DIY Rookie
Well-known member
I hate the screw and bolt storage b bins from like HF or wherever. I need some ideas for organizing those items in my garage. DIY, store bought whatever. Pics would be awesome. Ty for your help.
Bolt, screw storage organization ideas
- Thread starter DIY Rookie
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Many of us buy these, or something similar and build shelves to hold them.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZRU5CBK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I also despise the open bins as they get full of other ****, dust, dirt, and wood shavings.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZRU5CBK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I also despise the open bins as they get full of other ****, dust, dirt, and wood shavings.
At the price per hole for that Milwaukee in the link, this welded steel cab comes out about even -
I lucked out shortly before retiring, walked out with these 3 cabinets for FREE - so far, about half of the slots are full - one row per size, got more to do yet. So far the used rows are (per row) 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 and 1". (Yeah, I have some fairly large equipment :=)
Each row starts (left to right) with nuts/flats/locks then short to long lengths (usually 3 lengths per drawer, up to 6")
If money isn't a biggie, look at Lista cabinets - but IMO, they're in the same category as the old yacht salesman's comment - "if you hafta ASK..." - Steve
Amazon.com: Durham 611-95 Gray Welded Steel Cabinet, 12-5/8" Width x 24-1/2" Height x 12-1/8" Depth, 9 Drawers : Tools & Home Improvement
Amazon.com: Durham 611-95 Gray Welded Steel Cabinet, 12-5/8" Width x 24-1/2" Height x 12-1/8" Depth, 9 Drawers : Tools & Home Improvement
www.amazon.com
I lucked out shortly before retiring, walked out with these 3 cabinets for FREE - so far, about half of the slots are full - one row per size, got more to do yet. So far the used rows are (per row) 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 and 1". (Yeah, I have some fairly large equipment :=)
Each row starts (left to right) with nuts/flats/locks then short to long lengths (usually 3 lengths per drawer, up to 6")
If money isn't a biggie, look at Lista cabinets - but IMO, they're in the same category as the old yacht salesman's comment - "if you hafta ASK..." - Steve
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I usually don't like open bins either, but for SOME stuff it isn't too bad - I threw this cab together for hydraulic fittings - each 6"x12" bin has 3-5 dividers, and NOTHING gets stored "naked" - either in the bag it shipped in, or zip lock bags. That way a quick blast with the air hose gets most of the dust WITHOUT scattering parts everywhere... Steve
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Trapps
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Lots of info and ideas here.
My own solution:
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Key element was over-travel slides which allow the lid to stay up on its own while I dig for parts.
My own solution:
[/url]Key element was over-travel slides which allow the lid to stay up on its own while I dig for parts.
Sure, but one thing nice about the Milwaukee or similar cases is you can grab them and go. I end up doing some repairs at my mom's or dad's homes and I can grab a couple cases and run. Even doing home repairs I find myself just grabbing one of the cases with nails or screws and bringing it all to where I am working. You can not do that with that Durham or even a Lista cabinet.
Yeah, I have a few of that style too, IIRC Stanley DeWalt and a couple HF's (not as sturdy, duh)
Everybody's sitch is different, I AM the dad (77 this may), at this stage my idea of "travel" is a tractor trip to the bottom pasture (10 acres) - at that point I have several open tool totes - those get whatever cordless tools/extra batteries I may need (cordless grinder with thin cutoff disk is about 4 TIMES as fast for cutting 4' field fencing as fencing pliers are) - any small parts go into one or two of the "Porta-part" cases (typically hog rings, wire ties (attaching fence wire to T posts), heavy black tie wraps (those go in the open totes) -
Sawzall for quick trims along fence line, otherwise 2kw inverter genny strapped to rear fender, 100' extension cord and corded chainsaw or pole saw -
My son's house previous owner is one of those who should NEVER have had access to tools, so a trip to his house usually involves the compartmented tote with every size wire nut ever invented, plus my Electrician tool bag (had to have 2 different category elect. licenses to work industrial instrumentation, didn't keep 'em up after retiring) - previous owner of son's house did some REALLY strange things, there's still a couple we haven't completely figured out.
Son lives 25 miles away, so using the tractor ain't too practical
... Steve
Everybody's sitch is different, I AM the dad (77 this may), at this stage my idea of "travel" is a tractor trip to the bottom pasture (10 acres) - at that point I have several open tool totes - those get whatever cordless tools/extra batteries I may need (cordless grinder with thin cutoff disk is about 4 TIMES as fast for cutting 4' field fencing as fencing pliers are) - any small parts go into one or two of the "Porta-part" cases (typically hog rings, wire ties (attaching fence wire to T posts), heavy black tie wraps (those go in the open totes) -
Sawzall for quick trims along fence line, otherwise 2kw inverter genny strapped to rear fender, 100' extension cord and corded chainsaw or pole saw -
My son's house previous owner is one of those who should NEVER have had access to tools, so a trip to his house usually involves the compartmented tote with every size wire nut ever invented, plus my Electrician tool bag (had to have 2 different category elect. licenses to work industrial instrumentation, didn't keep 'em up after retiring) - previous owner of son's house did some REALLY strange things, there's still a couple we haven't completely figured out.
