Small parts organizers....suggestions?

[EmptyWallet]

After looking over this blog here....


http://toolguyd.com/akro-mils-small-parts-organizers/


I need to purchase a few of these for the growing collection of fasteners and such.

Akro-Mils a GJ approved brand? Anywhere else I should be looking?

How sturdy are these mounted to pegboard?

 

[WWIIjeep]

How sturdy are these mounted to pegboard?

Large ones would get kind of heavy and you might need to add a couple of extra support screws to the pegboard IMO.

I liked Akro-Mills a lot better years ago, when the cabinets were made of metal instead of plastic.

Really, I prefer more industrial type storage--Equipto or Durham brand, especially the Durham multi-compartment parts drawers and the racks to hold them, because the individual drawer units can be pulled out and taken to a job. Handy even if the job is only the distance from your workshop to the kitchen or garage or whatever.

Obviously a lot more expensive than Akro-Mills, but sometimes you can get deals on used ones or overstock.

http://durhammfg.com/catalog.html?id=1

Second row, far right.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I LOVE storage options. I'm a junkie for boxes and trays.

My current favorite are these compartment trays from HF:

http://www.harborfreight.com/19-bin-portable-parts-storage-case-93928.html

What I like about it mostly is that it has a real hinge, not a plastic fold 10 times and break thing. Each yellow section is its own actual cup that you can remove, though I don't. I was able to clear out years of tins of old screws into sorted screws by type- metal, wood, etc. It's been invaluable to just pull that 'kit' of screws out to the work site and have all the options in one place.

I have one dedicated to just electrical terminals, **** connectors, plugs, insulation, etc.

I'd like to get more to separate out carburator linkage / hose clamps / automotive small metal hardware linkage clips, etc.

The next step would be to build a small frame out of plywood that could hold several of these like drawers for easy storage and access. Hmm, more projects!

 

[Outlawmws]

Large ones would get kind of heavy and you might need to add a couple of extra support screws to the pegboard IMO.

I liked Akro-Mills a lot better years ago, when the cabinets were made of metal instead of plastic.

Really, I prefer more industrial type storage--Equipto or Durham brand, especially the Durham multi-compartment parts drawers and the racks to hold them, because the individual drawer units can be pulled out and taken to a job. Handy even if the job is only the distance from your workshop to the kitchen or garage or whatever.

Obviously a lot more expensive than Akro-Mills, but sometimes you can get deals on used ones or overstock.

http://durhammfg.com/catalog.html?id=1

Second row, far right.

on THIS ^^^^


The plastic cased ones will sag in the middle if not supported, and you have any real weight in them.

Even the metal ones can get saggy; see my thread posted below:

How many fasteners are you talking about, and how granular do you want them sized? The open plastic bins are decent, except those tend to collect dust and other flying debris... (so if you use them, plan for a cover of some sort..) If you are talking small parts, fasteners, the closeable Plano boxes are a good choice, and stack well, (good fit for old upper kit cabs, as they are about the same depth).

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117174

 

[WWIIjeep]

Here's a Durham compartmented parts drawer like I previously mentioned:

And the rack to hold multiple drawers:

The racks are relatively cheap, even from Grainger. The boxes are generally not cheap. Most of mine--a dozen or so--came from overstock and discount sales at half price or less.

No argument on the compartmented plastic boxes being good too, but on a couple of the ones I have, the lid is too thin and flexible, and if you pick it up sideways from the handle, really small stuff can spill from one compartment to another. Drawer racks are available for some brands of the plastic boxes too.

Back to the Akro-Mills drawer units, aside from what Outlawmws said about sagging housings, my main gripe with the plastic ones is the drawer stop tabs (unless they've changed them again). The old metal cabinets had two small tabs out of the way at the edge of the drawer guides. The plastic cabinets have two large tabs hanging down into each drawer, and if you fill the drawers, which is easy to do because they're small, those damned tabs can get caught on the stuff in the drawer.

 

[2oolhound]

Here's a home made solution I inherited from an old timer when he moved to an apartment. It's got a small foot print 22" x 24" but towers over 6' high. I added more drawers in between but left big ones top and bottom. Drawers can be pulled right out and brought to the bench.

