Bins, drawers, and boxes.

Basically separated into cabinet parts, backbox parts, and playfield parts. Then assemblies are grouped together, like flipper mechs, stand up targets, drop targets, ball shooter parts, chime parts, electrical (fuse holders, battery holders, EMI filters), etc.

Then I have bins of smaller parts, such as resistors, caps, connectors/pins/header pins, fuses, and LEDs.

And drawers for various components, such as chips, transistors, diodes, etc.

I also try not to store stuff more than 1 layer deep (although sometimes it's 2 layers deep). Otherwise, if it's not visible and you have boxes and parts hiding behind other boxes & parts, you can eventually forget that you have something.

A dozen storage containers

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collecting spare parts is one of the (expensive) joys of pinball. It satisfies that tinkerer in us and it’s nice when you need a part and you know you have it “in stock”. I use a combination of toolboxes, binboxes (like pictured above) and cardboard boxes (many of them from pinball part orders). I use a lot of clear plastic bags in the boxes. I’ve found that the binboxes tend to take up a lot space and it’s hard to fill them optimally - partly because spare parts come in such a large spectrum of shapes and sizes. If I have to rumage through a box for 30 seconds longer to find something, it seems like a small price to pay for saving space. I even tried making a database including the part numbers for ordering at my favorite stores, but that didn’t last long.

Poorly! Very, very poorly.

A couple of older storage bin photos:

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Parts drawers from when the local Radio Shack went out of business. And a big metal cabinet for bulkier items.

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These are the mobile pictures. I have another roll cab, and shelving behind me with parts boxes.

LTG : )

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I've had good luck with those labels sticking to the front of the handles.

You'll need to scrape the flashing off the handle first, but it is very easy to do with a razor blade.

I'll post pics of mine when I get a chance.

Also, I started a post a while back regarding the Harbor Freight bins. Can you post more pics in that post?

I find Art Bin brand organizers from the crafting store work way better than organizers from the hardware store

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Yeah this is something I struggle with a lot keeping everything organized. Following this thread.

by spreadsheet

this way, no matter where the parts actually are, I know what's where. I simply label the box that I dump the parts into and when I catalog the entry, I'll add as much information that I can (part no., alternate part no., quantity, box no., free form notes section for any comments including complimentary parts, if the the part in question is part of an assembly, the assembly part no. [to search on and quickly find all parts associated with that assembly]

it may seem anal retentive, but when I need to find something, I'm not left scratching my head where it's located

LTG for the win! LOL
https://www.grainger.com/product/3FRA9?cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916774117!!!g!263587098415!&ef_id=WumzqgAABEFp3GLx:20180502133452:s
This is my roll around and will hold 6 of the smaller Stanley storage bins in the bottom. Which of course 2 for leds, 1 for flipper and pop rebuilds, 1 for leaf switches and stacks.
And seeing tomdrum's pic now I remember I need ,more ground braid
https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-020800R-FatMax-Mobile-Station/dp/B000V29B7K
This one had better pics!

I will follow. Its always good to learn about some storage ideas!

I use drawer bins on the wall in the workshop.

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I have a bare minimum of parts. Almost nothing. When something breaks, I order or get it.

Here is my little tech support area. The shelving and roll cab contain seldom used parts and tools. The tech support essentials in the showcase. The portable tool carrier a recent addition for taking tools and parts with to shows.

LTG : )

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Organized? What's that?

I keep my parts at Marco or Pinball life. They organize them until I need them.

Bin case rack in the shop, note the smaller portable cases in the top right. I require around five racks for common parts. Tools are separate.

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