Post by thread:[OT:] hobbist / novice

> It's the same with parts - if you buy just the components you need > for a project, you've got nothing to mess about with, or for replacing > parts that got fried, or that need experimenting with. You need to > build up a bit of stock, or you'll spend much more time obtaining > parts than actually working on projects Dare I get the wheelbarrow out again ? Busted or unloved appliances are an excellent source of materials and helpful in keeping your money where it belongs. VCRs, TVs, printers, faxes, PCs, etc. Both for the often used components like caps, resistors, LEDs, and for the pricey items like motors/drivers, switches, LCDs, PSUs, leads, ICs (eg RAM/EEPROM/regs), pots, IR modules, metal/plastic for cases/faceplates, screws/bolts........ And yes, you can do more experimenting when you posses a pile of free components rather than humming and aaahhhing about whether to shell out on what could be a whim -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList spam_OUTpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

At 01:19 PM 7/25/2004 +1200, you wrote: > > It's the same with parts - if you buy just the components you need > > for a project, you've got nothing to mess about with, or for replacing > > parts that got fried, or that need experimenting with. You need to > > build up a bit of stock, or you'll spend much more time obtaining > > parts than actually working on projects > >Dare I get the wheelbarrow out again ? > >Busted or unloved appliances are an excellent source of materials >and helpful in keeping your money where it belongs. VCRs, TVs, >printers, faxes, PCs, etc. Both for the often used components like >caps, resistors, LEDs, and for the pricey items like motors/drivers, >switches, LCDs, PSUs, leads, ICs (eg RAM/EEPROM/regs), pots, >IR modules, metal/plastic for cases/faceplates, screws/bolts........ > >And yes, you can do more experimenting when you posses a pile of >free components rather than humming and aaahhhing about whether >to shell out on what could be a whim I suggest that a much more compact pile of disposable currency can substitute for the pile of 'free' components. :-) OTOH, there is much to be learned about design for production by dissecting products. The sort of stuff that doesn't generally show up in books and NEVER (IME) is part of a formal engineering education. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" .....speffKILLspam@spam@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspammitvma.mit.edu

> Busted or unloved appliances are an excellent source of materials > and helpful in keeping your money where it belongs. VCRs, TVs, As is e-bay, look for the "Wholesale Lots" of components... I got a box of all kinds of stuff for 4 USD, some of it even useful. One thing backing up Jinx, you must work on getting a reputation of collecting 'crap', that way the stuff will just find it's way to you. However I personally won't touch a 'spent' TV, I don't know enough to handle it safely... -- Anthony Toft <.....toftatKILLspam.....cowshed.8m.com> -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList EraseMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestspam_OUTTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

> One thing backing up Jinx, you must work on getting a reputation of > collecting 'crap', that way the stuff will just find it's way to you "Build a field and they will come" So true - this week, without word of a lie, I've been given 100m of heavy-duty cable, a dehumidifier, two heaters (oil/element), a fan, a vacuum cleaner (all with minor faults), a Nokia industrial mobile phone switch box (which includes several channels of frequency- shifters based around steppers and waveguides, and there's more on the way, all gold-plated, originally valued at many thousands of dollars, yum-yum), and I could get my hands on any number of dead PCs and related products. But I'm pretty much sated for the time being Q. "I was going to throw this in the rubbish anyway - do you want it ?" A. Yes please > However I personally won't touch a 'spent' TV, I don't know enough to > handle it safely... Good for hardware though. I did have a bonding session with a nephew last year trashing monitor tubes. Ah, fun in the sun. Kept the screen meshes - no idea why but basically if I threw them out I wouldn't have them any more ! -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList piclist-unsubscribe-requestspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu

> dollars, yum-yum), and I could get my hands on any number of dead > PCs and related products. But I'm pretty much sated for the time > being I thought I was doing well with 4 FRS radios completely working, they will go nice on the paintball field :) > Q. "I was going to throw this in the rubbish anyway - do you want it ?" > > A. Yes please Or my favourite, "here, you collect crap, take this" > the screen meshes - no idea why but basically if I threw them out > I wouldn't have them any more ! I have found this statement to be relationship unfriendly :) my girlfriend is always asking me why I have so much stuff, can't wait until I can have a shed again -- Anthony Toft <@spam@toftatKILLspamcowshed.8m.com> -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList KILLspampiclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspammitvma.mit.edu

