Hardware honeycomb
 Reader's Digest Hardware honeycomb |
pocket storage bucket. To make one, round up a plastic 5-gallon bucket ($3 at a home center) and scrap plywood for partitions and floors. Use 3/4-in. plywood for the partitions and 1/4-in. plywood for the floors to match the bucket cutout dimensions shown.
Cut the bucket holes with a saber saw as shown, then saw the crisscrossing bottom partitions with slightly angled ends to fit snugly against the bucket sides. Saw notches halfway down the center of the partitions so they interlock. Next, cut the round floor to fit the bucket on top of the partition, then drop it in. Cut the next set of partitions, drop those in and then add the next floor. Create the egg carton partition to fit on top and screw or nail it to the upper floor. Then load your bucket. Our system is designed for miscellaneous screws and nails; feel free to try your own configuration to fit your needs.
Bucket loads of thanks to Patrick Wilcox for this honey of a tip.
Adjustable bins
Nail down the hardware organization in your shop. Build these bin racks with removable partitions to suit the size of the hardware you’re storing.
 Reader's Digest Adjustable bins |
One 3/8-in. x 24-in. x 7-1/8-in. plywood piece for the sides
One 3/8-in. x 24-in. x 4-3/4-in. plywood piece for the floor
Two 1/2-in. x 4-1/2-in. x 4-in. plywood pieces for the ends
Five 1/8-in. x 4-1/2-in. x 4-3/8-in. hardboard partitions
On a table saw, cut 3/16-in.-deep slots every 4 in. across the 24-in. x 7-1/8-in. piece of plywood. Make the slots just wide enough for the 1/8-in.-thick partition to slide in smoothly. Now saw the slotted piece into strips 4-1/2 in. and 2-1/2 in. wide. Use 1-in. brads and glue (predrilling for the brads) to assemble the sides and angled ends, then nail and glue on the floor. Drop the angled partitions into the slots, mount the rack to a wall, and go nuts sorting and organizing your scattered hardware.
We are grateful to Dean Piersol for thinking inside the box to devise this orderly tip.
