The REST of the hardware storage?

[Dan in Pasadena]

I like how well this seems to go together. I have a bunch of larger totes in my shop and I'm constantly digging in them to find smaller items. I'm thinking it's time I break down the larger boxes into smaller ones like this.

Niget - Do yourself a favor - before deciding on a brand of boxes (unlike me) and find out if the same brand has even smaller boxes that stack well with your default larger box. I’m hoping I can find the same boxes I have but in half depth for even smaller “stuff” like sandpaper, and small tubes of lubricants, glues, etc.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Kaizen]

May not be helpful but I try to balance the cost of buying new items vs. buying containers to store stuff in. I have cut way back on the amount of storage bins and totes I need because a lot of the **** I've been hoarding has either been tossed or donated to HFH Restore. There were cans of old nails, boxes of hardware and tools I'll never use, some of which were my grandfathers and he passed away in 1962. I don't need piles of stuff, I need open floor space and clear workbenches.

Yes the hoarder paradox. My needed solution is for stuff I might need or is expensive enough to warrant. Example I have two slage lock sets. Cost 60 each and keyed the same. Too big to put in nail organizers and too small for a bin as it just gets buried. Can be rekeyed if a lock breaks.
Still working through the bins and will decide after I lay the problems out. Probably will keep big bins for pvc plumbing fittings and electrical stuff. Got rid of my drop cloth box after finding mice had lived there all winter. These I don’t mind moving but that size with hardware is too heavy


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[Kaizen]

Following up with my own pictures. Wish I could say I planned it but the containers just happened to fit perfectly in this cabinet.

I made a mistake using clear label tape. At some point I need to swap it out for black or white.

I’m building cabinets so might use shoe box sized like you. I know I don’t want big ones. But long shoe size might be good


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[Jlarson]

I use Akro bins too, plenty of size options, they hold up well.

 

[bugnut]

As to finding stuff, clear boxes and then alphabetical or numerical order.

For boxes I posted elsewhere Container Store shoe boxes come in three sizes all stackable, clear and readily available for years. High heel, shoe size and half size.

https://www.containerstore.com/s/cl...-storage/our-shoe-box/123d?productId=10001753

I use the top three boxes.

 

[bwringer]

Let go of a few things and life will get easier:

1) As mentioned a few times, start giving more mental value to time, space, enjoyment, and safety. Less **** means more room to work, projects don't take as long (because you're not losing or looking for stuff as much), it's more enjoyable, and it's a hell of a lot safer.

2) Let go of the idea that the stuff you keep has to fit neatly into the containers. Stop worrying so much about wasted space. Don't fill everything to 110% capacity. Leave room to rummage, and room for a little more stuff when needed.


Letting go of stuff is hard for some people, but it can help a bit to get rid of it in a way that has some value. For example, I culled my inch tools of all the duplicate stuff (I rarely ever need inch tools) and donated it to Habitat Restore. Some stuff goes to Goodwill. (But if something is truly trash or scrap, don't burden the charities with your junk.)

Scrap metals still have a little value; in my city, scrappers often cruise around in ratty pickups just before trash day and so it's easy to get rid of metal junk by dragging it to the curb. Designate a bucket for metal scraps; it's often surprising how quickly it fills up.

"Curb Alerts" on CrackList are another fantastic way to get rid of all sorts of things that might have some use for someone.

Set some rules. For example, wood scraps below a certain size go in the trash. I keep three or four smaller pieces of wood on hand for tapping blocks, but anything below about two feet is rarely going to be useful in my world and so out it goes.

Make some decisions about what is worth your time and attention. I've pretty much sworn off exhaust work. I absolutely hate it, and I found a great shop a while back that does good work at reasonable prices. So I have a bin of exhaust parts I need to get rid of.

 

[Kaizen]

Let go of a few things and life will get easier:

1) As mentioned a few times, start giving more mental value to time, space, enjoyment, and safety. Less **** means more room to work, projects don't take as long (because you're not losing or looking for stuff as much), it's more enjoyable, and it's a hell of a lot safer.

2) Let go of the idea that the stuff you keep has to fit neatly into the containers. Stop worrying so much about wasted space. Don't fill everything to 110% capacity. Leave room to rummage, and room for a little more stuff when needed.


