hardware assortments

[hossmwp]

Guys, I am not sure if this is the right section to put this or not. If not and a moderator would like to move it please do!

I wanted to ask you guys if you have hardware assortments in your garages. If you do is it made up of stuff you have put together from trips to the local hardware store or do you have complete assortments from companies like McMaster Carr, Lawson or Wurth to name a few?

 

[garfunkle24]

Guys, I am not sure if this is the right section to put this or not. If not and a moderator would like to move it please do!

I wanted to ask you guys if you have hardware assortments in your garages. If you do is it made up of stuff you have put together from trips to the local hardware store or do you have complete assortments from companies like McMaster Carr, Lawson or Wurth to name a few?

I have lots of assorted hardware, mainly from Wurth. I find if you get an 'assortment' there may be a lot of stuff that you'll never use. If I were in your position, I would get an assortment that has just the basic sizes and fasteners and then add to it over time. eg. You need two of an M6 12-pt locknut then buy 10 and build up this way.

I also find Fastenal and Lawson very expensive compared to Wurth. Recently I bought some M12 locknuts and Lawson charged me something like $4.80 each. Until I returned them, that is.

 

[Stuey]

I am sure that this is an acceptable subcategory for your question.

Short answer: No don't have any assortments, but I see the merits in them, and might pick up one in the future. The Thorsen assortment from Costco at $126 shipped, w/ non-member premium could fit the bill.

Long answer:

First off, I don't have a garage. =) I have not purchased any pre-configured fastener assortments, but I might in the future. The reason for this is that my needs are typically too specific, and I do not use enough fasteners to justify the cost of the assortments I would like.

What I have on hand is the result of fasteners purchased from HD/Lowes for time-sensitive projects that fall through, times when I purchase a quantity of one type of fastener only to later realize I need a different type, and from random bulk-purchases from McMaster.

Some things are just worthwhile to buy and not need rather than to need only to have to run out and buy.

Looking at McMaster.com, 100 grade 5 1/4" nuts are $1.74. Buying uncertain maybe grade 2 nuts at the local hardware store costs about $1 for 25. If I think I'm going to need say, 1/4" x 1.5" bolts, I'll order them from McMaster, as well as the minimum bulk quantity (15,50, or 100) of at least the next higher and lower sizes. I end up using the fasteners at one point or another anyways, and I figure that the extra cost is not wasted since a) I'm paying roughly the same for shipping anyways so I might as well spread it out, and b) if I went to Lowes for even a fraction of the hardware, I'd have to pay the same or more, for lower quality steel.

 

[rsanter]

I have a pigeon hole bolt bin that I got from Napa. when I got it back when I tought it was a goof deal because it appeared that if you bought the bin with the bolt it was about the same price as buying the bolts alone

I have also gone to some of the hardware stores that have closed and bought boxes of bolts and stuff at the 50 and 60% off prices

all of this stuff is stored in the stacking bins that have the pull out drawers or older (downlevel) toolboxes

bob

 

[hossmwp]

Thanks for the replies. I know Lawson is expensive. We have it at work and its more of a convenience than anything. I dont like to use work as a personal hardware store though. I have also added to the order when I know I need something and the price is pretty high. I usually order from McMaster if I know what I am going to need.

I am just looking to have some basic cap screws and nuts/washers on hand essentially to cover odd jobs or when you drop one and cant find it! I got a quote from Wurth for a bin from them with the basics and it seemed to be pretty reasonable and I have looked at McMaster and there assortments. The McMaster is a little cheaper but then it doesnt come with the storage bin so I figure they are similarly priced. I just wanted to toss this out and see if there are any other places I needed to look

 

[Junkman]

I have a 56 bin cabinet that has an assortment of USS & SAE nuts, bolts, washers, and lock washers. Most of the small stuff is already quite thin, but the larger stuff doesn't get used very often. To me it was worth buying 40 years ago, since I had what I needed at my finger tips all the time. Now, I am running out, and one of these days, I will restock it with stuff from Tractor Supply. They sell the hardware by the pound, and it should be quite inexpensive. I have also thought of ordering from Fastenal since they are local. Just not certain that there quality is any better than the stuff the Tractor Supply sells. Today, most of the hardware comes from China.
I also have a bunch of plastic trays that have all other types of hardware in them, from Allen screws to roll pins. I have a good assortment of the old Dorman plastic tubs that were divided into sections with a small sampling of things like carburetor clips, etc.

 

[hossmwp]

I dont have a tsc near me actually. I do work on a farm though! McMaster Carr had a operation literaly 15 minutes away now its 20-25 minutes away and they dont like pick up in person as much as they use to.

