Shop Tricks
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BearKiller
Silver Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2009
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- 230
>> STOCK UP ON ESSENTIALs <<
Whenever you go to the hardware store after a few bolts/nuts/whatever, always buy at least twice as many as your job requires, even if you don't think that you could possibly ever have need of one again.
Keep these extras in an appropriate organized manner, such that they can be found should they ever be needed again.
A few extra pieces are always cheaper than having to make a special trip back to the store to replace the one that got flipped out into the bushes, never to be seen again.
Also, should you need the same thing again, no trip into town will be necessary.
I never leave TSC without at least twenty pounds of miscellaneous bolts/nuts/washers, which I keep stored in jars; I can take care of most projects without leaving the shop.
Whenever you go to the hardware store after a few bolts/nuts/whatever, always buy at least twice as many as your job requires, even if you don't think that you could possibly ever have need of one again.
Keep these extras in an appropriate organized manner, such that they can be found should they ever be needed again.
A few extra pieces are always cheaper than having to make a special trip back to the store to replace the one that got flipped out into the bushes, never to be seen again.
Also, should you need the same thing again, no trip into town will be necessary.
I never leave TSC without at least twenty pounds of miscellaneous bolts/nuts/washers, which I keep stored in jars; I can take care of most projects without leaving the shop.
I've got almost the exact same setup storing my clamps - but i built a small rack under the end of nearly the same table - but that strap idea is killer - no matter how careful i am when i walk past, if i bump em, one or two fall off - don't know why i never thought of a bungee strap
czechsonofagun
Elite Member
>> STOCK UP ON ESSENTIALs <<
Whenever you go to the hardware store after a few bolts/nuts/whatever, always buy at least twice as many as your job requires, even if you don't think that you could possibly ever have need of one again.
Keep these extras in an appropriate organized manner, such that they can be found should they ever be needed again.
A few extra pieces are always cheaper than having to make a special trip back to the store to replace the one that got flipped out into the bushes, never to be seen again.
Also, should you need the same thing again, no trip into town will be necessary.
I never leave TSC without at least twenty pounds of miscellaneous bolts/nuts/washers, which I keep stored in jars; I can take care of most projects without leaving the shop.
Yup. thats the way to do it. When I was stay home dad, I did the same with food. I could cook at least 5 different dinners without leaving for a grocery store. The trick is to keep all the popular ingredients at hand and replanish them when you use them - like Taco seasoning next trip after you made Tacos.
I am afraid that concept is beyond comprehension of The Wife Best Of All
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
You're lucky. My clamps hang from a rafter and when they fall, it's on my head. I'm implementing the bungee idea immediately.
BigE_
Platinum Member
I go one further - whenever I need a nut or bolt, I buy a box of them. You generally get a pretty good price break on a box vs. individual pieces. Then, when I get them home, I put them in one of those storage units with individual drawers.
Instead of labeling the front, I carefully cut the picture and description off the box and use that for my label. Another tip: I split the cardboard to make it thin and easier to attach, and then I use either 3M spray adhesive or contact cement to attach.
I've actually got a pretty nice collection going now, so I rarely have to go to the store for nuts or bolts.
Now, I do draw the line when I only need 1 or 2 big nuts or bolts, and they are in the $1 each range. When the box is $20-$30, I really think hard about whether or not I really need all of those.
For me, it's pretty easy to justify. It's a 30 min round trip to the hardware store, about 12 miles in each direction. I get about 12 mpg, so it's costing me about $6 in just gas. (Actual cost is probably closer to $15 when you consider all factors). So, if I can save a trip for less than $15, I do it.
Final tip: when I buy the screws/bolts in bulk, I'll buy the longest version I think I'll need. It's pretty easy to cut the screw down to the size you need (especially if you have a screw cutter built into your crimping tools), but really hard to grow the screws longer. I'll do this up to the 1/4" or 5/16" size. Beyond that it starts getting cost prohibitive.
-Steve
BearKiller
Silver Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2009
- Messages
- 230
Along the same line of thinking, mixed in with the plain old bolts at TSC, are often fully threaded bolts of the same size/length, threaded all the way to the head.
I have found these as big as 3/8 X 3-inch.
They just dump them in the same bins with the regular ones, so they get all mixed up.
I separate these from the regular bolts for those special occassions.
czechsonofagun
Elite Member
you know those red nozzles on WD40 and such - I keep them all in one place, keeping them on the spray bottle gets them lost too quickly.
And of course, I never throw them away when the spray is empty.
And of course, I never throw them away when the spray is empty.
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Same thing goes for spray nozzles from aerosol cans. I've broken enough spray nozzles on mostly full cans of lube, carb cleaner, etc. that I've learned to keep one or two of each style from empty cans so I can replace broken ones.