Curious about small parts storage

[Scrappile]

I have all kinds of little jars and boxes with little things in them. But never any thing I need at any one time.  I always end up at a store to pick up what I really need that i really thought I had some of but I guess I really didn't have any or I just really couldn't find it.  It really get frustrating. 

[OCtoolguy]

13 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

As I said Ray you do not build anything any more. Nails are still used and I am currently redoing my home and use all size nails all the time. I built my shed hammering in nails one at a time. Frame work, roofing, jigs, Replaced cedar siding on the side of my house, one nail at a time. I n a couple weeks I have to replace a window sill and outside trim. Will nail one nail at a time. 

I think you are very special. I'm 76 years old. I live in a retirement mobile home community. I have nothing to build nor do I have any desire to build anything requiring nails. But if I did, I'd invest in a framing nail gun. I'm happy for you though.

Edited May 6, 2019 by octoolguy

[Farmerdon]

On 5/4/2019 at 3:45 PM, teachnlearn said:

Isn't it nice when you get old everyone ends up on pills so everyone can save their lives in pill bottles?

Ain't that the truth !

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

26 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

I think you are very special. I'm 76 years old. I live in a retirement mobile home community. I have nothing to build nor do I have any desire to build anything requiring nails. But if I did, I'd invest in a framing nail gun. I'm happy for you though.

Buy a framing gun to hammer a few nails is not where I want to spend my money. I have nail guns for smaller nails for finishing work. Not that old yet so I still build things. 

[teachnlearn]

15 hours ago, woodduck said:

I bought myself some glass bottles  & screwed the lids underneath a shelf. This is only part of my parts organisation, the rest i have in various drawers, cabinets etc .

Takes me back to shop with rows of glass baby food jars. RJF

[teachnlearn]

My grandfather from my mother's side immigrated from Hungry at the age of 6. He spent his life as a Union framing carpenter. He would show us as kids the 'proper' way to hammer a nail. One strike, set it, then the second strike drives it all the way in. Can't do it to this day. The man was a hard worker and a hard drinker. He would knock down a shot of whiskey while working and keep going. He moved in with my uncle and continued to garden and work around the house in the Chicago area. My uncle's driveway was 75, 100 feet and at 80 the man was out there shoveling. My mom sent us out to help. Halfway down the driveway all of us kids were doubled over and puffing like we had raced a marathon. At the age of 80 that man shoveled nonstop right on past us. I wonder if anyone nails like that now that nail guns are the standard. RJF

[OCtoolguy]

5 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

Buy a framing gun to hammer a few nails is not where I want to spend my money. I have nail guns for smaller nails for finishing work. Not that old yet so I still build things. 

I too have nail guns. That was not really my point though. I think once you get to where I am, you will possibly think the same way I do. The last "carpentry" I did was to build the shelving up high in my shop. I used Simpson joist hangers and screws. No nails. I hate nails. If I make a mistake, I can "unscrew" what I did and do it over. I did have a feeling that you were younger than me. As most of you folks are. There are only a few folks here that are in my age group. So, please excuse me for being "crotchety".

 

[Rockytime]

Ray, there is never a reason to be crotchety. Therefore you are not excused. So there! 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Ray we are all different. I live in a home so there is always work to do. I love building things and untill I can not do that then I may be like you. Weather you use screws or nails the main thing is to make it work.  I like nails and screws and glue and biscuit joinery, dowels for joining as well and the list goes on. 

Edited May 7, 2019 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

Ray we are all different. I live in a home so there is always work to do. I love building things and untill I can not do that then I may be like you. Weather you use screws or nails the main thing is to make it work.  I like nails and screws and glue and biscuit joinery, dowels for joining as well and the list goes on. 

I like all that stuff too. I just don't need nails. You want them? I've got a bunch.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

1 hour ago, octoolguy said:

I like all that stuff too. I just don't need nails. You want them? I've got a bunch.

Have a yard sale.

[teachnlearn]

3 hours ago, octoolguy said:

I like all that stuff too. I just don't need nails. You want them? I've got a bunch.

Mail your nails and any extra boxtops to;

NAILS

PO. Box 6 Penny

Battlecreek, Michigan 123456

RJF

[stoney]

On 5/5/2019 at 1:39 PM, octoolguy said:

Does anybody still use nails. I have boxes of different size/type nails that I have acquired over the ladt 10 years. None that I have purchased. I honestly can't recall using a nail in a very long time. Other than a nail gun nail that is. I think what I have is headed for the dumpster. I know I have way too many odds and ends. I guess I need to dump what I have and start over. 

Ray I still have a half box of roofing nails that were left over for a house I built in 1976.   I also have some copper and pvc plumbing fittings left over from that same house.   The sad thing is even though I haven't used hardly any of this stuff I have moved it three times. LOL   

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, stoney said:

Ray I still have a half box of roofing nails that were left over for a house I built in 1976.   I also have some copper and pvc plumbing fittings left over from that same house.   The sad thing is even though I haven't used hardly any of this stuff I have moved it three times. LOL   

I was lucky in that when we sold out to go full time RVing, we literally sold everything or tossed what didn't sell. What I have now has been accumulated since coming off the road 9 years ago. I haven't bought any nails. When they move an old home out, I get the chance to grab what is left behind. Unfortunately, I have the "packrat" gene and can't stand to see anything go in the trash if it might be useful in the future. Especially if it is wood. But I think it is time to put a lot of it in the dumpster. What brought this subject up was that my oldest son came across 6 plastic parts cabs that all had bits and pieces. None of the cabs matched. I honestly don't think they ever made two alike. Except for H/F. So now I have those 6 cabs to contend with along with the 3 that I already had. Maybe it's time to sell out again and go out on the road. Best 3 years of our 50 years together.

