As woodworkers, we deal with a surprising amount of metal. The metal might take the form of the steel in our chisels and power tools, or the screws, hinges, and knobs that adorn a project. It’s the last items on that list that I want to focus on here.
How we deal with these necessary bits and bobs reveals a lot about our woodworking personality. I’m sure a lot of us have memories of a grandparent with an old metal coffee can filled with random stuff. They were unable to throw away anything that might be of use someday. I know several woodworkers who like to have the whole hardware store in their shop. For them it’s better to be prepared than to be caught short. Most of us fall somethere in between these examples.
THE BASICS
Let’s begin with an “essentials” approach. In these shops a small inventory of frequently used fasteners and accessories is all that’s on hand. Other hardware is purchased as needed. Several considerations may be at play. A small shop limits the amount of hardware one can accumulate. A just-in-time, lean manufacturing mindset suits the organizational style of some people. This also keeps clutter down.
I know woodworkers who use the same hardware on nearly every project. Familiarity allows for mastery of the installation process. It also means you need to keep fewer different types of hinges in stock, for example.
BENCHTOP ORGANIZERS.
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| About the only downside to plastic bins is they collect dust. This organizer features a lid that keeps the debris at bay. |
When the inventory is small a benchtop organizer offers a solid solution. The three organizers shown on these pages employ vertical storage in different degrees. The result is that the item you want is within easy reach.
The revolving rack at right is a full DIY approach. This one is modeled after oldschool hardware store nail bins. A smaller version on the far right still spins on a lazy Susan bearing. However, it uses plastic parts bins.
The organizer above stacks two sizes of bins in rows. A clear cover foils dust infiltration while still allowing easy browsing.
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| Inspired by vintage hardware store displays, this rotating organizer holds an impressive amount of small items. | A lazy Susan bearing simplifies searches on this organizer, so you can tuck it into a corner. The plastic bins mount on shop-made cleats. |
WALL CABINETS.
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| This wall cabinet offers three types of storage: plastic bins, removeable lidded trays, and a large drawer. Plywood construction keeps the project manageable. | A cabinet like this creates a plastic bin bonanza ideal for the person who has a few things of a lot of different types. Aluminum cleats allow you to take the bin to your bench, or rearrange the bins as needed. |
If horizontal space is a premium, a benchtop system may take up more real estate than you’re ready to give. In that case, a wall cabinet could be your answer. In addition to freeing up floor space, a wall cabinet is often at a better height for searching. Good thing too, since wall cabinets like the ones shown here store a lot more than a benchtop unit. Another benefit to a wall cabinet? The top of the case turns into extra storage space.
The left cabinet takes a multipronged approach. A passel of bins holds large quantities of fasteners. Four lidded trays provide on-the-go storage. The bottom drawer holds bulky items not well suited to bins.
Angels should sing every time the lower right cabinet is opened. 40 bins hold an impressive amount of gear. Custom hangers allow you to rearrange the bins or take them across the shop. My dad made one one of these cabinets. It’s the family hardware store. My brother and sister check in here first before heading out to buy something.
ALL OF IT — OR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
I love the analogy of woodworkers as magpies, collecting interesting pieces of wood as well as hardware. You never know when you’ll come across something unique. I refer to one of the drawers in my hardware cart as the “curiosity shop” that’s reserved for those treasures.
Here at the ShopNotes/Woodsmith mothership, we go through a lot fasteners, and our design team is on the lookout for special hardware. As a result, we have an extensive set of drawers to hold as much as possible. Stopping mid-project to run out for a box of screws hampers Marc and Steve’s ability to stay on schedule. In the same way, if you don’t have a decent hardware store close by, then the desire to be prepared will be much stronger.
CARTS & CABINETS.
Not every shop has the space for the full-service treatment, but the solution may just be a matter of scale. The cabinets and carts shown on these pages combine volume with flexibility in a smaller footprint.
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| Like a rolling hardware store, this cart provides a place for as many types of necessities as possible. In addition to bins, trays, and drawers in front, adjustable bins at the back hold dowels and long stock. | Two large drawers offer bulk storage. They can also serve as the home for other tools and gear. In the Woodsmith Shop studio, our wrenches and sockets live here. | Pullout trays allow for easy searching and less digging. The modular nature of the trays allows for you to rearrange the them to suit your storage needs. |
The cart above aims for an “all-of-the-above” scenario. Bins, trays, and drawers house the standard stuff. The cubbies on the back make room for all the hardware items that don’t fit in a drawer. Dowels, T-track, and threaded rod are tough to find a home for and threaten to take over shop corners.
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| The drawers in this cabinet feature customizable dividers to suit the types, size, and quantities of what you want to store. Deep drawers at the bottom hold bulky items. | With the same class as an office filing cabinet, this piece stores gear in deep drawers on full-extension slides. Items are protected but still easy to access. |
As much as open, easy-to-see shelves and bins are appealing, I prefer the enclosed storage that drawers provide. The cart and cabinet on the next page show ways to build something either utilitarian or classic.
Hardware storage isn’t a problem to be solved. It’s a process to be managed. Thinking about and building an organizational system is the first step in keeping the chaos under control.
EMBRACE THE Plastic Bin
As you can see, we love plastic parts bins. We look for bins that can both hang from a lip on the back as well as stack. Our favorites are made by Akro-Mils. Be aware that the bins you find in one hardware store may not be compatible with similar bins from another store. The only downsides of bins: they’re overkill if you have a small number of items. And they collect dust (unless you get covers).
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| Bins work well on their own but are a great choice to organize drawers and trays in shop-made projects. | Available in a range of colors and sizes, parts bins offer flexibilty at a low cost. |