 

[djjsr]

I've had 6 of the plastic ones loaded with hardware, some heavy stuff, nuts, bolts, hinges etc. and they have worked fine for 6 years so far. I would not hang them on a wall as they would sag and distort but sitting on a sturdy shelf, they're fine.

On the left of this photo ...

View media item 14358

 

[EmptyWallet]

I LOVE storage options. I'm a junkie for boxes and trays.

My current favorite are these compartment trays from HF:

http://www.harborfreight.com/19-bin-portable-parts-storage-case-93928.html

What I like about it mostly is that it has a real hinge, not a plastic fold 10 times and break thing. Each yellow section is its own actual cup that you can remove, though I don't. I was able to clear out years of tins of old screws into sorted screws by type- metal, wood, etc. It's been invaluable to just pull that 'kit' of screws out to the work site and have all the options in one place.

I have one dedicated to just electrical terminals, **** connectors, plugs, insulation, etc.

I'd like to get more to separate out carburator linkage / hose clamps / automotive small metal hardware linkage clips, etc.

The next step would be to build a small frame out of plywood that could hold several of these like drawers for easy storage and access. Hmm, more projects!

These look interesting! Pretty durable? Hmmm, I wonder if you could make a shelf for it. Or to make them like trays.

 

[EmptyWallet]

I've had 6 of the plastic ones loaded with hardware, some heavy stuff, nuts, bolts, hinges etc. and they have worked fine for 6 years so far. I would not hang them on a wall as they would sag and distort but sitting on a sturdy shelf, they're fine.

On the left of this photo ...

View media item 14358

What brand are those?

 

[Kevin54]

I have quite a few of these in my toolbox I brought home from work. I need to get some more. I like how you can arrange them around to fit your needs inside of the drawers without having one large square divided organizer laying in a drawer.

I think Linda from Lista also sells these.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Here's a Durham compartmented parts drawer like I previously mentioned:

And the rack to hold multiple drawers:

The racks are relatively cheap, even from Grainger. The boxes are generally not cheap. Most of mine--a dozen or so--came from overstock and discount sales at half price or less.

No argument on the compartmented plastic boxes being good too, but on a couple of the ones I have, the lid is too thin and flexible, and if you pick it up sideways from the handle, really small stuff can spill from one compartment to another. Drawer racks are available for some brands of the plastic boxes too.

Back to the Akro-Mills drawer units, aside from what Outlawmws said about sagging housings, my main gripe with the plastic ones is the drawer stop tabs (unless they've changed them again). The old metal cabinets had two small tabs out of the way at the edge of the drawer guides. The plastic cabinets have two large tabs hanging down into each drawer, and if you fill the drawers, which is easy to do because they're small, those damned tabs can get caught on the stuff in the drawer.

Man those look awesome! A little more than I'm wanting to spend though.

 

[djjsr]

The plastic trays with the snap lids work good for smaller items like screws. I had 8 of them in a stack and it seemed like I always needed one near the bottom of the stack. I popped off the lids, made drawers to fit the trays and a small cabinet to fit the drawers.

View media item 7211

 

[EmptyWallet]

Man, that looks super nice. I wish I could make or find something like that.

 

[Vvmvbb]

Yeah, I'd say Akro-Mils is a respectable name for this sort of stuff.
I like their drawers, and just bought a second one after a few years (note you can get red if you want).
I also like the Akro bins for tempory project parts collectors (on the shelf above the drawers). You can get racks for those which is another nice way to go, though cost really adds up.

 

[Andybull]

I use Plano Hydro Flow Stow Away Tackle boxes, or a similar box found at Lowes and HD and have them stacked. I have a few metal portable bins that I like, I don't like the plastic frame ones since they will sag and warp, making sliding out the plastic drawers impossible.

