When working on a project, it is quite annoying when you always have to look for parts like nuts and bolts. It is really frustrating to sift through cabinets and drawers in the shop and not find what you are looking for. With this, it is essential to organize nuts and bolts accurately. There are many organizers for these that you can purchase in stores and online. But it is not really necessary to spend on these, as you can also create a DIY nuts and bolts organizer for your shop.
If you are one of those whose dilemma is always misplacing nuts and bolts and not being able to find them when you need them, you’re in the right place. In this article, we are going to teach you how you can organize them well. We are giving you some of the best techniques that you can follow to have the nuts and bolts that you need anytime without spending lots of time looking for them as you work on a project.
Things to Look for in Your Nuts-and-Bolts Storage
Before we provide you with the best tips on how you can organize nuts and bolts in your shop, let us first take a look at the factors that you need to consider when choosing storage for them.
- Easy to use and understand: When you choose storage, you need to ensure that you know what is in them without the need to open every drawer.
- Can be expanded: It is also great if your storage can be expanded easily to make it bigger in case you need to store more nuts and bolts.
- Easy to access: Do not use containers wherein you will find it difficult to open the lids off when they get stuck for months or years.
What to Do Before Storing the Nuts and Bolts
Before we teach you the techniques, you also need to know some important things that will help you save time and be more organized in the long run. Here are some of the things you need to do:
Stock Up
Before you buy or create an organizer, you need to ensure that you stock up on all the nuts and bolts that you use regularly. Write down exactly how many you have, as this can help you refill once you are done.
Bookkeeping
You need to ensure that you are keeping track of all your nuts-and-bolts usage so that you know when to restock. This way, you will know how many you have used and will make restocking more convenient. This may sound like a daunting task at first, but it will help you stay organized.
Buy Sticky Notes
It is also great if you have sticky notes that you can use to label each nuts and bolt that you have. When you put labels on them, you will easily know where to find them. If you do not want to buy, you can simply use pieces of paper and transparent tape to label them.
Transparent Drawer
It would be great if you could invest in a transparent drawer for your nuts and bolts. This way, you will be able to see them while you work. If you do not have this, you can also use a transparent bag and hang it inside your shop. However, drawers can hold more volume and units. Regardless of what you choose to use, ensure that the storage you will use is seamless and will allow you to label your screws and bolts.
What You Need to Avoid
After learning the things that you need to do, there are also some things that you need to avoid to keep your nuts and bolts organized. Here are some of them:
Do Not Use Buckets
If you are thinking about using buckets for storage, we will say that it is not a good idea. Lots of people use buckets to store nuts, bolts, and screws in their shop, but it is very unorganized. Choosing transparent storage is better as it will enable you to see visually where the pieces you need are. Also, using buckets will only mix up the items and make you spend time finding what you need.
Do Not Mix Different Brands
Using one brand for your nuts and bolts is a good idea as different brands manufacture them differently. It is better if you buy everything from the same supplier to avoid mix-ups or getting confused when you use the items. If you are looking into trying out a new brand, it is better to finish your left items first before you buy a brand-new batch.
Avoid Mixing Old and New Bolts
If you have rusty bolts, ensure that you will not mix them up with new ones as it will cause the others to get rusted too. Ensure that you dispose of the rusted pieces or use them immediately.
The Best Ways to Organize Nuts and Bolts in Your Shop
Now that you know the things that you should and should not do, here are the best tips that we can give on how you can keep nuts and bolts in your shop organized:
1. Sort the nuts and bolts you have and bookkeep them.
The very first step that you have to take is to look at all the nuts and bolts you have and count them. This way, you will have an idea of how many pieces you have so that you can track how many you have left whenever you use them. As you sort, ensure that you write down the number of specific bolts and nuts you have. After spending time knowing the number of nuts and bolts that you own, leave a section where you can write down the exact numbers minus the amount left each time you use them.
2. Create labels and organize.
After you sort and count the nuts and bolts, you need to choose whether to put them in a transparent drawer or in a plastic bag. Your choice depends on the number of nuts and bolts you have. If you own many, choosing a plastic drawer can be the best option. After this, write out the name and size of the screws on a sticky note or a piece of paper.
After that, place the items accordingly. If you choose to put the drawer on the floor, the most essential tools should be on the top, and the least used at the bottom. Just ensure that the nuts and bolts are placed in a way that will make it convenient for you to pick out what you need easily.
When you’ve found slots for your tools, ensure that you place the sticky notes with the name of the tool written on them. Ensure that the label stays on the drawer and that it does not get removed. When all the drawers are labeled, you can then place the tools inside the allocated drawers.
3. Use a plastic tray when you need to work outside of the shop.
This might not sound important, but it is essential for those who work a lot. If you are one of those who like to work outside of your shop, then having a plastic tools tray that can carry your essential bolts and nuts is a good idea. There are plastic trays with many compartments. With this, you can create a separate set that is for outside work. This way, you will not mess up your bookkeeping. Choose a plastic tray that is easy to carry and will keep the items organized. This may not be an essential step, but it can surely help if you do outside work.
Conclusion
These are some of the best tips that we can give on how you can keep nuts and bolts in your shop organized. Keep in mind that the best way to organize them is in a system that you can see and access them easily. When you are fully aware of where your nuts, bolts, and other items are, you will be able to get them to your area of work easily. You don’t really have to spend lots of money on organizers. Sometimes, you just have to be creative enough to make use of the available items that you already have. We hope that this guide gave you more ideas on how you can keep small parts or tools in your shop organized and under control.