Screw/Bolt Storage

[Admiral]

I love having extra screws, nails, nuts, and bolts on hand.  But my stock is pretty small. 

I save everything that looks like a fastener.  When anything breaks beyond repair, and I mean anything (I've been known to disassemble toasters), I remove all the fasteners and they go down to the shop.  It's amazing, but when I need something to repair an item, it is generally available in one box or the other.

My bride disdains this behavior.  But she appreciates when things get fixed for the want of a nut or bolt.

[daddo]

I save everything that looks like a fastener.  When anything breaks beyond repair, and I mean anything (I've been known to disassemble toasters), I remove all the fasteners and they go down to the shop.  It's amazing, but when I need something to repair an item, it is generally available in one box or the other.

My bride disdains this behavior.  But she appreciates when things get fixed for the want of a nut or bolt.

 That's what I do.
 I cleaned out one of the sheds. What would have taken an hour to do, took about 4 since I took everything apart and saved the screws and bolts and some metal. I got a good piece of thick plastic sheet I could maybe use sometime. 

 We had an old 98 Crown vict that blew a head, so we had it hauled off, but before they took it, I saved the bolts from removing the head, the camshaft, some valves, gears, pulleys, wiring and so forth.  Made a nice shop lamp out of the camshaft and a piston I got from my old 55 chevy engine in the 70's.



Ain't no junk like the junk I got.  

[MarkSingleton]

It is not junk.

It is inventory.

There is a difference.

And yes, it is pretty cool when you need a nut, bolt, screw, washer,
etc etc that you HAVE it, right now.  No running to the hardware
store, no drama.

Stuff gets fixed.  Often before most in the household know that it
was ever out of service.  I have lost count of the number of times
that folks I have known over the years come by and ask if I have
this or that little bit of hardware. Most times I have.

Used to have it all on shelving in the garage. Jars and jars and jars
of it. Got to be way too much of a problem with catching dust, etc.

My local Orchard Hardware was remodeling a few years back. I bought
eight large metal cabinet/pull out divided drawer units as they were
getting rid of them for the new units.  I stacked them four high on two
pieces of plywood with casters. Set next to each other in the garage they
take up a small amount of floor space.

They now store all bolts etc over
1/4 inch. Plumbing pieces. Indoor and outdoor. Iron, pvc, abs and copper.
Electrical pieces and parts. Wall plates, switches outlets etc.
You get the idea.  I ended up with a very organized system that has
bailed me out countless times.

I am in the midst of a similar build in the wood shop, for all of the wood
screws, hinges, catches, pulls, hasps, etc.

Some call me OCD.   Funny, they are some of the same folks that are
appreciative when I have that needed item!!

[rwe2156]

Diresta tool storage box - easily adapted to parts storage.

[Cian]

[Belle City Woodworking]

That is awesome Cian!   Very well done!

[MarkSingleton]

That is very close in design to what I am doing as noted above.
Except rather than new, I am using cast off cabinetry/boxes/stands
that would otherwise be tossed out.

[Cian]

That is very close in design to what I am doing as noted above.
Except rather than new, I am using cast off cabinetry/boxes/stands
that would otherwise be tossed out.

I’ve been looking for a vintage Library Card Catalog that I can use for small parts and screws/bolts storage but didnt cost a mint or wasnt dilapidated beyond repair. Alas, I’ve resorted to havng to build one eventually.

[Pirate]

How about baby food jars? Short and tall.
An old friend had shelves in his shop, with 1200+ jars.

[Willyou]

Anybody like peanut butter?