How does everyone store small hardware?

[kbs2244]

I got a card catalog from the State surplus property auction. If you are near a big school, or city, learn where they sell this kind of stuff. With everything going onto computers, al the old file cabinents, IBM card trays, etc. is surplus.
Even a big co. will do this. The guys in Seattle all hang out at Boeing Surplus.
My unit has 72 drawers. 8" wide x 18" deep, apx 7" deep. $51.00
I had to make bottoms for the drawers because of the slot down the middle, but that wasn't very hard and it used up a lot of scrap 1/4 paneling I had around.

 

[banzaitoyota]

Boeing Surplus is NO MORE

 

[jarhead]

WOW, lot's of cool ideas!

 

[Quiksilver]

I have found that the plastic containers work great for the really small items. For the slightly larger stuff I use the dividers in my rousseau cabinets. This seems to work well for me. If I find that I run out of room, I have plenty of peanut butter jars ready and waiting.

 

[wot sales]

I've tried all kinds of plastic storage boxes over the years - finally found Stack-On boxes at Home Depot for I think $3.95 each and bought a few - then wanted more, but like HD does, they no longer had the boxes - finally found them on-line at Northern Tool for maybe $4.95 and bought another dozen, then bought some more recently for $6.95 - now see that they are "only $7.49". Northern Tool is the only place I've found these boxes.

The boxes are great - strong, durable, the snaps work and don't break, and they really stack nicely. If you drop a box, it won't pop open and the stuff stays in it's place. I label them with a permanent marker pen on the fronts and the sides. Just can't have too many...

wot

 

[rowbow41]

If you use the Boeing file cabinets and I suppose similars. Cut the lower end off of plastic quart oil bottles to match the height of the drawers. You can separate and store a lot of hardware in these. Those small plastic divider chest will fit and can be stacked 2 deep.
For sorting or looking for small parts in a mixed variety container, get a one gallon anti-freeze jug. Cut out most of one side, leaving the top portion in-tack. Next cut the pouring neck off according to size neede by experimenting. Dump parts into jug to sort, when finished dump back into container thru the new pouring opening.

 

[Nova]

That sewing supply container is something I will have to look into. I was using similar style tackle boxes at my last job (auto parts) to store things like carb parts for snowmobiles and ATVs. I was planning on using the same thing at my new job, as we are taking over a truck that has far less drawer storage than our last one and have tons of little pieces that are good to have around "just incase". If these things are cheaper than tackle boxes I will definately pick some up.

Lots of good ideas in here, I will be sure to absorb as much as I can before I get my garage built.

 

[kbs2244]

No more Boing Surplus!?!
What do they do with all that stuff?
I was never inside, just drove by with a local sales guy I was working with.
He was a pretty strong DIY type and went there a lot.
He said some guys went 3 and 4 time a week.

 

[Scott Cypher]

I use the metal and plastic parts containers that many have mentioned; but then I go one step further.

I get the old deli/meat/bakery tray rollers from supermarkets when they close and have auctions. The one they use for meat trays works well for the plastic trays, and the one for bakery trays works well for the metal ones. Fit so well they end up being double sided; on container on each side.

And since they are stainless and/or aluminum, they'll last forever, and they are wheels so I can move them around when I need them close or out of the way....

 

[kbuhagiar]

I use the little clear plastic drawer thingies for the really small stuff

and Akro-Mils containers for the larger stuff

 

[boiler7904]

I'm just curious would gets stored in teh lower left door of the upper cabinets.

 

[ultgar]

I used to use Durham compartment boxes but had a few of those accidentally open during transport making a big mess.

I've moved all of my fasteners and consumables to Lista boxes (for in the shop) for easy location and storage. The plastic boxes can be taken out of the drawers if you need a particular fastener at the workplace.

For grab and go situations, ie, taking hardware to a job site, I prefer the Tanos Systainers to the Durham boxes as they are much more secure and multiple boxes can be latched together for transport.

 

[vr6ness]

For smaller parts, I've always been partial to the containers that rolls of 3M Super 33 electrical tape comes in. We go through a ton of this tape at work (higher end car audio shop), so they are plentiful for storage use.

 

[fotoflojoe]

I saw an article somewhere where they were taking spindles that cds come in, screwing the base under a cabinet, putting the hardware in the clear part and screwing the container together to store. I'm going to give it a shot once the garage gets up...

this but upside down:

In some woodworking magazine, I read about this very same idea, only the containers used were baby food jars. Screw the lid to the underside of a cabinet at about eye-level, then twist the jars onto the lids to hold them suspended. Liked the concept, but baby food jars seemed like they would be too small for anything but the smallest hardware - I like the CD spindle version better.

 

[prostreetamx]

I have purchased lots of HO scale and bigger diecast cars and equipment over the years for another one of my hobbies. I saved all those clear plastic display cases over the years and I am thinking I can just use the top portion as small storage units in shallow drawers for small part storage. Haven't started that project yet since mt new shop is still under construction. I did pick up 4 of the roll out divided drawer storage cabinets from a Radio Shack that closed recently. These cabinets have dividers that can be moved around and a tab for labels but I will probably cut that part off. A Race car team bought the remaining 4 units and tried to get mine also. I let Radio Shack hold on to them until they sold off the parts inside. Got a lot of discount electronic supplies at the same time.

 

[Bazsm]

If you use the Boeing file cabinets and I suppose similars. Cut the lower end off of plastic quart oil bottles to match the height of the drawers.

Great tip about cutting the lower part of a bottle, also works great with plastic milk bottles in the UK [emoji106]


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