How do you store misc stuff like fuel line & connectors?

chappys4life · Jul 21, 2020

How does everyone store the misc **** that builds up like fuel line, an line, fuel fittings, electrical connectors, spare plugs and oil filters?

Right now I have been storing them in my hf 44 tool box but my box is getting to full to hold everything. Trying to get an idea of something to use to hold it but keep it organized.

joshmodelskidoo · Jul 21, 2020

On a shelf, bin, peg board hook or those sortiing bins like the one pictured

DuratecMan10 · Jul 21, 2020

I use a Husky 9 drawer organiser and Stack-On compartment boxes.

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Copymutt · Jul 21, 2020

One of my better scores!

RTM · Jul 21, 2020

^^^ that’s just showing off! Nice

RTM · Jul 21, 2020

I have a box w pneumatic fittings just tossed in, another with electrical BS, a third with plumbing. I don’t do enough that it’s a pain to shuffle thru to find something 1-2 times a year. My wood screws etc are all stashed in misc Schaller boxes in bigger shallow drawers , preferably in the retail package if still readable.

https://www.schallercorporation.com/

p00p · Jul 21, 2020

I'll do a clean & sweep after a certain point of accumulation. If I haven't used it in a while, or the project it was being saved for is no longer around, off to the garbage the misc goes. Rubber items I don't keep longer than a few months. It has a shelf life & factor in the daily debris from it no longer being in its sealed packaging, I'd rather not depend on a $2.00 rubber part. A cheap rubber part that I can go buy in a day or two that should be more trustworthy or risk it with that opened likely contaminated one.... I'll eat a sammich with my greasy hands, but I wouldn't risk it with a cheap item.

Jim_No_Garage · Jul 21, 2020

I am standardizing on Container Store clear plastic shoe boxes - they are a little expensive but the quality is there and you can buy a case of 24 with lids.

Prop an index card inside at one end and it's labeled! The wife prints nice crafty labels for her stuff!

I'm trying to avoid the 6 containers with no matching lid syndrome. If you use a single container lids are interchangable!

Jim

MushCreek · Jul 22, 2020

It's an on-going problem for us DIY'ers and tinkerers. I have SO MUCH stuff that defies sorting and labeling. I have 16 of the HF organizers, and they work well for hardware and small electrical stuff. But yeah, things like small pieces of fuel hose are just a pain. I have boxes, drawers, and buckets full of that kind of stuff. as soon as I toss it, I'll need it. I still have a clutch alignment tool and and a carb synchronizer for air-cooled VW's. I haven't owned one in over 40 years. Building a house added a ton of leftover parts and tools that I'll probably never need again. BUT-you never know.

chappys4life · Jul 22, 2020

ssdave said:
Since I don't do general shop work for customers and have to stock things on hand, I store mine down at the hardware store, or autoparts store. When I need it, i run down and get it.

I've gone to the same system on bolts. I used to have a couple thousand pounds of bolts. I gave them all to a friend, so he could clutter his shop with them, and used the space for other things. I have one small compartmented box with common bolts, and just buy the others as needed at the time needed.

The space in your toolbox or in your garage to do things is worth a lot more than the small savings from buying extras of stuff and storing them. Particularly on oil filters and spark plugs. It's not an emergency when you need those; typically you can plan ahead and buy them. Electrical connectors, I have a small drawer cabinet with those, fuses, electrical screws, heat shrink, etc. Doesn't take much space for a comprehensive selection. Fuel fittings, unless you're running a specialty shop can be bought at the auto parts store on an as-needed basis.

I would love to keep the parts at the auto parts store or hardware store. The issue is older cars and modifying them. I cannot get an fittings or an lines locally. Also try and get msd parts, earls fuel line, earls fuel line clamps, or ngk plugs (both my mustang and Jeep not in stock locally) locally. All I keep on hand because I cannot.

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chappys4life · Jul 22, 2020

Love the container store idea! Will have to take some measurements and see what I can find

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lardy1 · Jul 22, 2020

I have so much hardware and it was never organized. I spent some time on it and started a thread in here titled "Hoarding Hardware" which stimulated quite a bit of discussion. It's better organized now but will always be a confusing mess, I suppose. I was a residential contractor for several years and I still have two unsorted five gallon buckets.

I know I won't use a lot of it. But I live seven miles from the closest hardware. And when I say hardware, I mean SMALL hardware and high prices. My stash is very valuable to me.

HenryAZ · Jul 22, 2020

I put misc stuff in boxes (plastic or cardboard), then store them, labeled, in various cabinets around the garage....in a place where "I'll always be able to find them quickly". More often than not, this involves a lengthy search.

2ndGearRubber · Jul 22, 2020

Various plastic tubs, and a strong will to limit future acquisition. Most of my work related pieces either consume entire drawers in the Equipto cabinet, or sit in organizers. Extras for my cars fill boxes and boxes in my basement. God forbid I get rid of that spare dip stick!

