Storing small R/C car parts (screws, etc.)

[GregM]

With having a dozen R/C cars in the collection, I've also been collecting a pile of screws and other small R/C car parts that up to this point went into small containers like these:

They're stackable, but also a pain to go through the stack when searching for parts. Plus, the lids close only with little friction, so chances are good that screws will scatter all over the floor if you aren't careful.

 

I've got my eye on other storage types:

Would be very efficient in space, but I don't like the thought of having to open several drawers when searching for the one screw I need. And I can't easily move this container from room to room when I feel like building on the dining table instead of the hobby room desk.

 

Something like this is more what I've got in mind. The lid closes with a clamp, and I can pull out the small sub containers and pour screws into my hand instead of sticking my fingers inside in the hope of grabbing a part. I could move a bunch of these from room to room easily. On the downside, I don't know about stackibility or availability of sub containers in larger sizes for different types of parts.

 

 

Still searching.... so guys, how do you store your (small or larger) R/C car parts? And what advice do you have from your experience?

[Saito2]

I have the middle one. I put little sticky labels on the drawers to help me organize them and find parts quicker. For screws, I have them in muffin tins so I can have them spread out and can paw through them to find specific ones easier. One tin has machine screws/nuts, the other self tappers.

[Kingfisher]

Currently using the small tupperware from the kitchen that never gets used for food and spends its life in the cabinet.

[iluvmud]

4 hours ago, Saito2 said:

I have the middle one. I put little sticky labels on the drawers to help me organize them and find parts quicker. For screws, I have them in muffin tins so I can have them spread out and can paw through them to find specific ones easier. One tin has machine screws/nuts, the other self tappers.

+1 on the middle one, mine is hanging in the closet of my office/man cave/workshop (the empty room I work in) except I don't have them labeled as I have remembered what goes were Im in them so much. makes life easier as I had about 3-4 smaller totes floating around and would have to dig them up when something was needed.... now its all in one place and out of the way!

[Backlash]

I use the clear fishing tackle style utility boxes like in your first picture for all of my parts and screws.. Screws go in small boxes, and model specific parts go in larger boxes..  I did find that some smaller parts like washers and E-clips did jump compartments if the box was turned upside down, but after placing a thin piece of foam in the lid, it seems to have solved that problem.. I also have a Plano tackle box that holds all of my smaller screw boxes under the lid, and 3 of the larger parts boxes below for storage and transporting them to and from the track etc.. (see pic below).

I have tried the drawer type containers like in your pic 2, but after having them fall over a few times and spill their contents everywhere, they got thrown in the bin.. I suppose that they would be just fine if screwed to a wall at the back of a workbench, but I don't work at a workbench..

[Tamiyabigstuff]

I got a few compartment boxes from Hobbycraft - think they were about £2.99 on sale & have 15 or 18 compartments, also stack well.

They do the same style box in various sizes.

I think I have about a dozen of them and they all fit neatly inside a 35L Really Useful Box with room for a couple more.

[Pumesta]

I use compartment boxes similar to the one in the third picture, only it doesn't have the removable compartment but you can move the dividers about to make larger or smaller compartment.  For larger parts I have stackable large plastic storage boxes, one for each chassis type

[ChrisRx718]

Ask me about the two evenings (about 5 hours!) I spent sorting all of this lot into 3 different storage cases:

But with 2 kids and ever limited time to spend on my hobby it is so worthwhile having this level of organisation. I've probably saved as much time as it took to sort since doing this - the lids have labels indicating what is in each compartment. Very OCD, but very worth it! 

[khyzersoze]

Great timing.  I'm also looking into storage for screws + parts as I start increasing my collection of kits.

[Tamiyabigstuff]

These are the boxes I got from Hobbycraft, actually 24 comparments per box - currently £8 each but they seem to have them on sale quite often :

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/plastic-storage-box-22-x-35-x-5cm/570445-1000

I think this is the largest one they do in this range but there are 5 smaller sizes to choose from.

[GregM]

Thanks for all of your useful suggestions and ideas! I'm still torn between drawers and storage boxes.

59 minutes ago, Tamiyabigstuff said:

These are the boxes I got from Hobbycraft, actually 24 comparments per box - currently £8 each but they seem to have them on sale quite often :

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/plastic-storage-box-22-x-35-x-5cm/570445-1000

I think this is the largest one they do in this range but there are 5 smaller sizes to choose from.

That looks good, and the pricing is fine. Shipping isn't a ton either. I also like the look of these storage caddies, which could be used for tools and paints: http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/clear-storage-caddy/578084-1000

Since they're made from slightly opaque clear plastic, I think they're more durable than others made from crystal clear acrylic.

[Mad Ax]

I find the problem with most cheap storage solutions is they fall into the "great idea, poorly execute" category.  For a long time I used a Stanley sliding drawer type thing, but the drawers would get stuck and it was impossible to open or close them with one hand.  Sometimes they would get stuck and required a yank to get them out, unsettling all the sorted parts inside.  The final straw was when I was putting stuff into storage while moving house, I spent 4 hours organising all my nuts, screws, washers, etc. into the Stanley drawer set, drove it to the storage facility, pulled it out of the car and the drawers fell out and upended on the gravel.

The gravel had a high iron content, so an hour crawling around with a speaker magnet rescued some screws and a whole lot more gravel.  One was not happy.

