Need a rack of hardware

[Joevano]

I've got 5 motorcycles and I live to tinker. Fixing, fabricating, mounting stuff, unmounting stuff, etc.

Too many times I make a trip into town for a couple nuts or bolts, and spend more money on gas than parts.

I would love to have a rack of drawers full of metric stuff.

Does anyone sell a reasonable priced rack like that?

 

[Alchymist]

http://www.boltdepot.com/Metric_assortments.aspx?nv=rel

 

[06 DIESEL]

I have no clue how reasonable priced it is but my cousin has Fastenal come every few months to resupply his bins that were provided by them at the farm. It works great for him, but he goes through bolts and washers very quickly. I am sure that they have other plans, would be worth a call I would think.

 

[sselander]

Belmetric has a great selection of metric fasteners, along with some assortments. One thing they have is a good selection of JIS hardware.
You might be better off making a custom assortment, since you work on motorcycles. They are one of the few places that sells metric hoses as well.

http://belmetric.com/

 

[Crusty Nut]

I have a fastenal setup. I bought it on a promotional price. It was very reasonable for the rack and the first round of fasteners. I just restock on my own through McMaster or just the local hardware store.

Having a supply of common stuff on hand, and well organized is sooooo worth the initial price.

 

[RBailey]

A selection box is a great way to start. (Or just go to your normal hardware shop and buy a sorting box and fill it.)

But I would also add that get some sort of storage system (even plastic boxes or jam jars) and keep recycling all your old bolts.

Strip down any stuff before it goes in the bin and you will also start building up a stock.

 

[HMCFab9]

Fastenal stuff is nice, as another guy said, but the markup is Ridiculous.
Boss's kid worked there & said they have 800% markup on a lot of stuff.
I'd just buy a bolt rack or one of those things with plastic drawers in it & stock it with stuff you really need.

 

[Crusty Nut]

I got my metal bin with something like 70 cubbies, nuts, washers, lock nuts, splitwashers, and many lengths of bolts from 1/4" to 3/4" for around $200. Granted, I've had it about 5 years, but that is very reasonable. I just restock on my own.

Fastenal does have some crazy prices on some stuff though. Bolts are not one of them.

 

[Spareparts]

Find a place that sells "By the Pound", a lot of farm supplies, Tractor Supply, Orschelin, have both metric and standard fasteners, the big suppliers like Fastenal, Lawson, Kimball Midwest sell by the piece and it figures out about $12 to $15 a pound. Just be careful, a lot of counterfit stuff out there, if your concerned or need to protect yourself ask for a "Certificate of Insurance". They should have it on file.

 

[jam0o0]

i had the same problem. so i got a bin shelving unit. and added bin dividers. i have this one:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200377062_200377062

then i went to mcmaster and bought the bolts and nuts i needed. i set a limit on cost per month and filled the bins over a few months. i needed a lot of sizes and only grade 8 for what i do so that's all i got. i also use the bins for a bunch of other small things. i filled mine with garage stuff in 6 months.

 

[arbadacarba]

I'd be a little nervous buying by the pound, do any of these places sell suspension grade? What kind of bikes are they? Are they brand new or a little older?

I keep my eyes open for bolt buckets on ebay for my bike... You can often get a great price, and having that one bolt that you stripped or lost can save a lot of time.