Stocking your garage

[DavidR8]

Hi all, I'm curious what you do with regard to having stock in your garages.

By stock I mean a supply of nuts, bolts, washers, screws etc. to deal with the times when you're repairing something and need a 1/2" nut or something like that.

I fixing a patio heater tonight and despite looking through all my shrapnel of nuts I did not have three nuts of the correct pitch to hold the top on.

Do you keep s supply on hand of common sizes of fasteners?

 

[bad_idea]

I keep an assortment of hardware on hand in grade 5 steel. When I buy some for a project, I buy a bit of extra for the next time.

 

[IMCA38]

Short answer- yes I keep supplies on hand, perhaps too many. But that’s ok.

 

[ItsNemo]

I've got a standard 72 space bolt bin filled with stuff, including a variety of most of the common SAE sizes and a fair bit of metric. Also have a bunch of stuff from parting out a vehicle which has proven handy (higher grade flange bolts and stuff). Then I have a few multi-compartment parts organizer sized cases with smaller hardware. And then a bunch of those cheap little plastic nuts/bolts/pins/hardware things that you buy for $5-10.

I also tend to buy more than I need for a project like screws and whatnot (except when they're huge 1/2" lag bolts for a deck or something). So I have plenty of that on hand in various sizes. I also try to keep decent stock of things like shop towels, zip ties, wire, staples, wire staples, terminals, heat shrink, loom, caulking, sprays, glue, and on and on. Plus some leftover scraps of metal and dimension lumber and sheet goods from projects too.

Basically, I usually have enough on hand to put something together in a pinch. Not enough to start a full project (I'll take inventory and make a shopping list for those) but for a quick fix or something breaking or whatnot, I can make it through without going to the store.

 

[sunder]

So if i need lets say a washer i buy the 50 pack from the store.... 1.99 for 10 or 3.99 for 50..... over time you end up with a big collection.

Also you can salvage screw nuts and washer of stuff before you toss them in the garbage.

I use clear plastics trays, the plano fish lure type to separate everything. Big bolts 3/8+ are just in a box i dont have that many.

I keep the following
Wood screws #6 to #12 in lengths from 1/2” to 2-1/2” long
Washers, nuts, lock washers, 6-32 up to 1/2”.....
i dont have every size but its filling in quickly. I am usually only going to the store to buys bolts which i dont buy in bull bc there a little more expensive.

I also keep
Wall anchors
Kreg pocket screws
Tapcons

I also have boxes of nails, screws, and construction screws.

If I remember i will take a picture of it tomorrow.



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[Fluelikesymptoms]

I'm waiting for that GJ member to say he has an inventory system and makes an repair order for everything he does in the house to keep track of inventory, cost, and labor hours he's put into taking care of household lol

 

[MushCreek]

This topic comes up a lot. What I do is go to Tractor Supply and stock up on their hardware-by-the-pound. I keep nuts, both regular and nylock, and an assortment of bolts and screws. I live out in the boonies, so it saves me a lot of time and gas to keep a stock of basics on hand. I just by the cheap stuff so if I have to bolt something together in a pinch, I'm good to go. If it's a permanent, long-term project, I'll buy what I need when I'm in town, or order it online. I could lie and say I have all of this stuff organized, but I don't. I do keep the nuts organized in a HF organizer: same goes for things like pop rivets, electrical supplies, and screws and nails. I hate making a 25 mile round-trip for one little piece of hardware.

 

[mmb617]

I buy most of my fasteners at Surplus City, a place that sells them by the pound at much better prices than the box stores. Any time I buy the fairly common sizes I get lots of extras for future use. Even the oddball ones I'll usually get a few extra thinking that if I needed it once I may need it again.

I hate being in the middle of something and having to run out and buy fasteners.

The common stuff is well organized but the oddball stuff I have to sift through to find what I need, it's semi-organized at best.

 

[CraigStu]

I also buy extras so they slowly accumulate. One thing I did do a couple years ago was buy some steel from McMaster. The stuff L and HD sell is ugly. SO I got a bunch of 3 ft lengths of 1/8 x 1/2, 1, 1.25, 1.5 and same widths again in 3/16. This is really nice steel w/ a smooth surface and ugly coating.

 

[Bmwtie]

I'm waiting for that GJ member to say he has an inventory system and makes an repair order for everything he does in the house to keep track of inventory, cost, and labor hours he's put into taking care of household lol

Spouse: “Honey can you fix the whatchamadiggy?”

GJ Member: “Did you submit a repair ticket?”

Lol this would be epic.




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[AldeanFan]

For screws when I need to buy a certain size I always buy the biggest box available so I have lots on hand for next time.

Nuts and bolts I buy at TSC and keep on coffee cans sorted by size, buy in bulk when on sale.


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[ezover]

Like others have stated, when I have to buy a size I buy the box. Had one to many trips where I bought to few or lost one and have to burn a gallon of gas and time going back to the store.

 

[MushCreek]

Today's project was to make and install a spare tire carrier for my '95 F-150. I had all of the hardware I needed without having to even search much.

 

[DavidR8]

Thanks for all the great responses. I’ve always tended to be a spendthrift so buy what I need for the project at hand.
But that ends up costing me more in time.

 

[Benzlover]

I also keep a bunch of stock, be it fasteners, electrical connectors, all kinds of wires, bulbs both house and automotive, yada yada on hand. Almost everything surplus from previous projects. So if something happens, normally I can help myself in a pinch.

 

[rshadd]

It seems no matter how much I keep in stock, I still end up making a trip to the hardware store.

 

[sunder]

Over time it adds up here is what i do







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[sunder]

It seems no matter how much I keep in stock, I still end up making a trip to the hardware store.

