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Discussion Forum

Small parts cases

JJV | Posted in Tools for Home Building on May 30, 2006 06:14am

What does anyone use to hold small things like jigsaw blades, drill bits, or the odd small box of infrequently-used nails?  Lowe’s sells a line of screws and fasteners and they come in small plastic boxes, about 4x2x1 or something like that.  I don’t need the screws but I want like 20 of the boxes and can’f find them anywhere. 

Thanks.

Maybe someday I’ll know a little something.
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Replies

  1. User avater
    bobl | May 30, 2006 07:10pm | #1

    don't know how much vibration/movement they will receive.

    bought some plastic boxes at Big Lots, about 10"x14" with movable dividers.

    fine for just storing things, but not sure I would want to have them in a truck for parts, don't know what vibration will do

    then there aree the tins dome breath candy comes in

     

    bobl          Volo, non valeo

    Baloney detecter

  2. User avater
    zak | May 30, 2006 07:19pm | #2

    My fastener boxes are bigger than that, say 6"x8"x1.5".  I like the ones with moveable dividers.  They've got some in the tool box section of lowes/HD, and some fishing tackle boxes are nice too.  A nice thing about fishing tackle boxes is you can get huge ones, to carry all your router bits or something.

    My most often used one came with a variety set of spax screws, it's got one long compartment for drivers and such, and small compartments for screws.

    zak

    "so it goes"

  3. User avater
    Rugby | May 30, 2006 09:39pm | #3

    Bought this case at Ace Hardware but they no longer carry them.   Labeled akro/logic Multi case 17.

    You can get them (or one similar) through American Van last time I checked.  I think they are about $20 give or take.

    Not sure if this is what you're looking for but here's a couple pics.

    But it is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. - Herman Melville
    1. JJV | May 30, 2006 10:21pm | #4

      A little bigger than what I had in mind, but if I had as many driver bits as you do I would be looking for the exact same thing.  Thanks for the pix.Maybe someday I'll know a little something.

    2. User avater
      intrepidcat | May 31, 2006 12:49am | #7

      Just get a good tackle box.

       

      Bass Pro Shops.

       

       Live the Good Life in the Permian Basin. 

       

    3. User avater
      Luka | May 31, 2006 01:02am | #9

      Forgive me father, for I have sinned.I have covetted Rugby's complete bit kit.

      The destination is not the point. The completion is not the point. Enjoy today. If you can't enjoy today, then what is the point ?

    4. reinvent | May 31, 2006 07:16am | #11

      Just an off the cuff guess but I'd say you got close to $500 worth of bits in there.

  4. xosder11 | May 30, 2006 10:43pm | #5

    look into cases for art supplies. They usually are compartmentalized and ment to hold things like pencils and things similar in size to drill bits and jigsaw blades

    1. DanH | May 30, 2006 10:47pm | #6

      Yeah, hadn't thought of art supply stores. (Not that it matters, the only one in town went bust a coupla years ago.) But check the local sporting goods places for tackle boxes. Generally they'll have just about everything imaginable, except for what you want.

      If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison

      1. User avater
        Luka | May 31, 2006 12:59am | #8

        You beat me to it with the fishing tackle boxes. Pretty much any kind of container he'd want would be found either in tackle boxes, or arts or crafts stores.The cheapest are going to be the tackle boxes or craft stores. The actual arts stores charge a premium.I was an art major in college and just used tackle boxes instead of those major expensive things in art stores. Amazing how quickly you can fill a tackle box with charcoal, pencils, ink, 600 different types of erasers, conte sticks, etc. You gotta get one all by itself for pastel if yer gonna do pastels. Same goes for oil paint, and same for acrylics. Then there's brushes of a zillion different types...Oh yeah, the art world is as full of toys, I mean tools as the construction world is.=0)

        The destination is not the point. The completion is not the point. Enjoy today. If you can't enjoy today, then what is the point ?

  5. toolbear | May 31, 2006 05:45am | #10

    STORING PARTS...

