When are too many bins and drawers enough?

[The_General]

Hi all, so I have collected more bins and cabinets with drawers than I need. My original idea was to organized, but I think I’m collecting way too much stuff. So in my search to get organized I’m so not organized. Problem with most of them is they are massively heavy. I guess that saying about expectation versus reality is starting to kick in

 

[The_General]

Oldies but goodies

 

[PFSard]

Nice cabinets. I don't think you can have too much storage. Keep what storage you have room for and get rid of the rest.

 

[bczygan]

2 things I have found.

More storage means more hoarding.

Storage eats up work space.

So I try to keep storage to a minimum and locate it away from work space.

I'm finding that the same is true of machinery. Excess machines are a waste.

So I try to winnow them down to just the best basic ones I need. Any others go into deep storage far from work spaces.



Bill

 

[Aaron_W]

It can be difficult to manage storage vs stuff. I think you have too many organizers when they take up more space than the stuff you want to organize.

Won't even get into the organizing stuff you don't really even need (guilty).

 

[Jackfre]

With that much “organization” how do you find anything?

 

[The_General]

With lots of labels, lol

 

[tarmy]

Never...and this is only some of them...

 

[brownbagg]

when your shop becomes a warehouse, if i dont get in that drawer at least once a month, I dont need it.

 

[f121]

When are too many bins and drawers enough?

About 500

 

[Innovate1]

Interesting question. When you know you have something but can't find it doesn't do you any good. The "if you haven't used it in (insert time here) you should pitch it" rule needs some modification I think. It all depends on the ease/cost of getting a replacement. If the parts are cheap and easy to find there isn't much need to keep many around, maybe just a few of the ones you use. But if the thing is costly or meets a need you only have once in a blue moon but is the only way to get it done and you can't easily rent the equipment then it makes sense to keep it. I must admit I keep too much stuff that I could easily buy replacements of just because I might need it someday.

If you are going to keep it you need to be able to find it. That's where the bins and drawers come in.

 

[bbbarracuda]

It's too much, when the hardware store calls you.

 

[Innovate1]

Absolutely!

 

[Stansberry]

It's too much, when the sturdy standing desk chairs hardware store calls you.

Too funny! Seriously though, the more cabinets and drawers, the better. I'm a fan. haha

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

As noted earlier - when you have something "in stock" and can't find it to use it.

I had an "expanding scope project on Sunday". I had ordered air filters for my Echo hand held leaf blowers.

Blower A wasn't running properly after filter replacement so I checked a few things and it wasn't getting fuel. I replaced the fuel filter that resides in the tank from on-hand stock (it actually came with the air filter in a tune up kit). I was pumping the bulb primer on the carb when that broke. I replaced the primer bulb from on-hand stock. Blower A is now running fine.

Blower B was a recent curb side pickup that started and ran and then would die. I cleaned the carb off - it was REALLY oily/greasy and replaced the in-tank fuel line from stock on hand. Blower B is now running fine.

I have 2 plastic shoe boxes of "small engine parts" that helped me get them both running. I will probably order some in-tank filters to replenish what I used for next time.

Next weekend I will replace the carb on a 9HP Snow King engine and replace the carb on a Generac GP5500 generator. Knock on wood but after buying the carbs from Amazon everything else I need should be in those 2 shoe boxes.

I'm just a weekend warrior so what works for me might not work for someone doing full mechanical work out of their home.

Cheers

Jim

 

[bugnut]

This is a discussion often. It is about time vs money. Cheaper and most cost efficient way, the answer varies by each individual. I store a lot of things and have them organized. But a round trip to the hardware is about an hour and it interrupts the flow of what I am working to accomplish.

 

[matt_i]

I could drive down and take some off your hands...you know...to save gas money going to the scrapyard.... yeah, right! lol.

Labeling and a good mental map of the system within the drawers really helps.

The thing I find that impedes the most progress is a "like item" that needs to be with things in the drawer but can't because its slightly too large for the drawer.

