Stackable parts bins?

[action fab]

So after spending a few hundred dollars on steel Duram bolt bins and still I don't even have half of the space I need. So I can't afford 10 Duram bins at $150 ea...

I'm now looking to sell the ones I have and go with stackable plastic bins. I can find them on ebay for really cheap but I want to make sure before I buy them that they are good quality...

Looking at 5x4x3

Ebay bins... $0.80ea.

vs

Quantum bins... $1.62ea.

vs

AKRO-MILS... 1.55ea.

Are real quantum bins worth twice the price. I want to buy a bunch of these and buy them ONCE! I am tired of crappy bolt storage solutions. I have been working out of boxes, 5 gallon buckets, bolt bags, coffee cans and tool boxes for years and its a organazational nightmare. I have about $2000 worth of grade 8 fine thread bolts in a 5 gallon bucket that I almost threw in my metal pile because I don't ever want to dig through the damn thing. And I ave no wear to put it all. then there is the 10 or so boxes full of bolts. And of corse my new durham units, that are full to the brim. I need about 1000 bins. and I just can't seem to find a way to acheave this economicly.

So do any of you guys have any experiance with these?

Here are the ebay ones... They look just like the other two by the pics.

-Chris.

 

[malibu101]

We have many Akro-Mills bins at work. They survive very well. I would not hesitate to buy them for myself if I needed something like they offer.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I use file card cabinets with ball bearing drawer slides, filled with plastic freezer containers. Best thing I have found so far. I have started selling or giving away my standard steel drawer bolt bins. The file cabs keep dust off, and I can open a drawer and see what is in about 24 containers in a glance. The cabinets sell for around $90 in my area on CL.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought some bins at HF as much as I hated to, I wanted to get the project done and didn't want to wait.

The red ones are smaller while the blue ones are about twice as deep.

 

[allinon72]

Akro Bins are worth the extra money

 

[nehog]

My experience is that they don't stack well, and when stacked are hard to get to anything. I'm knocking 'em down too often as well...

I have a large wheeled rack with about 300 or so on it (each with a hanger, no stacking) and about 100 more that I stack.

 

[action fab]

I use file card cabinets with ball bearing drawer slides, filled with plastic freezer containers. Best thing I have found so far. I have started selling or giving away my standard steel drawer bolt bins. The file cabs keep dust off, and I can open a drawer and see what is in about 24 containers in a glance. The cabinets sell for around $90 in my area on CL.

Do you have any pictures you could post? My bins will be going in my stock room so dust isn't to big of a consern. I will have a plasma table in there too... but it has a water bed so I don't think it will make a mess. If I needed to I could cut some doors and inclose my shelves. I alos surf CL every day and can't ever seem to come accross anything worth a damn. Little Rock CL *****. Every one sells stuff work of mounth or hords it. Have you ever heard the term Arky-pile. It's because Arkansas people just pile **** up in their yards rather than selling it or throughing it away.

Akro Bins are worth the extra money

Ya, the age old saying, "you get what you pay for". But that's why I asked they both have the same deminsions and look identical... (akro-mill and Quantam are just green/blue/yellow/red) There's not a lot of differance in price. That is till you start buying a ton of them.

My experience is that they don't stack well, and when stacked are hard to get to anything. I'm knocking 'em down too often as well...

I have a large wheeled rack with about 300 or so on it (each with a hanger, no stacking) and about 100 more that I stack.

Yah I would imagine. That was my thought originally, and why I bought the durham bins. My Fastenal stoor has the long ones (11.5") on shelves that are spaced 6" apart, about 15 shelves high. It works really well, but I wouldn't need to remove the bins if I go with 5" deep bins. I actually like the idea of sallow bins since my durham unit is 9" deep and I already hate that small hardware gets lost at the back. The longest bolts I use or have on hand are only 5.5" and I don't mind if they stick out a little. (I have needed longer but just buy what I need)

My plan so far is this: I have a bunch of 14a steel shelving units that can support well over 1000lbs per self. They each have 4 shelfs and are accessable from 3 sides. Each shelf is 34Lx20Wx15H, I laid it out and I can get 95 bins on each shelf, stacked 5 high. The selfs alerady have holes in them for mounting fixtures. So my thought is to bolt the bottom row down with some1/4" button heads, then using a plastic apoxy (modeling glue maybe) I would glue and stack the bins into the space like laying brick. I could get 380 bins on the rack and still leave the top open to use as a metal rack like I'm doing now.

Here are my shelves

 

[csp]

Here are the ebay ones... They look just like the other two by the pics.

Those Ebay bins are the exact same ones that Harbor Freight sells. When they are on sale you can get the package of 20 of them for about $8, or half the price on ebay. Regular price is $10 for 20.

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-poly-bins-and-rails-41949.html

I have them in my bolt/parts cabinet drawers.

 

[Travis E.]

I don't like stackable bins unless they are individually filled with the exact same items. With that said I still prefer individual bins that are on their own shelves or hang from the back so I can take the needed bins to the job I am working on.

 

[action fab]

Those Ebay bins are the exact same ones that Harbor Freight sells. When they are on sale you can get the package of 20 of them for about $8, or half the price on ebay. Regular price is $10 for 20.

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-poly-bins-and-rails-41949.html

I have them in my bolt/parts cabinet drawers.

DANG! I knew I should have checked there. I have a 20% off coupon I could use for those too!

So how do you like them? Do they stack well? If I glue them together do they seem like they would be sterdy? Looking at your pics they look like they are pretty thick... at least as thick and high quality as the ones I've used at Fastenal. Have you ever delt with another brand to comment on equality?

I don't like stackable bins unless they are individually filled with the exact same items. With that said I still prefer individual bins that are on their own shelves or hang from the back so I can take the needed bins to the job I am working on.

You know I had thought about that when I was buying the Durham bins because the are a fixed grid desighn and not removable. But I can't recal ever needing to take a bin with me anyware. I have a lot of bolt bags that I use to ship hardware out with my bumpers. So if I ever need to take a large quantity I could just fill one of those up.

 

[pro machine Engineering]

I got my stackable parts bins complete with cabinets. When the local lumber yard / hardware store went out of business. Sure hated to lose the convience of being able to get a bolt when needed from them.

 

[action fab]

Sure hated to lose the convience of being able to get a bolt when needed from them.

Thats why I buy hardware in bulk and need so much storage space. We have one place in town that has every nut, bolt, screw. Metric fine thread to over to acme. If they make it, chances are they have it. But its a 40 minute drive there in back... plus I always get caught up talking to my buddy who works there so it's a hour round trip minimum. Fastenal is only about 10 minutes away so still it's a 25min round trip. TSC is next door for my night and weekend needs. But still it's a PIA to waist that much time on a fastener.

 

[csp]

So how do you like them? Do they stack well? If I glue them together do they seem like they would be sterdy? Looking at your pics they look like they are pretty thick... at least as thick and high quality as the ones I've used at Fastenal. Have you ever delt with another brand to comment on equality?

They are every bit as thick as the Akro bins I also have. I've never really stacked them though. I have them single layer in the drawers I pictured and have used them mounted on a wall with the plastic brackets they include.

They probably don't stack as well as Akros just due to the design of the feet. Akros are wider and slide in easier.

 

[dittle fart around]

I'm selling quantum bins on line. There's no difference between quantum and akro-mils both are heavy duty, used in industrial workshop all the time. Packed in cartons of 24 I'm selling them for 1.03 per bin. That includes the 10% discount for Garage Journal members.
View media item 12469
http://www.shopstoragecabinets.com/store-products-QUS210-5-3-8x4-1-8x3_1097833606.html

 

[dittle fart around]

So my thought is to bolt the bottom row down with some1/4" button heads, then using a plastic apoxy (modeling glue maybe) I would glue and stack the bins into the space like laying brick. I could get 380 bins on the rack and still leave the top open to use as a metal rack like I'm doing now.

These lock together pretty well. I don't know if gluing is really necessary. At work it was nice to take the bin of bolts right to the workbench. I've seen parts storage in cardboard bins that fold flat. Real cheap and easy to replace when they fall apart.

