Resistors - Which type?

[mrbeans]

I am quite new to circuit bending and I was just wondering which sort of resistors I should be going for. I know that they have different values (10, 10k, 100k etc) I was just wondering if there are some levels not worth bothering with (by anyones standard) and if I should be looking at more than the the 10, 10k, 100k, 480k tag when choosing. Thanks.

Also... Where do most people do their component shopping? I am in the UK so would be looking for somewhere there to deliver.   

[Circuitbenders]

The search function is your friend http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,275.0.html

100R, 1K, 4.7K, 10K, 47K, 100K, 470K, 1M are the values you'll probably use most often, but inevitably until you've built up a collection you'll never have the exact resistor you need, and you'll end up bodging in between values together using other values in series.

[mrbeans]

So all these fellas are what I am looking for then:

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Resistors-Potentiometer/Carbon-Film-Resistors/0.5W-Carbon-composition-resistors/79895/kw/resistors



I think I was a little confused before as I wasn't sure if I was meant to be looking at anything else other than the values we have both mentioned.

[Circuitbenders]

you don't need 1/2 watt ones. They are far more expensive and unnecessary for any circuit bending job. I'd probably go for these 1/4 watt ones which cost around 70p for 100.

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Resistors-Potentiometer/Carbon-Film-Resistors/CR25-0.25W-Carbon-film-resistors/65193

[mrbeans]

That's great thanks for that. Is it the same sort of deal with potentiometers as they seem to be pretty steep. This the last newbies question, I promise! What are the ranges I should be looking to get a pot in? the reason I ask is because some seem seriously expensive!

http://www.rapidonline.com/searchresults.aspx?style=0&kw=potentiometer&resultsperpage=10000

[Bogus Noise]

Simlar ranges again really.
470ohm, 1k, 10k, 100k, 470k and 1M will be a good range to kick off with, and you can fill out with the ones in between later on. The ones in between will get you a better response with some bends, you'll know when you find a bend that doesn't do anything for half a turn, and has a great range in the other half

I think most of us use these most of the time:

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Resistors-Potentiometer/Control-Potentiometers/16mm-Commercial-potentiometers/65222/kw/potentiometer

It's also worth buying some preset pots (also called trim pots) as well, again in those values. I've not had a problem with using these ones:

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Resistors-Potentiometer/Preset-Potentiometers/6mm-Cermet-trimmer-potentiometers/65259/kw/potentiometer

[Circuitbenders]

I've been buying about 40 pots at a time from Futurlec in the US recently: http://www.futurlec.com/PotRot.shtml

They are very cheap and you can get about 50-60 standard pots before you come up against the £18 limit when you'll get charged VAT and customs fees to import stuff into the UK. Worldwide shipping is only about $4 for orders up to $29. Thats probably 1/3 of the price for getting the same amount shipped within the UK!