Small Parts Chaos: How to Organise Nuts, Bolts and Fasteners with Bins and Trolleys
Loose fasteners, fittings, and small parts are the number one cause of "I know I have one of these somewhere" in any workshop. A dedicated parts bin system fixes it — here's how to set one up properly.
Why bins beat drawers for small parts
Drawers hide contents until you pull them open, and small items slide around and mix together. Open-face bins on a rack let you see everything at a glance and grab what you need without digging. For nuts, bolts, washers, fittings, and small hardware, bins are simply faster to use day to day.
Mobile vs fixed
A mobile, double-sided bin rack on castors means you can wheel your entire small-parts collection to wherever you're working — handy in a shared workshop or if your bench moves around. A fixed wall unit is cheaper and fine if the parts always live in one spot.
Setting it up properly
- Group by system, not by size. All the fittings for your irrigation gear in one section, all your fastener sizes in another — matching how you actually use them.
- Label the bins, not just the shelf. Bins get moved and refilled; if the label's on the shelf you'll lose track fast.
- Keep a "currently sorting" bin. New offcuts and mixed hardware go here until you've got five minutes to sort them properly — stops clutter building up on the bench.
- Pair it with a trolley cart for anything you need mobile around a bigger workshop or worksite.
A couple of options if you're setting this up from scratch:
See more in Parts Bins.
For general workplace safety guidance, see Safe Work Australia.
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About the author: Ryan Griffiths is based in Newcastle, NSW, and works with the Toolaroo team helping tradies, farmers, and home workshop owners choose the right storage and equipment for their setup.