    For bits and such - I use the zippered fabric bags made by CLC and Husky.  I like the Husky ones a lot.  They have a divider and a place for your business card on the outside.

    I have a Husky bag with spade bits, another with socket drives and wrenches and a small CLC bag in the impact driver box and the jig saw box for bits, blades and such.  Another CLC bag is screwed to the plastic shroud of my compressor to hold the air chuck, the blow nozzle and other accessories.

    For parts -  I am moving toward the 46 compartment Stanley XL Organizer.  Now own three.  Six drawers and two fold down parts trays with lids.  They are set up for EMT, PVC Pipe and Conduit, and Screws and Nails.

    These are for the active parts I use in my work.  For stuff in the shop - Costco peanut jars, Planter's peanut jars (these are a square format and great for organizing parts and racking up together). 

    I am looking for a small plastic parts box that will fit into my5g electrical bucket.  It would be for those screws and little bits.  I have outgrown my old plastic screw box.

    The ToolBear

    "Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.

    1. User avater
      Luka | May 31, 2006 07:42am | #13

      I'm glad I'm not the only one who buys those big jars of peanuts and such, just because I know the jar is going to give more value than the contents.Small enough price to pay for that many peanuts or cashews or whatnot. The jar then becomes invaluable sometimes...=0)Hey, have you tasted those toasted coconut covered cashew thingys yet ? Just three will have you addicted for life...
      The destination is not the point. The completion is not the point. Enjoy today. If you can't enjoy today, then what is the point ?

      1. toolbear | Jun 01, 2006 04:52am | #16

        @@   Hey, have you tasted those toasted coconut covered cashew thingys yet ? Just three will have you addicted for life...

        I have avoided that temptation.  I only eat healthful things - like chocolate coated peanuts. <g>The ToolBear

        "Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.

      2. BryanSayer | Jun 06, 2006 08:48pm | #27

        If anyone wants a bunch of the Altoids round containers, send me your address and I'll send you a bunch. They are tin so not see through. If you can tape a label or sample on them might still be useful.I suffer from dry mouth, so I go through quite a bit of the sour apple and lemon ones.

    2. User avater
      BillHartmann | May 31, 2006 08:42am | #14

      Here are a bunch of organizers that including some bigger ones.http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=ZAG+ORG+OTHER&PAGENUMBER=2&VIEW=ThumbView

    3. JulianTracy | Jun 01, 2006 07:14am | #17

      The Stanley case referenced above (if I have the correct one in mind) is the only "bin" case that will not allow small parts (washers, finish nails, etc.) to slip into other bins. It has a great design to the lid that keeps the lid recessed into the bin top.Here is the one I have - about $20 at Home Depot - there is no tackle box that can do what this does.http://www.stanleytools.com/catalog_images/mid_res/14166_mid_res.jpgKick butt - finally able to keep a ton of small parts without mixing em all up it it takes a tumble or tips over...JT

      Edited 6/1/2006 12:16 am ET by JulianTracy

      1. toolbear | Jun 03, 2006 05:28am | #18

        Curious, my Stanleys are similar, but the drawers in the center tower are not the same as the pix.  Can't find my version on their site.  HD has them.  Revised version?

        Same idea.  Works well.  Can pack a lots of parts and bits.  The ToolBear

        "Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.

  6. User avater
    PeterJ | May 31, 2006 07:24am | #12

    I've tried the multi-compartment boxes, but they don't work for everything. I bought a bunch of these jars and have several inside a toolbox with various hardware, small one in driver drill case for bits. Another houses bits and pieces of EZ Smart. Polyethelene and polypropelene are pretty tough and resilient. Polystyrene is clear but more brittle.

    View Image

    These guys have all sorts of goodies

    http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=3&product%5Fid=14512

     

    PJ

    Everything will be okay in the end.  If it's not okay, it's not the end. 

  7. chile_head | May 31, 2006 10:15am | #15

    Try a tackle box.