 

[darkk]

I've used Akro Bins for a very long time and find nothing stronger. Instead of stacking, just use the mounting sheets that screw to the wall and hang the bins.

 

[bhclark]

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-piece-poly-bins-and-rails-41949.html

I've got the HF bins and they **** at stacking. I'd go for the mounting rack, as I don't see the value in paying more for the actual bin itself....it's just plastic.

 

[action fab]

I've got the HF bins and they **** at stacking. I'd go for the mounting rack, as I don't see the value in paying more for the actual bin itself....it's just plastic.

I don't want a rack... I want the bins to sit on my shelves. I don't want to pick them up or take them places. I want them to sit still on the shelf and hold bolts just like the bins I have... with less up front cost...

My question is. Are the other brands really any differant in quality? If so is it so much that you would warrant paying a few hundred more for the name brand bin.

 

[pat gsr]

I'm selling quantum bins on line. There's no difference between quantum and akro-mils both are heavy duty, used in industrial workshop all the time. Packed in cartons of 24 I'm selling them for 1.03 per bin. That includes the 10% discount for Garage Journal members.
View media item 12469
http://www.shopstoragecabinets.com/store-products-QUS210-5-3-8x4-1-8x3_1097833606.html

do you ship in canada

 

[66HertzClone]

While these bins are easy to move from point to point, stack or nest, are reasonably durable, the one thing that drives me nuts about them is there are open and collect whatever dust is in the air. In time, you find whatever is in them covered with a layer of dust or whatever is floating around in the shop or garage.

 

[action fab]

While these bins are easy to move from point to point, stack or nest, are reasonably durable, the one thing that drives me nuts about them is there are open and collect whatever dust is in the air. In time, you find whatever is in them covered with a layer of dust or whatever is floating around in the shop or garage.

OK I get that... big whoop. a little air hose action and good to go. I don't care to hear what you like and don't like about plastic stackable bins. My question is not do you like stackable bins... It's not how should I use my stackable bins... it's also not will my stackable bins be clean enough to hold surgical tools...

NO... MY QUESTION IS, ARE THE GRAY HARBOR FREIGHT BINS WORTH SAVING A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS ON OVER THE OTHER NAME BRAND BINS!

 

[188slo50]

I bought some bins at HF as much as I hated to, I wanted to get the project done and didn't want to wait.

The red ones are smaller while the blue ones are about twice as deep.

Where did the bin holder come from, got any closer pics?

 

[Mowerpan]

Where did the bin holder come from, got any closer pics?

Looks like he made it out wood.

 

[bhclark]

NO... MY QUESTION IS, ARE THE GRAY HARBOR FREIGHT BINS WORTH SAVING A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS ON OVER THE OTHER NAME BRAND BINS!

I have limited experience with other bins, but I can say emphatically, that if you want to STACK the bins, don't go with the HFT grey ones......

 

[66HertzClone]

OK I get that... big whoop. a little air hose action and good to go. I don't care to hear what you like and don't like about plastic stackable bins. My question is not do you like stackable bins... It's not how should I use my stackable bins... it's also not will my stackable bins be clean enough to hold surgical tools...

NO... MY QUESTION IS, ARE THE GRAY HARBOR FREIGHT BINS WORTH SAVING A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS ON OVER THE OTHER NAME BRAND BINS!

Well excuse me for offering an opinion.

Dude, sit back, relax, have a drink it's Friday.

 

[green.bubbly]

I'm selling quantum bins on line. There's no difference between quantum and akro-mils both are heavy duty, used in industrial workshop all the time. Packed in cartons of 24 I'm selling them for 1.03 per bin. That includes the 10% discount for Garage Journal members.

I did not purchase from dittle but I can vouch for the Quantum bins. Our company purchased several hundred of various sizes a few years back and they are nice bins. I screwed one down to the top of my ladder while I built my garage. It held all my screws, impact driver, hammer, tape measure and everything else that I threw on top of it. I treated it like a ***** and it never complained.

 

[dittle fart around]

Are real quantum bins worth twice the price. I want to buy a bunch of these and buy them ONCE!



-Chris.

Yes!

