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Sorting hardware

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MScott

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There have been a couple of threads recently about saving hardware (nuts, bolts, screws etc.) and they have reminded me of a problem I have been having. I save hardware and have used a simple system of plastic oil containers (laid flat with sides cut out) to store them. My sorting system has been quite simple...1/4; 5/16/ 3/8 etc in coarse and fine thread.
I'm finding, however, that I occasionally get bolts and nuts that appear to be SAE but turn out to be metric of an almost identical size.
I recently purchased a 60 drawer library card filing cabinet that is going to allow me to sort things much more finely but this problem with metric vs SAE is giving me fits.
A while back, I noticed a device in a hardware store that had samples of most nut and bolt sizes in various threads that you could try a nut or bolt on/in to determine what size and thread your sample was. Unfortunately I can't remember where I saw it or whether it was something available for purchase.
Does anyone know if such a sorting device is available and if so, where it can be obtained? It would make sorting hardware so much easier.
 
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Strouty

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I have the one on the cord from mcmaster. I like it the best, I have tried a bunch of others and never really liked them. I just put a clip on it so I can take it with me if needed. I also have some that I bought from the local cat dealership, they go up to 1" I think.
 
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MScott

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Thanks. That's exactly what I was looking for. An automatic one would be nice but I don't mind DIY. I might have known this place would have the answer. I think the wall mounted one from McMaster would be perfect as I can attach it directly to the cabinet.:bowdown:
 
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Vegaman_Dan

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The display at Coastal Farm Supply locally has a nifty one where a board has nuts and bolts glued to it that you can test fit your item to verify it is right. I don't know where to get one, but I think it would be worth making one. Could be as simple as a wooden board with the items glued on with epoxy, or some steel thing with the same items tack welded to it.

I might have to try this.
 
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MScott

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Vegaman_Dan said:
The display at Coastal Farm Supply locally has a nifty one where a board has nuts and bolts glued to it that you can test fit your item to verify it is right. I don't know where to get one, but I think it would be worth making one. Could be as simple as a wooden board with the items glued on with epoxy, or some steel thing with the same items tack welded to it.

I might have to try this.
Click to expand...

I thought of doing this, but I know little about metric threads and sizes so I thought it better to just purchase one if possible. I have ordered the one from McMaster and am looking forward to spending some time sorting.
 
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PT Doc

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I have a thread detective. 1 strand for metric and 1 strand for Sae. Has been very helpful.
 
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coljar

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Belpre, Ohio
Mine came from Fastenal. They were free because the salesman recognized me from here at the plant and told the other guy to just give them to me.
 
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IMCA38

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Bennet, NE
I have the Rockler "ball" version. Very handy to have. I have them hanging on a chain and hook on the end of my wooden bolt bin. Makes putting things in the right slot a breeze.
 
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Strouty

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The wall mounted one from mcmaster is kind of cheesy, I ended up returning it. Basically it is particle board with threads mounted in it, the label is just a sticker over the wood. It was flimsy and flexible in a bad way.
 
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GarageWarrior

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Westerly, RI
You can use a cheap digital micrometer that reads to a thousands of an inch, along with SAE and Metric thread-pitch gauges to identify pretty much any fastener, including oddball sizes, pipe threads, Whitworth threads, ASME threads, etc.

There are charts available online that lists thread dimensions. For external threads you'll want to know allowances for max/min Major diameter, and for internal threads its max/min Minor diameter.

I've used HF micrometer along with pitch gauges from their tap and die sets to sort a ton of hardware. Later I bought Thread Detective in metric and SAE - it's made well and works fine, but once you know how to use the charts - micrometer and pitch gauges are IMHO easier to use and give more positive readings, so I eventually sold Thread Detective and went back to Micrometer and pitch gauges.
 
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MScott

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Well that *****. McMaster-Car have cancelled my order because I'm not a "business." Guess I'll have to re-order from one of the other suppliers mentioned.:mad:
 
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sublimate

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MScott said:
Well that *****. McMaster-Car have cancelled my order because I'm not a "business." Guess I'll have to re-order from one of the other suppliers mentioned.:mad:
Click to expand...

WHAT? I've ordered plenty of items from McMaster to my home and never had this issue.
I've never heard of them having a business only policy.
 
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MScott

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sublimate said:
WHAT? I've ordered plenty of items from McMaster to my home and never had this issue.
I've never heard of them having a business only policy.
Click to expand...

It is probably because of my Canadian address, although it is not clear whether they would have shipped to my Kinek US address either. No problem, I'll order one elsewhere. I was having second thoughts anyway after the comments Strouty made about the one I had ordered. Here is what the cancellation said:

"Due to the complexity of U.S. export regulations, McMaster-Carr accepts international orders only from businesses. This decision also applies to orders shipping within the United States, because it is based on the final destination of the items. We cannot accept this order or future orders."
 
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KRB52

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Talk to the folks at your hardware store, where they have one. At the place I work, we have one SAE and one metric. While generally not for sale to the public, I'm sure if you ask, the store may order one for you from their supplier. We order one of each a little while ago for a guy that does some sort of car restoration program with at-risk youths in another state. The boss was nice, ordered it for him and only charged our cost.
 
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