Screw and bit/bob’s organization?

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ChuckN

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So I’m doing some garage cleanup today. Any creative ideas as to organizing screws/nuts/bolts? Years ago, my dad put up a plank of wood, took mason jar lids and screwed them to the underside, and stored each individual application in a whole bunch of them. They were clear so he could see what was in them.

Mason jars are expensive, and I don’t have any- any other cool ways to store bits and bobs? My little screw organizer is getting overwhelmed. Feel free to post pictures or ideas. Thanks!
 

Ricko1966

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Chuck I don't know the size of the misc hardware you are trying to store,if it's just small stuff I'd try to find a friend or relative with an infant,you be able to score hundreds of free baby food jars. I have way more than that so I have a dedicated hardware cabinet the size of a small bottom box with about a million small drawers,similar to library file card cabinet but made of metal. I'll try to find a pic. Found one I put up a thumbnail.
Follow this link ran across it looking for a pic of what I have.
 

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Grit dog

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They make a plethora of hardware bins/organizers. But at some point that is an exercise in futility as well.
Something else that works pretty well is old/cheap toolboxes with shallow drawers. It’s far easier to find the “right” bolt when most of it is visible in a toolbox drawer vs the 1 out of 100 organizer bin lottery!
 

Catbox

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I have used gallon ziplock bags.
I will pull bolts and stuff from all the junkyard cars that we get stuff from and throw them into the bottom of the tool bucket.
Once home I will give them a quick wipe with a rag if they are scungy and sort simply by length.
Short, Medium, and Long.
SAE or Metric doesn't really matter to me, as the length usually more important for whatever random project I have before me.
 

Grit dog

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On the contrary I keep metric separate best I can. Nothing better than finding that perfect nut or bolt just to find out it’s Canadian threaded on your ‘Merican iron!
 

Hunter79764

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Baby food jars are getting in shorter supply, replaced with pouches.
Akro Mils has some good stuff if you want to buy bins and organizers, plastic stuff made for commercial/light industrial use. I've got some wall mount drawers, then plenty of the stackable and hangable bins. They are probably better for new hardware (we have one unit that has decking screws, large nails, drywall screws, and anything else you buy a pound of but don't want to lose or destroy the box). I've got the drawer units that are great for o rings, super glue, and misc other stuff but are only about 4" deep, not great for bolts. Stackable bins can be good, you can get them in 9 or 10" length for bolts, and can stack the same size or smaller on top (have a row of 10", then 8" then 6", then 4" and be able to see into all bins). I use those for reloading a lot, handy to have something with easy access for dropping handfuls of brass or bullets into.

I bought a bunch from ULine.com as well, I think some stuff was way cheaper on Amazon, and some was way cheaper on ULine. But overall I'm happy with the quality.
 

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