 

[Steevo]

A local guy had these for sale recently on C/L. I passed, even thoiugh he lowered the price to $8 apiece, because I don't like the "dust gap" they had. I prefer drawers that close to keep dust/dirt out of the hardware or parts stored in them.

 

[Falcon67]

I have two sets of the small HF grey bins. They stack OK and the wall mount works good IMHO. Pretty decent deal for $10. I've loaded them up with bolts, etc and they hold up well.

 

[Jack Olsen]

They're just plastic bins. It's kind of a hard design to screw up.

I have them mounted on slats inside my cabinet.

The red bins on the other side are two-deep and from Ikea.

 

[machine_punk]

I got the Uline bins (another premium bin, like Akro Mills or other brands mentioned here). I am VERY pleased with them. They seem a lot sturdier than the Harbor Freight bins. (I like a lot of Harbor Freight stuff...just wasn't too impressed with the bins...but I haven't actually tried them either...just a quick review in the store).

If the Quantum bins are a similar quality to the Uline bins, then YES, they are worth at least twice as much. They don't flex at all. They stack beautifully.

They are, however, fairly expensive...and if you don't get them 'in town,' the shipping will nearly double your price. I think I spent a good $300 outfitting this rack...

View media item 11629
but they are an absolute pleasure to use and a 'once, ever' purchase for me. I don't see ever needing to replace these...maybe just add more of them once I build my storage cabinet.

Here are a couple of the larger ones, 'stacked.'

View media item 11633
They also sell the inserts, so you can turn the larger bins into 2 or 3 compartments.

Hope this helps.

Kev

 

[NUTTSGT]

Where did the bin holder come from, got any closer pics?

You can click the link in my sig and see the pics of it being built.

 

[HubbaBubba]

Go AKRO-MILS.

 

[Thirsty]

Menards sells the small red stackable bins for .69 cents a piece. The bigger blues are a $1 or a little over.

 

[James Aiello]

If they don't stack well then you could put a piece of .25" plywood between them. That would solve any issue with stacking.

 

[action fab]

I think I'll just drive to Harbor Freight and check them out once I get my bins sold. I plan to glue them together anyways so if they look like they are decent I'll go that rought. 560 bins, when they are 8.99 per 20 (which seams to be every winter baced on old mail out sale ad's. ) plus my coupon and sales tax it comes to $291.05 out the door.

Oh, P.S.
I'll sell both of my Durham bins for $280 shipped...

 

[jomobco]

Akro Bins are worth the extra money

Ditto. My concern with stacking bins are "what happens when you need the lower bin across the room for a project?" I like the Akro options of carts and wall mount plates. Plus various sizes. Just my $.02

 

[action fab]

Ditto. My concern with stacking bins are "what happens when you need the lower bin across the room for a project?" I like the Akro options of carts and wall mount plates. Plus various sizes. Just my $.02

Why the hell do you people feel the need to take your hardware with you?!?! Is it really that hard to judge what you will need for the job?

I ship a lot of my hardware out with bumpers the other I use when building rock crawlers... I only need a few peaces at a time and I can easly carry what I need. I can also count and make an educated guess. I have never once needed to take a bin or box of bolt to a project... or even wanted to. That is just stupid IMO.

Like I really need a box full of 3/4x3.5 grade 8 bolts laying on under a jeep while I mock up the suspension.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Stacking wouldn't work for me. I find myself grabbing a single bin all the time.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Why the hell do you people feel the need to take your hardware with you?!?! Is it really that hard to judge what you will need for the job?

I ship a lot of my hardware out with bumpers the other I use when building rock crawlers... I only need a few peaces at a time and I can easly carry what I need. I can also count and make an educated guess. I have never once needed to take a bin or box of bolt to a project... or even wanted to. That is just stupid IMO.

Like I really need a box full of 3/4x3.5 grade 8 bolts laying on under a jeep while I mock up the suspension.

You seem to be making the assumption that hardware is only "nuts and bolts". When doing home remodel projects, I take the plastic containers I think I might need from the shop the 100 feet into the house with me. There will be several bins of building hardware in the house until the job is complete.

Definition: "Stupid" is any person who thinks that they have the answer to it all.