How do you store/organize nails?

[Andy Griffith]

I'm pretty organized with my regular screw type fasteners but my stock of nails is a mess. Currently the nails are stored in small old coffee cans which are in an old school large carpenters box. Not sure if that is the proper term but it is a long wood box with a handle running the length of it. Looks like it was maybe used to transport carpenter tools including long hand saws.

The nice thing about this system is all the nails are in one place, the drawback is there is a large variety of nails, far more than the number of coffee cans. This means there is all manner of zip lock bags and smaller containers stuffed in with the nails inside the coffee cans.

There must be a better way?

Thanks

 

[Mickey O]

I try to keep them in the box they came in, of course if you buy bulk that won't work, my father used to keep them in labeled tupperware-like containers.

 

[plinker]

Five gallon buckets work if you have enough of one type of nail, smaller buckets for smaller amounts of nails.

Wooden boxes work, and if you make them, you'd use up some nails so you would not have to store them .

Another option would be large plastic bins.

 

[nate379]

Coffee cans and mark what's in it on the can. I don't even drink coffee but I have a **** load of cans for some reason.

 

[sixball]

I scored a sauder CD stand that someone had put out in an alley for trash pickup. I screwed it to the wall, elevated alittle bit and with all the shelves, it fits two original boxes per shelf

 

[rodnok1]

Kepp them in the original boxes until almost gone or box gets destoyed, then I put them into a plastic drawer organizer(cheapo) and usually put the nail box label under them. My uncle did the same, but he had wider taller bins and taped the labels to the front.

 

[metal1313]

i have several cheap plastic organizers filled with nails and screws. i do more construction/woodwork compared to automotive and metal work, but i have decided i will invest in arco type bins. i buy some nails in bulk but others even a 1lb box has hundreds of nails in it. and then i have tons of wood screws in plain finish, chrome, and brass, plus all kinds of washers. so id like to keep the cheap bins for smaller quantities and then the acro bins for larger ones, or just bulky items like 6in spikes

 

[gabeancounter]

http://www.peoplesbuild.com/Stanley-Sort-Master-Organizer-014026R-P1669.aspx
I use these boxes for all kinds of storage. They will hold about three five pound boxes and several more 1 pound boxes. Could not believe how much stuff fits in there!

 

[torqueman2002]

I've used cans of different sizes, painted white and labeled in black.

I've also use cool whip /butter containers. Alcohol takes the labels off and I use a paint pen to label them. The tops are handy to keep everything in place.

 

[nolatoolguy]

For the most part if they dont staay in the shop in the box they came in i have them kept in the contairs we get the medicine for horses in(there pretty ig an we go through them alot so no shortage of containers) and if not that we keep them in a five gallon bucket with i lid(like for the fence nails an roofing an all that that we commonly use dailey)

after that if its not kept in truck we keep the misc ones in a container in te barn

 

[Scout Driver]

The boxes and sacks for rarely used nails and screws all get carefully packed into 5 gallon pails. Boxes of frequently used nails and screws get a bottom drawer in the roller cabinet. Not original or overly effective, just my 2 cents.

Scott

 

[scotstern]

I use the empty containers from my COSTCO chocolate. I have a never ending supply. They have different colored tops,depending on the type of chocolate, so I can easily use different colors for nails, screws etc.

The ones I am talking about are used for chocolate covered raisins, almonds, carmel clusters etc.They have wide mouths, hold two pounds or so of chocolate and have colored tops. Perfect in many ways.

If anyone wants to buy me the chocolate, I'll eat it and then forward the containers to you! Tough job, but someone has to do it.

 

[A29]

I use plastic milk jugs with one side cut out. Leave the handle.

 

[rustbucket49]

It seems that I store mine in the front tires of my Suburban.

 

[oldwino]

if there are any left from the last 50lb purchase they go into a 5 gallon bucket named "stuff" When I can't find what I need I through out the whole enchalada and buy a handfull of nails to do what I need.
I'm so bad the last time I needed a handful of finish nails and couldn't find any, I needed to fire up the compressor, drag out hoses and the nail gun just to blow out 3 finish nails...

so much for organization

 

[Gary S]

I found an old wooden 7 Up case. I then cut off a bunch of 1/2 gallon milk cartons down to about half height. Each milk carton gets filled with different size nails and put into the wooden box. This way, I can store the box on a shelf and grab the entire box and take it where I need it to work. The old wooden 7 Up case has nice handles on each end to carry it easily.

 

[UncleJoe]

For smaller quantities I really like these types of storage containers.

They stack nicely on a shelf and when I am doing a job I can just take the bin out that has the fasteners I need and take it to the task and not the entire container.

Mine is a Stanley. They are around $14 at Lowes. Home Depot may carry something similar and HF has a copy of the Stanley design for about the same price as the ones at Lowes

 

[lilredex]

Finnishing and smaller nails. Most in original boxes, but in smaller quantities.

 

[Falcon67]

In brown paper bags that say "Payless Cashways" on them.

 

[TheShrine]

..................!

 

[Mickey O]

In brown paper bags that say "Payless Cashways" on them.

I've been to a lot of estate sales where the nails were kept like that.

 

[Dale B]

Clear plastic Peanut butter jars . You can see whats in them without opening the jar .

 

[old salvage]

I store mine 'Greatest Generation' style: In glass jars that once held food stuff.
Jars are scattered on pine shelves or on window sill.

 

[jeepnut24]

I try to keep them in the box they came in, of course if you buy bulk that won't work, my father used to keep them in labeled tupperware-like containers.

X2 Just need a way to store the boxes better....

 

[Mattlt]

In the original 1# or 5# boxes, inside the shoebox-sized Rubbermaid containers. Contents are organized by type and size. Short (< 2") drywall screws in one, longer ones in another. Finish nails in one, common nails, galvanized nails, etc in bins by themselves. When I get too much of a selection to fit in one bin, I split it by size into another bin.

Just my preference, I like square or rectangular storage boxes. They stack well on the shelves that I have. Round seems like a waste of space to me. YMMV.