Page 69 - Robot Builder's Bonanza

38 GETTING PARTS

Figure 3-3 A plastic toolbox or
tote helps you keep all your robot-
building supplies in one convenient
location. Get one with several
compartments for storing small parts.

still have my Sears Craftsman 24″ steel toolbox that I bought over 30 years ago, and I use it
regularly.
For lighter jobs, a plastic fishing tackle box or tote (see Figure 3-3) makes it easy to lug your
supplies. The typical tackle box has a storage drawer on the top for small parts. When you
open the top, the drawer slides up and over, and you can reach into the bottom of the box for
larger tools and supplies.

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR INVENTORY
Unless you have perfect memory you’ll need some system to keep track of what has gone
where. On the low end of the scale is the old “Magic- Marker- on- the- side- of- the- parts- bin
trick.” (You can use any type of felt- tip marker; a Sharpie is my favorite.)
Instead of writing directly on the plastic, you can instead tape an index card to the con-
tainer and write on the card. If you change the contents of the container, just peel the card off
and start over. Wide clear packing tape works well, too.
For smaller parts drawers, an electronic labeler is the absolute best way to keep track
of parts. (Think of Vanessa Kensington from the movie Austin Powers, and how her suit-
case was full of labeled bags.) Larger machines can accommodate labels of many different
widths.

Need lots of storage bins for your garage? Try corrugated cardboard shelf bins. They lie flat
G until you need them. Fold a flap here, tuck a flap there, and your bin is ready for use. If you
don’t need the bin anymore, untuck the flaps and it’ll store flat again. Outfits that sell shipping
boxes sell these in quantity, usually in packages of 25, 50, and 100.

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