 

[greatfranks]

Akro-Mills storage containers are awesome. Whenever I go to an estate sale, I always look for these first. I bought two at an estate sale this weekend...for $1.00 and $2.00 each. One a Akro-Mills, the other a powercraft montgomery wards version. The akro-mills is missing a couple drawers but I have extras to fit. They will also stack if you wanted them to. I am now a strong believer that I have a better shot of something lasting a long time...if it already has. This site has helped a bunch in forming that opinion.

The first picture is of the two I bought yesterday. Second photo, with the open cabinet door. It still had the order form in it, so I can order or find part bins for the bottom two drawers. The third picture has the same dimensions of the one on top in the first two pictures, with indents to stack them. Last photo is another shelf made by akro-mills holds 20 bins and lots of room to store other stuff. Nothing is organized, this site has made it impossible, I just keep buuying stuff right now.

A different option completely... I bought about 50 of these glass jars with lids at the same estate sale for $2.00

 

[WWIIjeep]

Akro-Mills storage containers are awesome. Whenever I go to an estate sale, I always look for these first. I bought two at an estate sale this weekend...for $1.00 and $2.00 each. One a Akro-Mills, the other a powercraft montgomery wards version. The akro-mills is missing a couple drawers but I have extras to fit. They will also stack if you wanted them to. I am now a strong believer that I have a better shot of something lasting a long time...if it already has. This site has helped a bunch in forming that opinion.

A long time?

I bought this Akro-Mills new in 1963 and it has mostly survived the test of time:

And it's not like I didn't test it pretty well:

That's a little over 3 lbs of nuts.

I outgrew it a really long time ago, but it still serves for odds and ends (and memories of projects past).

The one to the left might be Akro-Mills too--same depth and height. Can't remember for sure. Not as old and not "tested" quite as much.

Yet.

 

[greatfranks]

A long time?

I bought this Akro-Mills new in 1963 and it has mostly survived the test of time:

And it's not like I didn't test it pretty well:

That's a little over 3 lbs of nuts.

I outgrew it a really long time ago, but it still serves for odds and ends (and memories of projects past).


The one to the left might be Akro-Mills too--same depth and height. Can't remember for sure. Not as old and not "tested" quite as much.

Yet.

I think we are in agreement. I would consider 50 years a long time (considering I am only 30 years old myself)

I was saying that the new stuff I have bought I have been largely disappointed by, that I love the old stuff because I know it's going to last...longer than the new stuff. If it read differently, I didn't mean it to. My shelving unit that I pictured I would estimate to be made in the 50's or 60's. That might be my favorite thing I've bought at any "junk" "estate" or garage sale.

 

[Jeff]

I tried the plastic Akro-Mils, but they couldn't handle very much weight. I gave them to a friend, and purchased 2 of the steel Akro-mils cabinets. I also have a Thorsen 4 drawer unit that I got from Costco.

 

[Crow Horse]

I used Plano plastic tackle organizers that can be had at KMart,Walmart or just about anywhere reasonably priced. I accumulated quite a collection of them and then made a mobile cart that accepts them. The cart was made from wood that floated onto the property during a flood in 2006. Some of the boxes are filled with bolts and no issues other than some of the very old latches have broken. The boxes currently made have a different type of latch and are much better.......

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have a couple of those metal Durham boxes, a TON of plastic plano boxes that I can carry with me, an Akro Bins cabinet with 15 nice sized plastic drawers, and several 6 drawer cabinets from the hardware store.
It sounds more impressive than it is

 

[WWIIjeep]

I think we are in agreement. I would consider 50 years a long time (considering I am only 30 years old myself)

I was saying that the new stuff I have bought I have been largely disappointed by, that I love the old stuff because I know it's going to last...longer than the new stuff. If it read differently, I didn't mean it to.

Yeah, we are. I wasn't taking issue with what you said, I just have trouble defining time. Most of my tools are from the 40s-50s-60s-70s. Stuff I bought in the 80s is still new. Isn't it?

My wife and my kids think I'm at least 20 years behind the times most of the time.

 

[EmptyWallet]

I tried the plastic Akro-Mils, but they couldn't handle very much weight. I gave them to a friend, and purchased 2 of the steel Akro-mils cabinets. I also have a Thorsen 4 drawer unit that I got from Costco.