I am not a fan of china made hardware. I tend to go grade 8 and some 5 when I can. I hav bought plenty of cheap hardware and have never had good luck. I think I am spoiled with the easy Lawson hardware access at work. We are only working 1/2 days now and its a bummer in the garage to not have that access.

 

[garfunkle24]

I dont like to use work as a personal hardware store though.

That's where you and me differ....

 

[hossmwp]

That's where you and me differ....

haha! I know most people that are around when I am working on a car just cant believe I dont go get what I need from work. Its my families business but I like to keep that seperate as much as possible. When its an emergency thats fine though.

 

[garfunkle24]

I really like Wurth hardware and storage....

 

[PAToyota]

I have lots of assorted hardware, mainly from Wurth.

I also find Fastenal and Lawson very expensive compared to Wurth.

I really like Wurth hardware and storage...

Checked out the Wurth website - looks like you have to register before you can see prices for anything.

How much of a stickler are they for you "really" being a commercial entity? Grainger's is supposed to be business only, but if you walk in with cash you can usually work something out. Ordering and shipping are another matter, particularly if they expect you to buy in volume...

If they are lenient, I could see stocking up on a number of hardware assortments for the shop, but it would likely then be years before I'd have to restock anything.

 

[Rickster]

I have more nuts, bolts, screws & fittings than Home Depot. I get them at garage sales and estate sales. Most of these guys have jars of stuff they've taken from work or somewhere or they've collected over the years. They wind up selling them off for 50 cents or $1 a jar. I even have an assortment of used drain plugs and plastic door & moulding clips.

 

[garfunkle24]

I have more nuts, bolts, screws & fittings than Home Depot. I get them at garage sales and estate sales. Most of these guys have jars of stuff they've taken from work or somewhere or they've collected over the years. They wind up selling them off for 50 cents or $1 a jar. I even have an assortment of used drain plugs and plastic door & moulding clips.

That's some really nice storage Rickster! I'd like a similar setup for my garage (Wurth pics were from work).

 

[Blwnsln]

Checked out the Wurth website - looks like you have to register before you can see prices for anything.

How much of a stickler are they for you "really" being a commercial entity? Grainger's is supposed to be business only, but if you walk in with cash you can usually work something out. Ordering and shipping are another matter, particularly if they expect you to buy in volume...

If they are lenient, I could see stocking up on a number of hardware assortments for the shop, but it would likely then be years before I'd have to restock anything.

As far Wurth being a stickler for commercial entity, there pretty bad...the way things work here at Wurth, some one calls in for something, they get your info, send out a rep, if the rep comes by and its your personal garage he might not want to sell to you, because A. Not to be an ***, its most likely a waste of his time a $500 order isnt going to get him very close to his quota, and its most likey a one time order, most reps look for repeat bussiness, B. Wurth likes to see bussiness credit, they usually use a phone number to check for bussiness credit.

But we, as rep's do you have the option if we like to sell, which is what Ive done for a few members of this site, I have lots of time on my hands and I like to sell lol! So I try and hook members up as much as I can, where as most other Wurth rep's would rather just work 9-5 and go home and do others things, I live and breate auto so Im like a Wurth rep 24/7 lol, and I dont mind selling 1 bolt or 10000 bolts. And im here on G/J most nites so I figure why not make some $ and help people out if I can.

 

[Blwnsln]

I really like Wurth hardware and storage....

Nice pic's of your ORSY as we call it! (orginazitonal system) and you have one of my favortie products there! SUPER SPRAY ALL!!!!

 

[Blwnsln]

Those Red cabinets sure are a pretty site! Wurth Canada has some great guys working for them, Im sure they keep you happy

 

[jimvannoy]

I have a big bolt bin I bought at a going out of business auction for large Ford dealer. Also have assorted cabinets full of stuff. I can usually find what I need and save myself from having to make a trip to the hardware store. I just restock what I use a lot of when it gets low.

 

[picshooter]

I have a small Kimball Midwest stack, as well as some inexpensive plastic on my bechtop and some bins stored in cabinets

 

[hossmwp]

Wow, guys thanks for all the replies. I agree with some of the statements about commercial versus personal. The Lawson rep we had at work wasnt very interested in setting me up with a few things in my home garage..he even is aware that I am the one that orders for the shop.

 

[Blwnsln]

I have a small Kimball Midwest stack, as well as some inexpensive plastic on my bechtop and some bins stored in cabinets

Kimball has some nice stuff and I like there selection on some of the longer/larger stuff.

