clear organizer parts boxes

[FredWanaker]

got a bunch of horizontal plastic organizer boxes either at Amazon, or HF, don't remember but finally had use for them to sort stuff while building an engine and have a lot of metric stuff that is all together in three standup bins with maybe 15 drawers each - the standup ones have all kinds of other stuff in them, so I decided to seperate out the metric stuff and put it into these clear horizontal boxes. Each clear horizontal box is about 12 inches by maybe 8" by maybe 2". The claps are a pain to work and already opening and closing 15 - 20 times each the clasps are breaking off. Can anyone recommend a clear flat horizontal organizer box for metric stuff, lots of 6, 8, 10 mm washers, thick washers, different length 6mm bolts and screws. I am tied of reaching all the way across the work bench to pull a vertical drawer out then digging thru it find the specific bolt length or specific kind of washer. I can set 6 to 8 of these clear boxes up near the other vertical ones and pull them down when I need metric stuff, and easily see what I have or what I might want to order.

 

[DGersic]

20-Bin Medium Portable Parts Storage Case

Amazing deals on this 20-Bin Medium Portable Storage Case at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

These are surprisingly nice for the money. There are lots of builds here of cabinets to store lots of these.

 

[cvairwerks]

I’m using the Milwaukee Jobsite organizers. Only two sizes of internal cups, but can be moved around or taken out as needed.

 

[CraigStu]

Be sure to buy way more than you think you need. Because at some point, which ever ones you chose, will not be made anymore, and all others will be slightly different sizes.

 

[Crabman]

Plano makes boxes for tackle and there are ready made shelving units available.

I started with them with fishing tackle, but shifted some shop hardware into some also.

Not great for really heavy stuff if using the adjustable dividers, but otherwise I have had good luck with them.

And they have been around for a while and have standard sizes so maybe not as much a risk as CraigStu articulated.

 

[FredWanaker]

am reading the replies and looking them up. The plano boxes look a lot like what I have but they say they are for tackle. The Milwaukee and Stanley boxes are too expensive for this application. They do not need a handle. These are the ones the clasps have already broken on.

 

[lolaetype]

am reading the replies and looking them up. The plano boxes look a lot like what I have but they say they are for tackle. The Milwaukee and Stanley boxes are too expensive for this application. They do not need a handle. These are the ones the clasps have already broken on.

I've got about 20 of those clear plastic boxes, all bought maybe 15-20 years ago when they were $1-$2 each. Great for nuts, washers, lock washers, small bolts, screws and any small hardware or fasteners. No failures, . . yet.

 

[Vtor]

I resorted to Stanley brand organizers after years of mismatched home depot, harbor freight, ice cube tray [CHEAP!!!] method of organizing. Most annoying thing is a brand discontinuing a size you bought and now you have mismatched stuff that does not fit well into whatever it was organized in. Attached is the latest in "get your sh!t organized".

I built this to fit 2 stanley branded organizers - quite different in style, but very close in overall width and depth. Pretty sure they are made by 2 different manufacturers.

 

[ZRX61]

I have some I got from Hobby Lobby about 12x8 I guess. Small compartments.

 

[flyingblind]

.
I have a few of these (eta 6), they lock shut firm and have 2 sides. I use them for electrical connectors, rivets, rivnuts, Nuts and bolts or anything I want to drag outside.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NM4ZTHR/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Cheapies from Harbor Freight from before they had the black and yellow ones. They've lasted really long time.

 

[Bucko]

20-Bin Medium Portable Parts Storage Case

Amazing deals on this 20-Bin Medium Portable Storage Case at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

These are surprisingly nice for the money. There are lots of builds here of cabinets to store lots of these.

Another vote for the "sortimo" style at harbor freight. They will put them on sale pretty often for about $7 on the shallow and $10 for the tall ones with a coupon for up to 5 at a time.
Nice thing is once you have a bunch of them you can mix and match the drawers on the shallow ones to make them work for each application because of the 3 different sizes. The tall ones don't have the ability as much to swap out bins because of the layout but I'm up to about 30 of them now total and about 5 are the tall ones.
I have still yet to build a rack for them as this is a more recent conversion for me as I switched from the pull out style bin sorters, and other random containers. I moved twice with pro movers and both times they managed to turn them over at least a dozen times it seems and mix everything up. The last time I moved I packed them myself and transported them myself and didn't mix up a single item. The Sortimo style are much more fool-proof and once in the rolling cabinet racks I plan to build it should transport just fine.

 

[FredWanaker]

Cheapies from Harbor Freight from before they had the black and yellow ones. They've lasted really long time.

Those are the one I liked but the latches are all breaking off. I did find a BikeMaster Model at Bass Pro Shops that looks good but it is not a stocked item and there were no reviews. https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bik...VRzWtBh1Asg_-EAQYASABEgKQu_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[619DioFan]

20-Bin Medium Portable Parts Storage Case

Amazing deals on this 20-Bin Medium Portable Storage Case at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

These are surprisingly nice for the money. There are lots of builds here of cabinets to store lots of these.

I have found these to,be very good.

 

[paredown]

I built a small version of the Sortimo using the Harbor Freight boxes over the past year. I have discovered one problem with the HF boxes though--the plastic for the compartments is somewhat soft (thin?)--so if you leave them sitting on edge in your truck cab or somewhere where they get warm, with the compartments full/near full, the plastic of the compartments will warp.

It seems like a trivial complaint, except the lid has a series of ridges on it that are meant to close down on the arrangement of the bins, so when the edges are warped, it is harder to get the lids closed.

I suppose it is only mildly annoying--but I would be happier if it didn't happen.

 

[FredWanaker]

what about these? anyone try them? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-To...with-slide-lock-2-Pack/396141900?athbdg=L1600

 

[tarbellb]

Well it's one or the other, either go cheap and they don't perform or last
OR
spend a little up front and have a nice usable system that last

I've had great luck with HD Husky brand 10 bin clear top organizer
typically $10-15ea
the best compromise on performance and price ive found

 

[olytdi]

Look similar in form to the Dewalt version of which I've found for a similar price on sale at HD. Last time they were on sale I bought a half dozen.

 

[RivennHewn]

I don’t care about brand or style, as long as it’s filled with snacks!

Snackleboxes!

 

[FredWanaker]

I dropped by HF to replace the broken ones and pick up a couple others in the meantime to get as much done as I could. To my surprise they had several other models that do not come up in searches on their online site. I went with one of those. They were on sale and only a dollar more than the cheaper plastic ones that the latches broke on. https://www.harborfreight.com/large-water-resistant-storage-container-56578.html

Thanks to all who suggested

 

[FredWanaker]

Just as a followup. The dividers inside have to be individually cut from a strip. In the stock configuration the box does not properly close unless forced. The reason is that the dividers are too close together and the strips that hang down from the top do not align properly. It has taken me about 1/2 hour a box to trim and fit each divider. Based on that I would give these a fail. Also one divider shattered when cutting it with a wire cutter so my guess is that the plastic used in these is quite poor. I give them a fail.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

 

[kbeefy]

About $7/ea on sale at HF