Mobile screw organization.

[Goodtobeking]

I am on a quest to organize my work loadout. After buying my Veto Tech MCT, I realized the value in being organized. Now my next mission is to get the 10 or so boxes of screws/nails organized. I have been looking around for the ultimate portable storage system. I have used a couple of the cheap boxes here and there, but like always they broke down. Currently I have been using a lot of GRK screws, and have been keeping the boxes and repurposing them. They actually hold up better than most of the **** organizers you buy. But it ***** having all these boxes in my tote bag. I like just throwing things in there and yesterday one of those GRK boxes finally broke and spilled the screws into the bottom of the bag. Lucky, it was almost empty.

So the last couple weeks I have been looking, and have found a couple decent options, but none really hit the nail on the head(sorry, had to). I was wondering what you all use, and what your ideas are on the subject. A couple things I am looking for are:

• mobility, it has to be portable
• removable containers, so I can just grab a box of screws out of the bigger box
• sturdy build, want to buy once kind of thing and living hinges make me cringe
• different sized containers, nice to range from 2" up to 6"
• modular so I can change stuff around

I posted pretty much the same thing on Reddit/Tools. The users there had some good ideas, and pointed out some things I haven't looked at or overlooked.

Right now my 3 main candidates are the T-BOXX, Milwaukee Packout organizers, and the Milwaukee non-Packout organizer. Also am eyeing the Systanier system, but the costs are more than I would like, by double.

The T-BOXX is almost exactly what I am looking for. It has a bunch of bins and storage. Size of bins ranging from 2x2 to 4x6 inches for the one I'm looking at, plus they have more. Completely modular, and they sell extra boxes if you need. Supposedly zero spill or movement when closed. And made from quality materials, by a quality oriented company. Only cons I can find are limited suppliers here in the US, and the crazy price of $75 after shipping.

The Milwaukee organizer is close to perfect. Rugged build, 2 different sized boxes(4x4 and 4x8), easy to find and relatively cheap at $25, and stackable. Cons are only 10 bins, would like some smaller bins for smaller or less used screws, no replacement bins that I can find, and won't match my Ridgid rolling toolbox setup(but that's no big deal)

The Milwaukee Packout half sized organizers($30) with a 15" tote($100) would be awesome. All the benefits of the non-Packout, but in half the size. I could store different lengths of same types of screws in it's own box. And I could store my impact driver/drill with battery/charge and the 3 or 4 different bit boxes and extensions in the tote. Then I could leave the dedicated drill bag attached to the screw boxes for easy run and gun usage. Problem with this system is, the price adds up fast to get the amount of storage I want.

I am not set on any of these systems, but they are just the direction I am looking. I am here to see what you guys have to say and/or do with your screw organization. Thanks in advance.

 

[MattT]

I use a 5 gallon bucket with the Bucket Boss Stackers for screws and such. They also make a deeper red one.

http://www.bucketboss.com/15051.html

 

[Reese]

I use the black Stanley cases (similar to Dewalt), the generic Plano copy cases from Home Depot. and a milk crate with 1 and 5 lb boxes of fasters. I have rental property and keep my van stocked with the hardware and supplies I use most often.

The real key I found was to sort through the **** I had collected and pare it down to the real usable stuff. I used to have tons of different sized nails and discovered all I really needed was two sizes of framing nails and two sizes of finish nails and a few odd ball types like aluminum trim nails.

I also discovered no system is perfect and eventually everything gets beat and broken. Now I am more likely to toss a few random screws or nails instead of keeping them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The problem with "mobility" is you can only carry a few of each size even if they are small. How many 1/2" nuts can you put in one of those little red compartments, 2-4 ? How many boxes do you want to have ?

And at over $60, you have a lot more money than I do for storage containers.


EDIT : Oh, they are GERMAN ! That gives the right to charge ridiculous prices for plastic boxes !

 

[GRB]

The T-Boxx has the same internal boxes that I use with the L-Boxx system. The Sortimo boxes are rugged enough that it is reasonable to put 50 pounds of hardware in one box, hook a few together and haul them around. I'm gradually shifting to the Tanos boxes, which are the more common European standard and the owner of the patent on Sortimo boxes. The Tanos boxes clip together and release far better than the Sortimo boxes but are more expensive. I'm a big fan of the old Milwaukee powered tools, even own nearly a dozen Milwaukee 120v tools, but their packout boxes are more about looks and selling to an ignorant clientele than function. Wasteful of space. Why waste 20% of the box with tie downs that nobody will use?

