Spare Parts Organization: Screws, Bolts and Batteries

One weekend last winter, I spent three whole hours looking for an M3 screw. It was for securing my newly assembled NAS case, I knew it was somewhere in the apartment somewhere, but I searched every drawer, cardboard box, even the pockets of old clothes—couldn't find it anywhere. I ended up having to rush-order it Sunday night, paying an extra $2 in shipping, and it delayed my whole build plan for the week.

That's when I realized: as a programmer who loves DIY and tinkering with gadgets, my spare parts had gotten completely out of control. All kinds of screws, batteries, capacitors, cables, adapters—they're scattered through physical space like digital debris. Today I want to share the parts organization system I've worked out over three years, hoping it helps you avoid repeating my mistakes.

My Spare Parts Inventory

Before starting to organize, I laid out all the loose parts in the house on a table, and the result shocked even me. As a programmer, my spare parts inventory roughly breaks down into these categories:

Fasteners: M2, M3, M4, M5 screws are the most used, plus matching nuts and washers. You need them for building PCs, mounting monitor stands, securing development boards. I did a rough count—over 200 screws total, from all the devices I've taken apart over the past five years.

Batteries: AA and AAA are the heavy hitters—wireless keyboards, mice, remote controls all need them. Then there are all kinds of coin cells: CR2032, CR2025, motherboard batteries, car key fob batteries. The trickiest ones are lithium batteries—18650s, 21700 power cells, plus LiPo batteries—those need special safety considerations for storage.

Electronic components: Capacitors, resistors, LEDs, jumper wires, pin headers. Most of these are from Arduino and Raspberry Pi projects, some salvaged from old devices.

Cables and adapters: USB-A to C, C to C, Micro USB, Lightning, plus all kinds of adapters, extension cables, splitters. I counted—over 30 data cables alone.

Other accessories: Thermal paste, thermal pads, zip ties, rubber feet, magnetic sheets, and so on.

Building a Parts Classification System

I tried several classification methods, and finally settled on a three-tier system:

First tier: By type
This is the most basic classification. I split all parts into six categories: fasteners, batteries, electronic components, cables, tool consumables, and other. Each category gets its own storage box or drawer.

Second tier: By size/spec
Within each type, further subdivide by specific specifications. For example, screws by thread diameter: M2, M3, M4, M5; batteries by model: AA, AAA, CR2032, etc.; cables by connector type.

Third tier: By purpose
This is the most practical tier. I group commonly used combinations together, like a "PC build kit" box with screws, zip ties, and thermal paste; a "daily maintenance" box with batteries and remote control parts.

The core of this system is quick location. When I need an M3 screw, I know it's in the "fasteners" box, in the "M3" compartment—instead of digging through a pile of random parts.

Storage Box Selection and Usage

Storage boxes are the core tool for parts organization. I've bought over a dozen different storage boxes and learned a lot of lessons the hard way—here's my buying advice.

Compartment Storage Boxes

I most recommend plastic storage boxes with removable dividers. The one I currently use is a 24-compartment adjustable box, priced around $3-6, buy link. Its advantage is that dividers can be rearranged freely—bigger compartments for cables, smaller ones for screws. The clear lid lets you see everything inside without opening it.

For tiny parts like screws, I also use small parts organizers—each box has 10 small compartments that can be pulled out individually. A set of 5 costs about $4-7, buy link. These are great for keeping on your workbench, grab-and-go.

Sealed Boxes with Lids

For electronic components and batteries, a good seal is important. I picked storage boxes with rubber gaskets—great moisture and dust protection. A medium one costs $3-5, buy link.

Drawer-Style Storage Cabinet

For people with lots of different parts, I recommend a drawer-style storage cabinet. I got a small 5-drawer unit, with each drawer further subdivided. Prices range from $8-14, buy link.

Labeling and Inventory Management

Storage boxes are just the first step—without labels, a month later you'll still forget what goes where.

My label system is simple but effective: each storage box gets a label on the front with the main category and sub-contents. Like "Fasteners | M3 screws/nuts/washers." For clear boxes, I just write on the lid with a marker, easy to change.

For more systematic management, I maintain a digital inventory in Notion, recording what's in each box. Every time I use something and the quantity changes significantly, I update it. This way even when I'm not home, I know if I have a certain part, so I don't buy duplicates.

Speaking of labels, I highly recommend getting a small label printer. The thermal one I use costs $11-21, doesn't need ink, connects via phone Bluetooth. Buy link. It completely changed my labeling habit—before, handwritten labels always smudged; now printed labels are neat and water-resistant.

Special Storage for Electronic Components

Electronic component storage has some special requirements, and I learned this the hard way.

Anti-static

ICs, MOSFETs, RAM modules are sensitive to static. I bought a pack of anti-static bags in various sizes, 50-pack for $2-4, buy link. Important chips and development boards go in these, then into the storage box.

Moisture-proof

Capacitors and resistors don't fear static, but humidity causes pin oxidation. I put desiccant packs in the electronic components storage box. The silica gel ones I use are reusable—heat them to dry out when they change color. A pack of 20 costs $1-3, buy link.

Temperature control

Lithium battery storage needs extra care. I keep all lithium batteries separately in a fireproof metal box, stored in a cool, dry place, charged to between 40%-60%. Never store lithium batteries with metal parts—prevents short circuits.

Maintenance Habits and Regular Organization

Once you've set up the system, maintenance is more important than setup. I've developed a few habits:

Monthly check: Last Sunday of every month, spend 15 minutes checking each box's state, see if any parts migrated to the wrong place, if labels are peeling.

Put it back when done: This is the hardest one to stick to but the most important. I keep a small tray on my workbench for parts I'm temporarily using, and they have to go back at the end of the day.

Regular cleanup: Every six months, do a full cleanup—dispose of dead batteries, check electronic components for oxidation damage, toss parts you clearly won't use.

Purchase records: When you buy new parts, sort them into the right box and update the inventory right away. Don't think "I'll just leave it on the desk, I'll organize it later"—that "later" usually means never.

My Organization Results

After a year with this system, my parts management efficiency is way up. It used to take me an average of 10 minutes to find a screw; now it's under 30 seconds. More importantly, I know what I have and what I need, purchasing is more planned, and I've cut down on duplicate buys and rush orders.

Last month when I was building a new Homelab server, I found all the screws, zip ties, and thermal paste I needed in 5 minutes. The whole process went so smoothly it put me in a great mood. That sense of control feels just like when you refactor code and all the tests pass.

Spare parts organization might seem like a small thing, but for programmers who love tinkering, it directly affects project progress and mood. Hope my experience helps you.