Stanley Medium Professional Parts Sorter/Organizer

[Metropolicity]

I think I am in love.

I have been a HUGE fan of Adam Savage for a number of years, closer to a decade now (ever since mythbusters started to air). Recently I have been addicted to listen to him being interviewed on various topics, everything from movies to his shop on the website tested.com.

The website reviews tech gear but its cohosted by Adam and Jamie (mythbusters), more so Adam, but Jamie has a few videos up. One such video went into detail on how Adam sorts and organizes his nuts, bolts, spare parts and other smaller tools. His solution was a European company known as Sortimo. It is a VERY refined organization system with a number of beneficial and what I thought were proprietary design elements. The basic idea is much like a run of the mill organizer suit case except instead of a large cavity divided into with inserted walls (that if are moved or dropped accidentally leads to all your carefully sorted parts to mingle into a massive pile of mess) the Sortimo has individual little cups that are held in a framed box and when closed are locked into place.

That's the short description, this video shows more detail, he even has the Sortimo rack.



So, I saw this video a little while back and I looked into Sortimo. That level of refinement and engineering did come a pretty high premium, so I said to myself if I found something similar, I could build a rack. For months and months I searched passively and last weekend my usual parts organizer fell when I was balanced on a chair, that aforementioned mess, I had it. The hunt escalated from passive to aggressive.

I was at Home Depot buying some replacement light bulbs, I strolled into the tool box area to plan my new shop workbench...what did I find? Oh boy! Stanley makes something similar. It isn't as refined, not colour coded like the Sortimo, but the essential idea is there, individual cups, a locking suitcase and stackable. Bingo. I bought two to test out, $25, it didn't break the bank, but it also wasn't cheap. I figured I could afford to buy one or two a month and over a years time I would have enough to warrant a custom rack.





Being in the business of modding tools and blades, I've acquired a number of parts that need sorting and this was the dream. Adam talks about the Sortimo being an investment and these Stanley ones are well build, reasonably priced like he says, I'll have these for my life time and possibly my kids lifetimes etc.

I've started with getting two, one for screws and one for bolts. My eventual goal is have a methodology of organizing those so that I can take the cups and spray paint them in a way that they would make sense (ie Surge Parts or Wave Parts). 

Am still planning my new EDC Tool Q-Branch and I may have sourced some drop door style filing cabinets for cheap to use as a base for it. Then using a huge 100" long piece of butcher block or counter top from ikea to make a bench top. I leaning towards counter top since its only $100, but the butcher block is so fancy ($250).

[Syph007]

Your video didnt embed for some reason.



Pretty fancy system for sure, but probably alot more costly than my stack of dollar store plastic bins.   With that many small parts I can see why he'd need something like that though.

[enki_ck]

I fixed your video, the embeding didn't work. (EDIT: Syph007 beat me to it. )
 
As soon as I read the title that video was the first thing I thought of. I really like those boxes and they would bring some order into my workshop that currently has quite a few assorted boxes and different containers (used food containers, tupperware, ...) to hold the bits and pieces, screws, washers, ... but the shipping would kill me and the Stanley stuff available here is crazy expensive fro some reason, alt least 3x as much as in the US.


BTW, you have a PM.

[Metropolicity]

Your video didnt embed for some reason.

Pretty fancy system for sure, but probably alot more costly than my stack of dollar store plastic bins.   With that many small parts I can see why he'd need something like that though.

I see those are Dollarama ones you use, I used a few of them but then I dropped one and it shattered!!

I found these cases in amazon for ~$15 so I am going to pull the trigger and get a dozen.

[Syph007]

Your video didnt embed for some reason.

Pretty fancy system for sure, but probably alot more costly than my stack of dollar store plastic bins.   With that many small parts I can see why he'd need something like that though.

I see those are Dollarama ones you use, I used a few of them but then I dropped one and it shattered!!

I found these cases in amazon for ~$15 so I am going to pull the trigger and get a dozen.

If the compartments were bigger they could hold sak parts and that would be super handy.  Do you know if they makes ones with bigger compartments?

[Metropolicity]

Your video didnt embed for some reason.

Pretty fancy system for sure, but probably alot more costly than my stack of dollar store plastic bins.   With that many small parts I can see why he'd need something like that though.

I see those are Dollarama ones you use, I used a few of them but then I dropped one and it shattered!!

I found these cases in amazon for ~$15 so I am going to pull the trigger and get a dozen.

If the compartments were bigger they could hold sak parts and that would be super handy.  Do you know if they makes ones with bigger compartments?

They make entirely different organizer and those are deeper or wider. Pick your poison.

Here is the largest one and the smallest one with some SAk parts in it for reference.

If you get enough of the cases you can mix and match the cases to suit the parts bins.



They don't offer individual ones but I am going to experiment with making some positive moulds and vacuum forming some larger trays.

