On Sat, Feb 24, 2018 at 2:03 PM, John Heritage via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Hi folks,
A "noob" question --
I have some old ICs -- custom chips, RAM, etc.. that I'd like to properly store.
Is storing these in antistatic foam and in a (3D printed) plastic drawer of some kind OK? should i be buying/using IC Chip tubes instead?
What's the best way to get reasonably priced supplies for safely storing vintage chips?
Thanks! John
if you have a lot of chips, tubes become a nuisance, their fine at the factories when it comes to storage because they have the extra space, but when you only have shelves above your workbench, it's far more efficient to use the storage boxes - ones that typically have 40- 50bins. You can even find them with alternate sizes in the same storage box for different parts Now the ones you see at the stores or online are typical consumer products, eg, not anti-static The ones with the anti-static bins cost much more if you want that. But its very easy to make them anti-static thru a couple of methods One is to pre-cut anti-static foam to fit inside the bins and you can squeeze in several layers with the chips inserted Modern anti-static foam doesn't turn to goo anymore like the stuff from 40yrs ago, which was only conductive foam the elastomers in the foam are far more advanced today -- and it's a real anti-static dissipative foam -- and lasts practically forever, longer than we will ever live. I still have some from 20yrs ago that still works fine, the important note is to get the dissipative foam and not the cheap conductive foam If you can't get enough anti-static foam right now, guess what was used before we had anti-static bags 40yrs ago -- good old aluminum foil will help just take the bundle of chips that will go in your bin and wrap them all in AL foil, this creates a Faraday cage, prohibiting the static because it prevents electrostatic discharge This is the same principle behind anti-static bags -- if you can get a box really cheap just use this instead, it's far more resilient than AL foil Dan -- _ ____ / \__/ Scotty, We Need More Power !! \_/ _\__ Aye, Cap'n, but we've only got 80 columns !!