How do you store parts/fasteners?

[elfick]

It's time to rein in my mismatched group of organizers... a bunch from HF, a Milwaukee parts organizer, a Tanos-branded Raaco rack-box (https://www.amazon.com/Tanos-80000061-Rack-Systainer-Rack-Box-Anthracite/dp/B00GQZJI5G), and couple others that I can't remember at the moment.

I have basically three use cases: Fixed in the shop, mobile in the shop or around the house, and mobile away from the shop/house.

I'd like a single matched system that will work in all these instances. Bins that can be moved between fixed, semi-mobile, and mobile carriers seem to be the way to go. To this end, I just put in an order for a Sys 4 Sortainer, Sys-Storage, and a few sets of bins... I probably should have asked this before I did.  [smile]

How do you handle your fasteners/parts? Also, does anyone know if there are comparably sized bins available elsewhere cheaper? If not, I can also just dump from other bins into my mobile bins if necessary.

 

[Dick Mahany]

I use several metal drawer/storage units for most of my fasteners.  They came from Costco a number of years ago and cost around $80 for a four drawer set.  They are branded Thorsen and were originally filled with a large assortment of cheap fasteners, pins, o-rings, electrical connectors etc. most of which have been replaced with things that I'll actually use.  The boxes are removable and have carry handles and they also have rounded individual compartment bottoms for ease of fastener removal.  The down side is that they are quite heavy when filled.

I recently purchased two Festool Sys1 small parts organizers and like those also but they are on the pricey side for what they are.  I'd like to have a single system to store everything, but that isn't going to happen, so I'll just continue on with what I have.

[attachimg=1]

 

[RKA]

Sortimo T boxxes.  They don't tick the budget friendly requirement, but they work well for me.  Mostly I have small quantities of a lot of different stuff, so the shallow depth in these works nicely for me.  I need a clear lid to see inside, I want the lid to seal each container so small parts don't get tossed about and I want to be able to move containers between the boxxes to reorganize as needed.  As it happens the molded side runners on the boxxes will slide over a piece of 3/4" ply perfectly, so making a cabinet for them is an easy task (for standard 3/4" hardwood you'll need to shave them down a little to make them fit).  The hard part is sorting through my "misc" bins and emptying my other bin holding boxes I've accumulated (akro and keter).

In addition to that I do have some smaller plano boxes that I use for some misc car stuff (like hose clamp assortments).  The T boxxes are too large, and typically these would stay in my mechanics tool chest or the garage anyway, so sizing a box just big enough for what it needs to hold is better.

 

[zapdafish]

husky small parts organizer

 

[elfick]

[member=21249]RKA[/member] The Bosch iBoxxes were one of my finalists and I believe they are made by Sortimo. They are a way cheaper than the Festool options and are fairly available on Amazon. $35-$55 per container. The only reason I didn't go with them was that I would have to come up with my own way to carry/integrate them in a mobile situation.

[member=8208]zapdafish[/member] I looked at a Husky organizer. They have a single layer organizer with like 12 bins that's only $10 and locally available from HD. The only problems I had with it was that it didn't look like it would do well with small stuff (washers and the like) or small quantities as they would require some kind of sub-divider like baggies and also the lack of integration. It was definitely the price leader in what I looked at and I may still use it for my fixed storage needs and just dump from their large bins into the smaller Festool bins.

I also considered the Allit products from Lee Valley and was close to going with them based on price.

 

[RKA]

They absolutely don't integrate with Festool systainers, they have a larger footprint (more on that in a second) and no integrated latching which is one of the biggest drawbacks.  But you could build a small box with casters that would hold 3-4 T boxxes.  On top you could cut the recesses to accommodate a smaller footprint systainer and try to add latching to lock a systainer on top.  It's a lot of messing about for something that's expensive to begin with.  Ideally, you would keep what you need for a job/task in a single box (or rearrange in advance if needed) and just carry it solo with the briefcase style handle.  If you needed other common supplies, you keep several of these racked in a van and organized by task.  The different size bins are really great for this. 

 

[semenza]

I use several different things. But I would say that Raaco fits for your purpose. They can easily be fixed shop, semi-mobile, mobile. The modularity makes them completely transferable and re configuring is a snap. EX- when adding in a new size of screw or what not.  I have my shop screws (except for bulk extras / refills), and my mobile screws in Raaco. I can take just a couple containers or a whole rack box. They happen to work nicely in tool box drawers too.

[attachimg=1]    [attachimg=2]    [attachimg=3]    [attachimg=4]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do use Plano for all sorts of misc. hardware and such. Cost wise if it could all be Raaco it would be. But I don't use or move the misc. to justify it.

[attachimg=5]    [attachimg=6]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also have some parts sorter bins for larger misc. stuff.

[attachimg=7]    [attachimg=8]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raaco makes boxes to hold smaller quantities of "compartment / containers" too. Sometimes those are good for just taking a few sizes.  And there are about twice as many size compartments available as what comes with the Tanos Racktainer. Basically every modular increment in both row and column is available.

Seth

 

[elfick]

[member=1619]SRSemenza[/member] Which Plano model do you use?