 

Now I just have a bunch of small clear parts boxes from a local homewares store that I have everything sorted into.  They work really well for me, although the option of removable bins would be really nice.  The only problem with parts boxes (for me) is that I get really upset if I end up with one random part that doesn't really belong with any of the other parts and I don't want to start a new compartment all of its own.  In fact if I end up with screws that are not standard Tamiya-style or not metric stainless like those I get from Westfield Fasteners, they go straight in the bin - it's not worth the hassle of storing them.  If I get a non-Tamiya model that doesn't use metric screws, I replace them all with metric screws.

 

[GregM]

I also had a look at the Sortimo L-Boxx and I-Boxx system:

http://www.sortimo-shop.de/a/121014674/L-BOXX-102

http://www.sortimo-shop.de/n/warengruppe?wgno=110

They seem to be extremely adaptable to all purposes and stackable, too. I like that you can add small removeable bins just as needed.

 

However, the price... The L-Boxx system can be had a bit cheaper if you look around at Amazon for Bosch Blue/Professional branded ones.

[khyzersoze]

You can try this? http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-12-5-in-34-Compartment-Double-Sided-Organizer-320028/204645520

The walls are snug with the lid so that parts don't jump to different bins.

[iluvmud]

you know you could just try to throw up a giant magnet sheet on your wall........................... then just throw all your metal bits up there and it'll be considered "functional art".

[GregM]

There are two other manufacturers with interesting storage boxes that have removeable bins inside.

Alutec:

http://www.alutec.net/en/products/sortiments-und-werkzeugkaesten.html

Allit:

http://www.allit24.com/de/productfinder/?tx_fyproductfinder_pi1[category]=1&tx_fyproductfinder_pi1[action]=list&tx_fyproductfinder_pi1[controller]=Pi1

I know some stores nearby that sell Alutec and Allit products, so I'll check them in the next days. Afterwards I'll let you guys know what I think about them.

[Badcrumble]

How about the Tamiya option, if you find them? Only good for small bits though.

https://www.tamiyausa.com/items/tools-accessories-80/tools-74000/parts-storage-box-84309

[mongoose1983]

1 hour ago, Badcrumble said:

How about the Tamiya option, if you find them? Only good for small bits though.

https://www.tamiyausa.com/items/tools-accessories-80/tools-74000/parts-storage-box-84309

Ouch! For $16 I could buy how many, like ten of those the same type without the Tamiya/TRF logos, too expensive.

Here's what I use. The only reason why I chose these is my budget. The smaller one was given to me by our good friend Crash Cramer. The right hinge was cracked until it fell apart. I did two super tiny holes with the soldering iron and then got it all together with a metal thread, now it works just as if it was new!

I like the fact that you can actually see what's inside. That helps a bit with time when searching for specific parts.

Even if I had more money to spend in these storage units, I think I'd still be using these. And by the way, most the parts you see there will be used in my current RC projects.

You all have a good week!

[Yonez]

I use these from Raaco in Denmark:

Expensive, but I like the fact that they come in a frame. I have loads of them for all sorts of little stuff, not just RC.

They look like this inside:

The little compartments can be moved around and you can get other sizes to customize. You can also remove some to fit larger items, like a multimeter.

They also have larger models and I have a few of those for bigger items.

http://www.raaco.com/

 

[GregM]

After having a look at both Alutec and Allit, I went for the Allit EuroPlus Flex storage system:

http://www.allit24.com/de/productfinder/?tx_fyproductfinder_pi1%5Bproduct%5D=66914&tx_fyproductfinder_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_fyproductfinder_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=Pi1

My local Globus DIY store has all the inserts/bins in stock, so I can buy them seperately as needed. The case is made from flexible (but rigid enough) polypropylene, while the inserts are made from hard polystyrene. The finish is good. The bins fit very well into the case, and are kept in place through ridges in the bottom case and lid, even if the case isn't completely loaded with them. There's a place for inserting labels at the front. About the pricing, I'd say they are good value for money - neither the cheapest, nor the most expensive.

[mongoose1983]

BY THE WAY, last month I was offered this one. A tractor shaped John Deere storage carry case by ERTL. I think it was about $8 for it. Very very nice conditions.

Now, while I LOVED the outer tractor shape of this case (I love tractors and we had a John Deere 2010 back in the 70's), what I did not like was the fact that it was not clear as the ones I use regularly, and also the inner shape of it. I kind of saw myself struggling to pick a washer or a small screw from it.

I could have bought it back then, but I did not.

[GregM]

Ha, that's awesome! I just imagine the farmer packing his lunch with him in that box - looks like it could be the perfect fit for a variety of sandwiches. I give it a thumbs up!

[Backlash]

On ‎16‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 8:35 AM, Badcrumble said:

How about the Tamiya option, if you find them? Only good for small bits though.

https://www.tamiyausa.com/items/tools-accessories-80/tools-74000/parts-storage-box-84309

If that's what you're after, go into your local chemist or $2 shop and buy some pill boxes for medication..

They are handy for storing small items like E-clips and grub screws.. I used one for years to store crystals in..

[FerrisBFW]

Really Useful 0.14 Organiser

I have some of these bolted to the wall 

Those Raaco boxes look neat, I was looking at them the other day.  Near where I live in Kingston there is a trade storage box shop where you can go and browse, I love the place :-)

 

UPDATE

in fact further to this mail I went to said shop and bought one of those Raaco units.  They have them reduced to £50 from over £100 at the moment (not a clue what they normally sell at though).

i love cool storage boxes :-)

 

[TwistedxSlayer]

I have one of these Apples bolted to the wall in cupboard. Then a couple of flat multi compartment storage boxes