  8. Ryan1 | Jun 06, 2006 06:59pm | #19

    I use cases made by DeWalt for things like jigsaw blades, drill and driver bits, odd fasteners, etc.    They have adjustable dividers and when the case is opened each side of the case has a sort of clear plastic lid that lays flush to the tops of the dividers to keep things seperate. 

    They are around $5 in the tool sections of home depot and lowes.   They look kind of like this case but they are sold empty and they really are the cats pajamas for storing small items.   If you find them go ahead and buy about 4 of them, you'll love em.

    Anybody else use these?

    View Image

    1. User avater
      BillHartmann | Jun 06, 2006 07:16pm | #20

      I have one use with screw driver bits, adapters, and switchable drill/countersink & driver.Would not mind seeing some much larger ones.Like the larger stanley "sealed lid" units, but with the removable dividers like the Dewalt.

      1. Ryan1 | Jun 06, 2006 07:29pm | #21

        Ditto on a larger one.     I would be sold on it.      Another plus for me is that they fit very nicely into the un-pocketed side of the largest Veto Pro Pac.

        1. User avater
          skip555 | Jun 06, 2006 07:39pm | #22

          I have two of these I carry http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E3C3L2/qid=1149611816/sr=1-11/ref=sr_1_11/103-1141804-8089430?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&v=glance&n=3375251

    2. JJV | Jun 06, 2006 07:51pm | #23

      I've never seen these empty but I will now be on the look.  That's kind of what I had in mind.  Thanks!!Maybe someday I'll know a little something.

      1. Ryan1 | Jun 06, 2006 08:13pm | #24

        Check out this link.    This is the case that I'm talking about, but I didn't have to buy recip blades to get the case.   I just got the cases for $5 a pop.     But you may be able to use the blades.   

        Its funny to read the reviews at the bottom of the page though.   Everybody is fine with the blades but they all go on and on about how they love the case. 

        http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009YUMF/qid=1149613565/sr=8-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5068649-8732938?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013

         

         

      2. User avater
        BillHartmann | Jun 06, 2006 08:14pm | #25

        The empty Dewalts are similar, but two sided. The last time I looked, about a year ago, the Lowels did not have them, but HD did.Nor could I find them on Dewalts website at the time.But google came through.http://www.tools-plus.com/d-adw2190.htmlhttp://contractorservices.homedepot.com/StoreProducts/ProductInfo.aspx?cid=852419&pid=5b2ca9b4-e361-41e5-94f4-4a3cec070a42

        1. JJV | Jun 06, 2006 08:40pm | #26

          Thanks much to you and Ryan.  I searched the local HD though that link and they have them there for $6. Maybe someday I'll know a little something.

  9. User avater
    Fonzie | Jun 11, 2006 03:57pm | #28

    JJV,

    The one I "take along for the ride" (in the bucket with the saws) is a stiff sided fabric about 3 inches wide and about 18 inches long with a zipper down one side and around the end. It works great.

    The recent cases I like are clear plastic tackle boxes (don't have a link or pic at this time), but I really like the secure latches. There is a long plastic clip that rotates and snaps up to secure each edge (except for the hinge side). They are marketed as waterproof and not expensive. I have them in two sizes.

    One thing I've done that is really working good is set one up for all sizes of 16 gage air nails & 1/4 crown staples. Another smaller one has all sizes of 18 gage air brads.

    I take white rubber roof scraps and fold it in a "U" shaped holder, staple both ends and write the size on it so you can read it from the air. The rubber roof provides a cushion so they don't get broke up.

    I could post a pic in a couple of days if any of you guys are interested.

    Fz

    1. JJV | Jun 12, 2006 04:01pm | #29

      Yeah, please do when you get a chance-I like seeing this stuff.  Thanks.Maybe someday I'll know a little something.

  10. Norman | Jun 12, 2006 05:06pm | #30

    Check out 'The Container Store'. Lots and lots of stuff.

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