Nut/Bolt/Washer Kit

[bowhuntr311]

Hey all,

I did a search and didnt come up with much about this. So if this has been beat to death already I apologize.

Anyone one have any input on a Nut/Bolt/Washer Kit like I've linked to? Seems like Im always running to the local hardware store (4miles away) for just a few nuts and bolts; 1/3 of the time I get home and realize I've got the wrong one or not enough.
Are these kits the way to go or is there better to go a different route?
Any advice would be appreciated.
https://www.amazon.com/Metric-Washer-Assortment-Screws-Washers/dp/B06XDVNTLZ

 

[bczygan]

Hey all,

I did a search and didnt come up with much about this. So if this has been beat to death already I apologize.

Anyone one have any input on a Nut/Bolt/Washer Kit like I've linked to? Seems like Im always running to the local hardware store (4miles away) for just a few nuts and bolts; 1/3 of the time I get home and realize I've got the wrong one or not enough.
Are these kits the way to go or is there better to go a different route?
Any advice would be appreciated.
https://www.amazon.com/Metric-Washer-Assortment-Screws-Washers/dp/B06XDVNTLZ

That's pretty pricey!

I'm starting out with a couple kits off CraigsList and all that Harbor Freight offers.

Next will be Tractor Supply.

Bill

 

[EOC_Jason]

I'll pick up bins and containers of nuts & bolts at estate sales, usually pretty cheap like a dollar or two...

If you wanted to have a known assortment though, I would recommend going to Tractor Supply or a similar place that sells them by the pound. It is much cheaper than the big box stores of individually priced or having to buy bags / boxes with a lot more than you would want or need...

EDIT - The one you linked to was metric? Is that what you need?

 

[tomroblee]

It seems that the kits have too many of the size I don't need and too few of the size I do need.

If you like that kit, save $50

https://usboltkits.com/product-category/medium-bin-kits/

 

[evildky]

US bolt kits offers JIS kits so if you play with a lot of japanese cars like I do, you get the more common head sizes (10,12,14,17) as well as the flanged heads. That's the problem with the hardware store pieces, they lack the flagged heads and use odd size heads.

 

[InsanePyro]

I've always wanted to get something like that for my cousins garage (where we both do our auto work). But yeah they aren't cheap. Need both metric and american as well

 

[James-W]

Kits are wonderful for a business or anyone who uses a large assortment of hardware like that. For myself, I use a lot of some sizes, not so many of other sizes so I just buy hardware by the pound of the sizes that I use the most. I currently have plastic parts bins to keep them in, but I would like to try and find some metal parts bins I can get for a sensible price.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I found some of the 40 bin empty cases and then went to Fastenal for my bolts.

 

[GTO]

Go to a steel supply house or some place like Tractor Supply and buy in bulk by the pound.

 

[sberry]

An assortment is good but you don't need lots of every size and grade they ever invented. I recharge the commons from the tractor store too and collect a few of uncommon for loss in repairs. I save a few metrics in a box for that kind of thing, same for fine thread. 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 nuts, bolts, flat washers in sae are a different matter, 100s or bulk at a time. I replace a lot of the small pieces, I want clean new stuff and try to use the most common for fabrication.

 

[dshop]

Tractor Supply is hard to beat...open bins, buy fasteners by the pound, none of that annoying blister packs of 3 nuts like Home Depot, etc.

 

[shedfullatools]

I slowly build it all up by saving whatever you take out that is reusable, specially when working on cars and small engine stuff is a good way to build up some random stock of automotive style stuff that has saved my *** a few times. As far as new hardware to keep on hand, when I'm working on a project and say I need five 1/2 x 3" bolts, five washers and five locknuts. Ill buy 100 of each and cover not just that project but future projects for a long time. Surprisingly affordable and only takes a few times to have a good stock of what is usually your most used stuff. One hardware store here sells by the pound for hardware and the other by count I've found buying by count to be the better deal.

 

[Ck1]

I buy in bulk at tractor supply. Typically, I buy twice of whatever I need for a project and store the extras organized in cases from harbor freight.

 

[John in OH]

I buy in bulk at tractor supply. Typically, I buy twice of whatever I need for a project and store the extras organized in cases from harbor freight.

