How Do You Store Your Hardware

[moparfreak]

After getting frustrated trying to put away a ton of hardware I just got for cheap at a liquidation sale, I figured I'd see how some other folks are storing their hardware (nuts/bolts/screws/misc/etc.). I've pretty much had it w/ my current system. Right now I've got about 20 Plano plastic cases w/ dividers, but they don't have as much capacity as I'd like and they're annoying to lug around. I've used the hang-up racks w/ little plastic pull-out drawers, and I've used coffee cans/jars. I just can't seem to find something that really works well, is flexible, can handle a big influx of hardware when I find a sale (like 1000 drywall screws for cheap).

I'm looking for ideas and would be willing to spend a few bucks and/or build/fabricate something if it seemed worthwhile.

How do you guys handle all your hardware so it's easy to get to?

Thanks,
Adam

[CarWashGuy]

I went to Home Depot and bought a storage device that has 4 trays you can take out. I have one for machine screws, nuts, and bolts. One for wood screws. One for washers and wirenuts. One for misc. Its about 12 bucks and I never have trouble finding anything.

[nissan_crawler]

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f56/chevyman_57/House/IMG_2303.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f56/chevyman_57/House/DSC00721.jpg

[Vinko]

Check out some of the Durham cabinet posts in the archives. MSC just had (maybe still has?) another sale in one of their catalogs on some of the cabinets. That with the free ship and the 35% off, isn't bad.

Granted, you can't store in the sliding drawer cabinets what Nissan can store, but I like them for smaller things. Or for fewer bolts in larger sizes.

[jniolon]

Adam
whatever you choose today... will be too small tomorrow. Your accumulation of hardware will grow exponentially to your storage capacity.

I started out years ago with the plastic drawer storage... probably have 20 or so hanging around the shop and sitting on the back side of the bench

But as my needs grew so did the bulk and size of my accumulation. I tried using storage boxes from Wall Mart and they worked fine for bulky stuff but didn't give me the flexibility I needed or a way to divide containers easily without other containers in those containers

I finally lucked up on some parts bins/cabinets and that filled my needs... they are now all labeled and divided by size and type.

later I found a couple of the multi tray organizers and use them for stainless and brass hardware as well as brass fittings and a little metric hardware I've accumulated

I'd recommend a larger capacity than you think you'll ever need and buy more. It's so much easier to have it all organized than to dump a 5 gallon bucket on the floor and search for a single piece. (although I still have buckets that need to be sorted !!) I've got everything from #8 machine screws (in the plastic drawers) to 3/4" . bolts in one set of drawers, nuts and washers in others.. there are also drawers for electrical crimp on connectors to copper and pvc fittings...

don't know your space limitations, but when you're in a 24'x24' with a dismantled truck and all the stuff... you need organization and the ability to go vertical.. see pics below..

later
John

[dink]

My setup...SAE on the left in yellow....metric on the right in white

[moparfreak]

Those cabinets you have are real nice & HD. I worked at a machine shop during college that used those exact ones and had a room full of them wall to wall w/ their hardware.

The plastic drawers are OK, but only for a certain amount. If you have too few fasteners it's a waste of space, too many and you can't fit into those little drawers.

In an ideal world, I would see something large that had lots of pull-out drawers, and then within each of those drawers I could sub-divide as many times as I want. Kind of a mix between the little plastic drawers and the dividing capability of the Plano bins. That way, I could have one or two drawers w/ "#8 flathead woodscrews" and subdivide for the 6 or 7 different lengths that I carry.

I enjoy woodworking, and find myself more often than not building something for my shop, so I'd be willing to invest time/materials into something homemade. Does anyone have ideas?

Thanks,
Adam

Adam
whatever you choose today... will be too small tomorrow. Your accumulation of hardware will grow exponentially to your storage capacity.