> I have found this statement to be relationship unfriendly :) my > girlfriend is always asking me why I have so much stuff, can't wait > until I can have a shed again Hmm, OK, girlfriend gets put out of the way in the shed (pull up a lawnmower poppet, make yourself comfy), where does all your crap go ? -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList RemoveMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

> Hmm, OK, girlfriend gets put out of the way in the shed (pull up a > lawnmower poppet, make yourself comfy), where does all your > crap go ? I wasn't thinking of going this far, I was thinking of taking the stove, dishwasher and food fridge out there, putting my stuff in the newly vacated kitchen -- Anthony Toft <spamBeGonetoftatspamBeGonecowshed.8m.com> -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList TakeThisOuTpiclist-unsubscribe-requestEraseMEspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu

> I wasn't thinking of going this far, I was thinking of taking the stove, > dishwasher and food fridge out there, putting my stuff in the newly > vacated kitchen Leaving room to work on a motorbike in the lounge......... BTW, I don't confine my scavenging to electronic bits and pieces http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/joecolquitt/0crap.html -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList RemoveMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

Jinx, On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 13:57:17 +1200, Jinx wrote: > I did have a bonding session with a > nephew last year trashing monitor tubes. Ah, fun in the sun. Kept > the screen meshes - no idea why but basically if I threw them out > I wouldn't have them any more ! At last! I *knew* there was someone in the World who was more of a packrat than I am... :-) I gave up dismantling circuit boards for the parts when I found that my desoldering skills weren't good enough to be able to use the parts recovered that way, and anyway it really isn't worth my time to recover a resistor that only costs a penny new! So now I go for whole machines and just keep the mechanical bits like motors, shafts, bearings, gears and so on. Cheers, Howard Winter St.Albans, England -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

Some parts are not worth the effort but some are. When memory chips were both soldered and precious I heated the back of the PC board with a propane torch and slammed it on the edge of a picnic table (components down) and it ejected the chips! Outside, face shield, upwind, etc. Don't worry about salvaging everthing, just the stuff you can identify and don't already have. Photosensors, buttons and switches are among my favorites! When you acknowledge you are in "hobby" mode, good places to shop are toy stores, second hand stores and discount stores. You can get a pretty good keypad in any of those places for $5. You just have to free it from its current duty. Not too bad of an idea for low budget prototypes either. John Ferrell http://DixieNC.US {Original Message removed}

Packrat? Someone call for packrat?? Do I win?? home.earthlink.net/~devinelectronics/Stockroom-Left.jpg home.earthlink.net/~devinelectronics/Stockroom-Center.jpg http://home.earthlink.net/~devinelectronics/Stockroom-Right.jpg Howard Winter wrote: {Quote hidden}>Jinx, > >On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 13:57:17 +1200, Jinx wrote: > > > >>I did have a bonding session with a >>nephew last year trashing monitor tubes. Ah, fun in >> >> >the sun. Kept > > >>the screen meshes - no idea why but basically if I >> >> >threw them out > > >>I wouldn't have them any more ! >> >> > >At last! I *knew* there was someone in the World who >was more of a packrat than I am... > >:-) > >I gave up dismantling circuit boards for the parts when >I found that my desoldering skills weren't good enough >to be able to use the parts recovered that way, and >anyway it really isn't worth my time to recover a >resistor that only costs a penny new! > >So now I go for whole machines and just keep the >mechanical bits like motors, shafts, bearings, gears and >so on. > >Cheers, > > >Howard Winter >St.Albans, England > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: >[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

You are way too organized to qualify as a PackRat! John Ferrell http://DixieNC.US ----- Original Message ----- From: "Engineering Info" <engineering-infoEraseME.....EARTHLINK.NET> To: <EraseMEPICLISTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 2:02 PM Subject: Re: [OT:] hobbist / novice > Packrat? Someone call for packrat?? Do I win?? > > home.earthlink.net/~devinelectronics/Stockroom-Left.jpg > home.earthlink.net/~devinelectronics/Stockroom-Center.jpg > http://home.earthlink.net/~devinelectronics/Stockroom-Right.jpg > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

>BTW, I don't confine my scavenging to electronic bits and pieces > >http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/joecolquitt/0crap.html Umm, Jinx, did they not tell you that for the gas bottle to help propel your trailer, it needs to face the other way :)))) -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