Yep! I'd suggest that for all SAE fasteners from 1/4" and up, TS is a great source. The sell grades 2, 5 and 8 in bulk by the pound ... bolts, nuts, washers ... and the per-pound price is quite reasonable.

I generally just grab up handfuls of different sizes and let the grand-daughters sort them out later!

 

[brownbagg]

my shop was becoming a warehouse on stored parts, like 100 lbs of 16p nails, and every bolt nut washer you can think of. had over 20 five gallon buckets of them,

I canned all of them.

bought me one of those plastic parts case, not the drawers but the big tackle box type, just one. I stuck just the bolts and nuts that i common use, like 3/8, 7/16, 1/2 some 3/4 but only a good handful.

if i need more, hardware store time, but i cleared all the buckets. my shop is not a warehouse

 

[Kevkx125]

If you are looking for metric bolts try the local motor cycle shop they might have or can get you metric kits in smaller sizes.

 

[yost69]

We have a bin at work a tad bigger than that, SOS metal keeps us pretty stocked. If it were my personal stash, I would buy an empty storage bin and go to tractor supply and stock it with what sizes I would use the most.

 

[Empty Pockets]

That's pretty pricey!

I'm starting out with a couple kits off CraigsList and all that Harbor Freight offers.

Next will be Tractor Supply.

Bill

I agree with bill...... for the common household stuff, I have most if not all of the kits that Harbor Freight sells.

In the event I need hardened steel nuts and bolts, I'll buy them from my local Tractor supply or Ace Hardware. Often it's less expensive to buy the whole box rather than a few pieces.

 

[CJM8515]

I bought my stuff from mcmaster carr, spent maybe 200 bucks total. I like metric bolts, not much is standard anymore.

 

[Jason280]

I buy in bulk at tractor supply.

Too bad they don't offer metric sizes by the pound!

I buy 90% of all my SAE nuts/bolts from Tractor Supply, and the metric stuff usually comes from the local ACE....either there or from my "extras" bin from pulling stuff from the salvage yard. I never throw away any automotive nut or bolt, they usually come in handy.

 

[brownbagg]

for metric, i will go to the local pick and pull junkyard with a large coffee can and just pick up the nuts and bolts laying on the ground around the Japaneses area for $5

 

[Lelandwelds]

my shop was becoming a warehouse on stored parts, like 100 lbs of 16p nails, and every bolt nut washer you can think of. had over 20 five gallon buckets of them,

I canned all of them.

bought me one of those plastic parts case, not the drawers but the big tackle box type, just one. I stuck just the bolts and nuts that i common use, like 3/8, 7/16, 1/2 some 3/4 but only a good handful.

if i need more, hardware store time, but i cleared all the buckets. my shop is not a warehouse

Ouch. I completely agree with you. Tripping over clutter is a deal breaker. I know I couldn't have canned it all. I would have picked up some Durham drawer cabinets or bins from Zoro. The bucket method is not used in a warehouse.

Home depot stinks for fasteners. It's a 30 mile drive to a real hardware store. I often need a couple of extra stops or even a second trip to get everything needed. It would be so nice to have everything AND be able to easily find it.

Maybe digging through buckets was your true problem?

 

[brownbagg]

Maybe digging through buckets was your true problem?

they was all in ziplocks in the buckets but it was 95% of them I would never need, it proven easier just to have one case of what i actually use, and everything that i did need, that i did not have, hardware store.

like for example 16 p nails, had over 100 pounds in broken cardboard boxes, I haven drove a nail in twenty years.

my common bolt i use is 3/8 and 7/16, I got a small one gallon bucket of 3/4. I could use one case just for washers

 

[theoldwizard1]

1) Be careful about really cheap assortments. They may be Grade 2 (or the equivalent metric) fasteners which are really poor quality.

2) I do not have much storage space to I only "stock" USS and SAE nuts, washers and lock washer in 1/4" - 1/2". I have found that #12 screws are useful so I have some of those. I also have an assortment of #10, #8 and #6 machine screws, sheet metal screws, nuts, washer, nuts.

3) I am not a fan of "old fashioned" wood screws, the kind that get larger in diameter the further up you go. I find "sheet metal" or "deck" screws (constant diameter) more useful.