 

[Torque1st]

In college I worked in a machine assy plant. We used to sweep the floors at night and dump the hardware in a screen box then blow some air thru it occasionally to get rid of most of the dirt. Then when we had a full box we just divvied it up amongst ourselves. It was not worth our hourly rate to stand there and sort thru the fasteners and put them back in the bins. A few years ago I purchased a small barrel of mixed fasteners from a hardware store. Again it was sweepings, spills, and other stuff the clerks did not have the time or inclination to sort back into the bins. The stuff from college was more useful. Whenever I buy fasteners I always buy more than I need or by the box/pound/-whatever. I rarely have to go to the store for a single fastener.

 

[Vinko]

haha! I know most people that are around when I am working on a car just cant believe I dont go get what I need from work. Its my families business but I like to keep that seperate as much as possible. When its an emergency thats fine though.

I'm the same way, for the most part. We've tried to institute strict procedures for inventory -- though the costs of keeping track of most fasteners aren't worth it. But I do carry a stock of about 2,500-5,000 custom hex-head 2-1/2" bolts around. They cost about 70c a piece. So that adds up. We had to start issuing them with a record.

I'm looking for a personal fastener organizer. Looked at the Costco one, but it appears to be made in China, so I might have to go Griot's garage "brand", or an American-made equivalent.

I have a steelcase "catalog" cabinet with basic nails and screws. And some bolts and nuts for building maintenance. Buy them mostly at HD. Other stuff, we buy from Mcmaster and put into parts bins *HD had a bunch of gray Israeli-made bins super cheap about a year ago) in a locked room.

 

[Vinko]

IMost of these guys have jars of stuff they've taken from work or somewhere or they've collected over the years. They wind up selling them off for 50 cents or $1 a jar.

I couldn't sort through those types of things. It'd drive me mad.

It was not worth our hourly rate to stand there and sort thru the fasteners and put them back in the bins. A few years ago I purchased a small barrel of mixed fasteners from a hardware store. Again it was sweepings, spills, and other stuff the clerks did not have the time or inclination to sort back into the bins. The stuff from college was more useful.

In my home town hardware store (RIP), they used to hire little kids to put back the screws and penny nails. I don't think you could have a kid do that anymore with the labor laws, but it was fun for the kids!

 

[Torque1st]

... In my home town hardware store (RIP), they used to hire little kids to put back the screws and penny nails. I don't think you could have a kid do that anymore with the labor laws, but it was fun for the kids!

Those were the good old days and the kids learned something...

 

[garfunkle24]

When I worked at a big farm equipment dealership, we had a few 'special' customers. As someone said, it wasn't worth paying anyone to sort loose hardware. After a $15 - $20k inspection and service on their $350 000 sprayer/combine/whatever, it would be returned to them with a pound or so of hardware zip-tied to the steering wheel in a Ziploc bag.

Nothing was said, but assumptions were made and much laughter ensued. We got to see the service manager cringing on the phone and muttering "I'm sure they're not from your machine..."

The next time said farmer was in the shop, the tech responsible would politely and innocently say that he had merely given the surplus hardware to the farmer as a gift, to thank him for the business.

 

[Danglerb]

I have been sorting hardware for the last few days between projects, maybe 150 lbs or so. Shop policy is that many areas always get new fasteners, and special projects frequently get everything replaced. Resulting leftovers are run though the parts washer, rinsed, air blast dried, and tossed into boxes. Reusable parts get sent off in batches for cadmium plating, and it adds a nice dress look. Some parts though simply are not available in reasonable quantities in precise lengths etc., so nothing like recycling when you can.

New hardware is from a Wurth stocked set of drawers.

For Stainless and anodized black I buy it out of bins at a local (McFadden Dale) industrial hardware store.

At home I still have a use a 30 year old 1001 nuts and bolts storehouse, as well as a couple plastic shoe boxes of retained hardware.

I am a fiend for collecting up industrial surplus when I find it cheap or free. Nothing I throw away tends to have all its nuts and bolts either, no substitute source for weird sizes used in electronics.

 

[jniolon]

As for buying the 'assortments' from costco and such...it's usually low grade homeowner stuff.. I won't use below a grade 5 and would prefer 8's.

that being said I'm a hardware horder. I'm always watching for closeouts and deals and will never use all I have. If I buy specific pieces I never buy one or two... I buy the box and shelve the rest... I love drawers full of stuff I might need someday...

john

pics below
plastic drawer units hold sheet metal screws and small machine bolts/nuts
yellow cab is stainless and brass stuff
found the stacks of metal drawer units for free at work...and most are full
and I love organization... sorted by dia/length/type

 

[Rickster]

I couldn't sort through those types of things. It'd drive me mad.

