[Elecraft] parts storage, sorting, etc

[Lyle Johnson]

Ever feel like you ought to jump in to a thread, and know you shouldn't :-)
Oh well, here goes...

I suggest that using a plastic anything to sort parts is not a good idea,
except perhaps for mechanical parts and resistors.  This is because most
plastics are really good insulators and it isn't very hard to get hundreds
or thousands of volts from a little brush of the component against the side
of the plastic container (foam egg carton or whatever).  Especially in
winter or other times when the relative humidity in your building location
is likely to be very low.

Holding parts down with scotch tape (a.k.a. cellotape, sticky tape, etc.) is
also risky, because the tape is an insulator and the adhesive guarantees
friction (= static electricity) when you remove the part.  Note, for
example, that the capacitors in the Elecraft kit are mostly under 100V
parts.  And the tape leaves a residue on the component lead, which is likely
to get into the plated-through hole on the PCB, making it harder to get a
good solder connection.

And a Bad Thing about static damage is that it is often non-catastrophic.
In other words, the part seems to work but is degraded (leaky capacitor,
weakened semiconductor junction), and sometime later it fails.  Most likely
on Field Day... :-)

I would caution builders to leave the semiconductors in their conductive,
anti-static foam or chip shipping tube, and exercise caution when removing
the part.  Treat capacitors with respect.  Resistors, well, they're pretty
tolerant of plastic containers.

It is easy to go overboard with anti-static precautions; it is even easier
to be cavalier or ignorant.  Just remember to keep your kit, your tools and
the parts at the same potential and you shouldn't have any static-related
problems.

Enjoy!

Lyle KK7P