Son lives 25 miles away, so using the tractor ain't too practical
... Steve
That is terrific.Lots of info and ideas here.
My own solution:
Key element was over-travel slides which allow the lid to stay up on its own while I dig for parts.
nadogail
Well-known member
I have drawers for the common diameters, I only use NC threads, the various lengths are mixed in their respective drawers. I mix the grades and materials in the drawers. I avoid buying Grade 2 fasteners.
i typically only use metric hex or flange hardware from m6-m10 so i just have some of those home depot HDX branded containers (like the milwaukee or similar but only dividers no removable bins). I only have 7 of them so i just stack them. i want to build a dedicated setup but room is not there right now.
bugnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
fourjeepin
Well-known member
I bought the bins from Home Depot. I only wanted a couple of the upper bins but at $50 per vertical stack, I took em all. I thought it was a great deal until he told me I got all the hardware too. I spent countless hours ripping open the little packages, sorting, etc. I now have 10 lifetimes worth of some oddball stuff. The two stacks shown in the image are topped with a piece of corian.
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I'm elbow deep into re-organizing all my hardware at the moment. I've been using the inexpensive clear organizers from HF, but got tired of having to sift through the stack when I was looking for something and built a set of shelves for them. Material was just what I had on hand - 1/2" ply sides, 1/4" OSB shelves. I would have preferred ply for the shelves, but had the OSB on hand and it was a good way to use it up. Nothing fancy, but they serve the purpose.
akalian
Well-known member
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I have many of these type of fishing tackle boxes , I orient the label on the ends tho.. watching this thread for bulk storage ideas
Thankfully that one label was a test and I hadn't spent the time doing all the labels this way. I was trying to figure out the best location and realized pretty quickly that putting that label in the same spot where I grab the container is probably not a great idea.
Oh, I like those!Ya ok
I got these at two different auctions (through bidspotter.com), all full of hardware. I use some, most I'll never use. But it's nice needing something and ta da, having it. I've had them for years now, I have several hundred dollars (I think it was around $600?) in for all of this, hardware contents included. There is over a literal ton of hardware in these drawers.
Not portable as a whole obviously, but all individual drawers are removable for transport if needed. All drawers close which is great for keeping metal and wood debris out of the trays. The first photo, the tall cabinet on the right I'm thinking of cutting it down in half so the two halves will be the same height as the lower cabinet to the left.
These individual cases are stacked, they nest nicely. Metal case carcass with 16 plastic drawers per case. Haven't had any drawers break which I'm grateful for. I see these on auction sites often. While the cases themselves are not portable the way I have them stacked and under a top, often times if I have to leave the shop I'll pull several of the drawers and take those with me. Or I'll pull several out, bring them to the worktable.
Some drawers have a single item in them, others a mix...
The 'file cabinets' below are handy as well. Another auction.
Again, semi portable contents. The drawers open, each drawer has two deep wooden trays that can be removed and taken away if needed. I like these as well.
I highly recommend thinking through your long-range needs and honestly, spend a little and buy to those needs. Getting this hardware storage as well as the contents, truly a game changer for me. Efficiencies can make a big difference in a small shop. Once you find a bit of it, you don't want to go back.
Good luck!
Not portable as a whole obviously, but all individual drawers are removable for transport if needed. All drawers close which is great for keeping metal and wood debris out of the trays. The first photo, the tall cabinet on the right I'm thinking of cutting it down in half so the two halves will be the same height as the lower cabinet to the left.
These individual cases are stacked, they nest nicely. Metal case carcass with 16 plastic drawers per case. Haven't had any drawers break which I'm grateful for. I see these on auction sites often. While the cases themselves are not portable the way I have them stacked and under a top, often times if I have to leave the shop I'll pull several of the drawers and take those with me. Or I'll pull several out, bring them to the worktable.
Some drawers have a single item in them, others a mix...
The 'file cabinets' below are handy as well. Another auction.
Again, semi portable contents. The drawers open, each drawer has two deep wooden trays that can be removed and taken away if needed. I like these as well.
I highly recommend thinking through your long-range needs and honestly, spend a little and buy to those needs. Getting this hardware storage as well as the contents, truly a game changer for me. Efficiencies can make a big difference in a small shop. Once you find a bit of it, you don't want to go back.
Good luck!
You missed the point completely! This is the Durham he posted.
You posted a different model, style, what ever.
Jeff Ivers
Well-known member
This cleaned up my organization a bit.
Carquest
Well-known member
Lucky, in that I've acquired many Lista boxes over the years. Only drawback is not portable...
Grant Gunderson
Well-known member
I use a combination of cheap red stackable boxes for the stuff I tend to take to the project such as wood screws, wire crimps etc. most of my “nuts and bolts” are stored by size in a large stack of bank safety deposit boxes I picked up a few years ago for $50. They are literally built like a vault and are pretty portable too.
