A job I've disliked doing...

[Wdj]

My method is to toss nuts and bolts in a common bucket. Kinda stir it with a big screw driver until the one I need comes to the top. If I were to sort it out it would degenerate back to that shortly anyway. If its not in the bucket can probably find it in a door pocket in one of the pickups.

 

[Steven Allen]

BTDT; need to do it again. I have collected jars and cans and boxes of hardware. Once upon a time, it was sorted out. No more. maybe this winter. I have a million jars but lack the space to sore them all. *sigh*

 

[WI Dan]

I've never been able to top any of you guy's "better ideas" or solutions to perrinial problems but I do belive I have all uf you bested on this one.
In 2020 an investor made an offer I couldn't refuse for house and acreacge I'd lived on 41 years. The contract stipulated I remove everything from property and possession 30 days from closing. I had to trash what I didn't want, pack what I did want, rent space to store it and rent a place to live until I found,bought and took possession of a place to live. I grabbed what I would need daily to temporarily survive then hired day labor to pack and move everything else to storage. I acquired several half barrels, buckets,tots, boxes and instructed them to clear each area into containers as they go. At 80 years old I can hardly manage to keep my new place up , therefore much stuff is still in containers where I must search to find what I didn't place in them. I've bought several things rather than spend half a day digging in barrels.

That's when the item value plummets -- when your time is more expensive.

 

[jwal10]

I have the bins that fit in a 5 gallon bucket, each layer have about 6 bins. I also bought the padded seat for a lid. I have 2 with nails, 1 finish and 1 regular head and galv of each size. I also have a bucket with deck and construction screws. Works well, I can carry the whole bucket to the project. Some times I think I should do 1 with bolts.

When we moved from the family home, to here full time when I retired, we downsized clothes before we moved. Then only took in what we needed, as we needed it. One year later we went through everything and got rid of anything we hadn't used since we moved in. Did the same with the little shop. I had storage buildings at our little 4 acre farm, that is where we kept the "collection". I had a lot of construction material and old car and truck parts that I have used up. Son and I just built a little dry fishing shack and this next summer, we are building my last project. A tiny house boat, 7'x12' with a 6'x7' deck built light like an RV. Solar with a trolling motor to use on the pond as a fishing platform. Years ago we had a 25' sail boat powered by solar. We hauled that thing all over, San Juan's of Washington, Wallowa Lake over east to the high lakes of central Oregon....James

 

[da.bees]

I have an idea for a new service business. What if a guy built a machine that sorted nuts,bolts,washers and screws like coin sorters at banks? Put it on a trailer and advertise he will be parked one day in various towns just like a mobile document shredder.

 

[paul]

I have an idea for a new service business. What if a guy built a machine that sorted nuts,bolts,washers and screws like coin sorters at banks? Put it on a trailer and advertise he will be parked one day in various towns just like a mobile document shredder.

Does it handle square headed bolts too?

Dad had a bolt bin he got from an auction, wood and made with the side cut out of metal jugs before plastic was the thing.

It’s full of square headed bolts.

What does a person do…..

Paul

 

[Jim Wendt]

We are cementing our machine shed. We/I are trying to move , get rid of, bury or what ever of %0 years of stuff, tools, wood, metal, etc. I feel every ones pain. would be much easier to put it all in the roll off and start over.

 

[Pitalplace]

I find that sorting bolts and nut very therapeutic. I restore a lot of old machinery so I save all bolts, especially square bolts and nuts. 17 miles to a hardware store helps with the discussion.

 

[Steven Allen]

Does it handle square headed bolts too?

Dad had a bolt bin he got from an auction, wood and made with the side cut out of metal jugs before plastic was the thing.

It’s full of square headed bolts.

What does a person do…..

Paul

I'd like to have your problem; my supply is running low.

 

[trackrat]

my father in law saved everything used solenoids air filters bad starters distributer caps switches and yes bent nails

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

I had one too who lived through the great depression. If you went through something like that you would understand why he saved those bent nails. My mother told me the story of needing flour which was 25 cents for a 25 pound bag, and they didn't have the 25 cents. That is something we have never seen luckily for us.

 

[trackrat]

I didn't say i didn't understand why they saved everything my father was born in 1904 my mother in 12 my wife's father in 22 her mother in 27 they all saw times hopefully we will never see God willing

 

[Circlebllc]

I am almost done.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

If you keep them in the Fastenal bag it makes the bucket plan work better than you think. Even in the dividers they usually stay in the bag here

 

[John P.]

If you keep them in the Fastenal bag it makes the bucket plan work better than you think. Even in the dividers they usually stay in the bag here

I did it that way for a long time.

 

[Timmycornpicker]

I've already been where you are now. The worst part of it for me was the tools. When I moved them to new boxes, I had to figure out where everything was all over again. I am a nut about "everything in it's place", but after a move it takes a while to learn which drawer this or that is in. It will take a while, but you will be glad you did it. I certainly am.

I've had my tools in the same places in the same chest for over 20 years and I still open the wrong drawer when I'm looking for something . . . .