How do you like the Thorsen 4 Drawer?

 

[andywander]

Fix that vise mounting!

 

[EmptyWallet]

Fix that vise mounting!

He may have to do it that way because of what's on the underside.

I hear ya though.

 

[RKA]

I just got an akro mills 64 bin today. I was skeptical, and as it turns out rightfully so. It's as bad as any cheap plastic china made toy I'd find in Harbor Freight. Wish I had held out and looked for one of the older metal ones. Odds are I will dig around and find one, until then, this will have to do.

And those plastic tabs that hold the drawers...at least on mine are fairly small...enough that one snapped off in shipping and small enough that I wonder if it really would hold a loaded drawer (I think it would just snap off).

 

[DanarchyCustoms]

I'm an electronics hobbyist and found this set to be an amazing deal from HF.
It fits most of my components in it. I actually will pick up another real soon.
http://www.harborfreight.com/toolbox-organizer-with-4-drawers-68238.html

 

[jeffmoss26]

I'll take some pics tomorrow of how my stuff is set up.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Comments?

http://www.harborfreight.com/wall-mounted-storage-bins-65889.html

I know a moderator here uses HF plastic bins, what about their wall mounts?

 

[Outlawmws]

The bins are probably all right; the racks may not be as good as needed for heavy stuff (that's been my experience with other cheap bin racks...). Somebody posted how they used some metal shelf standards that had a top hat profile, and made decent French cleats out of them. These are the type that take the triangular clips to hols the shelf up.

Like this but his had a flange so it was like a hat instead of a channel:

 

[EmptyWallet]

Yeah, I know the mod here with the heavy duty cabinets (forget his name) used the HF bins, but not the mounts.

That's another good idea you got there.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yeah, I know the mod here with the heavy duty cabinets (forget his name)...

Jack Olsen

 

[EmptyWallet]

Looks like this is a much better route:

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-poly-bins-and-rails-41949.html

I just need to figure out some way to mount them. Well...better than what comes with them.

 

[Stuey]

Looks like you're heading in the right direction, but I'll chime in anyways.

The Akro Mils plastic organizers are nice, but they're NOT study enough for steel fasteners. I posted about them on TG b/c I do like them, but for lighter duty storage needs.

For steel fasteners I would go for Akro Mils' steel-framed organizer, but that'll get costly very quick. Durham also has a few nice options, but again, weight and cost might be a concern.

Bins are a great option, as long as you pick up a sturdy system. Industrial suppliers have a lot of USA-made bins and wall panels if you want a more customized setup.

https://www.google.com/search?q=akr...&biw=1323&bih=1017&sei=bWUXUJS4FZG50AH7wYH4BA

 

[WWIIjeep]

Looks like this is a much better route:

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-poly-bins-and-rails-41949.html

I just need to figure out some way to mount them. Well...better than what comes with them.

I bought one of those a few years ago, tossed the wall bracket, made a box to stack them in:

They're OK, considering the price, but they don't stack very well because they're lightweight, warp pretty easily, and fall down inside each other. Even when new they didn't stack as accurately as the Akro-Mills bins do. You pretty much get what you pay for.

I'm about halfway through finding enough Akro-Mills bins and similar decent ones at garage sales to replace them, and once I've got enough of those, the cheapos will go in the large plastic bin by the curb.

 

[zip95864]

I got these metal cabinets off of Craigslist for $40:

 

[Jack Olsen]

I have the HF bins, mounted to a pretty sturdy rack that was built into my Strong Hold cabinets. I've never had the bins disappoint me in any way -- it's just a plastic box. (If someone else was footing the bill, maybe I'd go for a more prestigious brand name.)

The red bins in the left cabinet are also pretty inexpensive -- they're from Ikea.

 

[Mike14k]

I guess I'm a "jar guy"......

 

[jeffmoss26]

Mike, I like the Mackie mixer!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I got these metal cabinets off of Craigslist for $40:

Let me be the first to say, YOU SUUUCK! For getting those for only $40. May I ask what word you used to search for those?