junkyardjeff Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 Over 30 years ago my grandfather gave me this bin full of bolts which I added many more and it was not organized so last night I started to,it looks like I am going to put all that will not fit in a bucket and deal with those as the need arises. I have a couple more boxes full and might be able to fill a 5 gallon bucket full. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimm63 Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 Doesn't take much to get a project started. Finishing is a whole nother story. I have a Vincent motorcycle project that started with being given a manual. That's all I have so far, but its a Vincent project. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 You must be retired too, rearranging your nut and bolt collection is a popular pastime for for the retirement crowd. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kelso Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 I like the bolt bin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 22 minutes ago, TerryB said: You must be retired too, rearranging your nut and bolt collection is a popular pastime for for the retirement crowd. Yes indeed, it indicates either (1) you've finished your projects or (2) that you know you have an otherwise irreplaceable bolt in the bin that you need NOW..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyardjeff Posted November 28, 2019 Author Share Posted November 28, 2019 I am not retired but tired of not finding what I am looking for that I know I should have and too late to go to the hardware store. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB26 Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 I, too, have a giant bucket of bolts that is the bane of my existence. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 Step one, loose a bolt. Step two, find the bucket and turn it upside down on a broad well ventilated area. Step three, go to the hardware store. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 3 hours ago, TerryB said: You must be retired too, rearranging your nut and bolt collection is a popular pastime for for the retirement crowd. When we had the estate sale for my dad several years ago, there must've been 3 dozen plastic milk jugs full of bolts, screws and nuts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyardjeff Posted November 28, 2019 Author Share Posted November 28, 2019 I would love to have enough bins so they can be organized like in the hardware store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1912Staver Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 6 hours ago, Zimm63 said: Doesn't take much to get a project started. Finishing is a whole nother story. I have a Vincent motorcycle project that started with being given a manual. That's all I have so far, but its a Vincent project. I have a couple of Manx Norton bolts. Easy to tell from run of the mill British MC bolts, factory concave head scallop's. And some cambox castings. In the last 30 years I have not been able to add anything else. And yes, a factory parts book minus cover. These days you can pretty much buy either a Manx or a Shadow brand new. Just bring lots of money. Been gathering up stuff for my 54 Gold Star since 1987. About 85 % there but these days I don't have nearly as much interest in MC's as I had 30+ years ago. The Gold Star started with a rough bare frame. Lot's of swap meet's and a few lucky finds. Greg in Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted November 29, 2019 Share Posted November 29, 2019 17 hours ago, JACK M said: Step one, loose a bolt. Step two, find the bucket and turn it upside down on a broad well ventilated area. Step three, go to the hardware store. Before Step 2, ensure more than ample lighting for our older eyes. My eyes strain just looking at that top photo! Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digger914 Posted November 29, 2019 Share Posted November 29, 2019 My grandfather never tossed anything until he saved every good nut bolt and screw, those buckets went with the farm when it got sold and I started my own bolt collection. My friends, family and neighbors love my bolt buckets which are organized by small, medium, large and metric. Had to buy 4 self locking flange nuts at the hardware store last month and can't even guess at how many dollars my buckets have saved me over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyardjeff Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 Organizing the bolt bin will save me money now,if I needed more then two of the same bolt it was easier to go to the hardware store but now I have found multiples so I hope I will only have to go occasionally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WQ59B Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 I had hardware in the shop, the house garage, & the basement, in dozens & dozens of various containers. It really didn't take too long to sort & organize it once I got this piece, and other than a small collection in the basement, it's all in one spot. Bolts/nuts by size, cotter pins, springs, spacers, plugs, washers (S, M, L, lock), etc etc. Now, I can keep it organized, even if I bring home a new bucket of hardware. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyardjeff Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 I did find that 3/8 allen head bolt in the right length that I was looking for,it would have been way quicker to go to the hardware store but now I will have a some what organized bolt bin and a 5 gallon bucket of bolts I might get to sorting out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m-mman Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Wife died. Lonely nights. Admit to yourself that you always hated digging through the 4-5 buckets of bolts to find the one that would correctly fit the 'bucket of bolts'. . . . Realize that you are now mad enough to do something about it. (because all you have now is time) Buy a group of metal draws like shown above from Craigslist Buy a plastic gauge that can determine the bolt/nut size without guessing Set up 4 other smaller buckets - write a tag on each showing the designated bolt size Dump or dig - Pull out just one bolt/nut. Size it. Then throw it into the correct bin. Dont worry about coarse of fine threads, that will be sorted later Repeat, repeat, repeat. Watch buckets of bolts become smaller and smaller Watch as feelings of loneliness dissipate and feelings of accomplishment increases. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Determine how many little drawers need to be allocated to hold each size. Place into drawers - now sorted by thread count. Two weeks later stop to admire and relish your finished accomplishment. Remind yourself that you still have it and you can begin working again on a real car project. Beam with satisfaction when working on a car and realize that you can find the needed bolt in moments rather than many minutes (if ever) Ask yourself why you didn't sort your hardware years ago. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter S Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 amen to mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 I can take you to garage after garage of dissembled projects - my advise to someone new at this is to not get too carried away at disassemble and get one thing started before tackling the next. it was always a joke here in Cincinnati that one of the most competent Roll-Royce shops in the Country would restore parts as they took the car apart - when they were at the end the whole car was sitting on a shelf restored and then they re-assembled. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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