If you understand why a Veto bag is worth the money, then you may understand why a Sortimo or Tanos box is worth the money. Cheap **** costs more in the long run IF you are making your living with the tools.

Milwaukee does do a better job than most of the cheap **** Chinese companies, perhaps even better than the sleazeball Stanley Black and Decker that has destroyed Porter Cable, Vidmar, etc and fabricated the Dewalt Scam out of nothing but they are still cheap **** with more flash than substance.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I don't need "mobility". I use the open red plastic bins from Menards. I have course nuts, fine nuts, washers, lock washers for 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" and 1/2". For #12, #10, #8 fasteners, I put them in heavy gauge zipper lock bags, with a LABEL ON THE INSIDE of each bag, and then put them all in one of the same size containers.

For fasteners under 1/4", beside nuts, washer and lock washers, I have some lock nuts, machine screws of various lengths, Phillips and slotted/hex head sheet metal screws (better than old style wood screws) in various different lengths.

If I need to buy fasteners, I buy 25-100 depending on the size.

Then there is the stainless steel boat fasteners.


I hated sorting through my Dad's pile of screws looking for "4 about this size" !

 

[FigureItOut]

I like what GRB had to say, I'm a Veto user and an L-Boxx user myself. Reading your post, L-Boxx instantly came to mind but I was thinking they'd be a bit big for your use. Then I remembered T-Boxx when you mentioned it among those you're considering.

You already know that T-Boxx or the Tanos that GRB mentioned is going to work best and last longest. If the price is such that they're at least in the running, I say bite the bullet and get them. If indeed the interior bins are the same as the L-Boxx, you can get at least those cheaper under the Bosch brand than the Sortimo brand.

Speaking specifically to the L-Boxx system, it's absolutely everything one could possibly desire in a mobile small parts storage system.

Edit to add: there is an insulated T-Boxx to carry your lunch in, if that doesn't sell you, nothing will.

 

[Chris_the_wrench]

I've been using the DeWalt (DWST14825) for quite a few years. HomeDepot always has them at $19.99, occasionally at $14.99 and last Christmas(maybe black Friday) at $9.99. They work quite well for me and the variety of tasks I need to do from 'mechanic-ing' to 'building' around our farm and when side jobs take me on the road. The smaller size 'bins' take 1lb boxes of screws almost exactly. I probably have close to 2-3 dozen of these cases. Never broke one and they get banged around in the back of my pickup and on tractors quite abit. The Milwaukees and Tstaxs systems do look abit better constructed, but I'm invested in these and I have my storage designed around this size so I'm committed to staying for quite awhile.

Good luck
-Chris

 

[FMC1959]

I've been using the DeWalt (DWST14825) for quite a few years. HomeDepot always has them at $19.99, occasionally at $14.99 and last Christmas(maybe black Friday) at $9.99. They work quite well for me and the variety of tasks I need to do from 'mechanic-ing' to 'building' around our farm and when side jobs take me on the road. The smaller size 'bins' take 1lb boxes of screws almost exactly. I probably have close to 2-3 dozen of these cases. Never broke one and they get banged around in the back of my pickup and on tractors quite abit. The Milwaukees and Tstaxs systems do look abit better constructed, but I'm invested in these and I have my storage designed around this size so I'm committed to staying for quite awhile.

Good luck
-Chris

Similar to the one you mention, this one from the Dewalt TStak system (not to be confused with larger Dewalt Tough system) is great.
http://www.fixitpowertools-uk.co.uk...Impact-Resistant-Lid-Organiser-7-Storage-Cups

Removable very deep bins, 2 large and 5 smaller + underneath each bin there is a smaller compartment for smaller quantities. Also, on each side there are 2 long and narrow non removable compartments, as well as the front has 2 small compartments and a bit organizer.

Nothing is perfect but these are pretty close for me. They are not cheap but I picked up a bunch through Acme tools when Dewalt had "spend $100, save $25". Dewalt usually runs this deal 1-2 times per year through most retailers.

 

[earlthegoat2]

As many of these as you need.

https://www.zoro.com/bucket-boss-to...NgHtWAfXf5vgWMY9xGJoQ9bxiOS9UzvhoCvSIQAvD_BwE