Sorting hardware

[383 240z]

I've been sorting thru about 115 lbs of hardware I bought at auction.

Most of it is Gr8 and Gr 5 bolts nuts and washers. Nothing over 1/2". Longest is about 3". Also 25-30 lbs of socket head cap screws and set screws. from 3/8x3" to 3/8x1/4" down to #8x2 down to #8x1/4".

I've also been buying the Harbor Freight knock of Sortimo boxes, to store the smaller stuff.

How to you guys organize hardware, by length, or by thread? By that I mean, are you storing all your 2" long hardware in one place? Or is all the 1/4x20 stuff together? I'm leaning towards storing based on thread rather than length, as thats how I've always had it and how hardware stores stock it. However I'm always open to new ideas. Keith

 

[MFolks]

Got any SS(Stainless Steel)? Great for high moisture conditions, but somewhat softer than Grade 5 hardware.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I sort by bolt size, then length. I keep nuts and washers separate since there's usually a lot of those.

If I'm working with loose portable bins instead of bolt drawers, then all sorted by size, one unit per size including washers and nuts.

 

[MF'er]

Tackle box organizers, nuts and washers are in a Stack-on drawer thingy

 

[matt_i]

Got any SS(Stainless Steel)? Great for high moisture conditions, but somewhat softer than Grade 5 hardware.

Big difference between the 18-8 or 304SS and the 316SS in terms of quality.

Back to the original question, whatever way its stored, I want an intuitive way to go down or over to find the next size bolt, either longer or shorter than I have now.

I have Akro bins for some fasteners, hex nuts are in a row, for example, leftmost bin starts at #10-24, then 1/4-20, then 5/16-18 then 3/8-16, etc. I don't have any fine threads to pollute the mix.

I started mixing hex heads and socket heads of the same thread length and thread type in the same bin, I simply did not have enough bin space to individualize them all, and I can discern which of the two I want to use.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Primarily by thread size. Then length and head style. Sizes I have a lot of the nuts, washers and lockwashers each get their own space. If it's a size I only have few of I'll put the bolts, nuts and washers in the same bin.

 

[38Chevy454]

Primarily by thread size. Then length and head style. Sizes I have a lot of the nuts, washers and lockwashers each get their own space. If it's a size I only have few of I'll put the bolts, nuts and washers in the same bin.

Basically my storage as well. First is by thread, then length. Although I do not really break out by head size, and I put lengths between a range together.

 

[Alan Douglas]

Thread size, then head style. I use cardboard bins. If you wind up with too many of a particular type or length, you just subdivide the bin into two bins. Fine thread can go in another bin also.

 

[pmiranda]

Def. thread size first. You can easily tell the difference between bolt lengths and head styles/sizes, but thread sizes (especially sae fine vs metric) and pitch isn't very obvious.

 

[senlow]

I sort by material first. At least 90% of my fasteners are carbon steel.
Second, I sort by head type first.
Next, I sort by thread size.
I then subdivide them by length. Typically I also end up with a misc. length bin for the oddball lengths. I'm not interested in having bins with less than a half dozen fasteners.
Finally I subdivide by grade when there is adequate quantity to justify the extra bins.

I use a combination of Akro Bins (subdivided with dividers and bin cups), steel drawer bins, and those crappy plastic drawer modules. It's not perfect, but I can quickly locate the fasteners that I need.

 

[NUTTSGT]

New hardware: by size, nuts,lock washers, washers then bolts by length.

Used hardware: tossed in a rolling box.

 

[moparfreak]

I generally sort by thread size then length, and just go sequentially. For small stuff yeah it'll go in plano boxes but for the big type of stuff you are talking about, I place those in my big sliding drawer cabinets which are set up to fit plastic electrical boxes perfectly. I just keep rearranging and sorting as my collection grows. Here's a pic of the hex head stuff. I can fit 44 boxes per drawer and they are dirt cheap so it works out well.

Main thing is whatever you choose, it has to be adaptable, cause in the future next time you score 100+ lb of hardware, you'll want to be able to simply add to your system, not have to actually re-do your system.

