESD sensitive devices (passive components) in bulk, I just use
grocery store "zip lock" storage bags.

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