Organizing large quantities of misc fasteners?
- Thread starter esvee
- Start date
lowendrider
Well-known member
icenfire01
Well-known member
I've found over the years that there are two classes of "things":
1) Parts of a set. A collection of all the 1/4" fasteners, for instance. Or a complete range of crimp terminals.
2) Random stuff. Three lag screws. A random assortment of bits and bobs related to a particular project. A handful of plumbing fittings. A pile of pegboard hooks.
After years of struggling with the central question posed by the OP -- how do the random bits fit into trays designed for sets of stuff -- I decided to organize them separately. This is my solution -- a bit over the top, but the idea can be applied on a smaller (or larger!) scale, and with any kind of organizer tray you choose.
I built the cabinet to hold everything in one place, but that's not the most critical part. The important point is that sets of things go in Sortimo organizer trays below, and the random bits go in Akro-Bins above.
Additionally, there are definitely times when you don't want to devote even a whole akro-bin to something. For that, I've got categories of stuff. One of my akro-bins is labeled "Random Washers". Another is "Random Imperial". And then another is just "Random.
I find that there's very little that doesn't fit somewhere in this system.
Where does one find this particular storage box? I very, very much like the idea of customizing each organizer.
Where does one find this particular storage box? I very, very much like the idea of customizing each organizer.
I'm not entirely familiar with where the Sortimo T-Boxx is available in the US. You'll find them similar in concept to their L-Boxx, Bosch is using their L-Boxx now too. The L-Boxx 3D is interesting because it has a standard L-Boxx top but has slots for a drawer or their i-Boxx kits which are smaller versions of the T-Boxx. Be prepared to spend a fortune if you want as many as Modern Jess. I'm very jealous.
I'm building a vertical cabinet to house some of my Bosch Tools in L-Boxx cases and then a few L-Boxx 1A's for my frequently used drywall and deck screws. Misc small hardware will go in Harbor Freight bin organizers that will each have their own pull out drawer (think poor man's Durham rack). Finally for my larger hardware and less often used specialty tools I have a large set of the bolt bins with drawers from a hardware store that closed.
Strouty
Well-known member
I sold all my durham cabinets, I think what you are doing is better. The durham drawers are cumbersome to get small parts out of, the bin boxes have removable bins and I think that makes them nicer.
zeet
Well-known member
Strouty
Well-known member
I emptied one of my storage containers so I could remove some dividers that were welded in, after that I ended up making a deal with another member to swap the cabinet for one they had. Now I have to temporarily relocate all the stuff I removed for another week. Gotta love storage, it kills you on both ends and the middle.
You aren't kidding, those boxes go for 40-50 pounds EACH on Amazon UK, that equates to $60-$75.
I have bins. Lots of bins. I've got a 90 some odd steel bin rack, you know, the 4' wide 7' tall 12" deep (can be subdivided) wall-o-bins. That's mostly for all my larger hardware fasteners, sizes 1/4" up to 3/4" bolts/nuts/washers. Most of these are not hyper organized, though larger lots (say, 3/8" x 1" std bolts) that I've bought by the box often have their own subdivision. Most are grouped smallish and largish and the like. So maybe 3/8" x 1/2" up to 1.25", and anything longer separate. Just depends on relative quantities. And 1/4" may take a total of 3 subdivided bins, 3/8 may take 4, and 1/2" may take 2.
Then there things like screws. Some merit their own bins among my smaller bin "blocks". For instance, #10 has 3 subdivided bins, #8 has 2, and so on. Those with a wide range and small counts generally get group categorized. I've go Philips drive countersink screws in 2 bins with each subdivided. They get roughly grouped in that by small/large and short/long. And I've got boxes in a separate rack that hold quantities of deck, sheetrock, and framing screws. Similar for button, otherwise uncategorized machine screws, I've got a bin dedicated to "random" nuts that fit nowhere else.
So in the end other than a largish bin I toss loose odds in till I'm ready to sort, I don't have a "bin of shame", though depending on what it is, it may take a bit of looking.
I've also bought a couple of flats of fold-and-lock-together cardboard "bins" in sizes I might need. Something comes along and doesn't fit anywhere, or sometimes for "project boxes" awaiting me to get back to them, or until all parts are acquired, goes into these and then sits on common shelving units. I use a larger cardboard bin to group my smaller boxes of deck screws in different sizes/finishes, and so on.
Over all, it works for me.