 

[davidw]

I generally sort by thread size then length, and just go sequentially. For small stuff yeah it'll go in plano boxes but for the big type of stuff you are talking about, I place those in my big sliding drawer cabinets which are set up to fit plastic electrical boxes perfectly. I just keep rearranging and sorting as my collection grows. Here's a pic of the hex head stuff. I can fit 44 boxes per drawer and they are dirt cheap so it works out well.


Main thing is whatever you choose, it has to be adaptable, cause in the future next time you score 100+ lb of hardware, you'll want to be able to simply add to your system, not have to actually re-do your system.

That's a great idea to use those electrical boxes for hardware!

 

[crerus75]

The least expensive sorting boxes I've seen so far are the 2-packs available at Home Depot. They were a better value when I could get them for $9.99 a few months back, but $11.97 for a pair still beats the Stack On and Plano boxes. I like being able to configure the dividers depending on part size and quantity. I use them for bolts, rivets, washers, drywall screws, crimp connectors, taps and dies... just about anything that fits in them.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That's a great idea to use those electrical boxes for hardware!

I'd agree, damn skippy idea.

 

[moparfreak]

cheapest solution I could find. When you get the contractor packs of 100 at Menards or lowe's they end up around $0.18 per box or so. The 2-gang and 3-gang are a little more but I only need a few of those. Gotta cut the ears off at the bandsaw to make them nest properly in the shelves.

 

[senlow]

I place those in my big sliding drawer cabinets which are set up to fit plastic electrical boxes perfectly.

That's brilliant!
They are durable, easily available just about anywhere, can be bought in several sizes easily modified, and dirt cheap.

 

[mikegt4]

I was in charge of the "bolt bin" (approximately 10 Lista 5' tall cabinets ) previous to my retirement. I started out with the cabinets being loosely organized individually but they came from a couple of different locations that were being combined in one facility. Some places used mostly Imperial hardware, others Metric. In some cases I had to separate and organize boxes of mixed fasteners. I pretty much had to empty all of the cabinets and start from scratch.

I would start by separating them by diameter starting at the largest. It's amazing how easy it is to pick out the biggest ones, they really stand out from the others.

Within each size separate by type, hex head, socket head etc.

Then separate by length.

At this point you can see what you have a lot of or a few of and can make a decision on what you need for storage containers. If you have an over abundance of a particular size consider keeping a small amount in your cabinet or box and put the rest aside in "bulk storage" and refill your cabinet or box as necessary.

I had about 50 people using my cabinets, most of which had no clue about thread sizes, and I was always putting fasteners back in their proper place. I found that if I arranged the drawers so that the most popular lengths were at the front of the drawer the guilty parties would find what they needed without rooting through everything. Most of them would bring a bolt and try to match it up but "just a little longer". Of course you won't have to do that at home.

When you are done with this project you will be able to recognize a thread and diameter from 10 feet and amaze all your friends.

 

[Sharpest]

I use a combination of gallon solvent jugs with the top cut off, coffee cans and quart auto fluid jugs with the tops cut off in a lateral file cabinet. I'm trying to phase out the coffee cans to make better use of the drawer space but two cans stack perfectly in the deep drawers.

 

[dcmus]

I generally sort by thread size then length, and just go sequentially. For small stuff yeah it'll go in plano boxes but for the big type of stuff you are talking about, I place those in my big sliding drawer cabinets which are set up to fit plastic electrical boxes perfectly. I just keep rearranging and sorting as my collection grows. Here's a pic of the hex head stuff. I can fit 44 boxes per drawer and they are dirt cheap so it works out well.

Main thing is whatever you choose, it has to be adaptable, cause in the future next time you score 100+ lb of hardware, you'll want to be able to simply add to your system, not have to actually re-do your system.

Great Idea using electrical boxes. Thanks!

 

[Falcon67]

Pour them in coffee cans (OK, plastic now) - part of the fun is digging through a pile to find just the right fastener.

I sort by thread size (1/4, 5/16, etc), with washers, lock washers and nuts all separate. On the stuff I use a lot - 5/16, 3/8 - I'll have both fine and coarse nuts separate and "long" and "short" bolts in separate bins. The length is arbitrary. And, a few buckets of misc, especially car hardware.

 

[nadogail]

I sort first by thread size, then by length, followed by head type.

