Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

What tricks do you all use to keep track of nuts/bolts/washers/small parts when you are doing a project and taking something apart or off the car? I seem to lose something important every time; mostly because I start multiple projects I think.

Garm
The old sandwich bay and marker will always work! Plastic cupcake molds will also work if you have a place to store them so they don't tip over, or old coffee cans with the lids.


nissantoy

Baggies with a note inside. Even though it is perfectly obvious what it is I tag it because when I make my way back to that piece, I will have forgotten.
I also save all those loose screws, nuts, washers, and "things" in another baggie. When I need three and have two, sure enough, the missing one will be right there.

Baggies and sharpies are my preferred method - and liberal use of the digital camera too!

Get some of these !!

Bright light, they fit all around underneath, magnets on the back, AA cells, and THEY DON'T BURN HOT like a bulb my arm used to hit.

$8 on sale.

OK a little more than that. But still.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/2 ... =550679013

Best trick I ever learned was getting a length of aluminum pipe that slips over the end of my breaker bar. Nothing like an extra 2-3ft of leverage when she's REALLY stuck!

fj20spl311 wrote:Hot glue is your friend.

My friend too.
Carpet edges; keeps the shop vac from unraveling the loose threads. Ive used it for binding trimmed edges around shifters, ducts, seatrails, etc. Got a loose piece of vinyl flapping? works for that too.

I was thinking about using some to fill voids on a dash prior to installing a cap.

Working where the Red Green show was first taped. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the "handyman's secret weapon" yet or is that too p.o. for us. I use a wrap of duct tape on those new tiny oil filters on the new imports. The ones that are too small for our oil filter wrenches. Helps you get a grip on them. One step to try before more drastic measures.

Frank

FairladySPL wrote:Get some of these !!

Bright light, they fit all around underneath, magnets on the back, AA cells, and THEY DON'T BURN HOT like a bulb my arm used to hit.

$8 on sale.

OK a little more than that. But still.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/2 ... =550679013

I have 5 of those at work... Best hands free lighting i own besides my hardhat light

corey.vixie wrote:Best trick I ever learned was getting a length of aluminum pipe that slips over the end of my breaker bar. Nothing like an extra 2-3ft of leverage when she's REALLY stuck!

I use half of an old jack handle.

Garm wrote:What tricks do you all use to keep track of nuts/bolts/washers/small parts when you are doing a project and taking something apart or off the car? I seem to lose something important every time; mostly because I start multiple projects I think.

Muffin / cupcake tins, use a seperate tin for each section, each cup for a specific part or area. You can even stack them in order of disassembly. Makes reassembly much easier.

bobd wrote:

Garm wrote:What tricks do you all use to keep track of nuts/bolts/washers/small parts when you are doing a project and taking something apart or off the car? I seem to lose something important every time; mostly because I start multiple projects I think.

Muffin / cupcake tins, use a seperate tin for each section, each cup for a specific part or area. You can even stack them in order of disassembly. Makes reassembly much easier.

I can't do anything without a seal/top! I have knocked over countless trays/muffin tins, jars etc., only to be befuddled upon reassembly time. I have come to rely on a sharpie and baggies. Adding a piece of paper for more specific detail is good too. When I disassembled the transmission 6 years ago, I put each marked baggie in a box, and lined them up one against the other in the order I took the tranny apart. When I finally got to reassembly 5 years later, it went amazingly smoothly! And that was after a physical move from WI to NC in the middle of the process!!!

+1 on the paper inside the baggie.

fixitman04 wrote:

corey.vixie wrote:Best trick I ever learned was getting a length of aluminum pipe that slips over the end of my breaker bar. Nothing like an extra 2-3ft of leverage when she's REALLY stuck!

I use half of an old jack handle.

Deep socket on a long extension, slip over the breaker bar handle.

Dave:
That's a really good one, - even a head slapping one!