Totes for Organization of Ongoing Projects

[InjectorService]

Iam looking to see what sort of systems you guys use for organizing ongoing projects. I work on quite a few boats and often they need to be pulled out of the shop to make room while we are waiting on customer response, parts, etc. I don't want to put the parts in the boat and risk having them get wet, stolen, wrecking the boat interior etc.

What do you guys use in this case? I'm thinking some sort of totes? Shelves? Totes on shelves?

 

[sick467]

Given that inside storage in not an option...5 gallon buckets with lids work great for small/medium sides parts and are very weather proof. For inside storage, totes are the best...stack nice, are space efficient and come in a variety of sizes. Remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to totes.

I have what I call a "parts tree". It's two metal sawhorse like pieces, on wheels, that I bolt together. side by side using extended 2x4's. This creates a mobile shelving unit once some old doors are laid across it in a few places. I can stack buckets, boxes, totes, etc. on it and move it when needed. Let me know if pictures are an interest to you and I'll take some.

 

[Locker537]

I use rubbermaid bins / totes / whatever you want to call them.

I also use small parts organizers to organize all the fasteners and small parts. Lay them out bin by bin in the order you removed them. Take a picture / create a label to help you remember.

 

[subroc]

One example of how I do it and what I use.

Clearly there is no way or example that will cover all things. As a general matter I clean and condition report as I disassemble. I try to keep things in sub groups or sub assemblies. It is less about what I keep it in than having an understanding of what parts there are. So some raise lower mechanism or spindle assembly will be separate from unrelated parts like maybe a cover assembly with hardware and hinges. Maybe things will be in a small or large cardboard box or a plastic tub or a small parts organizer, either way it will be grouped accordingly.

Lot of ways to do things both good and bad.

 

[Zewnten]

Security shelf and totes.

 

[InjectorService]

Thanks guys. I think I have a bit of an idea how I want to proceed with this. I think I will get some larger toes, and put a small part bin like the one above in each. That way I can organize small parts, into the sorter, but still have my larger gearsets and other items in the totes.

Thank you,

 

[subroc]

When I worked at the shipyard as part of "rip out" (disassembly for overhaul or repair) we had as one part of the process called "bag and tag". It changed a few times over the years on how the information was kept. We would take parts or fasteners and bag them and tag them with information relating to ship, drawing number, system and joint or part number. Not sure if that would help you but don't ignore the lowly plastic bag as part your organization, separation and storage process. We had very heavy bags at the shipyard. I use the heavier freezer bags of both sizes now.