Oh yeah... How to store my collection - every vintage computing enthusiast asks himself this question at some point. There may be many ways to do that, but in my opinion there are actually only two options.

This:

Or this:

In other words, or you strip down your collection to the size that fits on your shelves or you will need to get a warehouse or at least a storage unit.

Regarding storing motherboards, in addition to mentioned above solution I saw also another option:

For expansion cards I do it similarly, only without the cardboard separators. I don't have so many motherboards (that aren't already in a case) so I can use separate "pizza box" for each.

Also, if I have something on-topic to say, I rather necro a years old relevant thread without a second thought than to start a new one. I think it's better for search results than a dozen different threads about the same thing.

RandomStranger wrote on 2022-06-07, 11:26:

For expansion cards I do it similarly, only without the cardboard separators. I don't have so many motherboards (that aren't already in a case) so I can use separate "pizza box" for each.

Also, if I have something on-topic to say, I rather necro a years old relevant thread without a second thought than to start a new one. I think it's better for search results than a dozen different threads about the same thing.

You're spicy today, ey!

ThinkpadIL wrote on 2022-06-07, 10:48:

Oh yeah... How to store my collection - every vintage computing enthusiast asks himself this question at some point. There may […]
Show full quote

Oh yeah... How to store my collection - every vintage computing enthusiast asks himself this question at some point. There may be many ways to do that, but in my opinion there are actually only two options.

This:

13 - ©bruno clergue_BC00408_1440px.jpg

Or this:

DSC_1899.jpg

In other words, or you strip down your collection to the size that fits on your shelves or you will need to get a warehouse or at least a storage unit.

Regarding storing motherboards, in addition to mentioned above solution I saw also another option:

Universal Repair Tool Anti static Adjustable LCD screen and PCB motherboard Support Holder Tray 1-1000x1000.png

You mean either get a warehouse of shelves or keep everything in little boxes inside a large box?

I'm pretty sure the vast majority of us here don't rent a storage unit simply to have more space, if only because of the costs involved.
I used to rent a small storage unit years ago but that was more because I was staying at a place I couldn't be staying for long because it was going to be torn down at some point, so I knew I would need to vacate it sooner or later without knowing if I would be able to find a new place in the mean time (and I mean I had no certainty whether or not I'd be able to find a roof to sleep under except for a bridge or something 🤣). That's why I hired a storage unit and from hindsight it was the right decision.

Keeping a collection within your own living space doesn't really cost any extra, unless you purposefully find something bigger because of your collection.

I started out just keeping everything in whatever box I would find, but that ended up with me needing to store lots of boxes of different sizes (and some of these boxes weren't of great quality, so couldn't really stack too many things on top of them) and storing all the items on those buildable shelves is also inefficient because you'd leave most of the room on any shelf empty unless these items are stored in boxes.

This Universal Repair Tool Anti static Adjustable LCD screen and PCB motherboard Support Holder Tray, another pic I found is this one
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/H85c25cb607f440078 … g_Q90.jpg_.webp

which would make it wayyy too small for motherboards (another website gives dimensions of Size:16*17*4.5cm).

I have seen similar items for RAM modules though and I know some people have made custom storage solutions which I think looked rather neat.

Personally I think it's better to store items closed off somewhere, because anything that's laying naked on an open shelf will get dusty over time.

RandomStranger wrote on 2022-06-07, 11:26:

For expansion cards I do it similarly, only without the cardboard separators. I don't have so many motherboards (that aren't already in a case) so I can use separate "pizza box" for each.

Also, if I have something on-topic to say, I rather necro a years old relevant thread without a second thought than to start a new one. I think it's better for search results than a dozen different threads about the same thing.

I like the pizza boxes for motherboards.

The most recent one I found was 2017 (not counting the one with the flooded basement). Personally I rather not necro an old thread especially if the topic is not the same.

Btw, yesterday I thought it might actually be a good idea for me to write a wiki page about this subject but I'm in the middle of some big projects IRL right now so it will take some time. But pics of custom storage solutions of other Vogoners here for this (as of now hypothetical) wiki page would be greatly appreciated 😀

kitten.may.cry wrote on 2022-06-07, 11:28:

RandomStranger wrote on 2022-06-07, 11:26:

For expansion cards I do it similarly, only without the cardboard separators. I don't have so many motherboards (that aren't already in a case) so I can use separate "pizza box" for each.

Also, if I have something on-topic to say, I rather necro a years old relevant thread without a second thought than to start a new one. I think it's better for search results than a dozen different threads about the same thing.

You're spicy today, ey!

