organizing spare/extra/special parts

[envious8420]

how do you do it?

i have a butt load of spare parts etc etc...

and no idea of what i have or where it is.

so, how do you keep your things in order?

Edited April 27, 2010 by envious8420

[Casey]

I bought a few clear organizers (12"x8", Darice brand) with the fixed segmented compartments and use those.

I tend to trade or give away anything I don't see myself using in the near future, so I don't keep a lot of parts "in stock". I'd rather have something I want and can use now than hold onto something I think I may have a use for in the future.

[Railfreak78]

For large parts like frames, bodies and such I use the big clear and white bins in these pictures and for small ones I use the smaller greay hardware bin above them. I also use a tackle box for small parts and use a single layer divider like something from a tackle box for just engine parts. I have changed this room a lot since these pics but the concept of being neat has grown with it.

[RodneyBad]

Nuts and Bolts organizers.

Empty model boxes.

Lil Zip lock bags

It's still a mad house tho.

Edited April 27, 2010 by Zukiholic

[crazyjim]

I've been using nut & bolt organizers for years. They have lots of little drawers that can be sub-divided.

My latest storage thing is 2 liter soda pop bottles. Sometimes you can get the plastic tray that holds 8 bottles. I strip off the labels and then cut the bottle down to size I want with a utility knife. If you but the bottles at the tray height, you can stack the trays.

[Junkman]

Altogether I have four boxes like this, one of them is for tyres only, another for rims only, yet another for stuff bigger than 1/25-24. the larger parts, like chassis, bodies, interiors and 'glass' inserts, I simply keep in carton boxes.

[sjordan2]

I have those kinds of organizing boxes and a couple of tackle boxes, etc. My downfall is failing to label things.

[Tom T]

In addition to having different sized bins to store and sort everything, I also spent twenty-odd bucks for a decent labelmaker. It's especally helpful to use one for my temporary bins which hold parts for upcoming projects.

The one I use is a Dymo Letratag which you can find just about anywhere.

http://www.google.co...ved=0CCEQ8gIwAg#

[Tom T]

In addition to having different sized bins to store and sort everything, I also spent twenty-odd bucks for a decent labelmaker. It's especally helpful to use one for my temporary bins which hold parts for upcoming projects.

The one I use is a Dymo Letratag which you can find just about anywhere.

http://www.google.co...ved=0CCEQ8gIwAg#

[curb]

I use those little pill containers. the ones for a day etc. You can get a package for 7 or more days.

I use them for small items like rear view mirrors,shifters, fuel pumps,etc.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

You guys have some great looking hobby rooms and work areas.

Keeping everything neat and orderly is darn near impossible for me as just about everything I do is 1/8th, 1/6th and so on....they eat up a fair amount of real estate, LOL. I have stuff under beds, in closets, and the room I built as a hobby room has on going projects everywhere. The best I can do is allocate a small space for each of them. I even went as far as to start rat holing stuff (wrapped in plastic) out back in the shed.

I had considered using the full size workshop but I have a rolling chassis (my last personal hot rod) in it and all my big power tools, torches etc.

It drives my wife nuts but it suits me. I kinda, sorta know where to look if I need this or that.

[crazyjim]

I thought of another type of storage I use - plastic baby food containers. They even have lids.

[Rick Forrester]

Altogether I have four boxes like this, one of them is for tyres only, another for rims only, yet another for stuff bigger than 1/25-24. the larger parts, like chassis, bodies, interiors and 'glass' inserts, I simply keep in carton boxes.

I THINK THAT THE WAY TO GO. I HAVE BEEN USING THE TYPE OF BOX A COUPLE YEARS NOW.I PUT WHEELS, ENGINE PARTS. CUSTOM BODY PARTS AND SO ON. I THINK I ABOUT 15 OR 20. WHAT I WANT TO IS A PLACE TO BUY IN BULK CASE LOAD. PAPAFO

[Nick Winter]

this is a old picture but the stuff on the shelves is the same, infact I bought 9 more of the small ones and stacked them against the wall in the right corner against the cabinet.

