In another thread I mentioned the bin boxes that I use to hold my collection of metric left-over TV mount bolts, spacers, etc and it occurred to me to ask what you guys use for bin boxes.

What I'm now using are the middle size ones at $17.99, to be found at [Link: containerstore.com] and who knows where else. The Container Store cleverly does not mention the manufacturer, but embossed on the box is "TERRY STORE-AGE SPA" from Milan, Italy, and "Pro Organizer 16." (And I haven't googled any of that to see if I can get a better price on them.)

I use another of the same bin box to carry about twenty Togglers at a time, with washers, fender washers, nuts, and nylocks. Another bin box has crimps and other connectors.

You get the idea.

They stack nicely and I've found a way to stack them at about 45 degrees so I don't have to move a whole stack to get the bottom one.

What are you guys using? I'm not asking about Festool -- that's a great idea but I'm not ready to buy into it.

Thanks!

The one thing I can tell you about using those type - that use the slide in dividers - they are frustrating. Eventually they warp and cause problems. They also don't do well when you have a lot of heavy items in a bin next to a mostly empty one. They again, give into weight and warp.

I have owned so many of these things (portable storage bins) over the years. The type I have settled on, that I consider the best, is the type that use actual bins that go inside of the main case. It doesn't allow you as much flexibility as the slide in walls to create the size bin you want. But it is much more reliable and last much better long term.

I have also gotten over the price. Cheaper ones are not made of as good plastic. They either give you problems right from the start. Or they fail in the long term. Same as with the large totes I use to carry things around with.

Best value I have seen, were the Stanley brand ones several years ago. I haven't seen any for sale in a long time now.
Dewalt makes a good one but it pricey. [Link: amazon.com]

Fishing Tackle Boxes. High quality without the super high prices.

basspro.com has huge selection.

[Link: planomolding.com]

I agree with Brad, they cheap stuff isn’t worth it. Milwaukee has a fairly basic but much heavier duty organizer and the much more versatile pack out series.
There is also Sortimo as another option.

Agree with Brad, it is with a couple acceptations all I use. At times it is also nice to be able to grab the individual bin and take to the task at hand versus the whole case. I also keep an empty one in some of the cases for small trash like wire bits.

I just toss all mine in a 5 gallon home depot bucket - sure it takes a while to find the one I need but its durable and easy to find..as well as giving me a free workout because it weighs about 30 lbs..

I want to eventually convert everything to Milwaukee Packout, but right now I have the Ridgid 22" Pro setup. They make a $29 organizer that I probably have 10 of, one just for TV bolts. The sides have 6 removable containers (great for lags and common sizes) and the middle section is open so I just stuff the whole plastic package of hardware that comes with a new mount. Incredibly durable, weatherproof, and part of a stacking system.

Plano boxes are inexpensive and they make enough sizes that it's very easy to store a wide variety of fasteners without having boxes sliding all over. I have a Bucket Boss tool bag that I retired from use because I tend to keep more weight in my tool bag than I should and it started to break down, so I put the plastic parts boxes in it, as needed. I stand the boxes vertically in the van shelves and take the ones I need at the time. I thnk I pay about $5 each. I use them for fishing tackle too, but I buy them at Menard's in the tool department because the places that sell them as tackle charge more for the same thing. I looked at tackle boxes yesterday and the only difference was in the bags used to hold the boxes- little three box setups started at about $20 and to to almost $100.

I keep electrical parts for conduit in the bins that fit in a 5 gallon bucket and have the lid pictured on one of them.





"bin boxes"- isn't that redundant?

That's why they call you Funhouse, right?


Great information here, guys. Thanks!

Ernie,

The Ranger shelves I bought came with plastic organizer boxes that were rebranded Stanley Professional Organizers.

They've held up well for three years and are available in two sizes (one deeper than the other).  The smaller one is about $12-$15 and the larger one is just a few dollars more:

[Link: stanleytools.com]

[Link: stanleytools.com]

It's nice being able to pull out the individual compartments to either take with you or dump out to look for the right piece.  If you dump a compartment of screws or washers or spacers on a piece of paper it only take a short time to find what you need and then use the paper to dump everything back into the compartment.

Here's what they look like stacked in the van:

[img][/img]

Wow, that's pretty neat!

What is that apparent container or ?? unit that the boxes are stacked in? How do the boxes stack? It looks like the bottom box has the weight of nine other boxes on it, so removal and replacement would be pretty hard. (On the other hand, you'd find out pretty quickly which boxes you use the most!) Are there some kinds of side rails on the inside of whatever it is that they're stacked in?

It seems the options for hardware and small stuff are endless. The gnarly one is organizing several lengths and types of cables. HDMI, network patch cables, analog audio, toslink.

in all seriousness, the amount of STUFF i see on a lot of guys trucks makes me cringe. I have seen guys open a van and there is literally no room for a sheet of paper because of the tools and boxes and other stuff. Guy had 3 (500ft) boxes of 16-2 wire? why? just because (no prewire in the future)...made no sense
Why do you need to have a rolling Home Depot with you at all times?
I have been doing this a LONG time and have whittled down everything I NEED to carry day-to-day into 2 footlockers, a medium toolbag, a Plano tackle Box bag (for these damn bolts) and a little giant ladder. If I need specific saws or other unique tools i can pack them on the days of install. I rarely have run into a situation where I just cant make something I have do what i need. I'm also in a decent sized city and stay pretty close to the metro area so I can run and get something I need in a pinch.
Are a lot of you having to work in remote locations or WAY far away from home base to require this much equipment at all times?

I have to agree. I have a large 22" box on wheels, 4 22" organizers, and 1 medium 22" box at all times. Plus a Veto ProPac XXL-F and a vacuum. 95% of the time, that is all that is needed. I keep an extra open top organizer for rough-in projects, and other than that it's based on the project. Sometimes I load up with wire for a rough-in, sometimes it's all components for a final install. I work out of a full size truck but could easily get away with something smaller if I wanted to.