I swapped an engine last week, no core, getting scrapped. Normally I tear the engine down completely stripping every last bolt. M6 and M8 for general use, head bolts for exhaust hangers, fabrication-y stuff, etc. I was halfway through, getting ready to pull the crank out, when I realized - I have POUNDS of M6/M8 fasteners. I have a dozen head bolts sitting around. I collected what I stripped, and left the rest to get scrapped.

Sometimes it's "cheaper" to throw things away, and repurchase if required, than store and organize pounds of stuff. I went through that with hose recently, had tons of 6 inch hose sections. Never long enough to actually repair something. I grabbed 2 of each size and chucked the rest.

RTM · Jul 22, 2020

lardy1 said:
.

I know I won't use a lot of it. But I live seven miles from the closest hardware. And when I say hardware, I mean SMALL hardware and high prices.

I have a similar problem, I am only 3 miles from a good hardware store with reasonable prices, but on a summer weekend that can be an hour round trip due to tourists. Giving serious thought to an e bike so it’s only 15 minutes on a bike path.

SlowPoke-Canada · Jul 23, 2020

My 5 drawer US General cart has become a great storage center for specialized stuff.
The deep bottom drawer holds 4 Plano 3700 tackle trays stuffed with insulated, non-insulated, weather pack connectors, heat shrink assortment. There's enough room between the trays for jumper wires, small torch, soldering iron etc.
Next drawer up is shallow and all my measuring stuff, setup blocks, parallel bars, calipers, mics etc. all in their own cases.
Deep drawer on the right holds a dozen or so rolls of wire.
Shallow drawers on the left top is blades, knives, scissors and the bottom is tubes of glue, lock-tite, anti-seize etc.
Top compartment holds driver bits, punches, chisels, pens/pencils/markers all in those black HF divided organizers.
The back of the cart holds coils of brake lines, fuel lines, useable lengths of salvaged wire etc. all on magnetic hooks. This has really freed up room in the big box for actual tools!

MushCreek · Jul 23, 2020

Distance is a problem for me, too. 24 mile round trip, which is 2 gallons of gas in my thirsty pick-up. That's a lot of time and expense when you just need a bolt. I go to Tractor Supply and buy pounds of mixed hardware. I have a good stock of bolts, carriage bolts, washers, and nuts on hand. When I need something special for a project, it's more efficient to order it on-line unless I happen to be going to town anyway. If I don't drop at least $100 at the big box store, I feel like it's a wasted trip.

I have a big plastic tote of PVC pipe fittings. I have another one full of residential electrical components- outlets, switches, breakers, boxes, outlet covers- you name it. I keep a new wax ring in stock for when I need to pull a toilet. I also keep a spare toilet valve handy. Add to that boat parts, car parts, tractor parts, lumber scraps, steel scraps, machinist tools, woodworking tools, etc., etc., and it becomes a huge amount of stuff for one old man. Sigh...

bugnut · Jul 23, 2020

I have settled on the following, small items, ie nuts washers and such go into homer depots knock off tote storage, bolts and others go into pencil boxes, larger stuff goes into one of the three sizes of container store shoe boxes and big stuff goes into wally totes. Long stuff fits on the brackets without shelving or goes upright into a tube.

All labelled so Ppines approves!

If you can't find it you don't own it!

signcrafter · Jul 23, 2020

I use a few different things. For household hardware and fittings I use stanley organizers that have compartments and a lid. Do this since it's easy to grab and go to where I'm doing a project. For auto stuff I have plastic containers that you can find anywhere 10 for 8 bucks or so. It's not perfect and you still have to sort a little to find what you're looking for but it's a good compromise. Also they let you put some bigger parts in when needed. This has worked out pretty good for me for now. Someday I'll win the lottery and get a couple vidmar or stronghold cabinets with those massive drawers that you can configure and store a whole hardware store in.

SlowPoke-Canada · Jul 23, 2020

bugnut said:
I have settled on the following, small items, ie nuts washers and such go into homer depots knock off tote storage

Can you please flip the bottom 7 HD totes over and repost the picture? :willy_nil

jeffmoss26 · Jul 23, 2020

lots of drawers and plano boxes.

BFHtime · Jul 23, 2020

SlowPoke-Canada said:
My 5 drawer US General cart has become a great storage center for specialized stuff.
The deep bottom drawer holds 4 Plano 3700 tackle trays stuffed with insulated, non-insulated, weather pack connectors, heat shrink assortment. There's enough room between the trays for jumper wires, small torch, soldering iron etc.
Next drawer up is shallow and all my measuring stuff, setup blocks, parallel bars, calipers, mics etc. all in their own cases.
Deep drawer on the right holds a dozen or so rolls of wire.
Shallow drawers on the left top is blades, knives, scissors and the bottom is tubes of glue, lock-tite, anti-seize etc.
Top compartment holds driver bits, punches, chisels, pens/pencils/markers all in those black HF divided organizers.
The back of the cart holds coils of brake lines, fuel lines, useable lengths of salvaged wire etc. all on magnetic hooks. This has really freed up room in the big box for actual tools!

