loose parts, bolts and nuts.

[Ratchet Guy]

Just want to see how you keep all your loose parts or tools that are still usuable that you'd don't like to throw away and the bolts and nuts that you know that you'll always need it one day to save the day.

 

[sberry]

How much you want to spend to save?

 

[Gmonkee]

A Xmas cookie tin. I just don't want buckets of "maybe someday.... " **** to trip over.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I use coffee cans & tobacco tins For Used bolts, Nuts, and small parts. If I get to many of the same size I just throw them in the next car I'm scraping. For the hardware I have it sorted by size or function. I also have about 8 tins of Lug nuts

New hardware is stored in the little plastic drawer organizers, I'm gonna need to get some bigger organizers soon though, I do use a fair bit of hardware.

 

[Ratchet Guy]

How much you want to spend to save?

I currently use 2 ground coffee cans for bolts and nuts and nothing for used parts, just looking for ideas and how to manage it effectively.

 

[sberry]

I have been thru that and have most of mine gone thru and got rid of or sorted in with the rest of the stock. I only save some slightly rare, a couple cans of fine thread is plenty and its so rare for me I can stop and look a minute. I toss rusty common stuff, I have a bolt bin and stock new and in a few of the commons even stock a few grade 2, when a guy has enough or a box on hand and it doesn't tap all his stock he is more inclined to shove a couple dozen 1/2 nuts off in to the trash and put new on.

Loose "parts" is scrap unless it can be cut into stock. You cant afford to store it. My neighbor debated this, he built new garage, filled it wit junk, now went back, finally figured out his level.

 

[sberry]

Not counting shop have 4K sq ft dedicated to it. Its different for everyone. When I work from my pickup truck can also work from a couple cans, mot single tasks its adequate as long as you restock.

 

[dwysywd]

I have this like one. I think Kmart is selling it for $15 now. It has 20+ drawers. I spent some time and organized some major components like sheet metal screws, self tappers, small machined bolts, misc washers, nuts, etc. it has helped a lot. I got this as a gift about 9 years ago and it always had misc **** in it. Love having everything organized in it. And now I am going to buy another for the remaining categories I'm out of storage room on.




Regards,
Jeff

Sent from my bag phone...

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I'm a pack rat for parts / hardware.
At work I keep some plastic small parts bins handy on the workbench and separate new hardware, which I get tons of extras on new assemblies, by certain types / sizes of most common stuff. Not down to each type of item (washer, nut, bolt) but just by general size (3/8" and under, 1/2", 5/8" and larger ) It takes almost no effort when you do this as stuff comes in when straightening up after the job is complete.
I keep an eye out for some certain items, like SAE washers, or weld studs, that I often have need of for particular common jobs. Those items have a separate bin.
Odd leftovers / spares (pins, clamps, specialty items, brass fittings) all get thrown in a 5 gal. bucket. I rarely ever dig through looking for anything so it usually gets scrapped after it sits around for a year or two, or sometimes I'll give it away to anyone who asks.
Now all that is just extras and leftovers - I do have a pretty comprehensive new assortment of stuff to pull from, as well.

At home, I have leftover hardware storage unit from a hardware store re-fit. The slide out drawer box arrangement - both smaller plastic and the larger metal types. But I don't get nearly the "leftovers" on home projects.

 

[Katodog]

I use these for random hardware and whatnot, they work out great and stay tucked away on a shelf when not needed.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I use these for random hardware and whatnot, they work out great and stay tucked away on a shelf when not needed.

Yeah, I forgot about those - that style box is great! I have a few for specific project types at home - one for communication / cat5 / cable stuff, one for pex plumbing parts, one for drywall / wood screws / wallboard anchors (I call it the "picture hanger box").

 

[jhnlngn]

Akro-Mills makes a ton of different storage containers for randoms and what not.

 

[2mJps]

I use alot of those christmas fruit cake/ cooke tins amd gal cans right now. I scrap and clean up farms and old buildings so i have alot of bolts just got 5 buckets full of new metric bolts. I dont have a shop of my own right now or i would build something better.

 

[Richard Cranium]

this is mine.

