Where do you guys store your nuts and stuff
 

Not nutsacks. But when working on a bicycle, where do you store your nuts/little parts? I am new to all this, but usually have different cups. Like for the derailleur i'll label it derailleur and just put everything for it in there.

I think the only time I take a derailer apart, the jockey wheel and nut stay on the table while I'm greasing the bearing. (Ditto Campy shifter parts during a rebuild.) Bottom line, I don't have parts for my parts lying around, and things like brake pads or cleats can stay in the box or bag they came in until I'm ready to use them.

Common things like M5 bolts live in zip-lock plastic bags. Since I don't have to look for one very often, I don't mind digging.

Agree
 

+1 on this. If I can't finish the job, I'll reassemble off the bike by just a few turns off the bolt or screw. If it needs to sit in degreaser or evaporust, each component will have its own #5 PP takeout container while they finish the bath.

I only work on one bike at a time though.

I do need to get some sort of container for my common-sized nuts and bolts. My dad has these boxes with pull out clear drawers (maybe 2"x2"x8") that I've been jealous of for a long time. Need to find some like those.

There are magnetic cups for putting small parts in. Alternately, get a 2 gallon zip-lock plastic bag and do disassembly of small parts inside the bag. This prevents a small spring from going ballistic and embedding invisibly in the carpet 10 feet away.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5353d25eec.jpg

I use zip lock bags and plastic cups from a parts holder. On my work stand I use the feedback tray and a magnetic tray mounted to the top of the stand.

I use a bunch of Ikea kid's plates to hold parts and assemblies. They are cheap, something like 4 for $2, large enough to hold a brake or derailleur, unbreakable, and cheap enough that if I damage one I don't feel to bad about tossing it. I also have a few divided plates for separating the parts when working on something. (The ones I have are actually square, not circular.)
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...382489a3aa.jpg

A handful of dinky Tupperware-like containers work fairly well. One for all nuts/bolts/parts related to the derailleur. Another for hub parts. Etc. Can be closes with the lid, labeled and stored for easy visual identification later, if postponing re-use of those parts. Larger tube for larger assemblies.

Haven't needed much else, over the years.

Anything at hand, though cardboard egg cartons would certainly absorb the grease and oily fluids....

That's a brilliant idea! :thumb:

Yeah, I have a park one of those on my stand for immediately used stuff. By no means is the Park one necessary (or even better than others), it was just available when I needed a new one..

During a re-build, I get out a fresh copier paper box and set it within its inverted lid. Then individual components go into the box. Disassembled or loose parts go within Ziploc baggies and then into the box (headsets, bottom bracket bearings, loose downtube shifters). Then any new cables, chains, bar tape, whatever go into the box. I then can start on the frame without any loose things bouncing about.

For long-term storage of loose and sundry items, I have a stack of compartmentalized lidded trays that hold everything: One for bearings, another for cable housing parts and brake parts, another for larger items like replacement derailleur pulleys, spacers, lockrings, pump pegs and the like, and one more for fasteners.

All long-term component storage is in individually labeled shoe boxes by component type: derailleurs, cranksets/bb, brake, cable housing, pedals, handlebar tape/plugs, shifters. This system is patterned after Marie Condo's method, and it really works well. It's simple to find anything in seconds.

Suckers.

I think it's been used by a lot of folks. I first read about it in "Repair of Mechanical Dial Indicators and Calipers", by Michael Yamamoto.

Yep, the big bag thing is a good idea,(it's also commonly used when working on firearm parts that have tiny springs), but another good idea is to have a big retrieval magnet on hand, that you can wave over a wide area or carpet or flooring, and pick up tiny steel parts. They're not very expensive, but can be real handy.
Mine looks a lot like this one.....https://www.sportsmansguide.com/prod...agnet?a=679952
(I actually got turned onto these things while crewing on boats, they're used to rescue tools and other stuff that may have fallen into the silty bottom from the pier or boat.)

For organized storage of small parts like nuts, bolts, washers, bearing balls, etc. a multi drawer small cabinet is extremely useful. Here is an example: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stalwart...7422/205190694

This one is a bit large for just bicycle items but I use a similar one to organize all of my SAE and Metric fasteners, bearing balls and miscellaneous small hardware items. There are smaller versions with fewer drawers at lower cost.

I have a multi drawer cabinet as well which I store small parts in. Very useful. When I am working on a bike and want to keep small parts in one place I use the lids off old peanut butter jars as holders.

Harbor freight usually has a bunch of small parts storage solutions for less $ than the big box hardware stores

We use these for for the smaller parts when we do a portable bike repair run

https://www.harborfreight.com/materi...ase-93928.html

You can get them for about $6 when they run their coupon special :innocent: