How do you keep track of bolts?

[thereef]

I tore apart my motor a little too rambunctiously and have lost several bolts, nuts, washers (head bolt washers even! QQ) and I've had to order new hardware, such a PITA.

In the future, just want to know what system you guys use. I have started to bag & tag, but just wanted to know if anyone else had super clever organizational systems that they'd be willing to share

Hope everyone had a great weekend and it's starting to warm up where you live.

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Another thing I do when I bag and tag is to use some wire and tie the bag to the part on items like say exhaust mani bolts/studs nuts and washers. same with intake and what not. You can bag em, then use zip ties or some tie wire. I have used the wire many times. Baby food jars also work great for like sized bolts, nuts and washers. I have an infant so I have a constant supply of those. Egg cartons work great for short term ones so you dont lose bolts while doing something like an intake swap, injectors or what not. Another thing I have made was a tray with an old speaker magnet on the bottom to hold it to say the fender or strut tower. This way you can set everything including tools on it, and not worry about hunting for dropped tools. Granted you can buy these items, I get more satisfaction from building them myself out of spare materials. And 5 subject notebooks. Generally because a 5 subject will allow me to make notes over various systems. Engine, electrical, fuel, body panels and interior. It helps when working on many different types of cars for the little placements of odd bolts and what not. Pictures can also be taped into the notebooks with notes with them. Makes things a lot easier for the next time you have to disassemble or reassemble things.

 

[Erosmark]

cardboard, small Tupperware labeled with tape, Ziplocs labeled or taping the pieces directly to the piece they came from if it won't damage it. for wires a little tape wrapped around and labeled help you remember where it goes.

 

[Rsawd95dsm]

Photographic memory

 

[LiquidX]

Either keep them with parts removed, install them back in place, stash them around the car in specific spots and lastly, I generally rember what goes where.

 

[thereef]

More brilliant ideas. Thanks a lot guys!

 

[LandSpeed-DSM]

Put them back where they came from.

Or.. Labeled bags and those segmented plastic apple trays some stores carry.

They stack well too.