Organizing large quantities of misc fasteners?

[esvee]

In my studio I actually have enough hardware to have bins for every size we need, and a cabinet for said bins. Easy peasy.

At home, I've got, y'know, 4 3-inch wood screws, a bunch of hooks, some drywall screws of varying lengths, masonry fasteners, etc, etc and etc. When you've got barely enough of a fasterner to legitimize a bin do you give in to the "bin of shame"? Do you over-organize to the point where some bins have one fastener?

Then at what point do you instead drive to the store to get whatever fasterner you need for 98 cents instead of digging through said bin to maybe find what you need?

 

[Caman]

When in doubt throw it out.

 

[slip knot]

I usually organize by type then size. for example you have some drywall screws, sort into <1" and >1". To me the key is finding what you need without spending all day looking for it. Dont overthink it.

 

[rburke65]

Experience tells me to toss 'em.

 

[sponfit]

Experience tells me to toss 'em.

Just went through this myself and this is what i came up with. Now if i need something I'll buy more than I need and have enough left over to justify a spot/bin.

 

[Catadj78]

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[MushCreek]

I keep everything, but right now, they're not organized. I have a rack of 4" bin boxes (I think there are 60). I divide common stuff up to make it easy to find, such as standard nuts, washers, etc. Everything else is in coffee cans, etc. After I get my house done, I'll work on the shop, and hope to someday have pretty decent storage. It's easy to say, "Throw them out.", but for me it's an hour's round trip and two gallons of gas to a suitable store. That's an expensive 3" screw!

It's probably impossible to sort every single piece of hardware in its own bin. I'll always have a 'bin of shame' for stuff that just doesn't fit. I use a large pan with shallow sides to pour the contents into to make it easier to find the one item I need, and then easily pour the rest back into the bin.

I've created a new monster, building a house and barn over the last 3 years. I have tons of random nails and screws that get tossed in a bin at the end of the day, rather than finding the right container. I can't decide whether to make sorting them out a rainy day project, or just toss them.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Some things I have organized by type and size category. For example I have a drawer of smallish hooks and a drawer of larger hooks. I have a small bin for hinges.
In some cases I subdivide drawers by putting small parts in small packages or envelopes.
Of course I have a few cans of stuff than could be sorted.

 

[nehog]

When in doubt throw it out.

Experience tells me to toss 'em.

Clearly you guys are not from New England where we never, ever throw out something that may become useful in the next 50 to 100 years. Sheesh, throw something out? Never!

 

[Daniel Dudley]

In my studio I actually have enough hardware to have bins for every size we need, and a cabinet for said bins. Easy peasy.

At home, I've got, y'know, 4 3-inch wood screws, a bunch of hooks, some drywall screws of varying lengths, masonry fasteners, etc, etc and etc. When you've got barely enough of a fasterner to legitimize a bin do you give in to the "bin of shame"? Do you over-organize to the point where some bins have one fastener?

Then at what point do you instead drive to the store to get whatever fasterner you need for 98 cents instead of digging through said bin to maybe find what you need?

Fishing tackle organizers are like 10 bucks now. Makes a great set of mini bins.

 

[Cyberbear]

My method is thus: create bins for commonly/frequently used fasteners, or the like, and use a container(s) for all similar type small quantity others.
Years ago I finally got fed up with running to my hardware supplier for small quantities of commonly used nuts and bolts. I purchased a bin rack with 48 medium sized plastic bins in which I placed my boxes of fasteners, as well as larger bulk quantities of flat washers, lock washers and nuts, which basically made for me my own hardware store. At the end of each shelf of bins I used one bin for the misc. items too good to toss away.
Nothing is more frustrating than having to halt a project while shutting down the shop and running to a supplier for a few cents worth of hardware. Over time this has saved me countless hours of wasted time and was easily worth the small investment of money for bins and needed hardware. Time is money and money spent to save time is well worth the price.

 

[Caman]

Clearly you guys are not from New England where we never, ever throw out something that may become useful in the next 50 to 100 years. Sheesh, throw something out? Never!

