So many "advice givers" want us to declutter.

[scaredychicken]

OH NO! I failed..... my son came in the other day. He had two 10-20x 2" screws in his hand. He said he needed 3, and asked if I had any more.
I directed him to the shop.... red screw bins, bottom left.

He said that's where he got those 2 from... I had them sorted by thread pitch, assorted lengths... ..
Not but a week ago, I dropped that bin and a bunch of them went flying all over..... I picked up the majority, but some have been getting swept up and tossed..... I know I threw at least a few of the longer ones away.

.....Now I feel bad.....

uggh

 

[scaredychicken]

You are a good man

ultrarunner - I was just now skimming through your comments, and I stopped to reply "you are a good man" - I see that geoduck had the same response. Well Done ultrarunner.

 

[goeduck]

I need a cookie sheet in my shop to dump my unsorted screws into when I need to find the one I am looking for. Mine are only sorted by machine thread, wood, sheet metal etc. Beyond that it is dig in and find what I need. Now I sort on the tailgate.

 

[bcp]

I need a cookie sheet in my shop to dump my unsorted screws into when I need to find the one I am looking for.

I have an old cooking pan, about 10x14x2 that I use. I cut one corner off so it acts like a funnel to pour the bits back into a container.

Bruce

 

[Jstpssng]

I'd like to have a shop dishwasher for items I don't want in the one in the kitchen.

This would work for smaller parts, up to the size of a starter; VEVOR Ultrasonic Cleaner 6L Digital Cleaning Equipment Industry Heated w/ Timer | VEVOR US

 

[Doofy]

It took 70 years to figure out but it sure makes life easier: When a project is completed, put everything away. Tools where they belong and any unused or extra parts where they can be found again later.
Every so often, tour your area and make a mental note of all your goodies and where they are located. Fairly soon, your search times and success in retrieval rates will increase and your life will be much improved.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Doofy, I certainly agree! I used to leave everything (tools, pieces/ parts, screws, etc...) until it was piled so high, you couldn't find anything. Then have to spend half a day, if not the full day, just sorting everything out.

Now, I use a tool, it goes back to its home. Use a bin of screws, it goes back to its home. I now do this for everything! So much easier!

 

[Doofy]

Doofy, I certainly agree! I used to leave everything (tools, pieces/ parts, screws, etc...) until it was piled so high, you couldn't find anything. Then have to spend half a day, if not the full day, just sorting everything out.

Now, I use a tool, it goes back to its home. Use a bin of screws, it goes back to its home. I now do this for everything! So much easier!

Amen. I used to spend hours trying to find stuff. Frustration levels would rise as would my blood pressure. Life is to short now to waste another moment searching for this or that. A little organization matters.

 

[bcp]

You can greatly decrease your time looking for tool by having three+ of everything.

Bruce

 

[newbury]

You can greatly decrease your time looking for tool by having three+ of everything.

Bruce

I use to do that with some of the HF freebies, flashlights, measuring tapes etc. Since I've effectively 5 or 6 separate shops I'd try to leave a measuring tape in each shop. But sometimes I'd find 3 or four of them had gotten together in one area!