I started out years ago with the plastic drawer storage... probably have 20 or so hanging around the shop and sitting on the back side of the bench

But as my needs grew so did the bulk and size of my accumulation. I tried using storage boxes from Wall Mart and they worked fine for bulky stuff but didn't give me the flexibility I needed or a way to divide containers easily without other containers in those containers

I finally lucked up on some parts bins/cabinets and that filled my needs... they are now all labeled and divided by size and type.

later I found a couple of the multi tray organizers and use them for stainless and brass hardware as well as brass fittings and a little metric hardware I've accumulated

I'd recommend a larger capacity than you think you'll ever need and buy more. It's so much easier to have it all organized than to dump a 5 gallon bucket on the floor and search for a single piece. (although I still have buckets that need to be sorted !!) I've got everything from #8 machine screws (in the plastic drawers) to 3/4" . bolts in one set of drawers, nuts and washers in others.. there are also drawers for electrical crimp on connectors to copper and pvc fittings...

don't know your space limitations, but when you're in a 24'x24' with a dismantled truck and all the stuff... you need organization and the ability to go vertical.. see pics below..

later
John

[burger]

In an ideal world, I would see something large that had lots of pull-out drawers, and then within each of those drawers I could sub-divide as many times as I want. Kind of a mix between the little plastic drawers and the dividing capability of the Plano bins. That way, I could have one or two drawers w/ "#8 flathead woodscrews" and subdivide for the 6 or 7 different lengths that I carry.

Stanley makes them and they're called Vidmars.

http://www.stanleyvidmar.com/

Not cheap.

[Jim Stabe]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41949

20 Piece Poly Bins and Rails

ITEM 41949-0VGA

$9.99

They are cheap ($5 on sale) and work really well

Jim

[n2hcky]

It really helps to have friends in the maintenance dept at the local mills.

FREEBIES 2 of them

Cleaning them up for a new coat of paint
Sorry for cell phone pics

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/n2hcky/Tools/th_IMG_0136.jpg (http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/n2hcky/Tools/?action=view&current=IMG_0136.jpg)http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/n2hcky/Tools/th_IMG_0137.jpg (http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m43/n2hcky/Tools/?action=view&current=IMG_0137.jpg)

[alex71]

Here's mine... at the home garage. The shop setup is a bit more extensive but I don't have any pics.

http://asmc.net/pics/d/4204-1/IMG_1479.jpg

[alex71]

Just got a couple more drawer cabinets for the garage.. good thing too, because stuff is really starting to pile up here...

http://asmc.net/pics/d/7239-2/IMG_1965.JPG (http://asmc.net/pics/d/7237-1/IMG_1965.JPG)http://asmc.net/pics/d/7244-2/IMG_1966.JPG (http://asmc.net/pics/d/7242-1/IMG_1966.JPG)

tubing and long solids are stored on the shelf (20 feet long, one wall of the garage..it has about 1,500 lbs on it--i'm almost surprised the lag screws don't rip right out of the studs). allthread is stored on a little shelf right above the small gray cabinet.

http://asmc.net/pics/d/7249-2/IMG_1967.JPG (http://asmc.net/pics/d/7247-1/IMG_1967.JPG)

and this is in addition to this, which is kitty corner to the stuff above

http://asmc.net/pics/d/7254-2/IMG_1968.JPG (http://asmc.net/pics/d/7252-1/IMG_1968.JPG)

and here are a couple of shots of the shop, where I keep the stuff I'm selling.

http://asmc.net/pics/d/7229-2/IMG_1963.JPG (http://asmc.net/pics/d/7227-1/IMG_1963.JPG)http://asmc.net/pics/d/7234-2/IMG_1964.JPG (http://asmc.net/pics/d/7232-1/IMG_1964.JPG)

[mkdive]

some amazing pictures of fastener and hardware storage! I'm always on the lookout of some CL ads. Wish I had 1/4 of what some of you guys have. But I may be moving soon...so maybe not having a couple tons of nuts, bolts is a good thing for me right now.

[Frank Elson]

Like everyone here I have a mixed collection of drawers and cupboards.
I've been having a massive tidy up since I retired and ... well, I need more.