So how do you store your stuff? 😀

Tetrium wrote on 2022-06-08, 06:02:

kitten.may.cry wrote on 2022-06-07, 11:28:

RandomStranger wrote on 2022-06-07, 11:26:

For expansion cards I do it similarly, only without the cardboard separators. I don't have so many motherboards (that aren't already in a case) so I can use separate "pizza box" for each.

Also, if I have something on-topic to say, I rather necro a years old relevant thread without a second thought than to start a new one. I think it's better for search results than a dozen different threads about the same thing.

You're spicy today, ey!

So how do you store your stuff? 😀

All around me, honestly. Need access to parts on a daily basis. The rest is stored in wrapping, and put in a box.

kitten.may.cry wrote on 2022-06-08, 06:52:

Tetrium wrote on 2022-06-08, 06:02:

kitten.may.cry wrote on 2022-06-07, 11:28:

You're spicy today, ey!

So how do you store your stuff? 😀

All around me, honestly. Need access to parts on a daily basis. The rest is stored in wrapping, and put in a box.

So how do you store your parts efficiently while also having them accessible on a daily basis? Pics are welcome 😀

Tetrium wrote on 2022-06-08, 11:47:

kitten.may.cry wrote on 2022-06-08, 06:52:

Tetrium wrote on 2022-06-08, 06:02:

So how do you store your stuff? 😀

All around me, honestly. Need access to parts on a daily basis. The rest is stored in wrapping, and put in a box.

So how do you store your parts efficiently while also having them accessible on a daily basis? Pics are welcome 😀

He didn't say 'efficiently' ... I'm picturing stuff piled up all around the place 😁

SteveC wrote on 2022-06-08, 11:56:

Tetrium wrote on 2022-06-08, 11:47:

kitten.may.cry wrote on 2022-06-08, 06:52:

All around me, honestly. Need access to parts on a daily basis. The rest is stored in wrapping, and put in a box.

So how do you store your parts efficiently while also having them accessible on a daily basis? Pics are welcome 😀

He didn't say 'efficiently' ... I'm picturing stuff piled up all around the place 😁

True that.

I use labeled, plastic bins. I don't have a ridiculously huge collection (yet), so everything is manageable this way.

If I need to get at anything, it's all readily accessible.

I have an entire floor dedicated to my retro gear 😀

Oh wait...I live in a one storey apartment 🙁

That means individual items in AS bags, then mainly in multi-occupancy boxes or on open shelving, with the occasional random pile here and there - I have way too much stuff now and should really nuke the lot down to a few key items, but I'm weak!!!

Shponglefan wrote on 2022-06-08, 12:43:

I use labeled, plastic bins. I don't have a ridiculously huge collection (yet), so everything is manageable this way.

If I need to get at anything, it's all readily accessible.

I've recently also started getting these plastic bins. These are weather proof and easy to carry around and easy to keep clean, but I noticed they can't be stacked very high (the top is too weak to carry a heavy load) and the bottom is a bit narrower than the top, which makes it harder to fit motherboard boxes in neatly (I need to kinda resist wanting to push the box in anyway) but the latter is but a minor nuisance 😜

I reckon by looking at your pics, for stuff like cables these boxes are actually excellent 🙂

What kind of labels are you using? The labels I got years ago all dried out and are literally falling off unless I use something like masking tape to tape the sides to the boxes.

Plastic bins on a wire shelving rack, inside a closet. Motherboards and expansion cards wrapped in antistatic foam and placed in antistatic bags. This works pretty well for protecting the components, and allows for efficient use of available space.

How do I store mine?

1 word answer - badly.

More in depth answer - organized chaos! 🤣

There's literally drawers full of stuff, in multiple rooms of the house. Then a pile of boxes with motherboards etc, on top of a cooler box containing a random array of parts & cables. The rest is piled high in my loft. It can be tricky finding stuff sometimes, but pretty much everything I use regularly is stored in convenient places.

I'd love to be organised and sort my stuff as per the various pics in this thread, but my laziness prevails and I'll probably never do it. 🤣

Tetrium wrote on 2022-06-08, 12:51:

What kind of labels are you using? The labels I got years ago all dried out and are literally falling off unless I use something like masking tape to tape the sides to the boxes.

I user a Brother label maker for all my labels. They work well and the labels have retained their adhesion for years.

Tetrium wrote on 2022-06-08, 05:54:

You mean either get a warehouse of shelves or keep everything in little boxes inside a large box?

I mean if you have a large collection and a life, then you'd better find an outside-house storage solution. Otherwise it's worth to think about stripping down your collection to the size that fits on your shelves without transforming your living space into a junk yard. I certainly do not judge collectors who have their collection spread all over the house but it is not my way of storing things.