So true


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[Whitworth]

Repairing something usually requires fasteners that are specific to the job at hand. Particular length, head style, coating, alloy; not to mention thread size. Too much to be covered with a handful of nuts and screws from the hardware store.

That said I've got a Vidmar drawer full of hardware, plus assorted bins and trays with whatever accumulated stuff from past projects. No inventory system, but not a "Choc-Ful-of-Nuts" tin can of junk either.

 

[gbrett]

I have 3 of the wall mount metal bolt and nut bins one for US course, US fine, and metric. when I need fuel hose or heater hose I buy a roll. When I need a hose clamp I buy a box. I don't live close to any box stores so I often need things when the local stores are closed so it pays to stock up. I usually buy oil in at least 5 gallon quantities as well.

 

[NUTTSGT]

This topic comes up a lot. What I do is go to Tractor Supply and stock up on their hardware-by-the-pound. I keep nuts, both regular and nylock, and an assortment of bolts and screws. I live out in the boonies, so it saves me a lot of time and gas to keep a stock of basics on hand. I just by the cheap stuff so if I have to bolt something together in a pinch, I'm good to go. If it's a permanent, long-term project, I'll buy what I need when I'm in town, or order it online. I could lie and say I have all of this stuff organized, but I don't. I do keep the nuts organized in a HF organizer: same goes for things like pop rivets, electrical supplies, and screws and nails. I hate making a 25 mile round-trip for one little piece of hardware.

Similar situation as Mush, I buy SAE at TSC by the pound. I started out with cheaper Grade 2 stuff but decided, all restocking will be Grade 5 or 8. I also have a supply of sheet metal screws, construction fasteners on hand. One drawer in the side box has rivets and the plastic boxes with the assorted stuff, cotter pins, set screws, vacuum caps, roll pins and such.


I'll also mention that when I find my stock running low, I either write it down on a list or on the white board on the wall.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I went to my local Radio Shack, when they were closing up, and bought 3 of those metal drawer assemblies, for $ 75.00 each. Those are the once that they sold little electronic components out of.

They aren't in front of me at the moment, but I believe 5 or 6 drawers, with 36 or 42 compartments in each.

They aren't as sturdy as Vidmar, or the other popular brand, but didn't cost as much either.

I also buy a few extra of whatever I buy for a "project", just to build up my stock without having to pay for a lot of parts, all at one time. I don't notice the added cost of "a few" extras. It is 16.8 miles, round trip to the nearest hardware, so a few extra is less expensive than making a trip for just one urgently needed bolt.



.

 

[niget2002]

Spouse: “Honey can you fix the whatchamadiggy?”

GJ Member: “Did you submit a repair ticket?”

Lol this would be epic.




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I've started using Trello to track house projects.... The wife just adds new cards on the board when she thinks of something

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[CJM8515]

I have an assortment. The cheaper junk I buy at harbor freight, so far no issues. The better nuts and bolts I stock are all metric. Nothing is SAE anymore really. I got most of it from mcmaster-carr, some from a special supply tekbolt (I needed 8 and 10mm headed fasteners with a flange head for my bikes and quads) and some of it is from online from a place called river city supply. We FINALLY have a tractor supply here so Im gonna hafta stop by and check it out.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

When I don’t have the correct fastener, I will generally buy in quantity for the next time. Trick is I don’t always keep this hardware in one spot. It can be in the work truck, downstairs, garage or possible at the lake. I may have something I need but either forget I have it or can’t find it so then I buy some more. Soon I hope to locate everything to one spot.

 

[DavidR8]

I've started using Trello to track house projects.... The wife just adds new cards on the board when she thinks of something

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We use Asana to do the same thing!


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[gearhead1]

I also get most of my fasteners from Tractor Supply as they’re the cheapest around. I keep 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, and some 1/2 on hand and washers and nuts. If I have to buy some, a get a little bit extra. I keep self tapping sheet metal screws, and deck screws on hand too.

I have little kits for cotter pins, e-clips, snap rings, roll pins, nylock nuts, set screws, and a little bit of metric.

I also keep a small amount of pipe fittings and threaded rod. I always keep brake clean, WD-40, Kroil on hand too.

I’m not in the boonies, but it’s still valuable time to run back and forth to the store.

 

[mfewtrail]

I keep a small assortment of bolts, nuts, and washers. It fits in a single plastic organizer for the most part. Some of it was bought and some of it was salvaged from broken stuff. I constantly use up some of it and replenish it as I can. Salvaging fasteners from stuff alone has saved me countless dollars and trips to a store.

 

[Duster346]

I moved out of my bolt bins and into these new drawer units from snap on.
Much much better!

 

[fsae0607]

This is garage journal... I know there's others out there that salvage good hardware from some appliance before it gets thrown out!

 

[ItsNemo]

This is garage journal... I know there's others out there that salvage good hardware from some appliance before it gets thrown out!

I have harvested the electrical tails off of dryers and stoves before if that counts

 

[MushCreek]

I have buckets of bolts off of old project cars. Automotive fasteners are often unique, and hard to come by outside of the industry. Odd sizes and odd lengths. I have tons of 7/16-14 bolts off of Fords.

 

[PassnThru]

As others have mentioned, if something is destined for the trash then it gets disassembled and fasteners are saved. And cords, springs, switches, etc. I'll even cut pieces of the carcass from it to have a flat sheet of metal laying around for later when needed.
If you are building a little something from scratch then these things come in quite handy.

 

[DavidR8]

I’m a dedicated disassembler. I took apart a medical culture machine and came away with a boat load of stainless metric hardware, four sets of heavy duty full extension slides, plate glass from the doors and blocks of delrin.


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