VOGONS


First post, by Deksor

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Hi !
After few years of collecting, many lots, and many mobos fixed, I must have now over a hundred of motherboards to store. Unfortunately, I don't really have a reliable way of storing them, so they just pile over each other in boxes (best case currently) or on my workshop's table (worst case scenario).
I was thinking of a better way of storing them, and I thought that getting new boxes like those used by the manufacturers to ship them and sell them in shops would be the best way.

First reason is that I'll have to move someday, so having boxes would be better to move these boards safely.
Second reason is that I have no use for all these boards and I think I'll sell or exchange several of them, so having boxes the right size would be perfect to ship them.

So what I need is just a bunch of boxes like those used for ATX motherboards (any baby AT motherboard should fit in these as well anyways).
Have anybody searched for this ?

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Reply 1 of 20, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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Maybe search the Bay for plain pizza / postal boxes

Reply 2 of 20, by Caluser2000

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Any major courier company like Fedex should have suitable boxes available.

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Reply 3 of 20, by cyclone3d

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Look at what ULINE has to offer.

The normal shipping kills their good prices but I order boxes from a local outfit that sells ULINE boxes and they give me free shipping.

14x12x3 seems like it would be a good size for ATX motherboards. That will give you approximately an inch on all sides depending on the heatsinks on the motherboard.

Maybe go 14x12x4 if shipping:

14x12x3:
https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-16738/ … orrugated-Boxes

14x12x4:
https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-4695/C … orrugated-Boxes

Last edited by cyclone3d on 2020-01-22, 19:38. Edited 1 time in total.

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Reply 4 of 20, by cyclone3d

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Caluser2000 wrote on 2020-01-22, 19:08:

Any major courier company like Fedex should have suitable boxes available.

Have you seen what Fedex and other carriers charge for boxes in-store? Better idea is to order boxes for ~$1 a piece instead of the $7-$15 a piece they charge in the store.

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Reply 5 of 20, by The Serpent Rider

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so they just pile over each other in boxes (best case currently) or on my workshop's table (worst case scenario).

Store them vertically in a big box. Problem solved.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 6 of 20, by Deksor

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@The Serpent Rider well no, as I said after. Also the boxes I have are too short to store them vertically. Piling them up isn't the real issue here, I'd like to store them individually.
@Cyclone3d's seems pretty interesting. It should be pretty cheap and with a good size !
Will they ship to europe though ?

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Reply 7 of 20, by cyclone3d

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Uhhhh.. I would think shipping to Europe would be quite expensive.

Try one of these places:
https://www.davpack.co.uk/cardboard-boxes/
https://cardboardboxco.ie/corrugated.html
https://www.postofficeshop.co.uk/postal-suppl … ardboard-boxes/

There are probably a bunch more around your area though so shop around to find a good price.

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Reply 9 of 20, by Deksor

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Thanks ! This one seems quite good ! https://cardboardboxco.ie/online-shop/slim-po … box-detail.html

I did some research before, maybe not enough, but the thing I could find was quite expensive and the boxes didn't really have the proper shape ...

@wiretap nope sadly it's not available here

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Reply 10 of 20, by debs3759

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I use https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190827416619 for ATX and for smaller boards I buy from https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282353155649 (310x234x63mm). I have over 100 motherboards as well, and now have them on shelves for ease of access.

See my graphics card database at www.gpuzoo.com
Constantly being worked on. Feel free to message me with any corrections or details of cards you would like me to research and add.

Reply 11 of 20, by imi

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I got these:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/162403417895

320x225x50mm for most baby AT and smaller (m)ATX boards

350x250x50mm for full size baby AT and ATX

anything larger gets special treatment ^^

Reply 13 of 20, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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Suppose another option (at least for storage) would be to use larger cartons with bulk separator inserts

The attachment bulk carton inserts.jpg is no longer available

so you could store by a chosen category, and leave the individual boxes for when selling. Also fewer boxes when moving.

Reply 14 of 20, by x0zm_

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Got any small local PC stores? Might be worth asking them for their spare boxes. Works great here, they are happy to give them away rather than having to recycle them.

It's free and good for the environment too.

Reply 15 of 20, by imi

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I did that... but just like everything else in this country it's just a big "nope"

I wanted to do dividers at first, but they are way more expensive than single boxes for some reason and making them would just eat up so much time ^^ ...lasercutter anyone?

Reply 16 of 20, by Ozzuneoj

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In a pinch I use cut up cereal boxes as layers between boards, standing up in a box. This seems to prevent them from scraping or snagging each other and makes it easy to identify them too. Depending on the size of the box and how you cut it, you can make them fully cover almost any board. You can also leave an extra side attached to the box to fold under or around the board too.

Now for some blitting from the back buffer.

Reply 19 of 20, by pico1180

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When it comes to storing my hardware, I don't mess around. I use Protektive Pak. Anti static, industrial rated, expensive as hell, but specifically designed and purpose built for storing printed circuit boards.

https://protektivepak.descoindustries.com/

Specifically for motherboards I use the 37330
Hard drives I use 37211
For VLB cards or any long add in cards I use 37162
For optical drives I use 37335
"normal" sized add in cards I use 37163
CPU's 37008
Large CPU's like Pentium Pro's I use 37004

Expensive, but absolutely worth it in my opinion. The cardboard is ridiculously robust, durable, and highly resistant to environmental conditions.

EDIT:

For some reason I only so the part about storing, and not the part about shipping as well. With that being said, please disregard.