Where do you get your bolts?

[Moosefire]

I just saw a great YouTube video of a storage container build that I'd love to tackle one of these years, but it gets the question, how much money would I have to spend to get a decent supply of nuts and bolts...

I suppose I could do the green thing and salvage some big items from the garbage and put them into the inventory which is also an idea. Just wondering though, where did you get your stock? Garage sale? Hand-me-downs? Spend them hard earned greenbacks on new bolts? I'm still going thru moving boxes but when I'm not I dont "need" to carry bolts for my basic tinkering.... but I'm sure you all understand how invaluable it can be when its middle of the night and you need the last nut or bolt that you dont have anymore...

This is a pic of the storage cabinet that sparked my interest. Sorry for the size


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[J.C.]

Kept all of the bolts from disassembled/parted out engines and frames over the years if they were of good quality and undamaged... added up to rather a lot over time. Most others bought from fastener shops, they’re really quite inexpensive compared to buying from the big name hardware stores around here.

 

[matt_i]

I typically use McMaster Carr or the local Ace, I've saved some also, won't save less than a Grade 5 typically.

I "stock" #10-24 thru 3/8-16 and have a few 1/2-13 and 5/8-11. I buy metric as needed.

I think Trackter Supply sells each grade by the pound in SAE hex head so a person could stock up without having to stick to standard quantities.

And as you mentioned eventually you need the sweet cabinet to store them in. My Akro bins are seriously overtaxed.

 

[TommyK]

I typically use McMaster Carr or the local Ace, I've saved some also, won't save less than a Grade 5 typically.

I "stock" #10-24 thru 3/8-16 and have a few 1/2-13 and 5/8-11. I buy metric as needed.

I think Trackter Supply sells each grade by the pound in SAE hex head so a person could stock up without having to stick to standard quantities.

And as you mentioned eventually you need the sweet cabinet to store them in. My Akro bins are seriously overtaxed.

Yes Tractor Supply is cheap for the basics but they really don't have a great selection. At least in my town.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Near my home, there's a tire store, a quick lube shop and an indy garage. Along the curb, adjacent to the exit driveway from these businesses is the mother lode of lugnuts, wheel weights, drain plugs, nuts, bolts and miscellaneous hardware. I can usually find what I need there.

 

[NUTTSGT]

For general stock to have on hand, I buy bulk at TSC. If I need something special, I make the trip to the hardware store. We no longer have a Fastenal with a store front.

 

[BarryWells]

Albany
https://www.ebay.com/usr/albanycountyfasteners-ny?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754

 

[ZRX61]

Genuine Aircraft Hardware, Aircraft Spruce or Luky's.

 

[TractorJeff]

Tractor Supply for general project hardware.
Tractor hardware salvage is usually a different metal make up, they don't seem to rust or seize as often?
Fastenal is reserved for the odd ball sizes but the "New" ACE seems to be VERY well stocked!

 

[Lucid Moments]

Ace Hardware is about a mile and a half from my place, then there is a Fastenal about 10 miles further on for weird stuff, but a disturbing amount are from Home Despot when I am there picking up multiple items.

 

[Tunar]

I love having hardware on hand. I'm a pretty typical middle-aged husband, father, homeowner with a job. That just means when I have time to work on my stuff and need hardware, it's always after retail hours.

So I save all good extra hardware. Sometimes I take apart stuff I'm trashing just for the hardware (it's also fun to see what's inside).

When I have to buy hardware, I usually buy a few extra. Sometimes that's because I'm uncertain of the size I'll need, or I'll always end up dropping one if I get the exact amount. So it's insurance that I won't drop one, lol. Sometimes you just don't anticipate you will need an extra.

I bought a large amount of fasteners from a friend.

Harbor Freight has some great assortments for reasonable prices, I try to pick up one I don't have when I'm there. Retaining clips, o rings, cotter pins for example. I doubt a harbor freight cotter pin is noticeably different grade than another.

