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4hv.org Community Junk Box

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Chris Russell

Thu Apr 01 2010, 03:12AM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

Hello all,

Thanks to a handful of generous contributions, we are well on the way to rebuilding a proper junk box for the community. I'll post details on the inventory soon, but there are going to be some changes in order to prevent the problems we've had in the past with the junk box. Here's a rundown of what I have planned:

* The entirety of the junk box will reside with me, so that there's no question about what parts are available or who has them.
* A detailed and complete inventory of the junk box, complete with photos, will be kept on the wiki, so that everyone can see what is in the junk box at any given time, as well as what has been in it in the past.
* Members from all countries are welcome to participate. Some junk may be unavailable, however, due to hazardous materials or other regulations.
* Anyone can contribute junk to the box at any time, and donations of semi-useful junk are highly encouraged, especially while we're just starting out with the box. PM me if you need an address.
* Anyone can swap junk of approximately equal value (note that we're talking relative value to the community, not necessarily monetary value) at any time.
* Any member of the community in good standing can request junk without an equivalent exchange, provided it is for a good cause. Depending on what is being requested, I reserve the right to put it to the community for a vote, review membership history, and/or request a detailed project write-up to ensure the junk is going to a good home.
* Participants will be responsible for shipping the junk both ways. When absolutely necessary, I will assist with shipping costs, as funds permit.
* A separate donation link and PayPal account will be set up for the junk box, and the balance will be made public. Funds will be used to replenish the box with commonly requested items, grab interesting items from eBay for the box, or when necessary, assist with unusually expensive shipping costs.
* This is everyone's junk, not my junk. I do not get to cherry-pick nice items for myself, and I have to get a consensus from the community before making any kind of exchange.
* Finally, to replace the sadly now-lost logbook, each exchange (even a non-equivalent one) should include a handwritten postcard or QSL card suitable for scanning and displaying on the site, as well as hoarding in a shoebox like the geek that I am. In return, I will provide one from me.

It's a bit more complicated and a bit more strict than the traveling junk box, but it does have some notable advantages:

* Entire contents of the box cannot be lost in transit.
* Shipping costs are much smaller since only the exchanged junk is being mailed.
* Size of the junk box is practically unlimited.
* Wait times to exchange junk are much, much less. The old box was in circulation for nearly a year with members still waiting to get it.
* No more worrying about what will be in the box when it finally makes its way to you.

That's where I'm at so far. I hope to have a detailed inventory soon, so that we can get things moving. Comments or suggestions are welcome. Once we have the details hammered out, I'll put up an inventory and make an announcement that the box is open to all.

rp181

Thu Apr 01 2010, 04:24AM

Registered Member #1062 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2007, 02:01AM
Location:
Posts: 1529

Looks like a good plan, hopefully this one doesn't fail.

In conjunction, I think a junk request thread is good. Say someone needs something not in the box currently, someone can see if they have it, or if they can get it (i.e. international parts).

Chris Russell

Thu Apr 01 2010, 05:13AM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

Yes, it will probably be necessary to set up an entire new board for the junk box and related exchanges.

Adrenaline

Thu Apr 01 2010, 03:37PM

Registered Member #235 Joined: Wed Feb 22 2006, 04:59PM
Location:
Posts: 80

This does sound like a better idea, although it will be logistically harder, I would imagine.

I would like to get in on this, I am sure I can find some junk to contribute if I could get an address?

Dr. Slack

Thu Apr 01 2010, 06:13PM

Registered Member #72 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 08:29AM
Location: UK St. Albans
Posts: 1659

This sounds like a good idea for small high value stuff, but I doubt that I am going to be shipping any iron transformers to you from the UK on spec, when the best taker might be in Europe or nearer.

