We have probably all been there: digging through boxes full of old boards for projects and related parts. Often it’s not because we’re interested in the contents of said box, but because we found ourselves wondering why in the name of project management we have so many boxes of various descriptions kicking about. This is the topic of [Joe Barnard]’s recent video on his BPS.shorts YouTube channel, as he goes through box after box of stuff.
For some of the ‘trash’ the answer is pretty simple; such as the old rocket that’s not too complex and can have its electronics removed and the basic tube tossed, which at least will reduce the volume of ‘stuff’. Then there are the boxes with old projects, each of which are tangible reminders of milestones, setbacks, friendships, and so on. Sentimental stuff, basically.
Some rules exist for safety that make at least one part obvious, and that is that every single Li-ion battery gets removed when it’s not in use, with said battery stored in its own fire-resistant box. That then still leaves box after box full of parts and components that were ordered for projects once, but not fully used up. Do you keep all of it, just in case it will be needed again Some Day™? The same issue with boxes full of expensive cut-off cable, rare and less rare connectors, etc.
One escape clause is of course that you can always sell things rather than just tossing it, assuming it’s valuable enough. In the case of [Joe] many have watched his videos and would love to own a piece of said history, but this is not an option open to most. Leaving the question of whether gritting one’s teeth and simply tossing the ‘value-less’ sentimental stuff and cheap components is the way to go.
Although there is always the option of renting storage somewhere, this feels like a cheat, and will likely only result in the volume of ‘stuff’ expanding to fill the void. Ultimately [Joe] is basically begging his viewers to help him to solve this conundrum, even as many of them and our own captive audience are likely struggling with a similar problem. Where is the path to enlightenment here?
What about taking all your boxes to a local Makerspace and donating them? Surely at least SOME of the stuff would be useful and needed as a free part to other enterprising Hackaday-type DIY’ers.
Depends on the makerspace. Definitely ask before dropping trash, er, gifts, off there.
Previously I ran a makerspace. We were very short on space and had to deal with boxes of “gifts” generously donated… We ended up fire-saling everything (come and get it for free) and trashing the stuff that didn’t get picked up in the fire sale.
There are people who treat hackerspaces as a dumping grounds for e-waste.
And then there are hacker space members/admins who hoard boxes full of old ribbon cables, obsolete development/training boards demanding software that doesn’t run on anything modern and isn’t available anyhow, and broken equipment or tools like a crusted and knackered old toaster oven that nobody uses for anything – just because.
Meanwhile, the actually useful and expensive to replace tools, like the big old metal lathe that takes up floor space, is carted off to the dump first because it’s in the middle of the room and none of the software/electrical nerds who represent the majority of the group know how to use it. Those tools are replaced with 3D printers and cheap laser cutters instead.
Dude, I’ve had somebody bring their chemical waste from home and filled up the makespace’s hazardous waste bin (“because it was there”). Our hazardous waste bin is for solder relate debris, costs a fortunate to empty, and usually only needs emptying once in a while (once a year maybe?). On top of that some of the chemicals where not approved for our hazardous waste plan, but because they are mixed with other hazardous waste they cannot be separated (without breaking regulations). Mean while other folks want training or equipment fixed, but I am busy cleaning up other peoples dump ideas and trying to keep EHS people happy so we can stay open….
The biggest danger to a makerspace is that core group of users (and admins…) that think they own it and the makerspace is there to serve them as their resource… A true makerspace space should serve its community. without gate keeping that community, or only serving people that think they are ‘experts’…
A thing may be worth money, but still be difficult to sell, so is it valuable or not?
Reminds me of stashing massive copper CPU coolers thinking they’ll at least be worth something because they cost something and new ones cost the same, only to realize that they won’t fit any newer sockets and the price of scrap copper is 10% of what I paid for the thing.
Saw the perfboard in the screengrab with all the wires on it…said to myself “Hey…how did they get my… Wait, That’s not mine…”
It is either reason or sentimental value. Reason not always wins.
Toss em all out. Your learning was valuable ten times over the material cost of anything you could had done. You should only keep something if you can immediately see use for it or it has components or materials that you can use in a future project. No tolerance for clutter is the only defence you have against hoarding tendencies (electronics hobbyists are notoriously prone to hoarding)
Life is too short to getting sentimental over material objects. Especially if you made it, it just means you could make it again.
I learned embedded programming on a DIP-28 MCU. I socketed-unsocketed it so many times over the years, the many pins were broken off and the metal was getting awfully thin on the pins that remained. Even after it was unusable, I swore I would keep it safe forever as a memento.
Now? I have no idea where it is. Probably threw it away in the trash years ago. But in the same time, I have learned and made many things that I can be more proud of. I have designed consumer devices that are working in tens of thousands of people’s houses right now…and I don’t own one unit myself.