How do u keep small parts and hardware while working?

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

I use and like the snap on plastic tote with slide out 12 compartment parts tray
I think it was $20

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have the same tote made by Plano, it lives on top of a file cabinet between my two benches. It's a repository for stuff that has no other home.

 

[bart1]

I just recently picked up this - should be handy:

 

[PCO6]

^^^ - I have a few that are similar to that and they are very handy. What I like is that you can fill them with hardware then put them in the parts washer to soak for a while.

 

[2oolhound]

I have magnetic trays on the truck, at home i use restaurant "hotel" pans of all sizes. They are stainless, available in all sizes, and modular.
http://www.google.com/search?q=hote...gLI7T4QT1tuysCA&ved=0CHIQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=949

I've got lots of hotel towels but how the heck do you get those SS pans out?

I use a lot of old baking tins of various sizes. I like square shapes as opposed to round because they arrange better and closer together on the bench. When I am dealing with shimmed parts or thrust washers etc I'll often wire them together in order so I don't have to think too much during re-assembly.

 

[jabin]

Magnetic trays when they work, small food storage container and muffin trays for multiple parts projects.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

I use and like the snap on plastic tote with slide out 12 compartment parts tray
I think it was $20

Dang, Bond would be the name! JAMES Bond!!

nice!

 

[TheCarbideRat]

I just recently picked up this - should be handy:

i made something like that for wheel hardware, just glued a magnet into a plastic bin, [they are called Schaller bins + common in machine shops i believe].
Those look good though, easier to work with than mine which are square.

 

[kald]

Magnetic trays for me.

 

[Hetman]

I cut bottoms from all plastic oil cans/bottles/etc I can put my hands on - durable and FREE . Various colors, various sizes and I can always take another one for different parts if I feel so or even leave them all, take a dozen more and go tinkering with second/third/tenth car.
This is recycling the way I see it .

 

[Provincial]

Back when I was a bachelor I accumulated a lot of the plastic trays that frozen entree's come in. Many are rectangular and they stack well. They come in various depths, too.

I use Ziplocks to keep parts that will be stored for a while. I prefer the freezer bags because they are thicker and stronger. I use the label area on the bag, unless I am reusing it.

I have a couple of the bolt sorting trays from Harbor Freight that have the spout (funnel) built in. I find them very handy to sort through groups of fasteners, then dump them back into the container.

 

[dirtmister16]

i tend to use old parts boxes(small engine mechanic). the boxes that i used aren't too big so i use them most often when doing my work.

at home i have some magnetic trays,old baking pans,coffee cans ect. want i want to start doing is taking a small plastic organizer with all the compartments and use them.

 

[lotsoftools]

x100 on the magnetic tray. In high school auto shop, the teacher told us to disassemble a Caddy 500 for rebuild. He didn't give us any other guidance than that, so we grabbed a 5 gallon bucket and started filling it with fasteners and parts. Needless to say, he wasn't happy. So now I try to stay more organized.

 

[jrlp]

I use magnetic dishes/pans and once I move to another section of car with different bolts, I put them all in a ziplock bag. I put masking tape on the ziplock, and write in Sharpie what the bolts/nuts etc are for. Then I fill up the trays again. Makes it very easy to put things back together, even days later! For larger pieces that don't fit in ZipLock's I use oil containers I've cut the top off and washed out with degreaser/cleaner, then put a ziplock bag over the top with a label for what's in it. Takes up very little space, keeps out water/humidity, easily labeled, and works well for me!

 

[camarotoolman]

I like plastic water bottles. Cheap, don't break like glass, easy to see whats inside.

 

[greasemonkey44]

i use red plastic bins with built in dividers from northern
they are cheap; and i can wash them out in the parts washer
i used magnetic trays and they drove me crazy; better off with different bolts in different compartments
90% of the time though, i dont bother and line the bolts up on the cowl
the organizers come out for ****** swaps, engine swaps, dash work and timing belts

 

[BD1]

Take an empty oil quart with lid and place it on its side, then proceed to cut a square portion off the side and you have a great container that will also mildly lube your bolts.
Josh

I do that with flat antifreeze jugs. Works great. I even used the big kitty liter
flat jugs too

 

[bareass172]

I've always used muffin tins, work great for me.

http://tech.bareasschoppers.com/resources/handy-motorcycle-tools/#muffin

You can write on it with a permanent marker to label stuff and "erase" it all later with alcohol, parts cleaner, whatever is handy.

I have a friend who took a dry erase board, cut the back out and glued a sheet magnet behind it. Nuts/bolts stick to it and he can label them with a marker.

 

[Fishey]

I've always used muffin tins, work great for me.

http://tech.bareasschoppers.com/resources/handy-motorcycle-tools/#muffin

You can write on it with a permanent marker to label stuff and "erase" it all later with alcohol, parts cleaner, whatever is handy.

I have a friend who took a dry erase board, cut the back out and glued a sheet magnet behind it. Nuts/bolts stick to it and he can label them with a marker.

Muffin tins are the best... Without a doubt the easiest and best way to stay organized on a job. Also, extremely cheap!

1. They do not have magnetic base.. This means no metal shavings that will without a doubt get on the bottom of all the magnetic dishes. That will get into the paint on any surface you place them on.
2. They have multiple holes that work great for tons of stuff.
3. You can label them easily and on long jobs organization is key to fast re-assembly.
4. You can stack them. Even when they have stuff in them they usually stack very well.
5. Long term project? saran wrap them a couple of times an none of your bolts are going to be lost and you will still have labels in a few months.

 

[Matt018]

I cut off the bottoms of jugs or oil bottles sometimes. Might have to look into magnetic trays though.

 

[srmofo]

auto projects usually get the magnetic trays pulled out, and home projects I usually use some plastic cups from the local pizza place. They have a special for a pie, breadsticks , and 2 drinks and somehow I have amassed tons of these things. The best part is they change the colors every couple of weeks so I can color code stuff for quick identification. Ive contemplated cutting a few of them down, but just havent got around to it yet.

 

[RCStocker]

1 pound coffee cans work great. I use #10 cans for larger things. That is about the size of a 3 pound coffee can. I use the cans for all kids of things. Magnet dishes are good for little parts but if I have larger things I use a plastic dish pan. You can wash off parts in them without making a mess and if the parts are clean they stay clean.

 

[BD1]

I have the magnetic round, rectangular, too. Cheap and my favorite is to get a empty quart of oil plastic container and lay flat . Now cut out the center and you have a flat open container. I do the same with a empty gallon jug of anti-freeze.

 

[Mastermind]

i recently assembled a 9x13 baking pan with a couple of leftover casters from a stool project gone bad, works really good under the car or even just on the ground while outside the car pulling fenders etc.

need to rivet a socket rail with an assortment of clips (1/4" 3/8" 1/2") on the edge of it.

 

[roadracer97]

i like to use just a small plastic container or magntetic tray. i find this to be the best way becuase you can easily keep everytging seperated