This has probably been asked a million times but I need help. I’ve been spending hours looking online and in craft stores for some new parts organizers and I am coming up empty handed. My parts supply has been increasing and I need more storage. I can’t seem to find the older sewing type which is what I use now. I’ve gone to Home Depot etc. but nothing is deep enough. Help?![?]
What kind of parts organizers are you looking for? Small parts from models, Tools and so on…
I use this for small parts I had left over from models. I think I got it Home Depot, but I bet you can find something like this in a Auto Store. Try Wal-Mart. Try ebay too.
Bud
How deep are you looking for?.. All of the boxes I’m currently using are from Lowes (storage section) and Walmart (fishing section).
Other suggestions include pencil boxes (i.e. for kids crayons and markers) or the plastic 14" toolboxes that are available for ~$3 at both Walmart and Lowes.
You also may want to take a look at these sites…
http://www.planomolding.com/content/index.cfm
http://www.flambeau.com/
I have one like Bud’s. Mine came from Lowe’s and is blue. The sad truth is that most of the things that are supposed to be neatly tucked away in it are littered all about my work space.
All of the above, plus:
Cheap (off brands from places like K-mart, etc.) refrigerator/freezer storage containers. The square ones work best. The come in sizes from tiny to gallon. Transparent, stackable, and durable.
Rubbermaid or similar shoeboxes. Stackable, semi-transparent.
If you have a kid in diapers, save the wet wipe containers. Stackable, good lids, usually not transparent.
Scrounge! I never throw out a container of any sort that looks even vaguely useful. I’ve got three cardboard boxes of various containers in the attic.
Thanks Dubau! Thats exactly what I’m looking for! The K-marts and Wal-marts round here dont carry anything like that. The flambeau organizer is perfect!
I know K-Marts and Wal-Marts have to carry something like that. Hmmm try on-line.
Good Luck
Bud
Inexpensive clear plastic fishing tackle boxes are terrific for parts storage! I use two of them: One is used for storing finished subassemblies prior to installation on the model; the other has scrap styrene, spare parts, scrap wood, photoetched parts and the like. Any sporting goods or outdoor store should have them; I got one of mine at Big 5 Sporting Goods (the other was my father’s before he died). For tiny subassemblies, you can use one of those seven-day pill containers.
I used to use one of those storage cabinets with all the little drawers for the spare parts, scrap styrene, etc. It was great, but when I got the itch to start bringing my model on the road, that’s when I got the tackle box from Big 5. (It’s easier to bring that instead of the storage cabinet.) When I take a trip, the kit box, both tackle boxes, a small Ott-Lite, research photos, my modeling diary and the model itself (securely wrapped) all fit into a large ice chest Mother gave me. A separate complete set of tools (from my home set) remains in a large, fancy fishing tackle box, ready to put in the car (or use outside when the weather’s good) at a moment’s notice.
For tool storage, the large, fancy fishing tackle box I just mentioned is fantastic! It’s called a Flambeau Outdoors Model 2059 Hip Roof Box. It has no fewer than seven unfolding trays. (I put a small divided tray in the bottom of mine to essentially give the box an eighth tray.) I got mine for less than 20 dollars at Sportsman’s Paradise, a large outdoors store in north Phoenix, near the interchange of I-17 and the Loop 101 Freeway.