Edited April 27, 2010 by Dukefan69'

[MikeeD]

GUYS, guys, guys.........why waste valuable storage space on old junk parts? Simply put 'em all in a box and send 'em to me! Heck, I'll even pay for shipping.....

End of problem...wasn't that easy?

Now look at all that extra room you have for MORE model kits...

[Terry Sumner]

ALTOIDS metal boxes for little stuff. I use them to put small parts in that I've been working on in a specific kit. Just put the parts in them and throw the Altoids box right in the kit. They also stack up nice and neat and you can write on the sides with a Sharpie.

[Junkman]

GUYS, guys, guys.........why waste valuable storage space on old junk parts? Simply put 'em all in a box and send 'em to me! Heck, I'll even pay for shipping.....

End of problem...wasn't that easy?

Now look at all that extra room you have for MORE model kits...

Yeah but, no but, yeah but...

Each part holds some sentimental value, you know. Apart from the known fact, that despite one doesn't look at them for ages, one would need them shortly after one discarded them.

[MyBradKeselowski]

I have a fishing tackle box that I use for my parts and supplies...

[RodneyBad]

Somebody also uses a Peg board to help organize small parts.

So I did that too

Also craft organizers.

[torinobradley]

I used to use the tall drawer thingies for sorting all the parts till my cat getting in/out of the windowsill taught me the error of my ways. That, and picking up hundreds of little, little parts from a few square yards of carpet... Now, I use the clear-ish flat boxes in a couple different sizes. I have them labeled and keep the bulk of the parts together and have a couple of special ones for special parts. I also have several of the clear dollar store shoe boxes that I put kits I'm working on, bashing projects and things like model A & T bodies. I also have a few of them that are full of complete engines, wheel sets, detailing products like photo-etched and resin. Each placed in the little baggies you can get at the hobby stores. That way, when I complete and part out the kit, I take the complete optional engine and place it all in a baggie and put it in my engine box. One other thing I do that really helps is use some clear snap boxes when I am working on a kit. I place all the small parts that are easily lost and damaged into the snap box, inside the kit box. That way, that little control arm/shifter/wheel/whatever is right where I need it when I'm ready to paint/install it. Far less lost parts that way...

Models scheduled for rebuild get placed in a gallon sized baggie to minimize lost parts and then are placed into one of the large flat tubs for easy access and retrieval. I also just started to put a lot of my modeling tools into the flat compartment containers, the ones with the removalbe dividers. Had to downsize my tool box and those fit the new work area. And, as required, everything is labeled, though with cheap sticky labels from Walmart. The shoe box size get 3X5 index cards.

[Greg Cullinan]

I guess this is a nut and bolt organizer,I picked it up at home depot.I believe it was $20.

I only needed one since I don't have a ton of parts.

I have utilized all my cardboard boxes into a highly organized stackable storage containment device.

I have a box full of wheels broken down into sets in small zip locks.

And I use boxes for my spraypaints and airbrush paints.(need some shelves)

Also have a box full of photo-etch,flocking and miscellaneous new parts.(I think I will go the pegboard route with this)

Edited April 28, 2010 by ponyxpress

[Wheels]

Boy oh boy, The skies the limit when it comes to storing model parts!

I've found that I love containers. Don't ask me why. It just happened that way!

Everything from boxes to plastic storage containers, tool boxes and more.

I even have friends and family member give me containers as gifts!

I'll take some photos tonight to post.

[elan]

I use film containers, pill bottles, and plastic bags. Most of you guys are waaay to organized for me.

[MyBradKeselowski]

Ponyxpress,

I really like all of those Aoshima wheels

[Mark Brown]

I try to keep the stuff I use most at arm's length. Since I've been saving all my model parts for 45 years, there's a lot of stuff to keep organized, but if it's not organized, I spend way too much time finding what I'm after.

If you can make them out on both sides of my work area, I've got tires on 1/4" diameter dowels attached to 1" wide wood strips. Very cheap to make and it does a great job of keeping tires organized.

(by the way, my desktop rarely looks this clean )

Edited April 29, 2010 by Mark Brown