Letting go of stuff is hard for some people, but it can help a bit to get rid of it in a way that has some value. For example, I culled my inch tools of all the duplicate stuff (I rarely ever need inch tools) and donated it to Habitat Restore. Some stuff goes to Goodwill. (But if something is truly trash or scrap, don't burden the charities with your junk.)

Scrap metals still have a little value; in my city, scrappers often cruise around in ratty pickups just before trash day and so it's easy to get rid of metal junk by dragging it to the curb. Designate a bucket for metal scraps; it's often surprising how quickly it fills up.

"Curb Alerts" on CrackList are another fantastic way to get rid of all sorts of things that might have some use for someone.

Set some rules. For example, wood scraps below a certain size go in the trash. I keep three or four smaller pieces of wood on hand for tapping blocks, but anything below about two feet is rarely going to be useful in my world and so out it goes.

Make some decisions about what is worth your time and attention. I've pretty much sworn off exhaust work. I absolutely hate it, and I found a great shop a while back that does good work at reasonable prices. So I have a bin of exhaust parts I need to get rid of.

All great life lessons. Makes me want to profess I’m not a hoarder. Honest
Or does me needing to say that mean I am? Hmmm


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[Kaizen]

I use Akro bins too, plenty of size options, they hold up well.

Those don’t work for me. Currently have ten. Loaded with **** that I can’t get at easily.
I think my mind needs it all compartmentalized. Can’t explain it. Not like this with vegetables on my plate or anything. [emoji23] We will see when I’m into it.


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[brownbagg]

first question, will you use it in two year
second, would it be easier to go buy it again that to look for it when needed

if it a handful of nuts or half a door knob, throw it away, the shop is not a warehouse

 

[brownbagg]

like for example, joist hanger, I got twenty, hard to store, less than two dollar a joist, have no plans on building another bldg. shitcan

 

[niget2002]

Niget - Do yourself a favor - before deciding on a brand of boxes (unlike me) and find out if the same brand has even smaller boxes that stack well with your default larger box. I’m hoping I can find the same boxes I have but in half depth for even smaller “stuff” like sandpaper, and small tubes of lubricants, glues, etc.

Thanks for the kind words.

Thanks for the additional information.

My current problem is that my larger totes have been gathered over time. Usually buying whatever was on sale that day. A good number of them don't really stack well with the others.

The plan is to hopefully get rid of all the larger totes in favor of smaller, more useable ones. I don't really have a lot of 'large' items in totes. Just a lot of smaller stuff dumped into larger totes.

 

[engineer2]

$8 at Menards this week. 17 drawer parts bin. The bigger lower drawers come with dividers. Cheap quality, but they work. They have other sizes too.

 

[49tandc]

Every Tuesday, my local ACE Hardware store receives nails/staples/drywall screws in 5 lb square, clear plastic containers with a red top and a nice handle. After they dump the contents into the revolving bins for purchase, they give away or toss out those containers. I use these to hold lots of things, EMT fittings, PVC connectors, etc. I also use them in my greenhouse. They are really handy. Use a heat gun to soften the glue and remove their labels on the side & make your own. You can stack them safely. I'm sure your local ACE will give you some if you ask for them. The price is right - with a never ending supply if one gets broken.

49T&C

 

[madison069]

I'm slowly purging **** still. I have a general area where I keep everything in the garage, but I'm not 100% organized. But I will admit, I've thrown a lot of stuff away that has been nothing but space takers. Once things get to be more manageable I'll start organizing the specific items, but at this time I use everything from food containers, drawers, file cabinets, and totes.

 

[zeke67]

I have "Plano" semi-clear plastic trays for hardware, electrical, fitting, auto hardware, etc. About 3 dozen of them. Mostly organized by type of what's in there (screw anchors, plumbing washers, brake hardware, to name a few examples). These are my small parts and are grab and go.

I have a few of the "Yellow and Black" larger trays for bigger stuff. About one half dozen. For sprinkler parts, lock sets, electrical devices. The bigger stuff that needs to stay together but they are more storage-type versus project-type storage.

