I feel im always running to the hardware store to go get nuts/bolts washers type stuff. Is there a good general assortment kit that isn't huge money? Seems prices are all over the place. I always need something different and I understand one kit wont have all. Metric and SAE in one kit? Grade 5 or 8 is fine. Lots of kits when searching GOOGLE show up. But wondering if you guys have a go to place for stuff like this? Thanks!!
Best budget NUT/BOLT assortment kit?
- Thread starter mrrooG8
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devoncoolman
Well-known member
I bought a dorman kit from pepboys for general use. They are 8.8metric. Good enough for general automotive use. If i need a grade 8 or 10.9 i buy by the piece at my local fastener supply or i order the origional bolt from the manufacturer.
The dorman kits have a good variety for the price. I think i paid $20 for my metric kit. If i bought everything that is in the kit it would cost well over $60 or more.
The dorman kits have a good variety for the price. I think i paid $20 for my metric kit. If i bought everything that is in the kit it would cost well over $60 or more.
After more "GOOGLING." I think i'm just gonna go to the local farm supply and buy a good assortment. M4-M10 and some 1/4 through" 1/2" stuff. Probably cheaper this way and i'm not stuck with stuff I don't need. Then re stock all my wood/drywall selection at same time. We just moved into our new house and we have lots of projects i'm doing. So I've used up a huge amount of my supply.
signcrafter
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Personally I haven't found a kit that is quality that doesn't cost a fortune or have more then 2 or 3 of each size. I have put together my own little hardware store over the years. When I needed one or two of something I would grab extra and also a few different sizes. Say I needed four M10 bolt 65mm long. I would get maybe 10 of those. Then grab a few of the M10 next size longer and shorter. A few extra bucks each time to the hardware store but over the years it adds up. The key is to keep things organized so they aren't just a big mess of mixed bolts. I've also just bought maybe 2 or 3 of a few different sizes that I may not have yet when I'm at the store for something. I do this with all sorts of things, plumbing fittings, electrical connectors, nails, screws, everything.
sberry
Banned
You wont need grade 8. If you do not intend on a lot of stock, want to keep it less confusing use all 5. We keep some 2 in stock for very commons, some bolts and nuts from 1/4 to 1/2 and a few larger for economy.
I only use a few metric, I recover a few here and there and have a pail/tray and its rare enough I can look for one, I stock a fair amount of sae and enough its not painful to toss some in the trash.
I don't clean common rusty fasteners, so much faster and easier to replace them. Find a set up and replace it from a bulk store. I go thru a couple times a year and fill them and don't put back anything that is common and not in pristine working order.
I only use a few metric, I recover a few here and there and have a pail/tray and its rare enough I can look for one, I stock a fair amount of sae and enough its not painful to toss some in the trash.
I don't clean common rusty fasteners, so much faster and easier to replace them. Find a set up and replace it from a bulk store. I go thru a couple times a year and fill them and don't put back anything that is common and not in pristine working order.
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sberry
Banned
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
CONCUR at they will kill your budget.
Be careful what you buy. Some of the cheap stuff is not even Grade 5 !
kerr
Well-known member
This . Extra 2 bucks at a time and , there you go !
Fretters
Well-known member
I do the same. If I need to buy something which I don't have, I always buy more than I need. If you needed it once, you'll likely need it again, is my motto. I'll generally just plump for longer bolts too, rather than buying several lengths just incase they're ever needed again. Easy enough to cut them to length if necessary. Woodscrews are obviously a different matter, length wise, but cheap enough to stock up with several boxes of varying length with those.
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nh_yota
Well-known member
I do the same.
sberry
Banned
I got a lot of stuff, 8 is so super rare I don't even stock it but for a handful of pieces mostly stuff I found laying about. The reason I mentioned hi use is,,, in some cases we don't even want 2 in the shop if we have others working on equipment. I know enough to look and insure I am not putting a soft bolt in a place needs a hardened one but not everyone does this. For a little extra in cost can simply stock 5 and get a long ways away from this problem.
creativecars
Well-known member
When I go to a farm and home or rural king type store I will grab a couple bags and start grabbing handfuls of one or two sizes. Nuts, lock washers, flat washers in one bag and then a hand full of each length bolt up to about 4". At times when they are on sell, usually about 1.29 lb I will double up. I now have a descent selection from 1/4" up to 1/2" and a few 5/8 and 3/4.
Same. My local True Value sells Grade 5 and 8 fasteners by the pound. I grab a sack and start grabbing handfuls of different sizes.
I just bought a large amount of nuts/washers from BoltDepot.com though, as they had the best price on Nylocks and SAE washers that I had found
cagullett1
Well-known member
I've had the same issue. I find it hard to source quantities of metric stuff (mostly get bolts/nuts at Tractor Supply). They sell metric, but it's much more expensive than their bulk/bag pricing. I'd also like to get SAE smaller than 1/4", which is where TSC seems to be lacking.
wolf_from_wv
Well-known member
I work odd hours, and sometimes want to work on a project when I get home at 3am, and things always seem to break when a store isn't open, so I've been building up a little hardware selection over the last few years...
Those are Plano 9 compartment tackle boxes in a large rolling suitcase. The #0 screws are in a different container at the moment.
Those are Plano 9 compartment tackle boxes in a large rolling suitcase. The #0 screws are in a different container at the moment.
For the stuff you'll use a lot, yeah probably best to get from a local hardware store. But for all the other stuff you may need, the Harbor Freight 1001 piece set of bolts, screws, nuts, washers for $16 after coupon is nice to have on hand in a pinch.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1001-piece-nut-and-bolt-storehouse-67628.html
It has saved me many trips to the hardware store over the years. Haven't had to restock it yet, and I've had it for 10 years. Other day, I used 10 or so pieces out of it to secure a bed frame. Kinda lightweight stuff but good enough for general use. Comes in a handy organizer/box.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1001-piece-nut-and-bolt-storehouse-67628.html
It has saved me many trips to the hardware store over the years. Haven't had to restock it yet, and I've had it for 10 years. Other day, I used 10 or so pieces out of it to secure a bed frame. Kinda lightweight stuff but good enough for general use. Comes in a handy organizer/box.
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evintho
Well-known member
Keep in mind Tractor Supply Co. sells nuts/bolts/washers by the pound. At the local TSC here in expensive northern California the small stuff up to 1/2" is $3 per lb and the bigger stuff 9/16"-up is $4 per lb. You can mix and match anything under 1/2" and anything over 9/16" as it's by the pound.
I have the small HF plastic boxes, with SAE and metric assortments, which were about $5 ea. The have bailed me out many times.
They seem to run pretty long, so when I need something shorter, just cut them down with the 3" cutoff tool.
They are "nuts and bolts", so I would not necessarily use them in an engine rebuild, but they will hold a big screen TV, to it's wall bracket.
They seem to run pretty long, so when I need something shorter, just cut them down with the 3" cutoff tool.
They are "nuts and bolts", so I would not necessarily use them in an engine rebuild, but they will hold a big screen TV, to it's wall bracket.