How do teams go about organizing their fasteners? We are looking for a better way than our current situation. Currently, they aren’t organized except for thread size so different lengths and head types are mixed together. We are looking for a way that can allow the fasteners to be transported to and from competition as well as being used in our shop.
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We use some of these bad boys (not these exactly, but double sided like this. This one has different clips than ours):
Each container (entire container/side, not just a single slot) has their own size scew/bolt/etc. Each compartment is for the different lengths and head styles. We also keep at least 2 drill bits that go for that size in the container. On our pit, we have shelves that were built to hold these containers specifically, though they do stack neatly. They work very well for us
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We have 2 organizers like these (I forget exact size/# compartment). One has nuts/washer while the other has bolts/screws. To take to competition, we wrap the entire thing with stretch wrap. They are all painted with a spray paint gradient (before affixing labels) from top left to bottom right, which helps when you take a compartment out and want to put it back. We fill up boxes before season, as needed, and before competition. But we buy in larger quantity boxes and keep those in another box for refilling.
edit: Also we do get non-standard stuff, and just keep that in the separate box/bin.
As a follow up, does anyone know a good way of shelving/storing a bunch of these types of containers to keep from having to pull the bottom bin out of a stack of the things when you need it?
I go to Harbor Freight and buy the black plastic tool box drawer trays. We organize buy thread type and length. It’s not perfect, but at least I can grab a #10-32 tray and have some- what organized system. cheap, easy. downside is traveling with them could be a problem.
We have versions of these for taking with us to events, mostly the fasteners we use the most. https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-25-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B00005QWYF
We then have a shelf with shelf bins that has more hardware for each type in sizes that we don’t use as often. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005V5LHEC/
We also have a big bin in the back with large quantities of rivets, wood screws, and other things we need to have in bulk sometimes.
On our pit setup (i dont have a picture right now) we simply have 2x2 wood strips on either side of an opening. They are set up in such a way that the edges of these containers sit on them nicely, while not “stacking”. The containers are thin enough that you can fit 6-8 on a slightly-higher-than-waist-high pit (not sure of the actual height)
McMaster…
Easy-Carry Small-Parts Cabinet
holds 5 of these:
Box with compartments (12 or 18)
Bins by type of bolt (e.g. socket head 8-32, button head 10-32, etc), compartments by length of bolt (0.5", 1", etc).
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Team 2262 swears by these for fasteners. Four total, one for each type of fastener we use (10-32, 8-32 and smaller, metric and 1/4-20). We have other miscellaneous boxes for rivets, wood screws, and other odd sized fasteners, as we don’t use those nearly as much as the big four.
@ProPain37 @Kaitlynmm569 we use these too, they’re awesome I’d have to say just slap some labels in there and the organizer won’t strangle people
We like our classic [1] Stanley SortMasters. They’ve been through a lot!
[1] We use the discontinued 014026R model.
If we going to add to our collection, we’d probably use the Stanley 014725 models and we’d buy them through Allen’s affiliate link! 
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3946 does the same, but with the yellow and black boxes with the removable bins (Portable Parts Storage Cases), some from HF, some from other places. They travel easily.
I bought some of these this year:
Home Depot has them for about $10 each. Each box holds every length of a screw size for socket head and flathead, as well as nuts and washers for each. You may want to keep nuts and washers separately, as washers can migrate unless you add some foam to the underside of the lid (screws weigh quite a bit, bending the lid out slightly). So far, we really like them.
We have 1 for 8-32, 1 for 10-32, and 1 for 1/4"-20, plus an extra for special screws (like threadlocking ones for the ends of axles and 4-40 socket heads).
If I can give a generalization…
- Buy a bunch of boxes with small-ish compartments. 1 per size, maybe 2 per size. RARE sizes might be able to share 1 box marked “Rare”.
1a) Buy a thread gauge. - Sort fasteners by thread into boxes.
2b) If two threads of the same size don’t have more than 1/2 box each, they can share, but you’ll want to have them split side-and-side if possible. - Sort further by head and length.
- Label. Everything
- On buying fasteners, immediately place into compartment in box.
Optional: Store in original packaging until you can get around to sorting.
At my work, we do it with a mix of the Stanleys and a small rolling toolbox that has each size in its own drawer (with a few exceptions–I think it’s the #8’s, #6’s, and another tiny size sharing a drawer).
Also do this for rivets, VersaPlanetary/Sport stages, and other similar items. I can’t recall how many boxes 1197 has of sprockets etc…
We use the small and large Harbor Freight containers as well. They can be really cheap on sale and with the coupon. At work we use the red Stack On containers like 1678/973 use for tooling hardware and inserts and they are much more durable, but don’t have removable bins.
The rack is just made out of plywood but we plan on making a larger aluminum one since we grew out of it in 2 seasons.
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Piling on…
- If you have enough “rare” threads to need multiple boxes, split metric/inch first, and by diameter next.
- Train people not to just toss screws back into any bin (this is actually why I like the removable bins; it makes this a bit easier in most cases because you don’t remove nearly as many parts that you don’t use and have to put back). If you can’t get the training to stick, include a “misc” bin in each tray. Then, repair will usually just entail locating places for things in the misc bin rather than digging through every bin looking for misfits.
My team used something like this. We had i think 6 total. They were very nice to seperate nuts, bolts, electronics and pneumatics.
For personal projects I’ve been using the Harbor Freight small storage organizers. I don’t have a picture of them more full but I’ve been trying to do them by system so that everything you need to assemble or repair is in one box. The big downside it likely results in duplication of parts (if I use a lot of 34T gears maybe the drivetrain runs out but the intake system has spares, may not know that) There’s tradeoffs to that, but the big advantage is that instead of having 5 bins needed for work I can just grab one.
They come in packs of 2 for $10.
and a label-maker
We currently have 8 of them and I’m picking up a few more this weekend. (Last year, we have #8 and #10 screws in the same container. This year, they’re getting separated).
You want to label each compartment (preferably on the inside vertical). You also want to label the outside top, and back.
We use them for:
Hardware
Small electronic bits (connectors, etc…)
Versaplanetary parts
Drill bits**
Timing Belts (fold them up) and Pulleys
Shaft accessories: Hubs, collars, spacers, bearings
Chain tools and pieces
(**Yes, we have a separate box of drill bits ranging from something like 1/16th to 3/4 inch. But, most of them have never been used, and it’s convenient to have a container with the most common sizes.)
We do not use those for rivets. Rivets are kept in the bags they came in.
These things really come in handy when taking apart a robot – we reuse as many parts as we can.