If there are enough to bother with it try to divide them by grade. I try to never buy grade 2 bolts, but my choices are limited by my parsimonious ways.

Clear plastic peanut butter jars are my container of choice for my work van.

 

[four.cycle]

well... let's see... I have coffee cans, peanut butter jars, Tupperware, cardboard boxes, those big plastic jars you buy Cashews in from Costco, and egg cartons. there is absolutely no organization or "system", and yet I always manage to find exactly what I'm looking for in fairly short order.
if not, Ace Hardware is 1.4 miles from my driveway.

if I can ever dig through the pile to get to them, I have about a dozen 40-drawer steel cabinets with plastic drawers that we stocked our brass fittings in.
they're buried behind three layers of old furniture and one row of lawnmowers, so it's possible I may not live long enough to see the day when I have "organized" nuts and bolts.

 

[383 240z]

Still sorting. Need to pick up a few more knock off Sortimio's. All the 5 and 8 bolts are sorted, 5 and 8, nuts, washers, and lock washers are sorted. About 1/3 of the set screws are done. Still need to get the socket head cap screws, and few others. Pics once it's all sorted. I promise

 

[383 240z]

I have to keep a fair amount of hardware on hand. It's at least an hour round trip to the nearest hardware store.

 

[38Chevy454]

I have to keep a fair amount of hardware on hand. It's at least an hour round trip to the nearest hardware store.

Even if you are closer, not having to stop in the middle of a project to make a hardware store run is worth having good inventory. I am kind of in same position as you, no close stores, so having good selection at home is valuable time (and money!) saver.

 

[Yourfired]

Personally I compartmentalize by size followed by length. Everyone has their own way, which makes it easier for them to keep track of their inventory. You should experiment with what you think will work for you.

 

[FORDification]

Cool storage system made from 40 big plastic jugs. This type of jug normally just thrown out from cleaning companies and big laundry rooms. Perfect and cheap solution for storage of larger items.

 

[FORDification]

Old solvent cans are another way of organizing nuts and bolts on a budget.

 

[FORDification]

Another option:

 

[Dustin Pahl]

I've been sorting thru about 115 lbs of hardware I bought at auction.



Most of it is Gr8 and Gr 5 bolts nuts and washers. Nothing over 1/2". Longest is about 3". Also 25-30 lbs of socket head cap screws and set screws. from 3/8x3" to 3/8x1/4" down to #8x2 down to #8x1/4".



I've also been buying the Harbor Freight knock of Sortimo boxes, to store the smaller stuff.



How to you guys organize hardware, by length, or by thread? By that I mean, are you storing all your 2" long hardware in one place? Or is all the 1/4x20 stuff together? I'm leaning towards storing based on thread rather than length, as thats how I've always had it and how hardware stores stock it. However I'm always open to new ideas. Keith

Do you have pictures of your progress or end result of this. I would love to see how those HF boxes are layed out. I'm planning on doing the same thing soon.

 

[btdobie]

How to you guys organize hardware, by length, or by thread? By that I mean, are you storing all your 2" long hardware in one place? Or is all the 1/4x20 stuff together? I'm leaning towards storing based on thread rather than length, as thats how I've always had it and how hardware stores stock it. However I'm always open to new ideas. Keith

I sort by thread then break it into a couple length categories. For example I have 1/4 inch bolts in lest than 1.5, between 1.5 and 2.5, and over 2.5.

 

[Tim C]

I sort by thread then break it into a couple length categories. For example I have 1/4 inch bolts in lest than 1.5, between 1.5 and 2.5, and over 2.5.

That's how I did it too. I have those 18 plastic drawer organizers that hang on a wall. Top drawer is 1/4" nuts below is washers, then bolts broke down by lenghts, next column is 5/16", continuing up to 5/8" bolts (me and friends build and maintain off-road buggies). I have a set of drawers for m6, m8, and m10 metric but not as well stocked since I don't use them as much when fabricating. I also have electrical terminals, npt and hydraulic fittings, and and assortment of OEM bolts in yet more bins.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[383 240z]

Do you have pictures of your progress or end result of this. I would love to see how those HF boxes are layed out. I'm planning on doing the same thing soon.

I should have some shop time here soon. I'll take a few pics for you. Keith