If I have a lot of an IC I leave them in the tubes, but they can be awkward to ship. For most ICS and even some small parts I prefer the pink anti-static foam, both the semi-rigid type and the flexible types; on a flat 12x12 sheet for example they're much easier to store and also to ship once cut to size.
e.g.: https://canada.foambymail.com/product/anti-static-polyethylene-foam-1-7lb-pink.html Grainger sells 1/8x12x12 sheets 2 for C$3.46 https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/FOAMSHEET-ANTISTATIC-1-8X12X12-PK2/p/CFM1001002 Newark sells black foam sheets, probably better stuff these days: https://canada.newark.com/multicomp-pro/038-0100/conductive-chip-foam-127-x-228/dp/87P0221?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqP2pBhDMARIsAJQ0CzqxdbWNoAt6mshLYqKD6rPkk8OnO4OstxqzOpwJbxvK6nxwVvSVNfwaAuq0EALw_wcB&s_kwcid=AL!8472!3!!!!x!!&mckv=_dc|pcrid||plid||kword||match||slid||product|87P0221|pgrid||ptaid||&CMP=KNC-GCA-Shopping-PMAX-CATCH-ALL-NEW-S39&gross_price=true Stay away from Styrofoam except for non-sensitive parts like DIP switches etc.; it can actually _create_ static electricity, the last thing you want. As to the old black stuff I've had mixed experiences; generally I've had no issues with the flexible type, but pretty well all the rigid stuff I've come across has crumbled and very often has corroded or even eaten away IC pins, especially gold pins on white ceramic chips like the old AYx-xxxx modem and custom ROM chips. But YMMV... m On Mon, Oct 30, 2023 at 7:16 PM Peter Noeth <petern0...@gmail.com> wrote: > I would NOT recommend the black carbonized foam for storage. We used to > use that type where I worked as a Component Level computer tech for our > "Component Inventory" many decades ago. It will turn the legs of I.C.s and > transistors black after a few months if you stick them into the foam, > requiring cleaning with a mild abrasive before soldering (risking static > damage). It may be a solution for shipment only. > > The other foam looks like High Density Styrofoam, as used in the building > trades for wall insulation. I have seen it both light blue and pink, used > for the purposes you mention, and have never trusted it as styrofoam is > inherently very staticy, even with anti-static additives. I have seen some > people wrap that foam in aluminum foil first before poking any leaded > components into it. This may be a shipment only solution. > > I have always used the plastic anti static tubes (rails) that the > manufacturers sell their components in, or the anti-static poly and > mylar bags that DigiKey and other distributors use. With "through hole" > components not being as popular as they once were, and "surface mount" > components now the "norm", your best solution would be the anti-static poly > and mylar bags easily found with an Internet search. > > Regards, > > PeterN > > On Mon, Oct 30, 2023 at 2:42 PM <m100-requ...@lists.bitchin100.com> wrote: > >> >> Message: 1 >> Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:25:24 -0700 >> From: Gary Weber <g...@web8201.com> >> To: M100 <m100@lists.bitchin100.com> >> Subject: [M100] Anti-static foam types >> Message-ID: >> < >> caajazkoqdyapx1godpsvutedor+x1npum1isuhrv+udoman...@mail.gmail.com> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" >> >> Question for anyone out there familiar -- >> >> There's a few kinds of antistatic foams out there that I've come across >> which have had DIP chips stuck into them for storage, and the ones I >> currently have on hand is the black stuff which is very porous, and this >> other very stiff stuff that almost has the feeling of styrofoam. (Not >> bendable.) >> >> Here's the two I have on hand: >> [image: image.png] >> >> Is anyone else familiar with the light colored antistatic "hard" foam >> that's in the right of this photo? What's it called and where would you >> obtain more of it? It seems to protect a DIP chip's pins much better for >> long term storage or shipping and I'd like to have some on hand. >> >> Thanks, >> >> -- >> Gary Weber >> g...@web8201.com >> -------------- next part -------------- >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> URL: < >> http://lists.bitchin100.com/private.cgi/m100-bitchin100.com/attachments/20231030/b21a215a/attachment.htm >> > >> -------------- next part -------------- >> A non-text attachment was scrubbed... >> Name: image.png >> Type: image/png >> Size: 557591 bytes >> Desc: not available >> URL: < >> http://lists.bitchin100.com/private.cgi/m100-bitchin100.com/attachments/20231030/b21a215a/attachment.png >> > >> >>