I have the "arko" bins above a couple of my benches, about 32 lineal feet in different sizes. I simply don't have enough hardware and fittings to have a need for a big wall of these (although I would love to some day). These have either the stuff I need at hand (sharpies, razor blades, garden hose fittings) or stuff I forget I have that I keep buying. It's not great storage for non-used stuff but keeps it in front of my eyes. I actually use the bigger ones for Raco boxes, covers and Romex fittings because i keep buying what I already have. Your results may vary.

I have a bunch of blue Swiffer refill trays for the stuff I want to store, the stuff the OP was speaking about. They are free, of course. They fit on shelves in my gladiator cabinets. I have one of power bricks, one for garage door parts, one for pulleys & clevises, about 3 dozen in total. I label these. They are not as elegant as the Sterlite and shoe box style bins, but they show up about every third time I month floors.

As for the hoarder comments, I "get it". But I keep a lot of little stuff that I can't be bothered to run out for. At my cabin, it's a 2 hour round trip drive to town, and stores aren't open after 5 PM. If you need something after about 3:30, you are done for the day and will kill most of the next morning going to get it. For a plumbing or electrical part that's a few bucks, it's better to have it in stock than be without utilities for close to 24 hours. (The hardware store actually delivers weekly, which helps a bunch.) Even at home in the city, it's an hour round trip to the box store or the Ace, worse during traffic hours. So I keep stuff.

 

[signcrafter]

As for the hoarder comments, I "get it". But I keep a lot of little stuff that I can't be bothered to run out for. At my cabin, it's a 2 hour round trip drive to town, and stores aren't open after 5 PM. If you need something after about 3:30, you are done for the day and will kill most of the next morning going to get it. For a plumbing or electrical part that's a few bucks, it's better to have it in stock than be without utilities for close to 24 hours. (The hardware store actually delivers weekly, which helps a bunch.) Even at home in the city, it's an hour round trip to the box store or the Ace, worse during traffic hours. So I keep stuff.

This. I used to live in a town with 2 home depots, two menards, a lowes, fleet farm, tractor supply, 2 or more of each major auto parts house, and just about every other type of supply house you could ever want within a 5-10 minute drive. Now I live in a smaller town with only a true value and a theisens(farm supply type of store). I do a lot of jobs needing various parts and supplies. One trip to town to get a part costs me over 2 hours usually. So I try to "stock" what I may need. Even when I lived close to stores I still kept a stock of plumbing, electrical, hardware, etc. It's so nice to be able to walk into the shop and go to a bin and pull out all the parts you need.

I just redid our laundry room which involved 1.5 and 2" PVC fittings. You never know which fittings you need until you start putting the puzzle together. You can guess and usually get close but there is always that one or two fittings that you didn't plan on needing. So over the years I've grabbed a few extra fittings when I go to the store. I have a tote for 1.5", a tote for 2", a tote for 3" and a tote for 4". Now, the chances that I will use all these fittings in my lifetime is slim. But they aren't expensive, don't take up a ton of room, and if it saves me one or two trips to the store then they have paid for themselves.

Same with electrical, I have a bin that I keep my devices and plates in and have just about enough to replace whatever I need in my house. Again, they are cheap and don't take up a ton of room. One trip saved to town and the whole bin has paid for itself.

Same with automotive, I've bought kits and extras of things to have my own supply. Things like brake line fittings, light bulbs, exhaust clamps, wiring terminals, fluids and chemicals, small engine parts, etc. I have them all organized and the fact I can fix a ton of things without a trip to the parts house is really nice.

Everybody's situation is different. We all have unique needs and what works for one may not work for someone else. I can see some not "stocking" things if they don't have the room, or if they don't do much work, or if they are in no hurry to get things fixed and can afford a bunch of trips to the store. But for me having these things is needed and saves me much time. And this isn't something I went out and spent 20 grand on in one shot, this is stuff I've put together over the years. When I need one fitting, I buy two, and I buy two of the next size bigger and smaller. Or if I need one bolt I buy a box, it's cheaper per piece and you won't have to run back to store for another bolt that size.

