proper storage of e waste items.

I would like to keep this thread on point with proper questions and answers about storage, packaging and shipping of e waste resale items such as CPUs, finger cards, mother boards etc.

I will start it off with CPUs. It seems just looking at one causes bent pins. How do you prevent this with out having to buy special packaging ?

I have't tried this, but sticking them into a piece of anti-static foam and securing with pressure from the top from more foam seems like it could work.

I have seen small black protective cover/sleeves on some of the new p4 cpu's . They clip on over the pins . I only know this because I had a few that were brand new and they were in these . I thought oh how clever . I don't know if they had these for older cpu's

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-94.jpg

Granted these are pinless but protective none the least .

The cheap way: Cover a piece of Styrofoam completely with aluminum foil (Tape the foil ends together).
Press the pins through the foil into the foam.
The aluminum foil will prevent static & bent pin damage.
Conductive (anti static) foam is the best, but it is not cheap!

Now: everyone argue about this solution...

hmm I would like to know that too with out buying as I buy blister packs with antistatic foam but as for other packaging material I use the most is easter grass as every year I hit up clearance at all the stores that have it in droves left over for less than 5cents a package and can stuff it every place and keeps from shifting around

I have several sources of computer repair shops. I take waste from them, along with packaging materiels from new parts like antistatic bags and boxes. I also take and reuse padded mailers, bubble wrap, amazon boxes, etc. many computer items can be shipped in the same way a new part would be, such as a video card.

when I'm low, I get creative. I have sandwhiched and cpus between foam to protect pins. I saw a YouTube video on making a mailer out of cardboard for those. sometimes it's an antistatic bag and lots of bubblewrap.

laptops get a large flat rate box and lots of bubblewrap.

I also buy clamshells and trays for pinless.

I wrap them in antistatic bubble wrap usually. If you make them nice and tight, the pins will be fine. But, I will usually cut out a patch of foam and foil like spin suggested. That way, you have a nice, tight "cocoon" of sorts.

Pinless CPUs get wrapped in an antistatic bag individually, and then go into the bubble wrap.

very good info.

Power supplies, DVDs ect.

Most components of this type are suseptable to humidity and other weather conditions. info transfer companies spend millions on controlling climate conditions. In humidity suseptable areas they cannot be stored in a non climate controlled area even when covered.

any input here.

Power supplies & optical drives: how long are they to be stored? If you are just shipping them, no worries. Just pack and ship as you normally would. Storage in a damp area? Not recommended. Storing in a cold area? Not really a problem.

I'm in Wyoming, so it's dry as a bone.

But, for power supplies, I've seen a lot come in that have been placed in a baggie in their original box. After years in a basement, they're still fine.

I had a box of new DVD drives come from a school. They were in the box for over 5-7 years, in the original anti-static bags. They worked fine.

I think the DVD drives are a little more "resilient" than the other parts are.

Olddude
Matador pretty much hit the nail on the head with Zlock bags for the PS & antistatic bags for the optical drives. The one thing you should be care of is the plastic bezel on the drives. Don't have the bezel against the outside of the packing box. If that part of the box is damaged There goes the bezel. Newtons Law!

I suppose if you had to store items long term, then the smallest possible space to climate control is what I would recommend.
Although at some point, The cost will overcome the profit.

all good advice. I would only remind those in humid areas specially those near the coast.
Humidity+oxygen+salt air+metal (especially alu)= disaster. You can't just cover them outside.

Definitely. I buy RAM (among other things), so I see it from all regions. I can tell California and Florida RAM by looking at it. It usually has a "tinge" to the silver parts. It'll work fine usually, but the color looks off.

I'd consider using silicate bags in those regions.