 

[nahuebsch82]

I just have all mine mixed up and dumped in drawers LOL

 

[four.cycle]

 

[PugetDude]

Here's the gold standard:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289281

 

[sberry]

Its got to go someplace. My bud had a drawer looked a lot like that, we managed to use stuff from it all the time.
The gold standard is cool enough although I like the metal drawers and for the cost would simply consider an hf44. I like bins I can see in for bolts, I am in it too often to make it anything but grab and growl.

 

[sberry]

Richard, that is nice, like that.

 

[ttpete]

Its got to go someplace. My bud had a drawer looked a lot like that, we managed to use stuff from it all the time.
The gold standard is cool enough although I like the metal drawers and for the cost would simply consider an hf44. I like bins I can see in for bolts, I am in it too often to make it anything but grab and growl.

We had a setup like that, and the rep from the fastener company would come in once a week and inventory it, then ship what was needed. We used those fasteners mainly for fixtures and stands.

 

[Mustang1167]

I use coffee cans...the bolt I need is always at the bottom.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have a lot of plastic Plano boxes and some metal Curtis Industries slide out trays (probably made by Durham) to hold fasteners and small parts.

 

[Mastermind]

I have a stack of the big metal trays, some smaller ones, a bunch of Plano boxes, and a couple of 4 Plano boxes in a carrier that can mount to the wall. Found them at walmart, just wish they were bigger.

 

[tremek]

Its got to go someplace. My bud had a drawer looked a lot like that, we managed to use stuff from it all the time.
The gold standard is cool enough although I like the metal drawers and for the cost would simply consider an hf44. I like bins I can see in for bolts, I am in it too often to make it anything but grab and growl.

I have that setup at work. its full of wheel weights. but its red

 

[crguy]

I bought sections of steel bins with steel drawers and a few open bins when a local hardware store changed suppliers. Have everything sorted and organized.
Also have some of the plastic bins for lightweight screws, etc.
Never wanted to have to dump out a can and dig around to find a bolt or nut.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Card file with drawers full of cut down quart oil bottles. Got a damn nice hardware selection organized like that. Other drawers sorted by type. Pipe fittings, hydraulic fittings, brass, electrical, springs, ect.

 

[drink]

Just want to see how you keep all your loose parts or tools that are still usuable that you'd don't like to throw away and the bolts and nuts that you know that you'll always need it one day to save the day.

Currently I'm using cookie tins, coffee containers, bags and boxes. Hopefully someday I will have a nice storage box with labeled drawers or sliding storage compartments like a hardware store.

 

[Hankoh]

I currently use 2 ground coffee cans for bolts and nuts and nothing for used parts, just looking for ideas and how to manage it effectively.

Ratchet Guy - I also use coffee cans and organize them in a simple shelf unit; I posted a pic on another thread yesterday:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=524588&d=1454873473

 

[dwysywd]

Ratchet Guy - I also use coffee cans and organize them in a simple shelf unit; I posted a pic on another thread yesterday:



http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=524588&d=1454873473

That's clever. Never thought about putting them on an oil can shelf (?) like that. Looks good!

I still like the drawers, but admittedly, they are small.


Regards,
Jeff

Sent from my bag phone...

 

[71goldss]

Its got to go someplace.
The gold standard is cool enough although I like the metal drawers and for the cost would simply consider an hf44.

Glad to see someone suggest the HF44's! During the Black Friday sales I did just that and picked up two 44's, then went back and got an end cabinet to attach them in the center. I also picked up a bunch of those HF's 3pc plastic drawer organizers. The full width top drawers are being used for large/long tool overflow from my existing tool cabinets, but the rest of the drawers are used to group and organize my loose parts, nuts, bolts, washers, fittings, connectors, etc. I've been spending a few hours a week transferring and organizing everything into it and still have a long way to go. Though not finished, it's already been great to just pull open a drawer and go right to whatever I'm looking for!

 

[skruft]

I am not well organized. I throw them into a small wooden box and then distribute them into jars when it's full. The jars I prefer are the large square plastic ones with wide mouths that are used for Costco cashew nuts, etc.

I do the same with brass fittings.

If something is worn and ordinary I throw it away, because I have a lot of new hardware.

 

[ilovevocs]

I have one of these..

https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/63002

I bought it with a huge set of grade 8's from Fastenal with the labels for the bin. I only stock a few metrics. I also purchase allot from Fastenal so my pricing is much less than retail.