plastic bins for my flat file cabinet

[cheechi]

I have a flat file cabinet like this that I want to use for my hardware, moving away from a combination of disorganization and plastic drawer units.



The drawers are

2 3/4 tall
8 5/8 wide at the thinnest point (bent in for the slots to work)
16 1/8 usable depth



all the plastic hardware bins that I am finding are 3" high. Akro Mills is my usual go to for plastic stuff like that, but I've looked all the usual suspects, Flambeau Plano Iris etc. 3" tall seems to be the magic number. which does make sense in general.

The divider slots are cut for 16ga though the drawers probably aren't that thick themselves. Either way, I got no dividers with it and I don't have the tools to take a sheet of 16ga and make long enough (or straight enough) cuts and make my own. In the short term that's not going to be an option, if I get a portaband/SWAG table that may change.

The hardware ranges from #6 to 5/8" bolts, with a few metric sizes in there. excluding nails and screws and anything too big of a quantity to fit in the drawers. It doesn't need to be super fancy like some, but I would like to have nuts, washers, lock washers in separate bins if I can, and of course for the smaller sizes I'd like to separate lengths by bins if it's possible. For the bigger sizes that isn't as important.

Walmart sells these mesh baskets as silverware trays/bins
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Honey-Can-Do-Steel-Mesh-Drawer-Organizer-Silver/34163741
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Honey-Can-Do-Steel-Mesh-Drawer-Organizer-Silver/34163739
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Honey-Can-Do-Steel-Mesh-Drawer-Organizer-Silver/34163736

I have several of the older ones, branded Rubbermaid back in the day. They live in various places in my toolboxes now and are actually pretty decent for what they are; I sort extensions, u joints, my whole hand impact set fits in one, etc. Not ideal for hardware sorting but they could do in a pinch for the bigger sizes.

Maybe I will buy one of these just for the bins? Not my first choice but I'm sure it will work. Of the 3 they sell this one might work, says it's 2-1/4" which I'm guessing makes the bins probably 2" out of that. Next time I go in there I'm going to try to remember to bring a drawer to test fit.

Please give me any suggestions you can. Thanks in advance.

 

[joseywales]

Harbor Freight had two sizes that look like the black/yellow one you show. I bought two of each. If yours isn't from HF, maybe compare them?

 

[cheechi]

Yep that one above is 93928 from HF

 

[bob15]

These are great to use and come in a variety of heights, lengths and widths:

http://www.schallercorporation.com/

stolen image from e-bay:

 

[landrover bodger]

I divided mine to store hardware with strips of plastic window trim

 

[Olafur]

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/ikea_kitchens/24255/

I use some of this stuff in my toolbox.

 

[larry_g]

I have some of these in my drawers. They work fine.

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/dw...MIiNDewpPD1QIVToJ-Ch3wRggGEAQYAiABEgKy8_D_BwE

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Marctrees]

Cheechi - IF steel dividers to fit the slots were available, and priced reasonably... Would that take care of your needs ??

IF so, post a sharper crisper couple diff angle photos of that interior.

You image is very fuzzy.

ALSO... The brand of the cabinet. Marc

Marc

 

[MikeF2316]

These are great to use and come in a variety of heights, lengths and widths:

http://www.schallercorporation.com/

stolen image from e-bay:

I bought a bunch of these, in the nominal 2" height. This won't affect the OP, but they are a little too tall for the 2" Snap-on drawers, but they fit the 2" drawers in my Craftsman boxes just fine. But I doubt the 3" ones will work.

I ended up ripping 2 mm off the top using my chop saw and a plywood blade.

 

[wafer]

Please give me any suggestions you can. Thanks in advance.

I had some old parts bins sitting around, so I removed the drawers and put them in my flat file drawers,

 

[cheechi]

thanks bob for the link to schaller. I think that's what I was looking for the whole time, I was trying to remember what I have seen in other threads. search wasn't that helpful today.

while I was messing around with it today I figured I'd try what I have on hand since not every drawer is going to have big bolts in it.

Northern has a 2 pack of trays for $5, made in usa but I don't know what brand and can't find them on their site.

home depot was selling plastic pencil cases for some reason, but they make good organizers for small hardware and QD's.

and of course the flambeau tuff tainers fit in there.

I thought about taking some of the drawers and just moving them but that's not a permanent solution for me. but it is a good idea.