what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts in?

[grumpyvette]

Every old geezer I've ever worked with has a bucket or two, full of miscellaneous bolts and nuts, and assorted small automotive fastener parts, that he can search thru when he needs to waste 15 minutes before making a run to the local hardware store or the salvage yard looking for the few bolts that he needs, to complete a project.
Bolts that hes misplaced, lost or never had, before he can complete a project.
If you think back over your experiences working on cars youll quickly realize that you spend a good deal of time running to auto parts stores and hardware stores and salvage yards lookingfor new or replacement fasteners so it makes sense to have a large selection on hand in your garage.
IF you don,t have a spare bolt reserve stash..you need to go to a salvage yard and pull a great deal of random bolts and throw them in a handy 5 gallon bucket,or two, so you've got a SPARE BOLT RESERVE
most experienced mechanics have a 5 gallon bucket of assorted bolts and screws to fall back on when they can,t locate a fastener they break or mis-place, youll need to clean used bolts with solvent and a wire brush, but having a bucket of spare fasteners is nearly mandatory, A visit to a local salvage yard with several wrenches and a bucket and a couple hours time, will generally allow you to collect a wide random selection at a very reasonable price , now you may not find exactly every bolt diameter and length and thread size but you will generally find youve accumulated a good basic selection

https://www.boltdepot.com/Thread_detective_-_Metal.aspx

every mechanic should own a decent 12" caliper to measure the length of a bolt,
that may be missing on any particular application.
bolts used on any application, must not bottom out in a blind bolt hole if the bolt bottoms out it fails to clamp firmly
bolts that are not threaded into a blind hole should extend at least two to three times,
its diameter past the far surface too allow a washer and nut to be threaded onto the bolts extended end to supply clamping force.
so the depth of the item being clamped and the threaded area the bolt secures its threads too should generally be at least 1/4" deeper than the length of the bolt used,
and the threads should extend at least 2-3 times the bolt diameter into the threaded area,
before the bolts clamping force is applied to clamp the item being secured.
obviously you can get a rough measurement with the base of the caliper.
and when in doubt select a GRADE #8 fastener,
as they are significantly stronger than average garden variety hardware store bolts.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200308979_200308979?utm_source=CSE&utm_medium=Shopzilla&utm_campaign=Construction > Measuring Tools > Calipers&utm_content=56248

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bolts-a-bit-of-useful-info.4868/#post-13372

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/parts-coming-loose.11008/#post-48646

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Vernier-Caliper

https://www.boltdepot.com/Thread_detective_-_Metal.aspx

http://www.kimballmidwest.com/Catalog/M ... vellon.pdf

http://www.fastenal.com/content/feds/pd ... alling.pdf

http://www.agriculture.com/machinery/to ... 2192?print

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-and-assorted-spare-parts-in.3557/#post-20834

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/universal/ut121.htm

http://www.unified-eng.com/scitech/bolt/boltmarks.html

http://www.ssina.com/fasteners/

http://www.kimballmidwest.com/catalog/M ... vellon.pdf

http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-infor ... chart.aspx

http://www.zerofast.com/markings.htm

http://www.nutsandbolts.com/v1-bolt-grade-markings.html

http://www.mechanicsupport.com/AN_bolts.html


READ THRU THESE LINKS

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...nd-some-common-repair-screws-for-tools.13093/

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=4868&p=13372&hilit=bolts+grade#p13372

viewtopic.php?f=51&t=2919

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=4868&p=13373&hilit=fasteners#p13373

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=4629&p=12413&hilit=fasteners#p12413



http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/fastener-storage-idea.3898/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bolts-a-bit-of-useful-info.4868/#post-13372

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...s-and-assorted-spare-parts-in.3557/#post-9448

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...en-bolt-and-screw-plug-removal.729/#post-1026

buy a few parts while your there at the salvage yard,and the salvage yard guys seldom charge you much for the dozens of extra bolts, you throw into the tool bag or bucket you'll need when retrieving your used parts

do this every time you visit the salvage yard until youve got at least 3/4 of a 5 gallon buckets worth of extra bolts

now when you get a bit older and smarter you learn to take a bucket to the salvage yard and fill it at least 3" deep several times a year with random fasteners,clips,nuts,washers and springs, etc. you then buy a few larger parts you need and throw those in the bucket and in most cases the salvage yard guy at the check-out looks over your haul and doesn,t charge you much more than they would have for the components alone
obviously you can get a set of storage bins if you want to take the time to clean,separate and store bolts correctly.

