Do you buy "multi packs" of parts?

[tacomamc]

I know the usual places to get resistors, transistors, capacitors, and diodes. Do you ever buy a bulk bag one component (capacitors for instance) in a variety of values, or do you buy what you need for each project? If you do get these "bulk mixed bags", where do you get them, and for how much?

I ask because it'd be convienient to have a surplus or components like caps, tranies, resistors to breadboard variations of projects on a whim or without much lead time given to the ordering process.

[frankie5fingers]

I found myself buying 2, or 4 of something, over and over again – Suddenly I was only 5 or 6 pedals into it, and I'd made 34 purchases from 15 different vendors, with $5-$8 shipping for each order. I have no problem paying for shipping but $3.00 worth of resistors with a $4.00 shipping tag got a little tiresome. As you say, it certainly makes more sense to buy bulk. I then made notes of the next 3-5 projects I knew for sure I was going to build, then a little bit of a wish list. A BOM for each on one spreadsheet and voila! I have a bulk order. Turns out about 15 or so cap values covers the majority of them, as does 36 of the n4001 diodes, 50 LEDs, 50 CLRs and some of those common parts. All the suppliers have a bulk bag of resistors in mixed values. Then 10 each of 50K, 100K audio and linear pots, 10K and 50K trimmers, 10 or 20 switches etc., and I'm done. $125 worth of parts, $12.00 worth of shipping. Then, when I decide which project I'm doing next, I'll need to buy an enclosure anyway, so after a quick scan of the BOM, I order the box and any parts unique to that build and I have everything I need all at once. That's how I do it anyway, which is what you asked, right?

[tacomamc]

Absolutely what I asked, thanks. I keep scanning Craigslist in hopes that I'll find a big pile of stuff I can use, but your method is definately more straight ahead. Maybe I need to plan ahead a little better.

[Dr. Pants]

I generally buy my parts from Futurlec in large quantities.
I buy other parts I can't get from them, from West Florida
Components. Other than that I will buy the big multi packs
of resistors from Rat Shack because it's fairly cheap, and you
cover a lot of odd values, that occasionally I find myself needing.

That RS multipack can really come in handy.

[Crawfish]

Agree with the other posts above. If you're gonna to do a bunch of builds, you're better off buying in bulk. I use Mouser for a lot of parts - they generally are the cheapest hands down.

For more specialized stuff (3PDT switches for example) I get them from Small Bear. And I buy a bunch at once.

Careful - pretty soon you wind up with tons of parts in little bins:

[Dr. Pants]

I'd like to buy from Mouser, but their catalog
is intimidating as hell. I requested a catalog
(it's as big as a phone book) and started going through
it. I gave up before I could even get halfway through
my list of caps.

Nice shop Crawfish.

[tacomamc]

Good to know on those multi packs of resistors at RS... I remembered seeing them, and that is exactly what generated my wuestion. Thanks!

[frankie5fingers]

I envy anybody with a dedicated work area, cluttered or not. Hey Crawfish, are those huge bins filled with giant parts and really oversized testing equipment or is that a really small guitar?
Maybe a really clever forced perspective photo?

[Crawfish]

Originally Posted by frankie5fingers

I envy anybody with a dedicated work area, cluttered or not. Hey Crawfish, are those huge bins filled with giant parts and really oversized testing equipment or is that a really small guitar?
Maybe a really clever forced perspective photo?

Funny!

It's an 8-string ukulele.

-Kevin

[Montana_Dawg]

The only things I buy in bulk are hardware (screws, knobs, switches, etc), capacitors and resistors that are tight tolerance (i.e. 1% metal film or chip for resistors, 1-5% chip capacitors. I do a lot of surface mount stuff because they have a much smaller footprint, and there is virtually no difference between them and PTH. Of course, it also involves doing a layout to accomodate them, but i do that for a living so it is no big deal for me.

Just remember that when buying in bulk, a large percentage of the parts will be close to the stated value, but you will have many that are on either end of the median. As long as the circuits you are building can handle those tolerances, then it is a cheaper and viable way to go. I set my circuits up very tightly, so buying those kind of bulk packages is not a good fit for me.

[trev333]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100-x-0-0...item5ae7b14260


depends what you're putting together....doing guitars... you don't need too many different values or gold plated ones.... it's just the tone knob...

.. stick 2 or 3 on if you need....

[Peter C]

I am with the others - if you are going to build a few pedals buy in bulk. The few I built I ended up needing some of the same value resistors or caps so having bought in bulk was worthwhile.
It s very addictive - like building your own guitar - you just can't build one!

[Bunnion]

http://www.smallbearelec.com

Has some awesome part kits. They come in common values for pedals and are nicely sorted in jewel cases. Not affiliated with them but have had several good dealings.

[fraser]

i dont exactly buy in bulk-
but i always buy more than i need at the time.
switches, pots, jacks, enclosures if i need 1 i buy several.
transistors, it depends- the cheap silicon ones, ill buy a dozen or so at a time.
more pricey germaniums, i just buy what i need for any projects ive got planned.

i buy resistors and caps at a local shop, just because they are nice folks.
resistors there come in ten packs for $2- caps are about 25 cents each.
if i need one or two caps of a certain value, ill buy 10.

i started out by getting what i needed for a few projects, but buying extras while i was at it.

ive built up a pretty good assortment of stock that way, at least for my needs.

and if i lack something like a jack or a resistor or something, i can walk two blocks and get it.