[Syph007]

Eric I was at canadian tire today and they have a very similar component box for 20.99

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/ToolStorage/PartsStorage/PRDOVR~0581150P/Mastercraft+Medium+Pro+Organizer.jsp?locale=en

The 10 main bins were perfect size for sak parts so buying 2 of these could store all my parts... its a tempting organizational upgrade. 

[Metropolicity]

Eric I was at canadian tire today and they have a very similar component box for 20.99

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/ToolStorage/PartsStorage/PRDOVR~0581150P/Mastercraft+Medium+Pro+Organizer.jsp?locale=en

The 10 main bins were perfect size for sak parts so buying 2 of these could store all my parts... its a tempting organizational upgrade. 

Got a pic of the internal? I would buy those en mass for the other tower

[Syph007]

Eric I was at canadian tire today and they have a very similar component box for 20.99

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/ToolStorage/PartsStorage/PRDOVR~0581150P/Mastercraft+Medium+Pro+Organizer.jsp?locale=en

The 10 main bins were perfect size for sak parts so buying 2 of these could store all my parts... its a tempting organizational upgrade. 

Got a pic of the internal? I cool by those en mass for the other tower

I opened one in the store and thought it looked pretty good.  I'll snap one tomorrow for you if you dont hit a CT before then.

[Metropolicity]

Ah dude! I bet it's the same thing. The grip pattern is the same. I'll do some research, if it's made by ZAG molding, it's the same product for a couple of bucks cheaper AND a different color!!

Bucket swapping!

[Metropolicity]

I'll be going to cdn tire tomorrow and take my Stanley one with me. Master craft also makes a deep pocket one and if they stack...oh boy.

The description says 25 buckets which leads me to believe that they the same.

[Metropolicity]

I opened one in the store and thought it looked pretty good.  I'll snap one tomorrow for you if you dont hit a CT before then.

I went today to take a look, ready to buy all they had. It differs from the Stanely one EVER so slight. While it may look the same, the width of the feet is a tiny bit wider so they won't stack with the Stanley ones.

The cups are the same size on the X and Y, but the Z thickness is about 2mm too thick, which pushes the lid up. So no cup swapping.

The crappiest part is that the Mastercraft one is no longer red and grey, it's their current Navy Blue and Yellow scheme. The red must of been old stock.

In any case, I'll be patient and wait for Home Depot to have them on the 2 for 1 sale and I'll buy up a bunch then.

[Metropolicity]

All organized and ready to be parted out. Here's my squirt/keychain tool parts drawer. Man I love these boxes!!!



Here's a p4,s4,ps4 and e4 ready to be to transformed into a Splash MKII

[Cupboard]

The Stanley one looks identical to one I have from "Am-Tech". The quality is pretty good actually although some of the bins are rather wavy along the sides so they don't fit in to the lid grooves that well. If you get a bin in the middle and shake it hard enough upside down an M6 washer will just manage to slide from one bin to the next. Mine is red and black with a small yellow insert in the handle rubber and I got it from beal.org.uk with a load of stuff for work for £8.



Potentially of interest too is the mini version, I don't know if it's compatible but it looks like it might be:

[Syph007]

Damn your good ideas Eric, now you have me wanting to upgrade my dollar store bins to a nicer organizational level.  I just grabbed one from Canadian tire as a test to see if I want to buy a bunch.

[Metropolicity]

MINI!!!!

[Metropolicity]

The Stanley one looks identical to one I have from "Am-Tech". The quality is pretty good actually although some of the bins are rather wavy along the sides so they don't fit in to the lid grooves that well. If you get a bin in the middle and shake it hard enough upside down an M6 washer will just manage to slide from one bin to the next. Mine is red and black with a small yellow insert in the handle rubber and I got it from beal.org.uk with a load of stuff for work for £8.

(Image removed from quote.)

Potentially of interest too is the mini version, I don't know if it's compatible but it looks like it might be:

(Image removed from quote.)

I really want to find those Mini ones!

I just bought a dozen of the Stanley boxes and they are getting sent to a place just over the border. A friend is going down south and he's picking them up for me.

[Metropolicity]

Found the mini ones!

Harbor freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-bin-portable-parts-storage-case-93929.html

I want to find a member who can buy me 10 and ship the up unless someone has had experience with HF's international shipping.

[Cupboard]

FWIW, the dimensions of one of the "big" bins in mine are 109*79*46/48mm - that's 46mm to the bottom and 2mm pips at the bottom.

[Syph007]

Eric curse you for making me want to get organized.

I just bought 7 organizer units and am moving all my parts over now, and thinking about how to make a mini rack to hold them.  RIP dollor store bins. 

[Metropolicity]

Eric curse you for making me want to get organized.

I just bought 7 organizer units and am moving all my parts over now, and thinking about how to make a mini rack to hold them.  RIP dollor store bins. 

C'mon. It's was only a matter of time.

I have a dozen coming to me via a border package holding service.

[nuphoria]

Those small ones are VERY cute

I've got a bit of a thing for organisers.... couldn't live without them!

