Small part storage

[Rekusu]

What ho one and all,

What does one use for storing the small parts and screws from a camera or lens dismantle?

I have found beading storage boxes but they are all deeper than is necessary. Am currently using random screw tops that are 10mm deep and they are fine, but each one is separate. I would like something with a number of compartments with a lid (in case I knock it over and loose bits and bobs.)

Grateful for any suggestions.

Thanks and toodle pip

 

[Sirius Glass]

I put small containers with the small parts in the large storage boxes.

 

[grahamp]

My wife keeps her medications in a tray with lid that has seven rows of four compartments and has a lid. What you need to check is if small parts can migrate between compartments when the lid is on. I think this came from the Japanese store Daiso (I'm in California). Easy enough to print a sheet with boxes to write a key to what is where.

For temporary jobs I have a plastic meal tray with sections for different foods. But there is no lid.

 

[xkaes]

Those compartmented pill boxes are great. They come in a ton of sizes and can be found pretty cheap. I see them as thrift stores all the time.

 

[Luckless]

I have a set of silicone ice 'cube' trays that have lids. They're relatively shallow and shaped for making the long bars of ice to slip in water bottles.

You know, the ones that make the fun daggers to attack the back of your own throat with when they're about 2/3rds melted...

The sides of the segments come up in contact with the lid, so they're fairly reliable at keeping bits in their compartments if the container gets bumped around. I want to get more, but they were sadly a random dollar store find from awhile back.

 

[kl122002]

I use small zip bags and label them. Then I group them into box. It more easier to control the room size especially when the pieces are irregular.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Look at a local arts store or Amazon or such for bead storage. They are dealing with this issue all the time! Maybe there are better ones than what you have been using?

e.g. https://www.containerstore.com/s?q=beads

I have made small strips of foam if a compartment box doesn't seal each compartment off. Place on lid to create seals when closed.

For an active job, I often use small plastic containers, maybe 3x4 inches with a lid that separates. A box for each subassembly. Most parts simply drop into the bin. Some get put in small bags and put in the bin. And some parts get taped to the inside of the top so I don't lose them. Very helpful, taping parts down. With a clear top to the bin it's easy to see what is under the tape. Use console tape (artist tape).

This is my standard sub-assembly box- https://www.michaels.com/product/gr...imply-tidy-10584306?michaelsStore=1555&inv=20

I also use plastic bags for some sub-assemblies. Side panels, for example- panel and screws.

If you are talking about storage in the process of a camera, not stock storage, pay attention to screw sizes, gears, etc. in disassembly and photograph everything from five angles. You might find that parts are much more distinct than you realize at first glance. Rollei, for example, used a variety of sizes AND threading so that most screws really only fit in one or two types of places. So jumbling them together isn't as horrific as you might think.

 

[Rekusu]

Pill boxes, great idea, Will investigate. Assume it is possible to use a solvent to remove the annoying printed days.

Have also seen in my local 'cheapo' store, boxes that look good but come with 200 'O' rings or 350 cable clips. Tempting but am reluctant to buy as I would be discarding the contents.

 

[John Salim]

No need to spend any money ( ... if you use 35mm film ).
I use the clear ( translucent ) film canisters for storing small parts.

John S

 

[Rekusu]

Totally agree. Those film canister were really useful for all kind of things. Unfortunately, the few I still have are black!

 

[MTGseattle]

I like the film canister idea, and I also like the "pill sorter" idea. My wife found us some 7-day ones that are decently solid and have a nicely positive closure mechanism. While not translucent, the black film cannisters usually had a flat gray lid that was good for labeling.

I think aside from bead storage/sewing, fishing is the other hobby that generates small storage boxes.

For storage and sorting during a project, the silicone ice cube trays mentioned above sound quite good.

 

[MattKing]

Check the crafts aisle at your local "Dollar" store.

 

[BobUK]

I have a couple of cheap plastic watercolour paint palettes with folding lids. Not the expensive well known art brands, too expensive.
They came from a bargain art shop.
Also a wooden tray I made with purposely sized compartments to fit the lens and shutter of a 120 folding camera. Sometime there will be a part that does not fit, but that goes to one side in a card tray.
The lid of the wooden tray is just a rectangle of ply wood held in place with a couple of elastic bands.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I prefer the bead type boxes. I have a Minox in one that I disassembled a year ago and it is still all there waiting for me.

if you have a dedicated space that won’t be disturbed, just simply putting tape down on your surface sticky side up and sticking the parts to it as you go works well. You can write on the tape with a sharpie too.

 

[gordrob]

Over the years I have collected a lot of part for the Mamiya Press series of cameras and finding storage solutions was fun. I ended up using glass-topped aluminum watchmaker's containers for the small items, screws and springs, then for parts a little bigger I bought some medium and large plastic fishing tackle boxes with adjustable dividers from Bass Pro. Then even larger parts boxes from Home Depot for lens barrels and camera body parts. Keeping track of the parts became a lot easier after I got them organized in these containers and indexed in an Excel worksheet