Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.)

Post by STREIKER

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

"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.

Post By Jim (Guest Post)

SORTA- NEAT - WHERE CAN YOU BUY

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?

Post By F DENGLER (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By R Dawson (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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,
bulbs, razorblades, matches. Other things to put into individual containers are glues, cemicals, paints. Buy him some extention cord holders too. Be careful as we men get touchy about someone else messing with our stuff. Maybe buy him the containers and premark them for a gift? My wife is in the back ground saying Batteries, String, Wire, staples. Don't put batteries with anything else as they can short out an start fires.

Post By Strib (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By Roger (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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. You can stack them up straight or lay beside each other with the lids facing you so you can see whats inside. I either mark my fronts with marker or lid to say whats inside. I even put my ribbons, twin string roll, etc, inside and poke a hole either on my lid or at the center bottom and just pull out what i need and cut off. sold at the dollar stores the cheapest for $1.00 each. Great flavors too better than pringles I think.

Post by theseamstress

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By lilredex (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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. If no magnet surface, go to a thrift store and get one of those big old cookie sheets and hang it up on the wall. Put the magnetic containers on it.

Post by thriftyengineer

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By Claudia-MD (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By Christine IN (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post by WIsgal

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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. I have a metal one and a plastic one. The plastic one I can only keep light things in there because the drawers will slip off the glides with heavy nails or bolts.

Post by PICO

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By Cathy (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By Goldengirl (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.
Or you could shove it all into a large shallow pan with sides, like a big cookie sheet, and label it "SHOP MIX".

Post by kimhis

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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.

Post By Rasta (Guest Post)

RE: Organizing Nails, Screws, Nuts and Bolts

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. :)

Post By jojo (Guest Post)

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