[Metropolicity]

Those small ones are VERY cute

I've got a bit of a thing for organisers.... couldn't live without them!

I do too otherwise why Would I be posting about them

[Metropolicity]

BEHOLD! The beginnings of my Sorta-timo system!! My tiny little shop is starting to look like it's being sponsored by Stanley.
 

 

 
Blazamo!!
 

[Sparky415]

Nice 

Lots of labelling to do, That should keep you out of trouble for a while 

[Metropolicity]

Nice 

Lots of labelling to do, That should keep you out of trouble for a while 

Only about a 1/3 of them are full of stuff. I am slowly building back up my kits of stuff. When I move everything got shifted and in many many places. My electronics stuff, dremel bits, sharpening kit...so much stuff to organize!

I am also tempted to move my MT collection and storage shelves into this new space, freeing up some room in the Skinth shop.

[Cupboard]

sorry for the thread necromancy, but UK based people might be interested in http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d01933/assorter-case-set-of-4/dp/SG3320103?Ntt=sg3320103

[Metropolicity]

sorry for the thread necromancy, but UK based people might be interested in http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d01933/assorter-case-set-of-4/dp/SG3320103?Ntt=sg3320103

(Image removed from quote.)

Love it.

I am building a mobile cabinet next weekend. After using the system for about 3 weeks, it's changed the way I work. For the better!

[gliderguy]

New member here and I am a tool fanatic. 

I have used lots of different things to hold small parts over the years always searching for the right case to carry around.  Went through ACE hardware cases (double layers), fisherman's cases, etc, etc. 

Then about 15 years ago I went to a hamfest and found a parts case (filled with old electronics parts) made by ZAG (an Israel company).  Medium sized but not too large or small but it had REMOVABLE BINS!  BRILLIANT!  I immediately got rid of all the electronics parts (well I kept a few) and went on the hunt for more of these.  Ebay, etc.  But they simply were not available in the US.  I only found one other ZAG case which a friend had bought in Germany years ago.  It is so very useful to be able to move around the bins between cases as needed.  I have some with all the small bins and some with all the big bins. 

Then about 5-7 years ago I found that Stanley started making these cases.  They were exactly the same as the ZAG cases.  In fact "ZAG" is in the name of the Stanley web site's URL so they obviously bought the rights. (http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=ZAG+ORGANIZERS&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=014725R&SDesc=Stanley%26%23174%3B+Professional+Organizer). 

So I bought a bunch of the Stanley cases.  For a while I could only buy them on the Internet.  Now Home Depot carries the standard 2" and thicker 4" versions.  My friends are now buying these cases based on my recommendation.

Anyway here is a picture or two of my stack of parts bins in the back of my SUV.  Notice the board that keeps the stack upright.

Below are some other similar systems. 

=======================

Allit - Yet another company has jumped on the "modular" parts bin bandwagon, this time from Germany.  Not too expensive for the Economy version.
$18.50 each
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,44047&p=70869

Harbor Freight - This is a ripped off version of the Stanley/ZAG box.  The bins are flimsy-er - otherwise OK.
$8 each
http://www.harborfreight.com/19-bin-portable-parts-storage-case-93928.html

Sortimo T-BOXX - This really high end, strong and expensive version of "modular" cases is shown in this video by Adam Savage of Mythbuster's fame.
$86 each!   Crazy!
http://shopktec.knapheide.com/parts.php?CatID=177


Here is an interesting variant.
http://toolguyd.com/modular-snap-together-small-parts-storage-boxes/

[Metropolicity]

New member here and I am a tool fanatic. 

I have used lots of different things to hold small parts over the years always searching for the right case to carry around.  Went through ACE hardware cases (double layers), fisherman's cases, etc, etc. 

Then about 15 years ago I went to a hamfest and found a parts case (filled with old electronics parts) made by ZAG (an Israel company).  Medium sized but not too large or small but it had REMOVABLE BINS!  BRILLIANT!  I immediately got rid of all the electronics parts (well I kept a few) and went on the hunt for more of these.  Ebay, etc.  But they simply were not available in the US.  I only found one other ZAG case which a friend had bought in Germany years ago.  It is so very useful to be able to move around the bins between cases as needed.  I have some with all the small bins and some with all the big bins. 

Then about 5-7 years ago I found that Stanley started making these cases.  They were exactly the same as the ZAG cases.  In fact "ZAG" is in the name of the Stanley web site's URL so they obviously bought the rights. (http://www.stanleytools.c...3B+Professional+Organizer). 

So I bought a bunch of the Stanley cases.  For a while I could only buy them on the Internet.  Now Home Depot carries the standard 2" and thicker 4" versions.  My friends are now buying these cases based on my recommendation.

Great first post!!


Welcome to MTO!


Obviously. I love my set up too and I have been very happy with my selection. I ended up buying about 15 of these from Amazon and my shop has never been more full in my life.