Small Parts Organiser: Case, Drawers or Bins for Nuts and Bolts?

Washers creep under the dividers, M6 and M8 bolts share a drawer, and the case spills in the van. The cure is an organiser that suits how you use your fixings, with one labelled size per compartment.

The compartment organisers range at PartsForMachines has 82 products from Sealey and Draper, from carry cases and drawer cabinets to bench bins and loose bins.

Lots of Sizes, a Few of Each: Case, Drawer Cabinet or Open Bins?

Pick by where the parts live: a drawer cabinet for a fixed spot, a lidded case for parts that travel, and open bins for fixings you grab all day. The APDC39R 39-drawer cabinet, for example, mixes 30 small drawers with nine large ones and can go on the wall or the bench.

For the van, a case with a clear lid shows what is inside; the 73508 has 21 removable dividers for 5 to 26 compartments. Open bins on a back panel, such as the 30-bin TPS1218, keep the busiest fixings in reach.

Why Do Washers Creep Between Compartments, and What Stops It?

Thin, flat parts can slip through a gap above or below a divider, so the fix is a lid that closes onto the dividers or a separate cup for each size. Sealey says the lid of the APAS42 double-sided case presses on each divider when shut, to stop parts sliding across in transit.

The 29706 slim case seats ten removable bins in its base under a latched lid. In a cabinet, latching drawers, as on the 12014 and 12015, stop a drawer falling out and its contents ending up mixed on the floor. Keep thin washers in the smallest cups, not a wide compartment.

Sort by Thread, Size or Length? How to Lay Out and Label Fixings

Sort by thread type first, then diameter, then length, with one size per compartment and a label on the front. Keep metric and imperial apart, and label each size the way you would search for it, such as M8 x 30.

Removable cups let you take one size to the job. The APAS2R 20-cup parts case has cups in three sizes, from 50 x 45 x 45mm to 105 x 75 x 45mm, under a transparent lid. Colour helps too: the TPS124R and TPS124B are the same 105 x 85 x 55mm bin in red and blue, so one colour can hold metric and the other imperial.

Will a Wall-Mounted Cabinet Hold the Weight of Steel Fixings?

It can, if you fix it through its own mounting holes into a wall that can take the load. On plasterboard, use fixings that suit both the board and the weight. Weigh a full drawer of each size to estimate the total load, and keep the heaviest steel low.

Look for slotted or pre-drilled holes, as on the 12015 and 89470. The APDC5 stackable five-bin cabinet has pre-drilled holes for the wall, and several can be stacked securely so storage grows upwards. Rather not drill the wall? A bench-mounting bin panel keeps the weight on the worktop.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• Smallest and largest part: a cup small enough for washers, and one long enough for your longest bolt.
• Stays put or travels: for a van, locking catches and a lid that holds the dividers or bins.
• Compartments: removable cups go to the job; adjustable dividers let the layout change later.
• Where it goes: wall fixing holes, bench space and whether units stack.
• Finding things fast: a clear lid, or room for a label on each drawer.

Not sure which layout suits your fixings? Contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email, or browse the compartment organisers range.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a budget plastic organiser good enough?

Often, for light fixings kept on a bench. For a van or rough handling, look for impact-resistant polypropylene and locking clips, as on the APAS15A. For a fixed spot, a steel-framed drawer cabinet such as the 89470 adds rigidity.

Will cups from one organiser fit another?

Not necessarily, as cup sizes vary between cases. A small APAS2R cup is 50 x 45 x 45mm, while the smallest 25922 compartment is 45 x 45 x 48mm. Compare the sizes, or send our team your case’s model number before ordering.

Where do long bolts and bulky parts go?

In deep bins or large compartments, so measure your longest part first. The TPS2D deep bin is 105 x 240 x 85mm and the TPS3D is 145 x 335 x 125mm, while the 25925 case has six 95 x 145 x 98mm compartments.

How should I store crimp terminals and fuses?

Give each terminal type and colour its own compartment so ring, spade and butt connectors never mix, and keep fuses sorted by rating. Shallow drawers suit them, such as the eight 53 x 134 x 38mm drawers in the 12014.

Do I need a waterproof organiser for the van or outdoors?

Only if it will get wet or dusty. The 31653 IP65 waterproof organiser is sealed against both: IP65 means dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction. For general van use, the 29706 has a water-resistant lid.

Can parts cases be stacked?

Some are designed to. The APAS15A has two locking clips that let several cases stack securely, and the 31652 sits inside the Load-Up stacking boxes and crates, so it stacks with them.

Will oil or solvents damage plastic bins?

It depends on the plastic and the chemical, so check the material first. The TPS124B bins, for example, are a shockproof polymer that copes with extremes of temperature and resists mild acids, solvents and oils.

Is there one unit that holds hundreds of sizes?

Yes, a rotating cabinet. The APTT320 holds 320 drawers in 12 cabinet boxes and turns a full 360° on roller bearings, so every drawer can be reached without moving it. Four adjustable feet keep it steady on uneven floors.

How much weight can a mobile bin rack carry?

Check the stated maximum: 60kg for the TPS22 and 150kg for the TPS36, in both cases spread evenly across the bins.

Can I padlock a parts case?

Some cases take a padlock. The APAS20, for example, has a padlock eye for shackles up to 5mm as well as two locking clips. Most others have clips or catches but no padlock eye, so check for one if the case stays in a van.