Me too! I only buy the jars that are full of one kind of fastener. A lot of industry here in the Detroit area and you'd be amazed at the quality of stuff these guys have in their jars! I found this oldtimers garage one time that had no less than 1000 coffee cans of stuff he'd colleted over the years. Told my wife to take the car and go get a coffee somewhere and pick me up afterwards because I'm going to be here a while!

 

[sam 8]

After years of coffee cans, baby food jars, etc., I broke down last fall and bought one of those bin/rack packages from Northern Tool. It is working out well.
About 7' tall and 48" wide, with the red bins, I am finally sorting though all my stuff and junking the coffee can system.
For any of you guys in Northern California, there is a place down in Sacramento called Blue Collar Supply. All hardware sold by the pound, Grade 5 through 8, that I have made one or two trips a year to. The prices are very fair, and the selection is great. They have all the unusual stuff you can't find at the local mega-hardware store.
Also, their selection of good stainless fasteners is improving, and it is good stuff.
I use lots of it (after polishing) for hot rod projects.
IMHO, ya can never have too much hardware. LOL

 

[Blwnsln]

I feel your pain here guys, when setting up a new shop offten I have to clean up a competors mess or better yet a customers mess, which can be a tedious task, but after doing this for a few years I came up with some simple methods. When redoing a customers shop I usually send in a few bins (ORSY)
Ill then start by seprating the metric/amercian out, then I go down the sizes 6,8,10,12mm, I then have premade labels for the bins so that makes my life easyer, its relly easy to print out averly labels from your comptuer. But a program Im most proud of at Wurth is the obsolence program, wurth will buy back your old hardware, for an amount myself and my customer agree upon, usually $200-$1000, so often time i get that bucket of bolts sitting in the shop corner, with that obsolence each time you order 5% is taken off each item on the order and taken from your obsolence untill you have $0, so its a neat little program that gets **** out of your shop and gives you a chance to start fresh if you like, and I dont have to sort all your old junk lol, and the best part is that bucket becomes mine!!! So i scrap the rusty old stuff and usually end up stocking my own shelves with the rest lol, its not fesiable for me to send back 200lbs of hardware to wurth so they can toss it lol. SO in the end everyone is happy. But if needed I do sort out massive amounts of hardware,label it, put it away and make it more usuer friendly.

 

[PAToyota]

As far Wurth being a stickler for commercial entity, there pretty bad...

[snip]

I live and breate auto so Im like a Wurth rep 24/7 lol, and I dont mind selling 1 bolt or 10000 bolts. And im here on G/J most nites so I figure why not make some $ and help people out if I can.

Ok, so where are you located?

I can understand a sales rep not wanting to take the time out of his schedule if he's only going to sell $20 worth of hardware. But if someone has their order all lined up and cash in hand - a sale is a sale...

 

[Blwnsln]

Ok, so where are you located?

I can understand a sales rep not wanting to take the time out of his schedule if he's only going to sell $20 worth of hardware. But if someone has their order all lined up and cash in hand - a sale is a sale...

Im in MA, but I have shipped to numerous members of this board. As far as the cash thing, were not even supposed to accept cash from out accounts, its a big no no....But as I was saying in above post Ive gone above and beyond my duties as a sales rep and have stocked most of garage with Hardware/Chemicals, reason being is, I like having it for my own needs, if one of my customers gets in a jam I have stock on hand to give them untill they recieve a refill from Wurth, which is usually 1 day, but I also have alot of friends in the industy and often times when some one is stuck on a Sunday or cant find what there looking for they come to me, and I usually have it on hand, I have a few friends who actully use me as a hardware store lol, its a way for me to make a little extra on side and have what I need for my projects my friends projects, and on several occasions Ive bailed out customers who in turn now place there trust in me and place most of there orders with me, lets just say I like to be the go to guy!

 

[Blwnsln]

Ok, so where are you located?

I can understand a sales rep not wanting to take the time out of his schedule if he's only going to sell $20 worth of hardware. But if someone has their order all lined up and cash in hand - a sale is a sale...

Its not so much people not wanting the cash, they just dont want to do the extra work of having to order it then deliver it and so on. With a regular account, you go in check stock, order online shiped automaticly. Where as with a personal order, you need to call in place the order, wait for it to be delivered to your house, then go deliver it your self.

 

[PAToyota]

Ah... I can understand that.