Hardware and fasteners are everywhere. If you're patient, you so have more than you so ever need in a short time.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

For new bolts; I usually go to MAC'S Hardware in Fargo, ND., or Surplus Center in Grand Forks, ND. When I scrap a vehicle, I usually salvage a bunch of the more accessible fasteners.

I organized two stacks of 26" Craftsman tool boxes for new bolts and small parts and supplies. It is nice to open a single drawer and view every new 1/4" diameter bolt, washer, and nut; held in divider trays, all neatly organized by grade and length. Each diameter bolt has it's own drawer. Initially; I bought a small handful of each size to get this system up and running.

That wooden storage cabinet is a masterpiece, but I would not favor the height of the drawers for bolt or small parts storage.

 

[nadogail]

I use an Industrial Surplus store, K Surplus, in National City, CA.

They sell good stuff by the pound, when they can't fill my needs I go to Pell Mell Supply, also in National City.

K Surplus also has been a good source of tools, tooling, brackets and fixtures.

 

[marinusdees]

Tractor Supply for common items. Can't beat the price, and you don't have to buy a package of 10 when you want 3. Tacoma Screw Products for virtually anything, but not cheap. In my experience, they're better than Fastenal, Fastenal has sent me to McLendon's Hardware more than once and what I was after didn't seem so far-fetched to me. Mclendon's has an excellent selection, but the threaded products are supplied and stocked by an outside vendor, and prices are not cheap.

 

[bad_idea]

Find a local hardware supplier. Not a hardware store like ACE, but a nut and bolt supplier. I have found they sell fasteners at much better prices than hardware stores. They also know nuts and bolts much better than the typical hardware store salesman.

 

[landlord30]

Garage sales. I have not purchased hardware in a store in years. I'm at the point where I only specifically buy certain things at a garage sale that I may be low on. When I was buying bulk at garage sales, I'd save them until winter and sit in the shop with the TV on and a cigar and sort through it all. I have paid pennies on the dollar for what I have.

 

[Innovate1]

Rural King for basic bolts by the pound. They have a good range of sizes and lengths and also carry the higher grades by the pound for slightly more. I think they are only in a few states in this area of the country.

 

[Earp69]

Fastenal, I get a ridiculous 75 percent off all fasteners.

 

[619DioFan]

I use an Industrial Surplus store, K Surplus, in National City, CA.

They sell good stuff by the pound, when they can't fill my needs I go to Pell Mell Supply, also in National City.

K Surplus also has been a good source of tools, tooling, brackets and fixtures.

K surplus is awesome. Marshalls hardware is also great for hard to find sizes. for metal and anything else ( and I mean anything ) Leaf sales on main street in ChulaVista is unbeatable. been doing business with Jeff leaf for ever.

 

[Moosefire]

Fastenal, I get a ridiculous 75 percent off all fasteners.

What's your secret?

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[pete379]

Tractor Supply for common items. Can't beat the price, and you don't have to buy a package of 10 when you want 3. Tacoma Screw Products for virtually anything, but not cheap. In my experience, they're better than Fastenal, Fastenal has sent me to McLendon's Hardware more than once and what I was after didn't seem so far-fetched to me. Mclendon's has an excellent selection, but the threaded products are supplied and stocked by an outside vendor, and prices are not cheap.

How about Fastco ? thats where I get lots of bolts

 

[marinusdees]

How about Fastco ? thats where I get lots of bolts

I don't know Fastco. If they exist in the Seattle-Tacoma area, I'm ignorant.

 

[Legion Prime]

Do you not have coffee cans/peanut butter jars/drawers full of them? What have you been doing with your life? I've spent the last 2 years (on and off obviously) just going through and sorting/organizing all the fasteners in the garage and I'm STILL finding boxes of them. Like moving boxes not the little neat boxes from the store that are labeled with the size, length and thread pitch filled with exactly with the box says is in there.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Pro Fastener and Pacific Fastener for stainless.

 

[skulldrinker]

Forget about Fastnal in Chicago land they require an account. No over the counter.

