Garage storage for fasteners

[alex.kumskis]

Hello I’m looking at finally doing it. Storing a variety of fasteners in my garage in a “orderly” way. I do a bit of both mechanic and woodworking so I need lots of variety and in that lots of space. I’ve been looking at akro bins that I can get a set of 165 and a louvered walls for about $560. Another option is metal bins that are 12” deep from Durham which funny enough would only run me 440$ for 112 bins. These bins are 12” deep and I would be putting in alot of small fasteners so I’m concerned it may be a pain in long run. But also might be nice for putting in larger bolts. Either way the 165 bin option is what I’m kind of going towards but working at a steel mill I like the idea of thing being steel. I know that sounds pathetic but… I just wanted to add that currently I would estimate I have around 100lbs of fasteners in 5 gallon buckets… I know pretty crazy but should be a good job on the weekend.

Industrial Storage Cabinets

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Quantum 48" x 61" Gray Steel Louvered Panel with (165) 7 3/8" x 4 1/8" x 3" Red Bins QLP-4861-220-165RD

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[TailGunner3000]

Welcome aboard. If those were my only 2 choices, I'd lean toward the Akro as well. But I've switched most of my hardware storage to drawers. I found the bins waste far too much space and they end up storing as much dust, dirt, junk and dead bugs as they do hardware.

 

[alex.kumskis]

Welcome aboard. If those were my only 2 choices, I'd lean toward the Akro as well. But I've switched most of my hardware storage to drawers. I found the bins waste far too much space and they end up storing as much dust, dirt, junk and dead bugs as they do hardware.

That’s what I was kind of thinking but this will be put in a workshop on a farm in a “fairly clean” part so I’m not too concerned about those. I’m thinking I will have smaller fasteners in drawers like you said. Do you think using air to blow out the bins is unrealistic? I mean obviously I won’t have it right next to the bin and blow it off the wall but is it possible to clean? I also like the idea of being able to use the louvered panels for bigger bins if I need to store parts. If I was to go for smaller storage in drawers what would you recommend?

 

[flippin]

If you have the floor space, and given you are prepared to spend $500, I would search for a used Lista or Vidmar set of drawers. If you can find one, they can support 400lbs per drawer and nothing from my experience is better.

 

[OccupantRJ]

File card cabinets, the poor man’s Lista or Vidmar. $100 to $200 on marketplace or craiglist. I have four of them laid out like the units preceding this post. Best thing I have used in 60 years of shop activity.

 

[Dig Doug]

I don’t have any pics but I have a 56 HF roller box no upper

I bought plastic trays from Amazon for the 2 inch tall drawers

the 3inch tall drawers I had plastic organizers

Im trying to limit my fasteners hoarding….

 

[theoldwizard1]

About 10-15 years ago I started building my fastener wall. First, I made simple shelves that fit between the 2x4 studs of my uninsulated walls using 1x4s. I doubled their depth using pocket screws. Then I purchased some open storage bins. Finally, I purchased several sizes of 4 mill zipper's lock plastic bags (2.5x3, 3x5, 4x6).

I found a place online that gave free shipping on fastener orders over $100. Started with 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" and 1/2" nuts, washers and lock washers, 100 each. I don't think I have bad to add to those since I purchased them ! Each bin holds one diameter, but in the bin there are different bags for nuts, washers, lock washers and different bolts lengths. Over time, I have added small quantities of bolts in different lengths from 1/2" to 3", typically 10-20 at a time as I needed them.

The smaller size have so many "styles". #6-#12, Philips pan-head sheet metal and machine screws, plus nuts and washers in various lengths. Must of these I only have 10-20 in stock. If I don't have it, I buy a small quantity (just bought some #10 and #12, 1/2" and 3/4" sheet metal screws. 10 each. I really only needed 2 ! First me $5 for all of them !)

What has made this easy is the fact that I have an old fashioned fastener store within 5 miles. They happily deal with small quantities, especially as I pay CASH

I have a box of M6, M8 and M10 nuts. No bolts.

 

[GrayFlattop]

I started with open bins ages ago. Eventually, they become dust magnets (particularly if you do any grinding, welding or woodworking, or if you have unpaved roads nearby). Drawers would be my first choice with Lista at the top.

 

[theoldwizard1]

About 10-15 years ago I started building my fastener wall. First, I made simple shelves that fit between the 2x4 studs of my uninsulated walls using 1x4s. I doubled their depth using pocket screws. Then I purchased some open storage bins. Finally, I purchased several sizes of 4 mill zipper's lock plastic bags (2.5x3, 3x5, 4x6).