Please post some pics. Please

DuratecMan10 · Jul 23, 2020

Here's my shop and organisation.

B_Bimmer · Jul 23, 2020

I buy another old snap on tool box. I have one for hydraulics, one for brakes, one for pullers... you get the idea.

SlowPoke-Canada · Jul 23, 2020

BFHtime said:
Please post some pics. Please

Sure thing...hope it works

chappys4life · Jul 23, 2020

Man that looks killer. May have to test laying my service cart out that way. Was planning on selling it after picking up a 44 box. Was also looking at the side drawer system for the 44. Was wondering if that could hold that stuff ok.

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SlowPoke-Canada · Jul 24, 2020

Glad you found some benefit from that post. Storage solutions aren't cheap but if you already have a cart, you're off to the races. I love those Plano tackle trays for sorting and they come in various configurations and sizes.
Another option might be to use a 2 shelf cart and create dividers/shelves underneath for those trays. You could probably fit 30 or so in a typical cart

bugnut · Jul 24, 2020

Slowp they are upside down so the are immediately recognized as empty. Got have growth space. :scared:

SlowPoke-Canada · Jul 24, 2020

bugnut said:
Slowp they are upside down so the are immediately recognized as empty. Got have growth space.

I wondered if that may have been the case because those totes don't do well upside down for small parts (washers/pins etc). More about having some OCD fun...see, I would have labelled them "EMPTY' and, that's completely my problem lol.

harley jim · Jul 24, 2020

I've posted these before. I need to take some new ones but I do know where everything is

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Dan in Pasadena · Jan 3, 2021

bugnut said:
.... store shoe boxes and big stuff goes into wally totes.
If you can't find it you don't own it!

Thanks for mentioning the size of those smaller clear containers. I am using competing similar that I found at one of the big box stores mostly because they fit into the melamine cabinets the old house owners left and Theo ones I already had.

SlowPoke-Canada said:
Can you please flip the bottom 7 HD totes over and repost the picture?

Ha ha, yeah I hate to admit it but they jumped out at me too!

Gummi Bear · Jan 3, 2021

I use empty nut containers

I also have these organizer trays

Hose, I roll up neatly, and stack it on a shelf. I have all kinds of hose in that stack. I can often find what I need. Saves a trip to the parts store.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

oldwino · Jan 3, 2021

I have a bank of 4 of the 24 drawer parts organizers above my work bench for nuts, washers, etc. i use one of the HF seven drawer side boxes for electrical, fuel fitting, vacuum parts, spare welding tips, etc.

crewchief888 · Jan 3, 2021

harley jim said:
I've posted these before. I need to take some new ones but I do know where everything is

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l have a bunch of those drawers like your middle pic. i keep anything that will fit in them from tie wraps, AN/ JIC hyd fittings, brake line fittings, to misc washer and spacers.
also have a couple other plastic divided drawers for polished stainless hardware, & small parts for my harley.

i need to get out in the garage and do some rearranging, i picked up a few more of the drawers when we moved our shop.

:beer:

madison069 · Jan 7, 2021

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 managable I'll start organizing the specific items, but at this time I use everything from food containers, drawers, file cabinets, and totes.

bobcatdan · Jan 7, 2021

Pretty much all shop supplies are in this cabinet at home. At work I keep random stuff scattered in each drawer of my box, but I try to watch it these days based on how much I saved in the past just to toss out later.

PugetDude · Jan 7, 2021

bugnut said:
I have settled on the following, small items, ie nuts washers and such go into homer depots knock off tote storage, bolts and others go into pencil boxes, larger stuff goes into one of the three sizes of container store shoe boxes and big stuff goes into wally totes. Long stuff fits on the brackets without shelving or goes upright into a tube.

All labelled so Ppines approves!

If you can't find it you don't own it!

Close-up/details on the pencil boxes? :thumbup:

fsae0607 · Jan 7, 2021

I have six of these mounted to my walls for hardware, fittings, connectors, etc. Amazon or the blue and orange box stores have them:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017ASRTI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

fsae0607 · Jan 7, 2021

For hose and wire, I used a long piece of 5/16" all-thread and mounted it to my wall using garage door opener angle brackets. I keep hose and wire on reels and pass the all thread through the reels. I can pull a piece and cut to length.

You can see it above my window in the picture and my hardware bins on the right.

jeffmoss26 · Jan 7, 2021

nice!!

How do you store misc stuff like fuel line & connectors?

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