I was like that as well before my grandma died. She was a hoarder and kept/collected everything. She was very obviously ashamed of it as she never allowed any family members in when we came by. But how do you get a WW2 Marine to change her mind?

After she died we sold and gave away what we could, and threw away five 40 yard dumpsters of garbage. It took us over a year of weekends to get the house emptied. We found SIX washing machines (you could see the age progression from oldest to newest) in the basement buried under everything. 30 some umbrellas, an entire bedroom full (to the ceiling)of dolls, and piles of random **** she'd collected over the years. I told myself I would never allow myself to get like that, or force my family members to clean up my mess. If I could have I would have just lit a match and walk away from it all.

That was 4 years ago and I've been sorting through my stuff ever since. If it's coming up on garbage day and the can is somewhat empty and I have the time I'll pull a couple boxes out of storage and go through them. If it's something I can live without and haven't touched in over a year it goes either in the garbage or the garage sale pile. Usually over 90% of the box is pitched.

I have bins of bulk hardware in many different sizes I know I will use or it makes sense to keep. It's just a waste of time and space holding onto those single/small amount of nuts, bolts, screws, and hardware you "may" use....one of these days.

 

[zkling]

I use a metal 24 drawer parts bin under the work bench. ~33" wide, 16" deep and each drawer is dividable. The most compact storage for fasteners is an industrial sylte cabinet such as a lista with dividers in the drawers to separate different types of fasteners. As others mentioned, I'd seriously look at what all you have and take a realistic approach as to whether you will use it or not in the future. Common size nuts and bolts are one thing, but odd or damaged fasteners need to go. Just have to determine if the space allocated for their storage is worth the money and time saved running to the store.

 

[Elginz]

I have small, medium and large bins for fasteners and hardware, as well as a travel tote of fasteners. When I get low I stock up what the bin will hold. I have some bins for combined types of only a couple fasteners. I can usually find what I want.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Clearly you guys are not from New England where we never, ever throw out something that may become useful in the next 50 to 100 years. Sheesh, throw something out? Never!

yeah man, I'm with you.... don't throw nothin' out.


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[ambenz]

Bin of odd size stuff that doesn't fit into my categorized fasteners....that's where my oddball stuff goes.
Having said that, I have a lot of bins and made it a point to get it all organized last Spring.
It's got to be big or a real oddball not to get into a same type bin.
I keep 5lb coffee can for big bolts bigger than 5/16" as I rarely use the bigger size fasteners. One coffee can just for garage door hardware....I haven't used for 14 years...hmmmm...if I toss it, i'll need a bolt tomorrow.

 

[srmofo]

You guys have all missed the most obvious. Put it in its own organizer, then drive to the store and pick up a box to fill it up.

 

[22george]

yeah man, I'm with you.... don't throw nothin' out.


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Me too. I might need I might need it one day

 

[James-W]

I just get a few of these and put the stuff in them.

http://www.harborfreight.com/19-bin...zIjoiNS45OSIsInByb2R1Y3RfaWQi OiIyNzY3In0=

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

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Ok, I'm going to say it and everyone is going to tell me I'm an idiot....and you'll be right.

The bins being all randomly different colors would drive me crazy. At the very least I'd have put all the like colors together! Preferably using the different colors to denote something of importance about the content of what is stored in them.

And he tacked them in place so they have to STAY that way!

Flame away.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Me too. I might need I might need it one day

You always need it after you throw it out. My coffee cans of misc fasteners have saved me many times. I just dump em out on a large piece of creased cardboard for easy picking and pour back in.

 

[Caman]

Ok, I'm going to say it and everyone is going to tell me I'm an idiot....and you'll be right.

The bins being all randomly different colors would drive me crazy. At the very least I'd have put all the like colors together! Preferably using the different colors to denote something of importance about the content of what is stored in them.

And he tacked them in place so they have to STAY that way!

Flame away.

Was thinking the exact same thing.