Then there things like screws. Some merit their own bins among my smaller bin "blocks". For instance, #10 has 3 subdivided bins, #8 has 2, and so on. Those with a wide range and small counts generally get group categorized. I've go Philips drive countersink screws in 2 bins with each subdivided. They get roughly grouped in that by small/large and short/long. And I've got boxes in a separate rack that hold quantities of deck, sheetrock, and framing screws. Similar for button, otherwise uncategorized machine screws, I've got a bin dedicated to "random" nuts that fit nowhere else.
So in the end other than a largish bin I toss loose odds in till I'm ready to sort, I don't have a "bin of shame", though depending on what it is, it may take a bit of looking.
I've also bought a couple of flats of fold-and-lock-together cardboard "bins" in sizes I might need. Something comes along and doesn't fit anywhere, or sometimes for "project boxes" awaiting me to get back to them, or until all parts are acquired, goes into these and then sits on common shelving units. I use a larger cardboard bin to group my smaller boxes of deck screws in different sizes/finishes, and so on.
Over all, it works for me.
Strouty
Well-known member
I have been working on cleaning things up for a while, now I am looking at upgrading some of my cabinets. I have been looking at the lista storage wall and it looks like the most versatile stuff, plus I can use my old cabinet drawers with it.
I also have a few boxes of hardware that I am either going to scrap or offer for the price of shipping. I keep looking at the stuff and thinking, that is useful, then later in the day I trip over the boxes or have to push them out of the way and then I think !?!!?!?!?!?
Figured I would bump to see what others are up to with storage.
I also have a few boxes of hardware that I am either going to scrap or offer for the price of shipping. I keep looking at the stuff and thinking, that is useful, then later in the day I trip over the boxes or have to push them out of the way and then I think !?!!?!?!?!?
Figured I would bump to see what others are up to with storage.
Linda@Lista
Well-known member
@Strouty Let me know if I can help answer any questions about Lista or Vidmar cabinets!
Strouty
Well-known member
I ended up ordering the storage wall, should be ready for pickup in a few weeks. I am looking forward to installing it! Mine will not have as many drawers, but it will still be a big step forward.
Linda@Lista
Well-known member
I ended up ordering the storage wall, should be ready for pickup in a few weeks. I am looking forward to installing it! Mine will not have as many drawers, but it will still be a big step forward.
@Strouty that's awesome! I'd love to see some photos of it once it gets installed!
mmalinco
New member
Hello:
My name is Michael. I live in Tuscaloosa, AL. I have been making sawdust for nearly 70 years. I am still hoping to become a competent woodworker.
My name is Michael. I live in Tuscaloosa, AL. I have been making sawdust for nearly 70 years. I am still hoping to become a competent woodworker.
6768rogues
Banned
Old fashioned wood screws, especially the straight slot type, go in my metal scrap bucket. I never use them.
Absolutely! I've been an organized hoarder for years, no more.
finn
Well-known member
I’ll admit to having a few bins of shame, but I occasionally purge, to some extent, and at least try to maintain like fasteners in common bins, ie don’t co-mingle sheet metal screws with machine screws, nails, etc. I usually toss soft screws, nuts, and bolts, as well as specialty fasteners of unknown application, and straight blade screws, especially wood screws. Torx construction screws have made a lot of the older stuff functionally obsolete.
In general, I prefer new fasteners, but being that it’s 22 miles round trip to town, that’s not always possible
In general, I prefer new fasteners, but being that it’s 22 miles round trip to town, that’s not always possible
racecougar
Well-known member
Digs up a eleven year old thread to make a ten word reply as a first post. Good work.
Interesting isn't it ?
zimman
Well-known member
I'm trying to reorganize. I've got this red service cart just for my automotive **** and it's outstanding. Almost everything except wire I need to do mod's. The rest is in some Milwaukee packout's and old school bins.
Zim
Zim
Thanks, turning 70 soon. For much of my life, I've been the guy who would save and start collecting or buying things for future projects, you know, the future me. Recently, my siblings and I had to move my Mom, 91, and Dad, 93, out of their house. They moved in with my sister. They had a deep, single car garage. Dad was an auto mechanic as they used to call them. The only items I could find a use for in that garage were his old top and mid, Snap-On boxes, which sat on top of his workbench. When I got them home, I completely dismantled and cleaned them. They are now in my backyard workshop. Cleaning out Dad's garage was a reality check. Dad had two pull-out drawer parts bins he kept from our auto repair shop back in the 80's and 90's. I think one was from Wagner Lighting. We gave both of them to his neighbors, along with many other items, but much of it went to the local thrift stores. Looking through those drawers, there wasn't anything I or my brother wanted. I do a lot more projects than my dad ever did, so I've collected a lot more tools and stuff. Having an oversized two car attached garage and a 16x24 detached shop, the potential to have a dumpster in my driveway when the time comes doesn't sit well with me.