 

[Scottb37]

I use the cheap organizers from Harbor Freight acquired one or two at a time. Also made some fancy labels for them

 

[LeeG]

On a farm, you are probably trending toward larger fasteners. Those open faced bolt bins work great for 1/4” or M6 and larger fasteners. One for metric and another for SAE, with the smaller sizes in one of the organizers shown above. I like the Allit bins sold by Lee Valley Tools for anything smaller than 5/16 or M6.

Lee

 

[charbar]

I have a wall full of these style bins for smaller fasteners (machine screws, TEK screws, plastic retainers, etc). Can be found from various places for even less money than that if you look.

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-in-stacking-tilt-bin-56327.html

Anything M6 or 1/4" and bigger go in a big homemade wooden bolt bin against the wall. I went the homemade route because I had the tools to do it quick and easy and it was also cheap. The metal bolt bins are nice though as well.

 

[LopezBart]

I bought a bunch of those gray bins from HF many years ago, and built drawers w/ full extension slides in a cut-down computer cabinet to hold them from 1x4 pine and 1/4" plywood bottoms. The drawers are about 30" wide and 20" deep; lots of bins, lots of fasteners. Pretty inexpensive if you can fab up the enclosure cheaply.

 

[CJ7VFR]

My father always used coffee cans and glass jars with lids. The coffee cans fit perfectly between wall studs if you put a piece of wood between the studs to create a shelf. He would label each coffee can and the lid as well so he would not mix things up.

And for the glass jars he would use a short screw to mount the lid of the jars to an overhead floor joist. Then he would fill the glass jar up with whatever he wanted and screwed the jars to their lids. It made the stuff easy to get to and you could see what was in the glass jars.

I use both methods in my garage, basement and shed.

Now, doing this is only for small supplies of hardware and other stuff, and not for storing the large quantities of stuff I see some of you guys showing in your posts here. That amount of stuff is not even a glimmer in our eyes!

Jim

 

[pcmeiners]

"I know pretty crazy but should be a good job on the weekend."

Crazy, >half the forum members are just as crazy,. dare say more so.

I would go Akrobins, easily washable, you can take an entire bin to your working area,which I do it often. Have 10 large 60" Vidmar cabinets, 5 smaller Vidmars, most drawers filled with Akrobins. Likely I have 1000 Akrobis bins, mostly smaller bins 5x4x3",, and a few hundred Schaller bins for small stuff.
If you come across Vidmar or Lista cabinets at a decent price, don't hesitate, tak'em home.

 

[kbuhagiar]

My father always used coffee cans and glass jars with lids. The coffee cans fit perfectly between wall studs if you put a piece of wood between the studs to create a shelf. He would label each coffee can and the lid as well so he would not mix things up.

And for the glass jars he would use a short screw to mount the lid of the jars to an overhead floor joist. Then he would fill the glass jar up with whatever he wanted and screwed the jars to their lids. It made the stuff easy to get to and you could see what was in the glass jars.

My Dad saved empty baby food jars. He had at least a hundred of them (I was a hungry baby) and dozens attached to the lowest parts of the ceiling in the garage. You couldn't walk anywhere in the garage without seeing that smiling Gerber Baby face.

 

[nadogail]

My employer changed fastener suppliers from Mechanic's Choice to Bowman. Neither Bowman or Mechanic's Choice wanted the old cabinets, I was able to get them for a simple "Please and Thank You" I was able to take them to my home shop.

 

[no704]

At my last job I inherited a shop full of boxes(three company’s merge it into one). Lots of random McMaster hardware boxes. Went thru them and sorted by size and thread. Ended up with about 5 Afro bin 30x25 drawers. Labels and sorting took about 45 hrs. Was well worth it when done.

 

[Barnabas]

I have about a dozen of this type of cabinet to hold my hardware.

 

[alex.kumskis]

My employer changed fastener suppliers from Mechanic's Choice to Bowman. Neither Bowman or Mechanic's Choice wanted the old cabinets, I was able to get them for a simple "Please and Thank You" I was able to take them to my home shop.

Luckyyyy

 

[LopezBart]

My employer changed fastener suppliers from Mechanic's Choice to Bowman. Neither Bowman or Mechanic's Choice wanted the old cabinets, I was able to get them for a simple "Please and Thank You" I was able to take them to my home shop.

sig "I offer three options; Good, Fast, and Cheap. You may choose only two."