 

[GardenaD]

There is a tread somewhere on this forum or welding web. Saw it last month and now can't find it, but they used plastic storage boxes from HF and made a cabinet for the boxes to slide in. I have started to purchase the boxes and found them at a big box store on sale for $9.99 for two medium or three smaller ones. They are from Stanley lock together if you want and have a nice yellow handle you can write on what inside. It's a great idea,just not mine. Now I have another project sorting things out.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

My parts bins are pretty well organized in my basement shop. Some items are combined (dowel pins, set screws, square and woodruff keys, etc.) for example are all in several different larger drawers with like items without regard to size. I do have a few drawers of "shame", screws of #8, #10, #12, #14 of various lengths, head styles, etc. If I have several of one size/type, they usually warrant a special drawer (or divided drawer) of their own.

Its all about convenience.. In a "production" type job (using several of the same fastener for example), having them in one drawer is invaluable. For the special job (I need "this" size set screw...), having them all in one drawer isn't too much trouble. I simply pour them into this slick organizer / sorter (I purchased from Rockler I believe), find the one I need, and back into the larger drawer they go.. no gas or time driving to the hardware store, etc..

And of course.. I don't throw much out, including scraps of wood, metal, etc.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress..

Dennis

 

[Catadj78]

Ok, I'm going to say it and everyone is going to tell me I'm an idiot....and you'll be right.

The bins being all randomly different colors would drive me crazy. At the very least I'd have put all the like colors together! Preferably using the different colors to denote something of importance about the content of what is stored in them.

And he tacked them in place so they have to STAY that way!

Flame away.

I'm not ocd about many things but it would drive me crazy too

 

[The Cobbler]

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good thing he admits he's not a carpenter . among other things that I don't agree with on the build, once he loads up those bins on the top, the shelf they're resting on will sag big time.

 

[crerus75]

I'm going through this right now. I had two goals:
1-- Throw out all the junk that I will never use. I figure if I have 3 screws of a particular size, for example, I really have ZERO. Almost anything I do will use more than 3 screws, so they go in a 5 gallon bucket to take to the scrap yard. I DON'T need a shop full of stuff I can't match.
2-- Use a standardized storage system. I hate having fifty different sizes and shapes of containers-- tackle boxes, cigar boxes, cardboard boxes of different sizes, plastic shoeboxes, tote bins, jars, baggies, etc. It makes shelving, organizing, and packaging a nightmare.

For small parts, I started off using a bunch of Stack On SBR-18 cases from Amazon. These are great for nuts, bolts, screws, taps and dies, etc.

When the price doubled on the Stack On ones this year, I looked around and found these at Home Depot. I like these and the Stack On ones better than some of the others because the dividers can be configured to different sizes or taken out completely.
I have about 20 or 25 of these with everything from drywall screws to pop rivets in them and I love them. I can actually find stuff without digging through cardboard boxes.

 

[jwh]

There is a tread somewhere on this forum or welding web. Saw it last month and now can't find it, but they used plastic storage boxes from HF and made a cabinet for the boxes to slide in. I have started to purchase the boxes and found them at a big box store on sale for $9.99 for two medium or three smaller ones. They are from Stanley lock together if you want and have a nice yellow handle you can write on what inside. It's a great idea,just not mine. Now I have another project sorting things out.

It's in the "What did you do in your garage today thread" if that's the one you're thinking of. He just posted a little while ago, got more parts boxes.

 

[harleybuilder]

I built a cabinet for the plastic storage boxes I got from HF to organize different fasteners .

 

[astroracer]

Find some card files similar to this one.

This one is used for bolt and nut organization. The gray plastic bins that HF carries fit right into the drawers and make great dividers that are removable for taking hardware to the job.



Mark

 

[mdbeck1]

Find some card files similar to this one.

This one is used for bolt and nut organization. The gray plastic bins that HF carries fit right into the drawers and make great dividers that are removable for taking hardware to the job.

