This is shown with tongue very firmly in cheek as I'm quite sure you don't want to spend probably thousands of pounds on tobacco just to get the empty tins! This collection was done over a long period some forty years ago, but I have seen small component trays which have hinged lids with around 20 odd spaces ideal for different screw sizes. These in turn could be contained in a rack and labelled for easy identification. I've seen some good but pricey Stanley ones in the DIY sheds and also very cheap versions in the likes of Lidl and Aldi. Phil

Our mechanical workshop at the Lab uses those big metal chest of drawers like machine mart sell. The ddrawers have dividers so all the bigger stuff goes in a decision. When you get to smaller sizes various glass screw top jars are used with the deciders denoting the species and the jar tops labled as to specifics like nylon nuts or 12mm M4 cap etc. No Whitworth fasteners are stocked or BA but a small collection of American threads are kept.

In the Electronics workshop we use Racco drawers for M2 to M6 plated brass fixings in slot pan head countersunk and instrument screws of various lengths along with the relevant nuts and washers. This takes up 3 rack units.
Other fixings are by assortment in flat assortment trays kept stacked on a shelf.

I think the important thing is to stock what you need most of and by everything else as and when. Choose a set size for jigs and fixtures, say M6 and M10 and keep a small supply of threaded rod for longer stretches.

Everything else should go in assorter trays and stacked to save space.

As for the main stock Racco for smaller sizes or metal drawers as above if you have the room.

Above all be a bit ruthless otherwise things can get out of hand.

regards Martin

Ah! Baccy tins and Brylcreem jars.

Cue Mary Hopkins "Those were the days my friend….."

Seriously about 3 years ago I tripped over a website selling retail quantities of smart new tins in various sizes. Including baccy tins, possibly in all three sizes. Something of a surprise as I'd always thought such had to be got by the million, our thereabouts.

As I recall it the price for the common size was reasonably competitive if you bought a decent quantity. Probably equivalent to mid way between Raaco and the LiDL sets I bought earlier this year for a similar volume of storage. Being perennially short of sorted storage my interest was briefly perked but I didn't fancy the effort of building racks.

Regrettably I didn't note the website details but I imagine the firm are still around. Probably more than one business offering such things.

Clive

PS Bernard types faster!

Edited By Clive Foster on 11/03/2023 18:25:58

Dunno about tobacco tins but I consume a fantastic quantity of Altoids/Curiously Strong Mints and have lots of those tins.

Vic , I've got a load of Old Hoborn ( or similar ) backy tins you can have at reasonable cost . Can supply a pic if interested and if so , which part of country are in so as to avoid postal costs please ? Trevor.

I use empty pill bottles. They are about 40mm diameter and 60mm high, and fit quite neatly in a cutlery drawer fitted with dividers at a suitable spacing. The drawer holds about 56 bottles and there is a separate tray half the depth of the drawer that slides on top and holds various things that don't fit in the smaller bottles. One pill bottle will hold about 100 6BA x 3/8" hex head screws. I use these for all screws used on my loco projects (5BA to 12BA and M3 to M5)

Larger fasteners for household use (wood screws, wall anchors, roofing screws, miscellaneous bolts etc) are held in empty clear plastic fruit containers with wide mouth screw-on lids stacked on shelves above the workbench. Smaller household fasteners I keep in the packets they were purchased in, which are then held in several cardboard trays similar in size to shoeboxes (but shallower and without lids) in another drawer.

My low tech solution, small boxes made from cardboard and ex spice racks from a boot

sale

Another suggestion is to use old jam jars or similar. The lids are screwed to the underside of cupboards or shelves and the jars screwed up to the lids. One other benefit is that you can see the contents, even better with Dymo labels on the jar.

Dave
The Emerald Isle