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PC Parts Storage Solution?
OriginalSpaceMan asks: "I have a lot of hardware, so I've been looking for some sort of a static free PC parts storage solution. Preferably this would be something modular. I have Googled this for a while now and, as you can guess, I can't find much other than data storage solutions. I'm picturing something that is specifically designed to store drives, memory, CPUs, expansion cards and maybe mother boards. Also, it could have smaller compartments for screws, cables, LEDs, switches, case accessories and etc. It would be really neat to have built in slots to hold expansion cards in a static free case. Does anyone make anything remotely similar to this, or will this end up being my next project?"
I haven't found any decent method for storing most of those, but for expansion cards, I've been taking a length of 1x3 and cutting 3/8" deep slots in it with a circular saw, about 1" apart. The width of the sawblade is just right for the cards. Then, glue or clamp this to the edge of a shelf.
All the cards stand up in the slots, and the faces are all clearly visible so you know what kind of card it is. I've been grouping mine (video, sound, IO), and then in each category I split them by their bus type (AGP, PCI, ISA, etc.).
It's been working great for me for a while. The setup costs just a couple bucks, and that's if you don't have the 1x3 scraps laying around.
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It might not be exactly what you are looking for, but Rubbermaid makes a wide variety of plastic tubs that are rather sturdy, stackable, and affordable. They can be found at any Target, ShopKo, WalMart or whatnot.
My small boxes came from IKEA, part code 571.923.96 and the last lot I bought were 70p each. I've got some much stronger lidded boxes for heavier items (i.e. the CD-ROM drive collection) and they were five for a tenner down the car boot market. (Obviously, there's no catalogue number for stuff from the boot :)
For drives, I scout around cheap hardware stores like Harbor Freight for the generic tool cases with uncut foam in the middle and stack those into two more drawers. Cables take up another two drawers. Finally, CPUs and RAM go into anti-stat bags, which in turn into some small acrylic cases from Tap Plastics with some foam for cushoning. These, with motherboards in whatever box/foam I can find take up another drawer.
The cabinets are great because, my dog can't tip them, my cat can't get into them, they have locks on the drawers and the drawers are usually on some kind of roller mechanism. I keep both in an unused bedroom closet. They even fit perfectly with the sliding closet doors on, but my guitars and music stuff is closet too, so the doors live in the garage.
Now if only there were an easy and compact way to store surplus cases and monitors.
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The static problem isn't mythical or anything, but chips attached to boards do stand a a better chance of surviving than bare ones. Simply, there's all that extra metal to take the hit.
Someone else mentioned that too much moisture can be a bad thing, but so can too dry an environment (static likes to come out and play then).
Someone mentioned the pink pouches. Those usually just have an antistatic coating (same idea as the antistatic clothing sprays and furniture polishes). They aren't intended to be conductive or anything like that.
The metalic pouches are supposed to act as a shield or cage around the components inside. These cost more, that's why cheap components aren't packed in them.
A modification of his idea is just to use your extra motherboards as the "wood" and lay them out side by side on anti-static material, sitting on shelves.
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I've been using a small roll-away toolbox for PC parts, for years.
Being steel, static electricity problems are negated. It's easy to stack cards/RAM/drives/case hardware neatly in the drawers (with, or without ESB bags).
And with wheels, it's easy to store the whole kit in out-of-the-way spots.
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The biggest problem with static is not immediate catastrophic damage, but with shortening the life of components- the static may not have killed it first off, but the components will be more likely to fail. A static discharge that you can't even feel will weaken the oxide (the O part of CMOS) to cause it to eventually fail.
I worked in a factory where they tried to "clean up" for a quality inspection by painting the walkways. We had an immediate surge in the number of failures due to static, but what was more interesting was the long term failures- parts that passed all the tests initially, but ended up getting returned a few weeks or months later (at a much higher rate than normal).