>You are way too organized to qualify as a PackRat! Agreed, All those parts bins stacked away on shelves don't count. It has to be an untidy mess on the floor that you have to sift through to find the fourth screw to match the three you already have that are just the right length, to count as being a packrat :)))) -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

> >http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/joecolquitt/0crap.html > > Umm, Jinx, did they not tell you that for the gas bottle to help > propel your trailer, it needs to face the other way :)))) Oh sure, but with my little Popeye power-house legs it's acetylene braking that's more useful. Funny thing though - cars stay a mile away from some nutter with a gas bottle on a trailer. I actually feel safer, or I did when the supplier was local to New Lynn. Now I'd have to go right through the industrial area of Rosebank Rd, and watching out for trucks and a thousand factory driveways I do not fancy. Still good for picking up timber and scrap locally though -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

>Oh sure, but with my little Popeye power-house legs it's >acetylene braking that's more useful. Funny thing though - >cars stay a mile away from some nutter with a gas bottle >on a trailer. I actually feel safer, or I did when the >supplier was local to New Lynn. Had any interesting conversations with the local constabulary ?? :)) >Now I'd have to go right through the industrial area of >Rosebank Rd, and watching out for trucks and a thousand >factory driveways I do not fancy. Still good for picking >up timber and scrap locally though yeah, well I guess you cannot have everything :) P.S. why did you pick a mustard yellow on black for the website lettering?? 'Tis a bit hard to read. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

Ok Ok Ok. So I'm too organized to be considered a packrat anymore. (Damm, lost yet another contest). You should have seen things a year and a half ago before I lost my job. Had all my stuff in several large boxes and would indeed spend 4 hours sifting for that 4th screw. With the downturn in the economy, I had several MONTHS (9 to be exact) were I was unemployed and ended up with lots of time to organize. Trust me when I say that it indeed did take many many many hours to organize to that level but is was worth it. Started sending weblinks of my garage with my resume and within a few weeks I had two job offers. Mark Newland The Overly Organized Packrat Alan B. Pearce wrote: {Quote hidden}>>You are way too organized to qualify as a PackRat! >> >> > >Agreed, All those parts bins stacked away on shelves don't count. It has to >be an untidy mess on the floor that you have to sift through to find the >fourth screw to match the three you already have that are just the right >length, to count as being a packrat :)))) > >-- >http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics >(like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics > > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

> Had any interesting conversations with the local constabulary ?? :)) One, and shut him up stone dead - I carry a printout of the email correspondence I had with the LTSA (Min Of Transport) about how absolutely legal it is. There are no limits here for a bicycle trailer. If I wanted an 8x6, I could have one. If I wanted to tow a boat, I could. If I could ! > P.S. why did you pick a mustard yellow on black for the website lettering?? > 'Tis a bit hard to read Sorry, an old page, needs redoing. BTW that's gold you swine ;-) -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

One doesn't need to be a packrat when they work close to this place! http://www.mendelsons.com/the_story.html Too bad my work hours conflict... I should go on Saturday and take some pictures. Aaron On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 10:11:03 -0700 Engineering Info writes: > Ok Ok Ok. So I'm too organized to be considered a packrat anymore. ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit http://www.juno.com to sign up today! -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

On Jul 26, 2004, at 6:10 PM, Aaron G. wrote: > One doesn't need to be a packrat when they work close to this place! > http://www.mendelsons.com/the_story.html > I was thinking of mentioning that you don't necessarily need to build up your own "stock" of certain classes of components if you instead work on learning approximately what is available locally. True, you don't want to pay $0.20 each for common resistor types from radio shack or equivalent, but you can stock up on common values (and learn when you can substitute), and not have to worry about the "full kit" of values for the rare occasions when you need an uncommon value... (that works both ways. I got a good deal on some 1% SMT resistors on eBay. The values were 'odd', resulting in a low price, but I re-classified them as "about 1k", "about 10k", "about 1M", etc...) BillW -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

On Jul 26, 2004, at 4:44 PM, Jinx wrote: >> P.S. why did you pick a mustard yellow on black for the website > lettering?? >> 'Tis a bit hard to read > > Sorry, an old page, needs redoing. BTW that's gold you swine ;-) I thought it was just an amber phosphor dumb terminal. ;-) Man I loved those over the green ones! Nate -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.