Need hardware help. What to do?

[Tucko]

I've got way too much hardware that I'll never use. Coffee cans full of "trail mix", random weird hardware, lots of stainless baker/kitchen hardware I have no use for etc. I can't bring myself to just dump it, and it's not worth the time and energy to recycle it. Need to thin out the stuff in my garage. What do you guys do with all your extra hardware?

 

[KANSASBOY]

Do you have Habitat for Humanity restore near you

 

[Stuart in MN]

Put an ad in the free section of Craigslist. Say the hardware will be sitting at the curb, remove the ad after someone picks it up.

 

[crewchief888]

i went through the same thing a while back, i went through my misc stuff, and ended up dumping most of it.

couple 5 gal buckets in the garage, and toss in everything thats useless.
when the buckets fill up i put them with the rest of my scrap
repeat as needed.

when i make a run to the scrap yard it all goes.

gonna have to make a scrap run soon, the scrap pile is getting out of control, been waiting for scrap prices to go back up a little.

 

[ken w.]

I just went thru the same thing. I invited my hoarder friend over when I was doing this and he took everything I didn't want. I think there was 8-10 buckets of hardware.

 

[MFolks]

http://www.leevalley.com/US/images/item/Gardening/93k8412s2.jpg

A three piece sorting tray,will make figuring out similar screws and other hardware easier.

 

[Tim_P]

I have that friend also that I give anything to when I do some cleanup

 

[Thezapper]

I just went thru the same thing this weekend. I like the op have a hard time throwing away extra hardware. I store it, save it, and try to hold on to it for as long as I can. But there comes a day when this random hardware gets in the way of better hardware and a man must choose yay or nay.... I just purged two nice loads to the scrap yard and 1 to the city dump. I felt like **** at the time and some things I'll regret but I'd rather a clean hardware assortment than buckets of bolts/screws/hardware.

I ended up buying a couple of the dewalt stackable hardware boxes and I love it! No more random boxes of of screws,nails,bolts etc... I inventoried my stock and the best thing about the dewalt storage boxes is when your on the move one box gets you allot of different hardware in one convenient package.

 

[CNGsaves]

Mention this "problem" to the Wifey . . . . . . .
. . . . put the 5 gallon buckets next to all her empty spice containers.

Soon . . . . . all your excess hardware will be sorted and organized !!!

 

[James-W]

I have a friend who has relation who owns a farm. I give my excess hardware to my friend and he gives it to the farmer. It seems like farmers can use a large assortment of nuts, bolts, washers and screws, as well as other hardware.

 

[Tucko]

I just went thru the same thing. I invited my hoarder friend over when I was doing this and he took everything I didn't want. I think there was 8-10 buckets of hardware.

In this case, I AM the hoarder friend. Part of the reason It took it was for the 20 or so vintage coffee cans that it came in. Previous owner was a bakery/ kitchen repair guy. LOTS of great stainless hardware....and more cotter pins than I could use in 3 lifetimes.

 

[Tucko]

Mention this "problem" to the Wifey . . . . . . .
. . . . put the 5 gallon buckets next to all her empty spice containers.

Soon . . . . . all your excess hardware will be sorted and organized !!!

Please pass whatever you are smoking.

 

[bczygan]

Enabling hoarders by giving it to them free, is just mean.

Dumping in the trash is just wasteful.

Taking to the Habitat Restore is a better option, but requires effort, and should probably be sorted first.

Scrapping it at least recycles the metal, so all value isn't lost, but requires effort.

Pick your poison or combination.

Bill

 

[shortykorte]

http://www.leevalley.com/US/images/item/Gardening/93k8412s2.jpg

A three piece sorting tray,will make figuring out similar screws and other hardware easier.

I have one of these and like it. Seeing multiples, I think that is a better way to go. Have one for bolts, screws, nuts, washers and other. Quickly sort by those categories then dump each in its own staging can. Next start with the sorted cans and use the trays to sub catorize say the washers. Repeat as necessary.

Time to add some more trays to the shopping list.

 

[ilovevocs]

I throw away everything that is used, or left over first.

Then I go by years since needed. Throw out everything I haven't used in 5 years...then 4 years of need be. Keep dialing back on the years since used until you have created enough space. Typically I'm a believer that unless I have a had a need over the last year it or its for an ongoing or upcoming project I get rid of it. The garbage is can is the simplest route to done.

The mixed matched stuff would just get tossed. Unless it's grade 8 or composed of mostly high prices hardware that I paid for, garbage.

Having a logical system that is quantifiable is half the battle. Without it everything has value to me.

Unless it is sorted, easy to access, and you know what you have most of time you forget you have it.

I guess this is all relative to how accessible a hardware store is to you and how much space you have.

For me it's a 10 minute trip, and my garage is small.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stimpy]

wood screws or buggered slot screws or buggered bolts I put in the recycle can , bolts over 1/4" I sort by diameter not length and nuts if they are rusty they get recycled as with lock washers . but most of my stuff is engine hardware so I try to save it and clean it .( virbatory cleaner then ultrasound )
any new stuff is put into bins and labeled . the last recycle trip I had seperated my brass screws from my steel ones and made $10 and the steel ones made $3 and it was about 20 pounds of steel .

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Depending on what kind of hardware it is ... find a young person who needs it and probably can't afford it and give it to them. A young racer or carpenter depending on what you have. I think they would really appreciate it.

As mentioned, the Habitat Restore is another good option.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Enabling hoarders by giving it to them free, is just mean.

Dumping in the trash is just wasteful.

Taking to the Habitat Restore is a better option, but requires effort, and should probably be sorted first.

Scrapping it at least recycles the metal, so all value isn't lost, but requires effort.

Pick your poison or combination.

Bill

I'm no help with th OP's post, but you stole Tampa's avatar...

Tommy

 

[kaymccampbell]

If it's outdated stuff, then I recycle it. Otherwise I give stuff away to Habitat or coworkers who have a project going. My herd is way thinned and after another pass or two should be just right for me.

 

[southalabama]

Save it.

Buy a new cabinet to store it.

Then add on to the shop.

But if that isn't your thing. Get rid of it.

 

[nadogail]

I have some drawers that I have labeled by thread size, 1/4 - 20 for example, usable fasteners go in their appropriate drawer. Junk fasteners go into the recycle bin that is emptied weekly.

Often I am able to save the day because I just happen to have the appropriate fastener, or an acceptable substitute, for the task at hand.

 

[James-W]

I have some drawers that I have labeled by thread size, 1/4 - 20 for example, usable fasteners go in their appropriate drawer. Junk fasteners go into the recycle bin that is emptied weekly.

Often I am able to save the day because I just happen to have the appropriate fastener, or an acceptable substitute, for the task at hand.

It is nice you can help people out that way. Like you, I have, on occasion, been able to help a buddy out when he needed a bolt or nut (or whatever) at a time when the hardware store wasn't open. I don't mind helping out a friend in need, but it is important to remember that I am not a hardware store and I don't have a hundred of every size nut, bolt, washer and screw. I have a few on hand of the more common sizes that I use for projects, but I don't have a large supply of them. When I need something I don't have, the hardware store is only a few blocks away. I don't normally keep used hardware.