Thread: Stocking the Woodshop

Welcome aboard.

Specifying any list of items is a bit of a how long is a piece of string question as it depends on what you end up doing. However you may find teh following useful.

1) When I buy fasteners, I usually buy more than I need, as invariably they break, get lost, or I miscounted
2) The smaller and more fasteners I purchase, the more extra fasteners I buy.
3) If you need more than just a few, consider purchasing bulk packs of fasteners you might use again. The extra cost is usually not that much and usually outweighed but the time/cost/frustration of travelling to buy more in the future.
4) Store fasteners in a way they can be easily seen (compartmentalised transparent boxes, drawers, glass jars etc) otherwise you will constantly end up repeat buying fasteners you already have.
5) Unless they are part of restoration project, damaged/rusty fasteners are not not worth retaining and I put them in with the metal I recycle.
6) I sometimes use small Ziplock bags to hold small numbers of the same fasteners together.

Here are photos of some of my stash.

This drawer holds my metric machine fasteners (screws, nuts, bolts, washers etc), wood fasteners (nails, screws, hooks, etc) plus a few assorted bibs and bobs
All those small drawers used to be in vertical drawer sets but this method makes it much easier to see them in one glance.
The photos only show about 3/4's of what's in the drawer - there are more bulk packs of fasteners deeper in the drawers.
Metrics.JPG

This drawer holds the imperial machine screws/nuts/bolts etc, short bits of metal and tool steels, and a few bibs and bobs
Imperials.JPG

About 20% of all those fasteners have been obtained because I used to dismantle lots of old bits of machinery/appliances etc and retain the fasteners. I've stopped doing that now.
I have many more small sets of drawers that contain fasteners and parts specifically for things like electrical/electronics items, small engine/machinery parts, etc

Thanks for the reply. It didn’t take many trips to the hardware store to notice it doesn’t cost much more to buy by the pound vs individual or small bags. I was given some 4x8 panels with French cleats and tons of hardware. A local store owner retired and I got the panels that were used behind the counter. Since I haven’t figured out my floor plans I’m using small bins on the cleats. It’s working well so I’ll probably just expand on that.

Welcome. I wish I had listened to someone like Bob 50 years ago! My lessons were hard learned.

Rule 1: Do not buy crap, always go for quality.
Rule 2: Go to specialist fastener suppliers rather than generalists such as Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. Reason: refer to Rule 1.

Also, I minimise the "styles" and sizes that I use. For example, with screws:

• Only stock metric sizes (never imperial),
• Never buy slotted heads - only centre drives, usually philips because of availability,
• Screws are usually packaged in gross boxes (144 screws) = cheapest purchase quantity,
• Maintain quite limited range of sizes of each screw - 7, 12, 18, 25, 35, 50mm, only,
• One gauge only for each screw length,
• Usually 304 stainless steel, only.

Slowly I am trying to "standardise" to a limited range of fasteners. [In practice, I have my standardised fasteners, plus all the old non-standardised ones, "just in case".]

There are two screw sizes you will never run out of jobs for as they are perfect for 3/4" timbers:

8G x 1-1/4" (or 32mm) Used for screwing 3/4" timber face to face; for example attaching French cleats or battens.
8G x 2" (or 52mm) Used for joining 3/4" timber timbers at 90degrees, such as cabinets.

Phillips heads are the most commonly available but are (IMO) garbage. I prefer Pozidrive or SR (square drive) heads but these need to be mail-ordered and you need dedicated drivers for them. You can use a Phillips screwdriver in a PZ head screw but only in the same way that you can use a butter knife for slot headed screws; and a shoe as a hammer...

... which leads me onto the next point which is whatever head style you choose go and buy a brand-new pair of QUALITY screwdrivers; one with a 6" shaft and one with an 8". Or 1/4" hex replaceable tip types, a big box of tips and the commitment to throw each tip away as soon as it even begins to look like it's starting to show some wear.

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

... Phillips heads are the most commonly available but are (IMO) garbage. I prefer Pozidrive or SR (square drive) heads but these need to be mail-ordered and you need dedicated drivers for them. ...

No real argument here, CT, but even philips heads are far better than slotted screws. And there is always the convenience factor - when you need some screws yesterday and you cannot get pozidrives or square drive of an acceptable size, then philips always seems available. I know, I should be better organised, but there are a host of "I shoulds".

There is no list because with time and what you end up building will dictate what you keep on hand.

I.e. The average kitchen cabinet shop will keep thousands of 2 and 1 1/8" screws on hand because they're your fixing method... Where as, if you're making true high end reproductions of 19c furniture you would most likely not have much use for modern screws because mortice/tenon, dovetails etc. will become your primary fixing methods. And you might only need to keep a few types of specialised screws on hand so you'll be buying them a hundred at a time.

Though. Pretty much every wood shop will want to keep a few hundred 2" screws and brad nails on hand for building jigs and templates...

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

There are two screw sizes you will never run out of jobs for as they are perfect for 3/4" timbers:

8G x 1-1/4" (or 32mm) Used for screwing 3/4" timber face to face; for example attaching French cleats or battens.
8G x 2" (or 52mm) Used for joining 3/4" timber timbers at 90degrees, such as cabinets.

Phillips heads are the most commonly available but are (IMO) garbage. I prefer Pozidrive or SR (square drive) heads but these need to be mail-ordered and you need dedicated drivers for them. You can use a Phillips screwdriver in a PZ head screw but only in the same way that you can use a butter knife for slot headed screws; and a shoe as a hammer...

... which leads me onto the next point which is whatever head style you choose go and buy a brand-new pair of QUALITY screwdrivers; one with a 6" shaft and one with an 8". Or 1/4" hex replaceable tip types, a big box of tips and the commitment to throw each tip away as soon as it even begins to look like it's starting to show some wear.

I'm Canadian and I grew up mocking the yanks for using Phillips head screws - absolute garbage. We'd just throw them away. Primary screw in Canada is Robertson (square drive) in all sizes. Even 6mm screws were Robertson...

And what happens when I move to Aus, ya bloody use Phillips head screws rage rage rage... I found a place online that sells square drives and they're cheaper than bunnings, even with shipping if you don't mind buying by the thousand. I buy all my fixings from them now.

Galvanised Square Drive Chipboard Screws (thefastenerfactory.com.au)

On a side note. Phillips head screws are also unhealthy for your arms. The bit rarely fits well with the screw head so it often slips out and or wobbles like crazy... This makes you grip the drill much much harder to counter it. Which in turn, if you do a lot of screwing, eventually causes real burning tendonitis (tennis elbow). You rarely get that with Robertson head screws unless the bit is badly worn out.

Originally Posted by The Spin Doctor

... Primary screw in Canada is Robertson (square drive) in all sizes. Even 6mm screws were Robertson...

And what happens when I move to Aus, ya bloody use Phillips head screws rage rage rage... ...

Good rant. Actually agree!

But my big rant is about Zenith screws - the ones with detachable heads ...

Originally Posted by The Spin Doctor

I found a place online that sells square drives and they're cheaper than bunnings, even with shipping if you don't mind buying by the thousand. I buy all my fixings from them now.

Galvanised Square Drive Chipboard Screws (thefastenerfactory.com.au)

You have me jumping for joy!

IMO you don't have to be Canadian to despise Philips head screws