 

[semenza]

[member=1619]SRSemenza[/member] Which Plano model do you use?

Actually the ones I have are branded for Bass Pro but made by Plano. They are the 3700 series in 2" height. With up to 48 compartments (adjustable in increments). I am not sure the exact same model is still made. But there are several in the 3700 size series with varying compartment division schemes.

I saw that Bass Pro (in store) had stacks of them on sale a couple weeks ago. I did not look closely to see if they were the exact same model. But if still on sale they were a good price at $3.99.

Seth

 

[Cheese]

I've used Plano for years, they're cheap and readily available. The down side are they have no handles and the partitions are easily moved accidentally when removing fasteners with your clubby fingers. This results in the partitions being elevated and the fasteners being mixed up. Worse yet is when the partitions cannot be pushed down by hand because there are fasteners underneath them, the cover will not close and you then need to remove the fasteners with a tweezers to realign the partitions.

Despite these issues the Plano work well...just use a tweezers or a needle nose pliers.

I also have some Raaco style (Durham) drawers that are all metal and they are the charm. They slide into their own cabinet, have handles and they're sweet. I just can't afford them for all the fasteners I have.  [tongue]

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

 

[semenza]

I've used Plano for years, they're cheap and readily available. The down side are they have no handles and the partitions are easily moved accidentally when removing fasteners with your clubby fingers. This results in the partitions being elevated

I keep a 3/4" x 6" long dowel with a round self adhesive magnet on the end on top of the plano rack. Makes fastener retrieval easy.  [thumbs up]

Seth

 

[Vondawg]

Damn....you guys are walking hardware stores........nice organization!

 

[Cheese]

I keep a 3/4" x 6" long dowel with a round self adhesive magnet on the end on top of the plano rack. Makes fastener retrieval easy.  [thumbs up]

Great idea Seth...  [thumbs up]  ...one small issue, those socket head cap screws are all stainless.  [tongue]

 

[Sparktrician]

[member=1619]SRSemenza[/member], who sells the Raaco products in the US?  I really wish that Festool hadn't discontinued the Racktainer. 

 

[Dick Mahany]

[member=1619]SRSemenza[/member], who sells the Raaco products in the US?  I really wish that Festool hadn't discontinued the Racktainer.

[member=7493]Sparktrician[/member] Lee Valley sells the Tanos version of the Racktainer if you don't mind the blue.

 

[Cheese]

MSC sells Durham and Klein products.  I have a few of the Durhams.
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn.../Small-Parts-Storage-Drawers?searchterm=metal+storage+drawers&navid=4287923347

 

[semenza]

[member=1619]SRSemenza[/member], who sells the Raaco products in the US?  I really wish that Festool hadn't discontinued the Racktainer.

Not the easiest to find in the USA. I know I got some through Ebay. At one point there was a USA retailer with a limited selection. I also had someone in UK buy and ship to me.

Here is the Raaco site that shows all the inserts. The 55 series is the height for the boxes that come in a Racktainer. The series number is the height in mm. Two 27s will stack to the 55 height and are the modular foot print of one of the 55 sizes. In looking at the series 55 they show ten different ones. But I am pretty sure I have more sizes than that. Maybe Raaco has reduced the options. Not sure.
https://www.raaco.com/productsgroups-1120.aspx?GroupID=Indsatse

Seth

 

[rvieceli]

[member=7493]Sparktrician[/member]

There's a pretty good selection via Amazon though a lot of it is from a third party seller. Don't know if the prices are in line or not.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=raaco&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Ron

 

[dicktill]

I strongly second the use of the Raaco units. I bought out the last of the ones Lee Valley had in '13-'14. Expen$ive, but worth it for me.

When I needed some more, I bought them from "Newark element14" (https://www.newark.com/w/search/prl/results?brand=raaco). IIRC, the shipping was expensive, but the same whether I bought one or four "quad" units; guess which way I went?

Dick

 

[rmwarren]

Schaller makes/sells a version of the individual bins that are pretty reasonable.
http://www.schallercorporation.com/

Depths are sized to fit standard rolling tools bins, nominally 1"/2"/3" deep and widths nominally 1"/1.5"/2"/3"/4"/6" by varying lengths up to 12".

I recently moved my fasteners from those bins in drawers to Raaco/Plano type boxes wall mounted in cubbies similar to Seth's. I needed the floor space to cramp the welding table in. In my case I never take anything out of the shop so I opted to go cheap (still questioning that decision) and went with, uhmn... Harbor Freight:
https://www.harborfreight.com/19-bin-portable-parts-storage-case-93928.htmlhttps://www.harborfreight.com/24-divider-storage-container-94458.html

They are OK in terms of holding the load full of screws/bolts/etc. but if I ever drop one I'm expecting a major mess. I wouldn't use them for a mobile application. 30 of the large boxes and another 8-10 of the smaller ones set me back around $300 total.

Where I'm regretting the choice is after building the cubbies I don't think I could ever justify revamping with better boxes. I could probably walk away from the $300 and replace them someday with better boxes but I don't want to take the time to rebuild the cubbies. Doing it again I would invest a couple hundred bucks more and get better boxes.

RMW