You Know You Are Old When

[masseyrider]

… when you have more insurance?

There have been times when I've been on the cusp...

 

[BackRoad]

YKYO when you finally realize you'll never use the miscellaneous screws, bolts and nuts collected in all the coffee cans...

 

[masscity]

Before I had my Pole Barn/Shop built, I was cleaning the battery on my 4 wheeler and dropped a brass bolt in the grass

and of course a magnet isn't going to help. Now what am I going to do. What are the chances of having something to

replace this metric bolt in my coffee can of fasteners. Not only did I have one, but there were three.

 

[WinterDeere]

YKYO when you finally realize you'll never use the miscellaneous screws, bolts and nuts collected in all the coffee cans...

Am I the only one who sorts theirs? I don't sort used or random leftover screws perfectly by length and material, but they are segregated into separate drawers by thread size and type (machine vs. wood vs. sheet metal). When I need a #8-32 x 1-1/4" pan head, I just open the #8-32 drawer, and sort thru what's been tossed in there to find the length and type.

 

[Runner]

Am I the only one who sorts theirs? I don't sort used or random leftover screws perfectly by length and material, but they are segregated into separate drawers by thread size and type (machine vs. wood vs. sheet metal). When I need a #8-32 x 1-1/4" pan head, I just open the #8-32 drawer, and sort thru what's been tossed in there to find the length and type.

Mine are sorted, but not down to specific sizes, just generally "small, medium and large" bolts, nuts washers separately. Finally made up a rolling cart out of a couple of HF bolt bins:

 

[sixdogs]

Am I the only one who sorts theirs? I don't sort used or random leftover screws perfectly by length and material, but they are segregated into separate drawers by thread size and type (machine vs. wood vs. sheet metal). When I need a #8-32 x 1-1/4" pan head, I just open the #8-32 drawer, and sort thru what's been tossed in there to find the length and type.

You probably are the only one that actually does it but all of us wish we were as diligent.

I needed a certain length 3/8" bolt last year and searched high and low with no results. That is, until the next day when I stumbled onto a bag of them I bought the prior year so I would never be without. Except I forgot not only that I bought some but where I put the bag.

 

[masseyrider]

My problem with saving nuts and bolts and screws and washers... is that the ones I need I never have or have enough of.
Need 6 have 4, go to the hardware store.
Those that I have in abundance I never need or only one. That's why there are so many.
As a kid my job many Saturdays was pulling nails and straightening them.
After my father passed I went through his collection of never used nails, screws etc.
I found a number of buckets of the recycled nails.
I thought back on all the Saturdays I missed playing or doing something interesting instead.
Taking them for scrap was a little revenge. Got me a whole $15.
I'm not a big project guy but when I need to fix something I'll just go and buy what I need.
The lack of clutter is freeing.

 

[Runner]

My problem with saving nuts and bolts and screws and washers... is that the ones I need I never have or have enough of.
Need 6 have 4, go to the hardware store.
Those that I have in abundance I never need or only one. That's why there are so many.
As a kid my job many Saturdays was pulling nails and straightening them.
After my father passed I went through his collection of never used nails, screws etc.
I found a number of buckets of the recycled nails.
I thought back on all the Saturdays I missed playing or doing something interesting instead.
Taking them for scrap was a little revenge. Got me a whole $15.
I'm not a big project guy but when I need to fix something I'll just go and buy what I need.
The lack of clutter is freeing.

I can't remember the last time I picked up a nail for anything but hanging a picture.

 

[MossRoad]

YKYO when you finally realize you'll never use the miscellaneous screws, bolts and nuts collected in all the coffee cans...

I think I'll put them in my will so my kids feel guilty when they throw them all out.

 

[MossRoad]

Am I the only one who sorts theirs? I don't sort used or random leftover screws perfectly by length and material, but they are segregated into separate drawers by thread size and type (machine vs. wood vs. sheet metal). When I need a #8-32 x 1-1/4" pan head, I just open the #8-32 drawer, and sort thru what's been tossed in there to find the length and type.

One of our kids likes to organize things. Once in a while, if she's around for a week or so and looking for things to do, I'll give her the bucket O' bolts and she'll organize them all by size, length, etc... It gives her great peace of mind and a good distraction.