There's gotta be a better way. I've been using plastic tubs and I'm sick of dumping out the whole tub just to look for one screw. I went out and bought a flimsy plastic storage compartment thingy with tilt-out drawers to somewhat organize stuff, but it doesn't seem very strong. There's gotta be something better out there.

Ultimately I'd like something that I can put in the trailer, but I need something for the shop too. Ideas?

 

Harbor Freight has these:

These:

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...42040

and These:

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...92226

It all depends on how many bolts you have to sort out.

Something like this http://www.harborfreight.com/c...93404 Would be easy to take with you in the trailer if you don't have a whole lot.

I had a craftsman tool box full of nuts and bolts from the old days when I worked at a body shop (we replaced almost every bolt we took out) and from the various cars I've cut up. I just picked up these
http://www.harborfreight.com/c...41949

on sale at the Store for $6.99, and I managed to fit almost everything into the bins. I'm gonna go get another set because I need a little more room, but its nice having everything organized by thread pitch for once.

I've found that the little drawer units are kinda pointless for anything larger than 1/4" or 6mm hardware, especially if you have a lot of it.

 

I have these. After a few years on the wall near a drafty door, they are full of dust and crap that the gardener has stirred up with his leaf blower. Just say'in...

 

Costco has metal storage with assorted bolts and nuts for around $80

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrie Hartanto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Costco has metal storage with assorted bolts and nuts for around $80</TD></TR></TABLE>

Metric? What kind of assortment?

 

If you want it clean and organized to carry to events, go to a hunting/fishing supply store and buy the clear containers they sell to hold fishing lures. you can use this to sort everything out, and even label them if you like. I used to do a lot of technical support work at various cycling events and I used these to carry my spares so that in the event i needed something FAST, i knew exactly where to find it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Metric? What kind of assortment?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Both, metric and standard. High grade bolts too.
Very similar to the one Griot's garage offer at much higher price. I'm trying to find the picture from their website.

 

I use this metal case...



Maybe try...
nutsandbolts.com
boltdept.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I use this metal case...

</TD></TR></TABLE>


The one in Costco is similar, except, it is 4 of those metal case in drawer type. red and black color.

 

Are those compartments size adjustable?

 

i use a couple of these... luckily, i've never had to use anything from them

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Solo1B16Hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you want it clean and organized to carry to events, go to a hunting/fishing supply store and buy the clear containers they sell to hold fishing lures. you can use this to sort everything out, and even label them if you like. I used to do a lot of technical support work at various cycling events and I used these to carry my spares so that in the event i needed something FAST, i knew exactly where to find it.</TD></TR></TABLE>


My flaccid grip on sanity wouldn't last 5 minutes in the garage without those things.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There's gotta be a better way. I've been using plastic tubs and I'm sick of dumping out the whole tub just to look for one screw. I went out and bought a flimsy plastic storage compartment thingy with tilt-out drawers to somewhat organize stuff, but it doesn't seem very strong. There's gotta be something better out there.

Ultimately I'd like something that I can put in the trailer, but I need something for the shop too. Ideas?</TD></TR></TABLE>

We've started using poly bins (wall mounted) for most of the nuts and bolts from the hardware store. Trying to keep them organized.


I use a compartmentalized plastic box (tougher then the lure boxes, a bit bigger) to keep all the Honda factory bolts organized, seperate from the hardware store stuff, so when I'm looking to bolt something to the car using an OEM location, can use an OEM fastener (which are very good). I keep the box of misc Honda bolts with me in the service truck.

Rivets I keep in the same box. Screws we keep in a metal compartmentalized box, and electrical terminals, etc. in another. We just organized hose clamps yesterday in a plastic lure box.

My fastener and small stuff life has been getting simpler and simpler each day.

 

John,

I got some nice plastic storage bins at Lowes. They are plastic and they have locks on them so they don't accidently open. They are about 2" deep and you can adjust the size of each storage slot. They also have a nice clear plastic lid so you can see what is in each box (although I write on the lid what is in each compartment) Great for the shop and you can easily stack and transport to the trailer if need be. You can check them out......if you ever decide to come over to the garage.

I looked but couldn't find them on the lowes website

 

The coolest thing I've seen was homemade. A friend's uncle took a piece of 4x4 about 18" long and screwed mason jar lids along each side, sorted all of his nuts/bolts/screws/washers into separate mason jars, labelled them, and screwed the jars onto the lids. Then he used brackets to hang it under the cabinets over his workbench like paper towels. You can see everything and they're always there when you need them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BluGTIVR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">John,

I got some nice plastic storage bins at Lowes. They are plastic and they have locks on them so they don't accidently open. They are about 2" deep and you can adjust the size of each storage slot. They also have a nice clear plastic lid so you can see what is in each box (although I write on the lid what is in each compartment) Great for the shop and you can easily stack and transport to the trailer if need be. You can check them out......if you ever decide to come over to the garage.

I looked but couldn't find them on the lowes website</TD></TR></TABLE>


Its what I have

 

I've got bins like that, in a case that holds like 4 of them. After parting out a couple CRX's and a Civic, I've probably got one of each spare bolt that came on those cars. I think I'm forever giving out header/exhaust manifold nuts, and the D series valve cover bolts. It's nice to only have to look in 4 or 5 bins to find what you need. I just gave my 8 year old a bucket and said, here, put the like ones together in these. He did a pretty good job.

 

This is the company I boughtt mine from http://www.planomolding.com/content/index.cfm

good stuff here

 

I'm diggin' these..


..and this to hold it


Kinda expensive though, but that's essentially what I'm after.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm diggin' these..


..and this to hold it


Kinda expensive though, but that's essentially what I'm after.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

John,

that looks like the one from Costco I mentioned before. I'm not sure if costco ones has adjustable compartment size. But it is similar metal with the rack.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrie Hartanto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">John,

that looks like the one from Costco I mentioned before. I'm not sure if costco ones has adjustable compartment size. But it is similar metal with the rack.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks. I'll go tonight and take a look. I need to pick up shop towels anyway.

 

i just use the plano/shimano plastic fishing lure boxes. you can find them for cheap. especially for walmart
you can use the included plastic walls to make all different areas.
these are great for tearing apart engines. just put a piece of masking tape in a section and with a marker you can label it "oil pan"

i just tore down a b20 and used about 8 large boxes. worked like a charm. especially laying out all the rocker arms and camshaft girdles and bolts, while keeping them in proper orientation. no guessing at all.

and some of the boxes you can buy are very wide. can hold your cylinder head bolts no problem

 

What about this one John?

 

is this for long storage or just to keep nuts/bolts together while wrenching???? at our regional training center we use muffin tins while in the lab taking apart motors or whatever. they work great, keep everything separated and are pretty cheap. they look strange sitting on a work bench, but they get the job done.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cletus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is this for long storage or just to keep nuts/bolts together while wrenching???? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Long term storage. I have a bunch of different types of fasteners for different materials. I like the muffin tin idea, and the small plastic container idea. Sure beats my zip-lock baggie method.