 

[The_General]

I think I may be getting rid of those master filer cabinets. Just take up too much room. Also sadly having surgery in a few weeks and I think I could use the space

 

[vrinner]

This is a discussion often. It is about time vs money. Cheaper and most cost efficient way, the answer varies by each individual. I store a lot of things and have them organized. But a round trip to the hardware is about an hour and it interrupts the flow of what I am working to accomplish.

We used to own a place out in the country and love to go out "pickin" at garage sales. This one guy basically had a hardware store setup in his garage. He said he picked up most of it when a local-ish hardware store went out of business. I asked if he was willing to sell me some of his storage cabinets and got the big no. He said when he needs anything its a two hour trip to pickup a bolt or screw and it's better just to have it all there at his place.

 

[Strouty]

I think it is a trick question, if you already have "too many" then isn't that "enough". I personally subscribe to the ever popular hoarder answer that you can never have enough drawers or bins. I will say that the thing to do is to figure out what you want to store and then buy bins/drawers based on those particular needs. As I said before, I didn't follow that route, I just know that whatever I put away is in the blue drawer.

 

[C91x]

I hate stuff just sitting on shelves. Other things end up getting placed there and I can never find what i need. I have to have a drawer or cabinet for everything.

 

[JOHN 86GT]

I think it is a trick question, if you already have "too many" then isn't that "enough". I personally subscribe to the ever popular hoarder answer that you can never have enough drawers or bins. I will say that the thing to do is to figure out what you want to store and then buy bins/drawers based on those particular needs. As I said before, I didn't follow that route, I just know that whatever I put away is in the blue drawer.

Looks like you have a great storage plan . Are those all Lista ?

 

[bczygan]

Looks like you have a great storage plan . Are those all Lista ?

Yes, they are!

Bill

 

[Strouty]

It is more like a nightmare. I am still working through my mess, that is what happens when you give a hoarder over 200 drawers all at once.

 

[snorky18]

This is a discussion often. It is about time vs money. Cheaper and most cost efficient way, the answer varies by each individual. I store a lot of things and have them organized. But a round trip to the hardware is about an hour and it interrupts the flow of what I am working to accomplish.

I'm fairly organized, but I often feel like I should get rid of more.

But I also sometimes find myself working on projects late at night, and digging through stuff I haven't used in years, to find the one bolt/nut/screw/whatchamathinge that enables me to finish the problem then, instead of spending 70-90 minutes of the following day going out to find a $2 part.

One thing that's helped, I generally overbuy slightly for projects, then I have a dedicated box for returns in the garage. Once every 2 months or so I take back all the leftovers.

 

[ToolPolisher]

I think I may be getting rid of those master filer cabinets. Just take up too much room. Also sadly having surgery in a few weeks and I think I could use the space

Where in IL are you?

 

[drivesitfar]

GENERAL: your situation sounds similar to me almost to the exact style cabinets that you own. one of my issues is that i'm always looking at vintage cabinets and rotabins and when one shows up you just can't replace something and fill it the next day hence me TRYING TO GET ORGANIZED.

so I'm trying to settle on a plan and just start putting things away. if something better shows up so be it and i'll just have to say I PASS (or maybe it's SAY UNCLE) and let another person grab it.

here's a few of what I have decided to keep.

best of luck just sticking with a plan and starting to put things away so you can find them. nothing worse than knowing you own 1, 2 or a 1,000 of something and you end up going to store or ordering it online cause you can't find them.

and yes I have FSD (flat surface disease) that I'm told there is a cure for, but it's not in pill form.

cheers

 

[rayra]

When you need to buy a label-making machine, you've got too many bins and too much stuff.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: after posting that picture of my wood bench top full of stuff i decided to Organize that and it might take me a few days, but here's what happened to it in a few hours after the picture.

I also own a large bolt bin, but I have plenty of drawers for big nuts and bolts so i picked up these cabinets that should work nicely for the small stuff.

i use painter's tape and a sharpie to mark drawers until I know things are permanent then i'll get those magnetic strips and love being ORGANIZED. I also hate going to the hardware store hence me almost owning one at home.

cheers