 

[MushCreek]

I buy in bulk at Tractor Supply, and special stuff comes from McMaster-Carr. Home Depot/Lowes as a last resort, as they are expensive. One example: When building my house, I needed 500 galvanized lag screws. At HD, they were $1.47 each. At M-C, they were $.27. That one purchase saved me $600! I live 12 miles from the nearest hardware source, so it's worth my while to keep a stock. Of course, I also have numerous bins of used stuff, but it's frustrating trying to find the right fastener.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What's your secret?

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I'm curious as well. When we had the store front, they would let us (personally) buy through the city account and just pay cash. I still don't think that amounted to a 75 percent discount.

 

[skippydoo]

Mcmaster

 

[Joe From NY]

First you go sling the side of the highway, and grab some truck or van hubcaps laying in the grass. They fit in the tool cabinet draws.

Than go through your workshop and collect all the loose hardware and throw them in the hubcaps. Then when you go to your car repair shop, check his dumpster for piles of nuts and bolts. They might have to be degreased, but there are usually many there. I got a lot of hardware from my guy. Also great little metal brackets and such.

Home Depot by me stopped carrying grade 8, but Ace has an extensive collection.


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[mikehaugen]

Forget about Fastnal in Chicago land they require an account. No over the counter.

I have bought from the Aurora store as well as the Rochelle store... they may have just b.s'd an account for me, I'm not sure

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[redidbull]

Tractor Supply for me too. Lowe's for anything special. Jim

 

[Dragfluid]

Where do I get my bolts?
From my bolt bin.

I kept my bolt bins from my business, so I've got a good supply for some time. Special sizes got from the local Tru Value 3 miles away. Some large sizes from a Fleet Farm 10 miles away.

You can buy From Fastenal on line. I needed some 5/16" x 4" roll pins the other day for my hoist and no one local had that length. Set up a cash account and 4 days later, the pins were in my hand.

 

[pete379]

I don't know Fastco. If they exist in the Seattle-Tacoma area, I'm ignorant.

at the end of river road,by the soccer center- they were in a old building way out on 11th street- but moved a couple years ago. good people there

 

[Zaxxn]

If I need anything special, Fastenal. Otherwise I try to get what I can at Tractor Supply.

--Zax

 

[strength_and_power]

Fastenal, I get a ridiculous 75 percent off all fasteners.

75% off Fastenal prices puts them in line with most other places [emoji13]


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[coljar]

I buy a lot from Rural King. I do buy from Fastenal with the plant discount, but no 75%.

 

[strength_and_power]

In Dallas, TX, I use Screw Products, it’s local to me so I can swing by and not pay shipping.
In Arizona there was Copper State Bolt and Supply.
I’d venture a guess to say a quick search of the google with “ nuts and bolts and your city/state” would get you quite a few hits. Thin down the list by weeding out the places that are across town, only sell to businesses etc.
The mark-up on some pieces against Home Depot/Lowe’s makes it easy to justify buying the box of 50 when you only need 10.


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[kaymccampbell]

Most of my bolt n screw collection comes from dead machines. New stuff from TSC by the pound. Weirdies from Fastenal. I always buy a few extra. Eventually they build up.

 

[Earp69]

What's your secret?

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They have a corporate contract with the last place I worked, so they supply a chit load of fasteners to 13 differant factories. And I'm aquintances with the guy that runs the local fastenal.

 

[bjcouche]

In my personal bolt bin I stock 1/4" through 5/8" in lengths from 1" to 6" in coarse thread. When a particular bin get's down to 5 or 6 bolts, or I know I need a lot for a specific project, I go to either Tractor Supply, or Rural King. They are WAY cheaper than Home Depot / Lowes, Mcmaster, Fastenal. I'm also starting to add bins for fine thread and metric, and allen head, or odd bolts when I have a special project requiring them. My normal NC bolt stock is ONLY grade 5, which is good for most stuff. When I need something special, I usually order it from McMaster.
Another idea if you have a specific project planned, check E-BAY. I needed 100 1/2"x1" allen head bolts, and there were several sellers that specialized in bolts, and I got them way cheaper than Mcmaster, or Fastenal, and TSC and Rural King have poor selections of allen head bolts...