Small/Medium Parts Organization

[mobiledynamics]

My small parts organization for fittings of all sorts for the tasks (plumbing) is a mix of new/newish Milwaukee Packout 11/12 Bin Organizers, some are in Dewalt Small Tough Box (each box has I think 8 bin organizers) and also a few 5 Gallon Buckets with the Bucket Boss Stackers.

It's looking to tidy my small parts up. Everything from screws, fasteners, plumbing fittings, etc.

I think the 5G buckets will always exist with the bucket boss for my various mix of 3" bulk screws, nails, etc

Leaning on the Buying a whole lot more Milwaukee Packout Large Organizer Bins but even at $40 per case, going to need quite a few as the overall volume is a bit small for certain items.

Just talking outloud as I decide on a small parts organization. I have what I need which is a hodge of various brands bought as years gone by. I'm leaning on a single -mono- system for neatness...

 

[radio2000]

My small parts organization for fittings of all sorts for the tasks (plumbing) is a mix of new/newish Milwaukee Packout 11/12 Bin Organizers, some are in Dewalt Small Tough Box (each box has I think 8 bin organizers) and also a few 5 Gallon Buckets with the Bucket Boss Stackers.



It's looking to tidy my small parts up. Everything from screws, fasteners, plumbing fittings, etc.



I think the 5G buckets will always exist with the bucket boss for my various mix of 3" bulk screws, nails, etc



Leaning on the Buying a whole lot more Milwaukee Packout Large Organizer Bins but even at $40 per case, going to need quite a few as the overall volume is a bit small for certain items.



Just talking outloud as I decide on a small parts organization. I have what I need which is a hodge of various brands bought as years gone by. I'm leaning on a single -mono- system for neatness...

Pictures?

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[Kenstone1]

I use HF bins Large/Medium/Small as they are less than 1/2 the price of the name brand bins and go on sale every other week.
I built a shelf/cabinet for them out of scraps of wood...neat tighty and adding castors makes that cabinet mobile.
I like that the bins can be removed individually from the case and taken to the job rather than taking the whole case.
The only annoying thing I've come across is the HF storage case lids only open 90 degrees (straight up)/ not 180.
https://www.harborfreight.com/8-bin-portable-parts-storage-case-93927.html?_br_psugg_q=storage

https://www.harborfreight.com/20-bin-medium-portable-parts-storage-case-93928.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/15-bin-portable-parts-storage-case-93929.html

Edit: don't buy any with dividers and slots.

 

[Kenstone1]

oops a double
nothing to see here

 

[fourjeepin]

I use the bins from a HD that was relocating. $50 for each “vertical stack”. I thought it was a great deal until he threw in the hardware that was in them. I only wanted a couple of the bins but bought them all and spent months sorting all the hardware.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I use the drawer/ shelf like bins I guess they are called at home. And use the little divided trays with lids from Harbor Freight at work and they work well for me keeps all my extra nuts and bolts in organization like I like lol.


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[macgee]

mobiledynamics,

Thats always the conundrum, do you keep parts in cases stored away and can be move them around or do you dive head in and do a stationary drawer set up?

I went with a stationary drawer setup and have never looked back. I have one large Lista cabinet that can hold almost all of my small parts and fasteners. Its pretty amazing how much they can hold compared to separate containers. I think you need about 20+ Packout's to one cabinet. I can open one drawer and look at a vast array of parts/fasteners to choose from. Very happy not to have to go through various cases to find what I need although I still do for some random things. Only problem: I can't take it places. But that isn't too much of an issue for me.

Not for you as you already have a bunch of nice Packout's. I found these cheap mobile parts organizers that are not too bad, its made by Keter (euro) sold at Walmarts for $17 and has 18 removable bins and almost the exact same internal volume as my Bosch Boxx 3D but they don't attached/lock to each other. The bins are almost identical to my Boxx and Lista ones.

I really like the Milwaukee PACKOUT's; this is just a cheaper alternative that seems to work pretty but my Lista cabinets make me smile every time I use them and make work way more efficient.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/HART-18-Cantilever-Organizer-Resin-Tool-Storage-Box-Black-with-Blue/122352348

 

[mobiledynamics]

Indeed Macgee. A cabinet will be of better value, easily ID parts with just a pull of a drawer, and could be easier to create -slots- of various sizes/partitions. In the current system, it's more or less grab-n-go for the task @ hand. If I'm doing X, I know I will this bucket, and maybe this tote, etc. Obviously there are situations where I need to do some mid-empty before grabbing --- like in the scenario of fasteners where I won't need the fuil suite but just a specific size

 

[RonnieMac]

I use the Plano organizers for my collection of fasteners, primarily for automotive.
Plano Molding 974 StowAway Organizer Rack,Red
4 drawers in a rack.

I mount these organizers one atop the next on a wall in my workshop.

The height of the drawers limits the size of items that can be stored therein.

I then create a "legend" in a multi-sheet Excel file that recreates the layout of each drawer. I enter the part numbers and descriptions in the Excel sheet. I print out the Excel sheet and place the printed sheet on the inner face of the drawer/organizer lid.

I use clear large shipping envelopes with adhesive backing, stolen from FedEx, to retain the sheet.

When I head off to work offsite, I just lift the organizer or the appropriate drawers from the wall mount and set it in the back of my van.

I'm a former partsperson, and find this system to have the flexibility to make changes easily.

 

[username2]

Unless you've got some strong need for portability and/or really like a bunch of plastic cases with handles, I'd get on craigslist and look for a map cabinet. It's one of the few instances where I've run into things actually being available, unlike cheap air compressors or drill presses. Drafting tables is another good one.

I used cut-up USPS flat rate boxes for divider/stuff holders.

 

[jdm5]

Might want to check out this classic thread here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289281

 

[tarbellb]

Check out the Husky 10 compartment clear top organizers at HD, a very good option at a good price.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...all-Parts-Organizer-in-Black-235587/302939645