4) Stay away from slotted screws ! IMHO, they are useless (some small sheet metal screws have a hex washer head and a slot, those are acceptable). Phillips are better, but Torx, Allen or Robertson are even better especially for power driving.

 

[John in OH]

4) Stay away from slotted screws ! IMHO, they are useless (some small sheet metal screws have a hex washer head and a slot, those are acceptable). Phillips are better, but Torx, Allen or Robertson are even better especially for power driving.

Ditto!!!

 

[sberry]

I have actually sorted the "buckets", stripped the good out, dumped the rest to scrap. I don't save rusty stuff thinking there will be some miracle clean in the future,,, I replaced it for a reason.
I do stock some of the commons in grade 2, being cheaper and in some cases appropriate means there is all the more incentive to replace it. I used to use all 5 just due to employees not paying attention, I do stock some in both grades but do not bother with 8. I have only a couple pieces that truly need it and buy a few as needed.
There is a handful on a bulldozer I have and a couple on tractors, the rest of the world doesn't use it except for real specialized applications which are usually noted ibn service and parts manuals.

 

[sberry]

Torx drive the best but every length uses a different drive size. Bits are a real pain. I use Robertson, most use number 2. I rarely use a drywall screw, I spend extra for general work and use deck screws and near everything I own I have installed square where practical just to make it as universal as it can be.
My local lumber yard went to torx which means about the only place that sells square anymore is Menards. I buy 5# at a time. Stock them in bins with some other hardware where they are easy to grab.
^This one is for sheet metal screws.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... I rarely use a drywall screw, I spend extra for general work and use deck screws and near everything I own ...

Many people don't know it, but drywall screws are not only thinner than "deck" screws but the steel is more brittle meaning it is easier to break under any kind of load.

HD stocks Grip Rite screws. I have never seen anything there except Phillips head. 2 "grades". The standard "gold" ones (appear to be about a #10 shank) and the gray coated ones (more weather resistant and appear to be about a #12 shank).

 

[gearhead1]

I also buy mine bulk frommTractor supply. I agree, the kit you linked to seems high. Check out e-bay.

 

[DTE]

I have had this Dorman set for 20 yrs or so, they are cardboard boxes and you have to treat them as such but no one uses my shop but myself and my son so that is not a issue.
Refill them from bulk boxes.https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rnb-025-085/overview/ I see that one says Fine, mine is a mix of S.A.E 1/4 - 3/8

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If you can, pick a few sizes and stick to them. I tap/helicoil to m6x1 and m8x1.25 whenever possible. I've taken machines with a huge number of messed up threads and just converted them over to metric pitch.


Is this hardware for fabrication, or replacement of loss/damaged?

 

[bowhuntr311]

The link I posted up was just an example of a kit. I use primarily SAE but I do occasionaly run into metrics. I like the idea of starting with a kit or atleast getting myself bins and labeling them...that way when I run out of a specific thing I can refill by the pound.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I do like the Durham storage products. Almost every place I have worked uses these. They're probably a more realistic option than hoping to find a matched set of Lista or Vidmar at prices within reasonable reach. Maybe they're not as polished an option but are still high density storage.

I should plan on using some to organize my own fastener kit.

 

[ArkTinkerer]

Bolts/nuts/washers SAE larger sizes from Tractor supply. I do lots of small electronics kind of stuff. I've been hitting up Fastenal website for their closeouts and putting them in
HF cases and a slotted storage unit I made for them.

 

[thammel]

I have a couple cheap SAE and metric sets that I've had for many years. Probably spent $20 for each. $400 is way too high.

Tom

 

[gahrajmahal]

Wow akalain, that is a beauty! Just wood on wood for the sliding? Don't lost that parts list.

 

[dbabicky]

I bought a very nice SAE and Metric set from ATD. It came with the bins, labels, ect. Good place to start and then I just refill from TSC or where-ever. The price from ATD was very reasonable.

 

[cpttuna]

nice set up. In my case, I went cheap. Saw the local pepsi man for the holders and the trash can for the bins. (see a sample picture). I try and only keep stainless hardware on hand. I got started well when an Ace hardware went out of business and i got their ss hardware at $.10 on the dollar. menard's also helps when they have their bag sales and I also hit the recycling center good one time when 2 5 gallon buckets of ss hardware got scrapped.