Replies

1. 
   gfretwell | Apr 16, 2014 10:59am | #1

   I have an assortment of bins, and small drawer cabinets that I put screws and nails in but I really try to keep them in the boxes they come in if possible. Usually I end up taking clear tape and reinforcing the box a bit. With all of that I still have a bucket of unsorted screws. Occasionally on a rainy day I will go through and try to sort them out a bit. Things like Tap Cons that are usually blue or white are the easiest to pluck out. Then I work on the stainless which also stand out. After that I separate machine screws from sheet metal/wood screws.

   Once separated that way you have more manageable bins of stuff. If you really get bored you can start sorting them by size.

   This is a lot of time but hardware is money, particularly the tap cons and stainless.

2. 
   DanH | Apr 16, 2014 06:23pm | #2

   Actually, I have a 5-gallon bucket with 4 "parachute bags" in it containing drywall and construction nails and screws.  This is quite handy when I'm doing construction-type stuff.

   Unfortunately, no one makes real parachute bags anymore.

3. 
   calvin | Apr 16, 2014 08:58pm | #3

   Don

   Whatever the volume you have of each (or intend on acquireing) ..........find containers.  Clear is best-lids help-square so they nestle together better than round.

   I've got those metal coffee cans that dan can't find anymore-screwed together a 6 pack, added a handle and have a tote.

   There's square tubs that margarine come in-those work but are not large.

   Go to a dollar store and snoop around.

   There are of course those hooked on "small bins" that hang on racks. 

   Find a lumberyard nail - susan, always wanted one of those.  Stands 5 foot tall and holds pounds of screws/nails.

   Nail gun nails I keep in the box and don't stack the shit out of them so the boxes cave in.  Those last a long time (Senco).

   My drywall supply have fold up boxes they sell 5lb lots of screws (until they get those damn plastic tubs that you tear the thumb tab off or step on an break.  Those work, last long and are free.

   Best thing to do is have an imagination and / or sort all the stuff-find what's necessary to put them in size wise and go to town.

   Best of luck.

   edit:  Bosch has some boxes-meant to stack and maybe lock together-dividers for it.  those run maybe 35-40 bucks a piece.

   Festool-systainers  $$ a pc.  Nice but you'd have to put alot of parts in them to even come close to the cost of the box (stainless parts might make it.............)

   Stanley has a bin box-I believe they stack and even sit upon a wheeled cart.

   And my alltime easy favorite for the family man.......

   Cut open qt/half gallon/gallon plastic milk jugs but leave the handles.  They are square and fit together nice.   You can also buy old or NEW milk crates that still actually hold those size containers.  Those stack nicely.  Downside-either drink alot of milk or have a big family that isn't lactose intolerant.

   The cutouts will allow you to reach in  and the handles help you pull them out of the crate and pour if you want.

1. 
   DanH | Apr 16, 2014 09:39pm | #5

   Something that works pretty well for, say, a couple of pounds of nails or screws is a cardboard or plastic 1/2 gallon milk carton with the top cut off (with plastic you may want to leave the handle).  These can then nestle into a plastic storage bin.

   But I can still remember the basement shop of my grandfather.  He was a machinist by day, and I guess I don't know what he did in the shop (other than hide from my grandmother), but he had about a 2-gallon bucket (maybe an old tin grease container) filled with the oddest assortment of screws, small fittings, brackets, pieces of threaded pipe, hinges, and some items that defied description.  I can remember my dad on several occasions visiting there to dig through the bucket, very often coming up with the odd part he needed.

4. 
   calvin | Apr 16, 2014 09:37pm | #4

   Don

   here's an application you didn't ask for.

   Take a qt. plastic milk jug-cut a 4x5 hole near (but not into) the bottom taking one of the corner edges off.  For filling a tube feeder-scoop with that cutout and pour out the original spout.  Keep the seed in a drywall bucket.

5. 
   renosteinke | Apr 19, 2014 03:52pm | #6

   It Costs $$$ to "Save" Them

   Storing things is expensive. You give up space, you have to arrange things so you can find them, you have to get containers, etc. Most of the time you''re best served by just throwing them away.

   For example, I recently needed a small latch of a certain type. Sure, the box store had it - in a two-pack. Do I save the other one, on the off chance that I'll find a use for it in the next 58 years? Or, do I just toss it?

   Then there's the whole matter of knowing what you have, knowing where it is, and being able to get to it. This is where the 'coffee can' method fails; you never know what's in it, and getting something out is an adventure by itself.

   A visit to your local box store will show you aisles of 'organizing' products. Yet, there's a better way.

   Sure, you can make your own. We used yo use baby-food jars; magazines were filled with all sorts of clever ways to mount them for best use. Or, you might be able to update the idea with various food containers, product packaging, and the like. It can work.

   Better yet, you can buy what you need and not try to become the biggest warehouse in town. Real supply houses sell hardware in much better packaging than the kludge at the box stores. They even sell assortments, with each in its' own little bin.

   Still ... Malcomn Forbes was right: The most important thing in the shop is the waste basket. Buy what you NEED, toss the rest. Regularly 'weed' through your mess, and toss whatever hasn't been used in a year or so.

1. 
   calvin | Apr 19, 2014 05:25pm | #7

   reno

   It costs to save them and it usually costs more to go get more.............

   Those of us that make a living with parts and pcs. often figure a way to both store and remember the location.  No trip on the customers dime (or if you think like them-you shoulda had it-I'm not paying 50 bucks for you to go get a screw, nut or bolt).

   So you see, many would feel your way a waste of both time and money.

6. 
   sapwood | Apr 22, 2014 11:26am | #8

   I have a shelf unit on the wall of my shop that I built. This is made of 1/2" ply and has shelves that are only 4" deep. I store boxes of screws, nuts, washers, and similar items on this. For the most part, all are in the boxes of 100 each that I bought them in. I sort them according to size: # 4 through 14. All the boxes are labled and all the labels face outwards. Commonly used screws such as drywall screws are stored in open trays according to size. These are kept in a drawer near my work bench. When I have some leftover screws or whatever from a project and they are in a work tray or tool box I make a snap decision as to whether it is better to find the appropriate storage place or simply drop them into the trash. If I put them anywhere else, there they'll sit till hell freezes over.