I wonder if it would be possile to also set up a virtual junk box. That is a list of who has what on offer. I'm not certain that the "Sale and trade" section is the most appropriate way to advertise large numbers of free/swap items. I have a whole bunch of stuff that is available for only the postage and a donation to 4HV. What I'd like is a central place to list it, along with everybody else's lists, so that junk seekers know where to go. I think categorising by location (ie shipping cost) would be a good idea. If I'm on the lookout for something heavy, then I'd prefer the one I can collect to the one that's got to be shipped.

Conundrum

Thu Apr 01 2010, 08:04PM

Registered Member #96 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061

Brilliant idea Chris. Also this helps save on postage, as sending a big heavy box around just makes it more expensive for everyone.

Dr Slack, I have the same problem, too much stuff and nowhere to put it even though a lot of it is potentially a gold mine for robotics/amateur radio/HV etc hobbyists.

As a side note, can someone PLEASE take these pesky 48V 120mm fans, RF and FPGA boards off my hands so I can scrap or recycle the Al heatsinks? it seems such a shame to chuck them when there are useful parts to be had.
Just let me know where you want them sent and you can have them for the cost of the postage.
Shame its just gone up by 40% but never mind.

-A

MinorityCarrier

Fri Apr 02 2010, 10:05PM

Registered Member #2123 Joined: Sat May 16 2009, 03:10AM
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 312

I have a collection of bagged mil-spec through-hole axial and radial leaded capacitors, mostly MLC's, but also some Tantalum electrolytics and dipped silver mica that I'll donate.

the_anomaly

Sat Apr 03 2010, 12:04PM

Registered Member #19 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 03:19PM
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 168

So just to clarify; We send you some parts in exchange for parts already in the box and you will do the exchange and mail them back? Seems like this might become a moderate burden with shipping and packing for you.

Hon1nbo

Sat Apr 03 2010, 11:14PM

Registered Member #902 Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: North Texas
Posts: 1040

I think this is a great idea, but as mentioned before me it might be a little burdensome on you
maybe a few people can manage different "types" of junk? like one person manage the standard silicon, one for the high voltage stuff, etc
might be a little tricky to start out the coordination for it, but in the long run I think it would help out

-Jimmy

Chris Russell

Sun Apr 04 2010, 04:59AM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

Nick wrote ...

So just to clarify; We send you some parts in exchange for parts already in the box and you will do the exchange and mail them back? Seems like this might become a moderate burden with shipping and packing for you.

As mentioned above, the person doing the exchange would be responsible for the shipping charges (except in certain cases, as funds allow), otherwise it would quickly become a financial burden. The burden of time is relatively minimal, and I'm happy to bear the cost of packing materials and such.

My reason for suggesting it be handled centrally is that the site tends to lose and gain members at a pretty constant rate, which means it can become tricky to determine who has what, where they ship, who is still around, and what everyone's individual conditions and requirements are. One person to deal with and one set of rules will make the whole process hopefully easier and less intimidating. One can also be reasonably certain that if the site is still up, I am still around.

As I already have several hundred dollars worth of silicon and other parts in the junk box, I'd also like to keep an eye on who is exchanging or asking for what, to be sure nobody is hogging resources or similar hijinks.

I think this is a great idea, but as mentioned before me it might be a little burdensome on you
maybe a few people can manage different "types" of junk? like one person manage the standard silicon, one for the high voltage stuff, etc
might be a little tricky to start out the coordination for it, but in the long run I think it would help out

Well, as we've seen with the junk box, the more people involved in the process, the more likely it is to fail at some point. People move, get sick, lose interest, and so on, and they don't always take the time to wrap up all the loose threads. I think the previous suggestions of creating regional repositories for especially heavy or otherwise difficult to ship items makes good sense -- certainly nobody's going to want to ship a pole pig to me, only to have me ship it some other place. Also, certainly some will want to retain control over what goes to whom, and it makes sense for those people to hang on to their stuff rather than putting it in the community junk box. For everything else, though, it just seems a lot simpler and more failsafe to go with a central repository of junk.

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