Small parts storage solution

[sgtmac]

In the Aviation maintenance business we have thousands of different pieces of hardware(screws,nuts,bolts,washers,etc.) that were in storage bins and organized but it was hard to use. The bins would catch each other and spill and it was hard to see if the bin was getting low.

In my other shop I had three huge Lista parts cabinets for hardware. I was lucky and got them in an auction for cheap.

What I came up with here is simple and cheap.

I started with 6 - 64 drawer plastic parts cabinets from Zoro tools. They list for $23.00 each. You can also find zoro coupons that rock and can end up getting a bin for free..

The bins are floppy and unstable on a bench so I mounted them to the wall using the slots provided. This allowed me to free up shelf space, use a blank wall that had posters on it and the bins are rock solid. No more worries about dumping it over.

I put 1 row of bins a little above head height and a second row below the first.

The drawers are small but perfect for screws, nuts etc.

I used my hot glue gun to glue an example of each fastener just below the drawers little handle. Each bin is dedicated to one type of fastener and the drawers are opaque so you can see when they are getting low.

The bins I am using are made by Akron Mills and they have three styles with even larger drawers.

I will post pictures as I continue to build my hardware empire.

 

[allinon72]

I have these bins and my only complaint is they sag in the middle once you get them loaded down.

 

[Victorymike18]

I have these bins and my only complaint is they sag in the middle once you get them loaded down.

Maybe screw a thin board of along the bottom (screws from inside)

 

[sgtmac]

I wall mounted them so I hope they don't sag?

 

[allinon72]

I mounted mine on the wall too. The front middle sags. However I have some larger, heavier bolts in mine.

 

[spotco2]

Also the drawers get brittle and break easily if they get cold.

I had a similar set up except I put a shelf under each row of bins. That was after I had one break off the wall and took 4 others out with it, but they were heavy.

 

[bad_idea]

I bought the harbor freight 13 drawer 41" tool chest and cut the bottoms off of 1 qt oil cans for bins. Open 1 drawer and there is all of the 3/8" hardware.

 

[over40pirate]

Don't for the baby food jar storage solution. I bought a approx. 3'x4' frame work that was about 4" deep. It had 4" horizontal slats set in dados on the sides. The slats were at a 45 deg. angle +/- and had the tops of baby food jars screwed to the bottom.
There were about 60 or so jars and lots of storage.

Years ago I had a friend who had shelves in his basement with 1280 baby food jars, with aviation hardware in them.