Wait... that sounds good, fast, and cheap Lucky!

 

[RMERR]

If you have a clean shop or a section that's very clean, bins are okay. My shop however is surrounded by vineyards or orchards and the big door faces the prevailing wind. Even though the building's pretty new, anything in bins gets coated in dust in no time. Tried a few bins in the beginning, got rid of them a short time later. All of my fasteners are now in drawers.

My other knock on bins is just seeing what's in there. Labeling and strict organizing can help, but I still used a small flashlight to look inside, especially the lower bins. With drawers, you pull the drawer out and are looking right down on everything in there.

My third knock is squatting or getting on my knees for the bottom bins, at 69 I can still do it, but I'd rather not. Again , not a problem with drawers.

 

[alex.kumskis]

If you have a clean shop or a section that's very clean, bins are okay. My shop however is surrounded by vineyards or orchards and the big door faces the prevailing wind. Even though the building's pretty new, anything in bins gets coated in dust in no time. Tried a few bins in the beginning, got rid of them a short time later. All of my fasteners are now in drawers.

My other knock on bins is just seeing what's in there. Labeling and strict organizing can help, but I still used a small flashlight to look inside, especially the lower bins. With drawers, you pull the drawer out and are looking right down on everything in there.

My third knock is squatting or getting on my knees for the bottom bins, at 69 I can still do it, but I'd rather not. Again , not a problem with drawers.

Thanks for the response ! I was just mostly just asking if the removable plastic bins or the metal bins are better overall, what would you recommend. I don’t have a problem with dirt or being able to see what’s on the labels so I do think it would be best for me.

 

[RMERR]

Thanks for the response ! I was just mostly just asking if the removable plastic bins or the metal bins are better overall, what would you recommend. I don’t have a problem with dirt or being able to see what’s on the labels so I do think it would be best for me.

I get you Alex everybody's set-up is a little different. The metal one will handle larger and longer stuff, like a bunch of one inch bolts. You may also end up with odd-ball stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else, the bottom row will be perfect for that. That being said those plastic bins often have a variety of sizes. They would also be a better fit for accessing smaller fasteners. Also if you re-organize down the road, you'll have everything in movable plastic bins.

I think it'll just be how you forsee your needs. Extra size and a little added toughness with metal or the added flexibility and movability of plastic. Good luck.

 

[fourjeepin]

Im trying to limit my fasteners hoarding….

I lost that battle the day I brought home 8 (eight) pallets of bins. A Home Depot near me was relocating and I bought all of the bins for $800. I was thrilled at the price and then the guy told me I get all of the hardware too! 15 years later, I still have several dozen lifetimes of things like set screws, cotter pins, c clips, etc. i have restocked a few sizes of graded nuts and bolts, but still have an abundance despite giving away a lot of it when I got tired of sorting and opening those tiny plastic bags.

 

[Dig Doug]

That is a TOTAL SCORE !

 

[CoronadoBruin]

I may be wrong but isn't **** verboten on this site? Good lord, several of those photos are close to it.

Thank you for the Vidmar and Lista suggestions.

 

[TurnipTruck]

I have had several thousand of these fittings boxes and sensor boxes pass through in my career, and once I made dedicated shelving for them, they have been extremely useful for stashing (and finding!!) all my little doodads and whatnots and odd fasteners.
I was given the blue bolt bins for the common stuff, and they seem to stay relatively dustless in this toolroom out of the main shop.

 

[pcmeiners]

If you get either Lista or Vidmar ( or equal) cabinets you will consider them one of your best buys ever. Small drawers, 3"-4" are the best bang for the buck. Large height drawers allow for a lot of wasted space.

 

[dmittz]

I've just started working on some under bench drawers dedicated to fastener storage. I currently have a 72 bin wall mounted bolt bin. In the 4 drawers i'm dedicating there will be about the same number bins. There is a plumbing stack behind these drawers so they are only 16in deep...still it will be very space effcient and handy place for my fastners to be stored once its done.




The bins are all sized to be compatible with my Milwaulkee pack-out case



Its been a bit of work so far, but hasn't cost much, the main cost was 4x l00lbs drawer slides.

 

[Jhoff310]

jump on market place and find some filing cabinets. I scored some filing cabinets where the drawers are 6" deep so I can use coffee cans for the larger stuff and I use plastic electrical boxes for the smaller stuff