 

[Kaizen]

Again so much thanks to all of you guys. We never want to do something and have it not work. This was one of those things I’ve been working on and moving on it now. Going to be a lot of work but looking at these few shoeboxes you can understand what the rest of it is. Knew I had a lot of stuff but until you get it organized you can never find it easily and use it.
We will see how this works. Still some culling after this round.
Hinges


How did this happen??? Lol





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[Rickochet]

I've resorted to grocery store telescoping apple and orange boxes that they give out for free once their empty. I set them up like a returns dept. in a big box store where all the returns are sorted by dept. I save one as a "Heinz 57" box for stuff that is really hard to label......lol. Once I retire, i'll get more **** about it.
DM&FS

Did you retire yet? I’m interested in your labeling techniques.

 

[PoorUB]

I would make most of you guys squirm. I toss most of the excess hardware in the garbage. I am cramped for space. If I don't see a need in the next few weeks or months most of it gets tossed! I buy as I need it.

I used to hoard stuff. The attic of may garage was full of odds and ends. I could never find what I was looking for until I had bought something new to replace it, plus tired of dealing with it so I started cleaning house and tossed about 90% of the common stuff I can pickup anywhere. I did save some motors and actuators. I hauled trailers full of stuff right to the recyclers. I think my wife thought I went crazy. This spring I am going through it again and tossing stuff.

 

[Kaizen]

I would make most of you guys squirm. I toss most of the excess hardware in the garbage. I am cramped for space. If I don't see a need in the next few weeks or months most of it gets tossed! I buy as I need it.

I used to hoard stuff. The attic of may garage was full of odds and ends. I could never find what I was looking for until I had bought something new to replace it, plus tired of dealing with it so I started cleaning house and tossed about 90% of the common stuff I can pickup anywhere. I did save some motors and actuators. I hauled trailers full of stuff right to the recyclers. I think my wife thought I went crazy. This spring I am going through it again and tossing stuff.

That has been my pattern for the most part. Purge. I'm almost at a good point and i was able to do a few mods to my dustblast cabinet using plumbing and electrical parts i had on hand. went to my emt fittings box and had everything. box covers, outlets etc. Kind of felt good to not have to run out to hd three times. As long as my neighbors don't get wind of it i'll be stocked for years.

 

[quickfarms]

I use a combination of the cardboard shelf bins for smaller stuff, clear plastic tubs from ikea for the mid size stuff large plastic tubs for the bigger stuff

 

[Bucko]

It all depends on size of stuff you storing. I have about 50 of the clear plastic "shoe box" size containers on a shelve that I keep most of my odds and ends in. Got one for exhaust clamps, small engine parts, hinges, handles, chain link fence parts, garden hose quick connects, closet organizer hardware, etc. The list goes on and on. I've found this size to be pretty good for general purpose. Isn't too deep were it becomes a bottomless pit. And when I fill one too full I can usually separate the contents into two different ones more specialized. For example I have one with pipe thread fittings. Started out with all sizes and got too full, now have one for 1/2" and one for 3/4". And if those get too full I'll have to break them down even further into two more containers. I also have a ton of bigger black totes from a box store that I keep stuff in. Have one for 1.5" PVC fittings, 2" PVC fittings, 3 and 4" PVC fittings, electrical boxes, sandpaper, wire harnesses I've pulled out of cars, casters, paint roller covers, etc.

Just depends on what works for you and the stuff you need to store.

I do the exact same with the plastic shoe boxes but my pvc all goes into a Rubbermaid tote and then gallon zip locks. That way I can carry the whole thing out to the area to repair. I'm also the fix it guy for the inlaws sprinklers so it's easy to transport in one shot.

 

[oldmachinenut]

This is what I did, the one section is over the cabinets that were in my other bolt bin post. I have 70 feet of this 3 foot deep storage. This is also made from salvaged heavy duty shelving.

 

[Bennylava]

Where is a good place to order cabinets that already have most of the common fasteners in them? It would be nice not to have to piece it all together myself if possible. Just buy cabinets and fasteners all neatly pre-organized.

 

[rayra]

Clear storage totes, shoe boxes or fishing tackle boxes, depending on the size of the stuff you are trying to organize. Big written labels on the ends, anyway, but seeing what is in them can be faster. And of the milky-clear containers work well this way.

eta - coming up on Holiday Decor / New Year's Resolution / 'Spring Cleaning' sales periods where everybody has storage containers of all kinds for sale.