Edited May 7, 2019 by octoolguy

[bazzz]

I have the "packrat" gene also so I keep everything. There is plumbing, electrical, and painting stuff in plastic containers on shelving units. I found a drawer unit in the trash and use cut off plastic oil quart containers to store fasteners in. Bought a 50 lb box of deck nails when I built a deck at one house and still have a third of them left. I remember my dad bringing home a telephone board loaded with brass nuts and washers that I disassembled at at young age. They were saved in baby food jars and he probably still has them. He celebrated his 90th birthday two weeks ago. Everybody has their system that works for them. Here are some pictures of my system. The Stanley drawers are left over from my RC racing days. They get very heavy when loaded with screws, nuts, and washers so I use them for light weight stuff. The tip out units work well for nails for the nail gun and makes it easy to pick what is needed.

[OCtoolguy]

33 minutes ago, bazzz said:

I have the "packrat" gene also so I keep everything. There is plumbing, electrical, and painting stuff in plastic containers on shelving units. I found a drawer unit in the trash and use cut off plastic oil quart containers to store fasteners in. Bought a 50 lb box of deck nails when I built a deck at one house and still have a third of them left. I remember my dad bringing home a telephone board loaded with brass nuts and washers that I disassembled at at young age. They were saved in baby food jars and he probably still has them. He celebrated his 90th birthday two weeks ago. Everybody has their system that works for them. Here are some pictures of my system. The Stanley drawers are left over from my RC racing days. They get very heavy when loaded with screws, nuts, and washers so I use them for light weight stuff. The tip out units work well for nails for the nail gun and makes it easy to pick what is needed.

I like the uniformity. You were lucky enough to find/buy 3 drawer units all alike. Looks great. I tried to find baby food jars. I went so far as to put an ad on C/L asking for them. I didn't get one response except to be asked what I was going to do with them. Don't people feed babies anymore?

[teachnlearn]

8 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

I like the uniformity. You were lucky enough to find/buy 3 drawer units all alike. Looks great. I tried to find baby food jars. I went so far as to put an ad on C/L asking for them. I didn't get one response except to be asked what I was going to do with them. Don't people feed babies anymore?

They went to plastic containers with a foil pull lid like the snack packs. The glass jars are gone. RJF

[tomsteve]

 When should you draw the line?

there is no line. one can never have too much stuff. there is a law that once stuff is removed from the shop it WILL be needed within 7 days.

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, tomsteve said:

 When should you draw the line?

there is no line. one can never have too much stuff. there is a law that once stuff is removed from the shop it WILL be needed within 7 days.

That is the absolute truth. It has happened too many times for me to ever doubt the power of Murphy's law.

[barb.j.enders]

On 5/7/2019 at 9:35 PM, octoolguy said:

I like the uniformity. You were lucky enough to find/buy 3 drawer units all alike. Looks great. I tried to find baby food jars. I went so far as to put an ad on C/L asking for them. I didn't get one response except to be asked what I was going to do with them. Don't people feed babies anymore?

Yes they feed babies, but the trend is to feed them actual food!!! My grandson eats what ever we cook.  No "baby" food.

[Brokentone]

Ray I am like you in that I hate to send stuff to the dump, this has saved a lot of 20 mile trips to Lowes. I have been fulltime RVing in my driveway in our 26' travel trailer since hurricane Florene while rebuilding our townhouse. The upper shelves and bins in garage stayed dry, Dewalt scroll saw was on a table that was upended when my air compressor floated under it. I with help from a few church friends have done everything but the sheetrock which is all 5/8ths. The guy I was able to hire gave me a sob story so I did not fire him. Big mistake. There is so much devastation here in New Bern that contractors are booked well over a year. I will soon be looking for a new SS soon as I am almost finished with the repairs. Have already replaced a lot of tools out of necessity.

[Rockytime]

My heart goes out to anyone who has suffered the devastation of their home. I hope things come together for you soon.

[OCtoolguy]

5 hours ago, Brokentone said:

Ray I am like you in that I hate to send stuff to the dump, this has saved a lot of 20 mile trips to Lowes. I have been fulltime RVing in my driveway in our 26' travel trailer since hurricane Florene while rebuilding our townhouse. The upper shelves and bins in garage stayed dry, Dewalt scroll saw was on a table that was upended when my air compressor floated under it. I with help from a few church friends have done everything but the sheetrock which is all 5/8ths. The guy I was able to hire gave me a sob story so I did not fire him. Big mistake. There is so much devastation here in New Bern that contractors are booked well over a year. I will soon be looking for a new SS soon as I am almost finished with the repairs. Have already replaced a lot of tools out of necessity.

I can't imagine going through what you are. My heart goes out to you and your family. If we were in closer proximity, I'd be happy to help. But then, I might be in the same mess. I hope it all works out well for you.

I had never heard of New Bern before so I did a look up of it and came across these pictures. You are lucky to have survived that devastation. So sad!

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/09/photos-the-aftermath-of-hurricane-florence/570397/

 

Edited May 11, 2019 by octoolguy

[crupiea]

I have lots of potential storage for small parts but I only use the one I have always had,. Just a walmart plastic thing with two sides and a lot of little spaces for screws and what not.  I use it for everything with other perfectly good storage solutions sitting right next to it empty. 

Just use what works for you. 

[cooldavion]

A couple of small drawer cabinets labeled with the turn and squeeze label makers