[Elecraft] First kit suggestions

[Don Wilhelm]

Rich,
I will add a note to all that Bob said - cut the USPS carton that Elecraft
used for shipping the kit to you lengthwise (along the narrow side) and you
will end up with 2 'trays'.
Stick the leads of the capacitors, etc. into the corrugations in value
order, and you can pull the correct one easily when it is time to use it.
I hate to use muffin tins because my fingers have trouble pulling out one
part easily.  I prefer to put all remaining parts into the bottom of my
'tray' where they will be handy when I need them - they do not take up much
space, and after all the leaded parts are inserted into the corrugations,
there are not so many laying on the tray that I cannot readily identify them
by sight - the hardware is in one corner, the inductors in another, the pots
in the center, etc.
BTW, I do NOT take any components out of the conductive foam until I am
ready to use that part and I have my wrist strap properly attached to my
body - even though I do work on an antistatic pad for good measure.
73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message -----

> Rich
> One idea that worked well for me goes clear back to the days of Heathkit.
> You take a cardboard box and cut it down to maybe 1-2 inches tall.  Now
you
> can stick
> component leads into the exposed corrugations.  This way you can sort
> components by
> kind and value, aking them readily identifiable and available when needed.
> Do just
> the parts for the board you are assembling, so there is no confusion.  Tis
> also makes
> inventory easier, because as you sort and place a part on the edge of the
> box, you
> cross it off in the inventory.  Any large parts can sit in the middle of
the
> box.