A Cheap and Simple Way to Organize Parts

I used to keep small parts and accessories in screw-cap jars and leftover tins from Band-Aids and Altoids. The problem was, they were all different sizes and there were too many of them to keep track of, even when labeled. It annoyed me to no end and yet I never bothered to do anything about it – that is, until I was in the tool department of a big box store and saw some clear plastic tackle boxes. The ones I bought were from Plano but plenty of other companies make them too. At about $3 apiece they were cheap enough that I bought some without being sure what would go in them. When I got home I consolidated drill and impact driver bits in one and Torx and security bits in another (photos below). I need to go back and get more of these boxes.

At the bottom of the page is a video by David West, who shows how he used tackle boxes to organize his Tapcon supplies.

Archived Comments

I like it. What do you suggest for nails and scews

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I've been doing this for years, but have always been frustrated by the lack of durability. If you try to carry them from jobsite to jobsite, the heavy steel parts will crack those Plano boxes pretty quickly. You say 'plenty of other companies' make them, too, but I have trouble finding anything but Plano, and if I do, it's really cheap crap. Let us know when you source some boxes like these that can handle jobsite abuse.

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The problem I have w/ most of the plastic boxes of this type (I'm talking more of the 12X16 size) is that they don't deal well with the weight of a load of fasteners- you have to replace them every 2 or 3 years.

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I use a parts storage case from Harbor Freight. Item #93928 for screws and nails. It is a briefcase size case that has removable boxes that make it configurable.