Mark

I used cut off oil cans to put the nuts/bolts in. Cheap, easy, and recycling. Until I found this metal cabinet

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I had a few bins of shame for a while. But after years of adding to them one day you'll get pissed enough to sort through and wa-lah! Now you got it. Good thread and a good head means it's getting saved. No one wants to run to the store for one bolt.

I save anything that isn't broken. Brake springs and hardware, u joint clips, different auto body fasteners, screws, push pins, you name it. I made labels for my bins for things that I don't have. like m14 bolts; now if I get one, that's where it goes.

 

[ford33]

I also had many fasteners taking up space in boxes in my cabinets. I have learned to throw away the fasteners that are rarely used. Why take up space for an item I rarely use. Space cost money in terms storage space and time to sort and organize.

I use Stanley 25 bin and 10 bin storage trays to hold my frequently used items. These are the ones with the removable bins and not the plastic movable walls. They are well built and stay closed when latched. I built a rack to hold the bins.

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[Delta74]

do it the same way we do at work, take those boxes of mixed nuts bolts and screws to one of the restores, or bibles for missions or whatever stores, Donate them, get a tax receipt for your donation , wait a week for there volunteer's to sort it, buy it back sorted and bagged / boxed for 1/10th that you originally paid, by that time you should have found some clear space to install your new shiny empty bins, and just need **** to put in them.

 

[Nermal43]

Husky boxes and rebar/angle iron rack:

View media item 46860

 

[chrismenke]

I got a little OCD as I hate wasting time finding fasteners.

Russ Bassett cabinet with Akro Mils bins.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Here are a few of my solutions.. since I pack rat this sort of stuff. I don't mind keeping odds and ends since my system supports that. These are from my basement shop..

The first picture shows some home made storage, one with snuff cans (lerft) and another with those old photo film cans. There is also a traditional parts bin there with a place to store packaged drywall / utility screws.

The second picture shows my larger parts storage binds. I have everything from dowel pins all the way down to drawers with one size of solid brass screws in them. The small green cabinet in the lower left is full of cutting tools including tool bits, end mils, extra taps, knurling wheels, etc.

The third picture is my larger storage cabinet that has everything from shorts of metal / plastic "stock", all the way up to larger boxes of lag screws. The green bind on top is my "catch all" for all sorts of capcrews.. bolts of all sorts and fashions and sizes.

The last picture is of several Rubbermaid tubs of larger items, and also an overflow for larger boxes of fasteners for major projects.. I have a couple of boxes of anchors and drywall screws on there for example as I continue to put up walls in my basement and garage..

I don't need to go the the hardware store that often, but if I do it is usually for something really obtuse, and or to pick up a larger quantity of hardware for a major project..

Good luck with your project and outcome.. Of course, all of mine have been continual improvement... i.e. this didn't happen over night..

 

[Alan Douglas]

Cardboard bins on open metal shelves (old grocery-store shelving). They stand up well enough for home use. It doesn't take long to sort new hardware into the bins, and when I need a 3/8" bolt there are only two or three bins where it should be.

I use the same bins for other parts and materials. They come in various widths and lengths, and I've even been known to cut and fold my own from sheet cardboard to get a particularly long bin.

 

[Strouty]

I have been working on organizing my misc fasteners for the last couple of years. I get stuck trying to label the bins, I just can't commit. I have been reading a book about how our minds work and I think I have made a breakthrough. I am going to try what they call "functional organizing" it seemed too simple, but I realized I do it for other things, so why not hardware. Basically, you can break things down so detailed that you can't or won't start the organizing process. The way the described things so it clicked in my head was the way most people classify "birds" and "bugs" those cover a large group that can be broken down by some many different attributes, that it makes my head spin. Yet I can easily say that is a bird and not have to say blue jay or robin. So I am going to shoot for labels as simple as "screws", "bolts", and other broad terms. I am hoping it will at least allow me to get unstuck and then later I can break things down further if I need or want to.

 

[justanengineer]

I bought a couple Fastenal bins for $20 each to keep common small fasteners on hand. I dont save old hardware unless its of significant size that I might want to reuse as metal stock for other projects.