Small Parts Storage: Make Your Own Workshop Containers
Keeping small parts and hardware organized is an ongoing challenge in just about every woodworking shop. Screws, bolts, dowels, and other odds and ends have a way of piling up, and finding the right piece when you need it can be frustrating.
Rather than buying another collection of storage bins, I came up with a simple way to make my own small parts storage containers using clear plastic tubes I already had around the shop.
The result is an inexpensive, customizable storage solution that keeps hardware visible and easy to access.
Repurpose Clear Plastic Shipping Tubes
The containers start with clear plastic shipping tubes.
Manufacturers often use these tubes to protect long items, such as T-track, during shipping. Instead of throwing them away, I save them for storing hardware and small shop supplies.
You can also use inexpensive clear plastic safety sleeves designed for long fluorescent light bulbs.
One of the advantages of this approach is that the tubes can be cut to whatever length you need, up to the length of the original tube. Some sleeves are available in lengths of around four feet.
Short sections are handy for screws, nuts, and other small hardware, while longer tubes can hold items that don't fit neatly into conventional storage bins.
And because the plastic is clear, you can see what's inside without opening every container.
Turn Wooden Caps for the Ends
To keep the contents from spilling out, I make custom wooden end caps on the lathe.
The caps are turned to fit the inside diameter of the plastic tubes. But instead of relying on a tight wood-to-plastic fit, I add a groove around each cap for a rubber O-ring.
The O-ring creates a snug friction fit that holds the cap securely in the tube while still allowing it to be removed when needed.
It's a simple detail that makes the containers much more convenient to use.
Customize the Containers to Fit Your Hardware
The best part of this small parts storage system is that you can make containers in different lengths.
Cut the plastic tubes to suit the hardware you want to store, then fit each one with wooden caps.
You can make short containers for small fasteners or longer ones for dowels and other narrow supplies.
A simple label on the outside can make identification even easier, although the clear plastic already gives you a good view of the contents.
An Easy Way to Organize Your Woodworking Shop
You don't always need expensive organizers or elaborate storage cabinets to keep your workshop tidy.
Sometimes, a useful storage solution is already sitting in your scrap bin.
By repurposing clear plastic shipping tubes and adding a pair of shop-turned wooden caps, you can make practical, custom-sized containers for all sorts of small parts.
It's a simple way to reuse materials, save money, and keep your hardware organized and close at hand.
