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My problem is the more you have the more I forget what I do have. And also just exactly where I stowed it. I find when things are out of eye sight I soon loose memory of what and where.
Sounds like this is the only hope for you and me
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnMc
I have divided my garage into 27 zones.
In each zone I have cabinets, bins and various containers.
It is all on a spreadsheet....JohnMc
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Awesome ideas. I picked up a ton of tips and it is very cool to see how everybody organizes stuff.
When I first started on this site there was a super cool thread about how to bag/tag/organize stuff when taking a car apart for restoration. Wish I could find it but I changed my user name right after that post and can’t find it now.
I really love your rolling shelves! I wish I had a half dozen of them! Obviously a 'professional' shelving unit that you likely purchased 'surplus'? Or are they available somewhere new now?
Thanks. The shelves came out of a defense plant at least 30+ years ago. My Dad had them all that time and didn’t really use them, but I intend to use the heck out of them!
They are USA made and very heavy duty...I cannot imagine what they would cost to make these days. The brake units on them are massive.
Today I spent several hours looking at commercial restaurant supply houses and tool places looking for various storage solutions. Got a lot of neat ideas.
Going to a huge used office furniture warehouse next week to see what kind of steel storage cabinets they have. Thanks to the ideas on this thread I now know some really cool new ways to store hardware.
Whats wrong with just putting all that stuff in a big ol' tote pan. Then you only have to look one place to find it
Seriously, I DO NOT intend to put ANY pictures of my shop (or obstacle course, whichever you prefer) here are anywhere else. I envy guys that can get organized that well. I never have figured it out.
It seems like it takes every tool I own just to do an oil change
Some Excellent ideas. I didn’t think about using a tool chest, but that is a cool idea.
JohnMc, I’d like to see more about your system. Have any photos of clever ways to store hardware?
I have about 5 of these super heavy duty rolling shelves. The shelves pull out and they have a big floor brake system to secure it from rolling. I’m building one with deep trays to hold scrap metal pieces/gussets, etc.
Trying to think of a good way to use a rolling shelf or two for hardware.
Update:
FINALLY found a solution that works so well, I couldn’t be happier. Got these bins online and couldn’t believe how well they fit my rolling shelves.
Now I have hundreds of lbs of hardware to sort....Have been collecting this stuff for many years. Lots of unique, NOS, and vintage stuff. I’m very excited to get this together as I’ve been waiting very patiently for a long time to have a setup like this.
Question: Where is a good place to buy bulk Grade 8 hardware? I want to fill one of these shelves with new SAE hardware that would typically be used on vintage car projects like Trifives.
McMaster-Carr typically sells bolts and nuts in boxes of 10 or 25. I don't buy hardware in bulk just to have it, but if I ever need something and don't need it the same day, I order a box of them and build up some inventory. I usually can buy them in these quantities for 1/3 to 1/2 per piece of what I pay for the same items by the piece locally. I'm also fortunate that I have a local hardware store that has a great selection of grade 8 hardware. There's also Lowe's and Tractor Supply if needed.
McMaster-Carr also has a good selection of stainless hardware, as well as just about anything else in industrial hardware and raw materials. 99% of the time if it's on their website they have it in stock, they ship the same day, and they charge you very reasonable shipping costs. They are the Summit/Jegs of hardware.
How do you store your spare hardware? Over the years I’ve accumulated a ton of nos USA hardware from the 50’s-70’s and lots of other misc hardware and I want some ideas how to store it and make it organized and accessible.
I’m thinking rolling bins.
U-Line bins, to your door in a day
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I have one wall dedicated to my new hardware and under the table in front of the wall I have several pull out bins that I put my old stuff in when doing a project I just put all the hardware into a coffee can and take a lot of pictures of where they came from then when the project is finished I sort the old hardware and put it in the old parts bins
A few of you have some sweet looking set ups and it's got to be nice to work in those conditions. I have a few of those plastic Tide Pods containers with the snap on lids that have different hardware taken from or intended for specific jobs. I don't keep any new hardware on hand. I buy as needed.