Most of the places that "don't deal with the public" it is because of dealing with people that don't know what they want and end up taking up all sorts of time asking questions only to buy that $20 item. Then they find it isn't what they need, want to return it, don't understand why they should have to pay the restocking fee... If you go in knowing what you want and aren't going to waste their time they're usually pretty friendly about it.

But if Wurth isn't shipping it directly to a personal user and the rep has to go to the trouble of delivering it I can understand the problems. In garfunkle's situation, I'd just talk to the boss about adding some items to the company's next order and giving him the cash. Might have to scout around a bit and see whether there is anyone around me with a Wurth account that would be willing to do that.

 

[NoFrills]

I see some of you guys are from NJ or close by. There is a guy in south jersey Fazzios. They sell lots of metal and hardware its worth the drive. Hardware used to be $1.00 a lb I think it went up to 1.25 or 1.50 Grade 8 stuff was like 2 and stainless was like 2.50 or somewares around there. They have lots to chose from. Here is a link http://www.josephfazzioinc.com/

 

[Blwnsln]

Ah... I can understand that.

Most of the places that "don't deal with the public" it is because of dealing with people that don't know what they want and end up taking up all sorts of time asking questions only to buy that $20 item. Then they find it isn't what they need, want to return it, don't understand why they should have to pay the restocking fee... If you go in knowing what you want and aren't going to waste their time they're usually pretty friendly about it.

But if Wurth isn't shipping it directly to a personal user and the rep has to go to the trouble of delivering it I can understand the problems. In garfunkle's situation, I'd just talk to the boss about adding some items to the company's next order and giving him the cash. Might have to scout around a bit and see whether there is anyone around me with a Wurth account that would be willing to do that.

I place alot of orders over the net/e-mail and I just ship the items directly to you usps, so if you would like in the future I can help you with anything you need, what i usually do is order the items have them shipped to me, then I ship them to you, makes life easy for everyone

 

[Blwnsln]

I see some of you guys are from NJ or close by. There is a guy in south jersey Fazzios. They sell lots of metal and hardware its worth the drive. Hardware used to be $1.00 a lb I think it went up to 1.25 or 1.50 Grade 8 stuff was like 2 and stainless was like 2.50 or somewares around there. They have lots to chose from. Here is a link http://www.josephfazzioinc.com/

Some times buying by the lb, can be more expensive that buying the right faster you need by the box, often times atleast with our boxes you get a label that peals off that you can stick on the bin to keep you orginized, I know most of my customers dont have time to dig though a bucket of bolts in the middle of a job.

 

[Bob Paulin]

I see some of you guys are from NJ or close by. There is a guy in south jersey Fazzios. They sell lots of metal and hardware its worth the drive. Hardware used to be $1.00 a lb I think it went up to 1.25 or 1.50 Grade 8 stuff was like 2 and stainless was like 2.50 or somewares around there. They have lots to chose from. Here is a link http://www.josephfazzioinc.com/

You want to be careful buying fasteners "by-the-pound."

Many of the places that sell in that manner are selling Chinese stuff.

China is NOT bound by ANY international agreements to ascertain that their fasteners actually meet any sort of minimums prior to stamping them with the radial markings that indicate Grade 5 or Grade 8.

As a matter of fact, a good percentage of the Chinese stuff fails to meet Gr.5 or 8 specs.

I cannot find it right now, but I have a list of Chinese manufacturers - and their bolt head marks - whose hardware has proven to NOT meet specs, and I wasn't surprised to find many of them in the hardware being sold by my local "by-the-pound" purveyor.

Googling around a bit should help you find this list.

If you are working on ANYTHING that could result in a lawsuit - cars, aircraft, etc. - you should be asking your source for certification papers to keep on file.

That way, if something happens, you have proof that you used correct, adequate hardware.

I have yet to be provided with such certification from any of the "by-the-pound" sellers I have talked with.

B.P.

 

[eschoendorff]

You guys might want to try these guys:

http://www.midstatesbolt.com/

They are quite knowledgeable and really nice. Purchases also help to support an economy in great need - Flint, Michigan.

They have several locations in MI.... Michigan peeps should definitely check the out!

 

[Vinko]

I cannot find it right now, but I have a list of Chinese manufacturers - and their bolt head marks - whose hardware has proven to NOT meet specs, and I wasn't surprised to find many of them in the hardware being sold by my local "by-the-pound" purveyor.

I remember reading and posting an article I found in the newspaper -- maybe it was the Wall Street Journal -- that mentioned that some Chinese manufacturers were labeling fasteners as Grade 8 when they weren't.