http://www.amazon.com/drawer-Metal-stor ... B000Z5988U

http://www.amazon.com/Drawer-Storage-Un ... d_sim_hi_4


or you can be like 90% of us old geezers and just keep a spare bolt bucket or two under the work bench, which you pour out on a large plastic mat while you search for replacement fasteners and then throw them all back in the bucket when your done, just make sure that every spare bolt you get gets thrown into the reserve bolt buckets

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[grumpyvette]

Re: what do you store spare bolts in?

just for grins I kept track of how many times I went to the local hardware store and dumped out the bolt bucket looking for bolts on various car related projects, the bolt bucket got used almost hourly , but as a general rule any time I dis-assemble an old engine or make a trip to the local hard ware store I purchase extra bolts and washers and nuts that get pitched in the bucket for future use to prevent the need for frequent return trips to the hardware store, over time that habit of throwing a few extra bolts you purchase would at least in theory provide an easily accessed and ever expanding resource for fasteners, and it probably does but I still find I need to make those quick runs to the local hardware store or salvage yards every few days at a MINIMUM and Ive got two full 5 gallon buckets of assorted fasteners under the bench.
keep in mind the vast majority of bolts you'll see in hardware store bins are rather low quality grade 3 or grade 5 , and
while they work in many applications you'll seldom regret use of the higher quality grade #8 or in some locations, and stainless steel bolts,in others,
yes they may cost more up front but you'll quickly see the wisdom in paying a bit more when you need to replace parts that have rusted together or had parts come loose unexpectedly,if you don,t use thread locker or safety wire etc. and don,t forget that you'll want to use anti-corrosion anti-seize or thread locker paste on bolt threads as it will be a big advantage , to prevent parts coming loose or threads rusting and locking the bolts preventing removal when parts need replacement moths or years later.
theres zero doubt that Id spend far more effectively wasted time making parts runs for fasteners if I didn,t have the buckets as a buffer and resource but I think IM going to need to start a third bucket and start a fourth bucket with just the silly stuff that normally seems to find its way into those two current buckets like old stamped rockers, rocker studs and odd brackets that you know youll seldom use but are reluctant to pitch in the dumpster because from experience you know every time youve done that in the past you find you need to BUY a replacement for that pitched part within 90 days.
example I threw out a perfectly good rocker arm assembly for a RB dodge, V8 , that had been sitting in the bottom of one bucket in a sealed zip lock bag for several years,in a months time later I needed one as a replacement to get a freinds dart back on the street!
READ RELATED LINKS
yeah you can skip reading the links and sub links,
but you'll regret it later if you do!!

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http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/parts-coming-loose.11008/#post-48646

 

[Indycars]

Re: what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts i

I hate having to look thru a pile of bolts or running to the store. It's inevitable that I have to do
those things sometimes, but I try to keep it to a minimum.

For storage I built these shelves for hanging storage bins. You can get all the details on building
them including a materials list in this thread.

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3898&p=10322#p10322

 

[DorianL]

Re: what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts i

I'm an old geezer...

 

[mathd]

Re: what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts i

I also have a bucket full of bolt and nut(its getting empty after years) and i ALSO bought plenty of brand new grade 8 bolt and nut for the most common size But sometime i still need to go at the parts store to have exactly what i want :/

Wish i has as many nuts and bolts as Indycars do

 

[Indycars]

Re: what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts i

Wish i has as many nuts and bolts as Indycars do

If you don't need something specify and just want to stock your inventory, then ASMC is much more affordable at about 1/3 the cost of other fastener supplies. He buys from companies that are closing, so it's new, but just 2nd hand.

Shipping is reasonable too, he ships in flat rate mailers. He got my order in a medium size mailer for $12.

http://www.asmc.net/

Here is his latest inventory in an Excel spreadsheet. Just add your quantity in the right column and email it to him.

 

[mathd]

Re: what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts i

Nice, thanks you very much!, exactly whats i was looking for

 

[Indycars]

Re: what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts i


In the future to get the latest Excel file, just follow the pictures below.

 

[mathd]

Re: what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts i

Oh nice, your awesome

 

[Indycars]

Re: what do you store spare bolts and assorted spare parts i

Glad I could help!