As my collection of small components grows, it is becoming... messy. And it is not even large yet, I have only done a handful of hobby projects.
Recently I had the realization that I can make use of Chinese 'Sample Books' to keep the smaller reel components well organized. I have ordered 0402, 0603, the 0805, and two empty books to use these as the basis of my organization:
What made me originally select the strategy of keeping the original packaging that the components came and stuffing them into project-specific bags is the labeling. My first attempt at organization was to to use small storage boxes for sorting, but when I tried to keep single labeled components per box I ran out of boxes very quickly... When I mix multiple components in a box (like different photodiodes, for example), then it is difficult to label them separately without using too much space.
I am curious about what methods others use for keeping a component library organized and easy to search.
I use a binder with those clear plastic sheets with compartments, meant for card collecting, for my small components, and assortment boxes, with removable compartments, for the rest.
The binder is great! Tons and tons of small compartments (or fewer big ones) with a huge selection og organization accessories, in very little space. Don't turn it upside down, though. I put electrical tape over the openings of the compartments, to avoid that catastrophe.
Ooh, I like that idea for the larger components that don't fit into the smaller binder. I bought some trading card sheets to test. Thanks :D