I would like to organize my husband's nails, screws, nuts and bolts. There are so many of them we're overwhelmed. Any suggestions for us to get started?
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My husband saved all of our used and empty jam/sauce jars etc. He removed the labels, washed and dried them and filled them with nails/screws/nuts/washers etc.
He also screwed the lids to wooden beams in our garage then screwed the jars onto the lids. They are up out of the way. You could also write sizes on the jars with permanent marker. Hope some of this helps. :)
Go to McFeelys on the web and click on storage. There is a 1# and a 2# coffee can tray set. I have them in my craft room and my husband has them in his shop.
For the ones you have the smallest quantities of, use ice cube trays that stack, and put them into an open-ended box so he can slide out whatever he needs to see into. My jewelry is all in ice cube trays, except for the big long necklaces. You can label the ends.
Depending on how many you have you can put them into utensil trays or you can try some kind of jar like baby food jars or pickle jars.
In hardware and craft shops you can buy multi-storage boxes with small drawers approximately the length of your index finger. I use this for all of my bits and pieces. The drawers are clear plastic so you can see inside, or just put a sticker in front saying what's inside.
I agree with Cathy about the multi storage boxes. You can find either metal or plastic containers,both have see through drawers. I would suggest that you buy the metal ones.
This makes me think of a fathers day gift my daughter made in first grade. Using the cardboard holder for a six-pack of pop bottles (root beer still comes that way) and she put a soup can in each compartment to hold screws and nails, etc. They spray painted the cardboard holder, and painted the cans different colors.
Use baby jars & then glue the item on the top or outside. Larger items can be put into instant iced tea holders. Hope this helps.
I bought inexpensive clear plastic fishing tackle boxes for pierced earrings. I think they would also work well for keeping different sizes of nuts, bolts, screws separated and easy to see.
I don't know if this will work, but cream cheese containers and small plastic containers (recycle) could be glued to a strong magnet on their bottom side. Then if he has a magnetic surface, just label the lid with the screw type/size and there you go.
Have used Smucker's jam jars, baby food jars and others, all about the same size, shown in the sample wall rack in the attached photo.
I have several methods. The new rectangular plastic baby food containers work well for small screws. Larger screws usually come in a decent box for storage. 1 gallon drywall mud buckets make sturdy storage containers too.
for longer light weight tools like welding rods, long nails, drill bits, etc. The new hard plastic chip cans called STAX are just wonderful. They are more thicker than pringles can. A durable plastic with a molded side which grips your hand just perfect. The lids are clear or yellow on some. I use them for evrything.My paint brushes, small toys in catagories, spegettit after box has been opened. Cotton balls, sewing thread spools, glue sticks (my favorite) and so many other ideas.
My tile contractor used a bulk peanut container to hold his tile spacers in. There are many items that come in large reusable plastic containers.
I'm looking for something some type of plastic container for screws that I could throw in the pouch of my tool belt. that way the same container I store screws in I could work out of as well.
I see there are many Ideas to work with here but you may want an Idea of how to catagorize the items. I find if I try to divide them too perfectly it bcomes dificult. Try this, small nails, lrg. nails, small screws, lrg. screws, electrical stuff, fasteners, misc. plastic, misc. metal, Nuts, bolts, nut bolt sets,
I've got a "Sorta-Neat" - (5) ~8oz plastic cups under a hinged tray and after sorting thru the fasteners in the tray, the flanged cup is slipped into grooves at the open end of the tray and then the fasteners are returned to the cup by tilting the tray. Slick for a decent amount of fasteners and if I can find another, I'm going to get one for my son-in-law.
I've got 3 "Sorta-Neat" - (5) ~8oz plastic cups under a hinged tray and after sorting thru the fasteners in the tray, the flanged cup is slipped into grooves at the open end of the tray and then the fasteners are returned to the cup by tilting the tray.
I can not locate on line - does anyone know where to buy?
"Sorta-Neat" containers. As far as I know, the Sorta-Neat product is not available anymore. A good friend of mine - Bob - is the actual inventor (mid-80's) but the product never really took off. Shame, I thought the NAME should be worth a million! He has several other variations of the product, not on the market though. I CAN tell you that the plastic cups (that "bayonet" on the end of the tray) are actually Betty-Crocker pudding cups. They could (did!) pop those things out like jellybeans!
I foolishly gave away several of them and use my last two (nuts & bolts) almost daily in my shop.
Jim L.
I am so jealous that you have more than one "sorta-neat parts organizer". I have only one and i regret not buying ten of them when i found mine at ace hardware. I have been looking for more all over the internet and nothing. Someone should buy the rights to this great little item and start producing them again. If you have one, please remember me in your will. I am willing to wait. (Sorry for all caps, I'm getting a new keyboard soon.)
I have 3 SORTA-NEATS. I also discovered that Duncan Heinz frosting has the same container and it has a lid...very handy.
You might find Sorta-neat here
www.metcosupply.com/
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