How do you guys store your pins?

[daily_grind]

I ordered a couple of different sizes of pins, and a couple of different materials (brass, German "silver", etc.). I'm storing them in the shipping containers that they came in, but there has got to be a better way of doing that. Invariably they start out all one size, then I hack off little bits that I need and put them in the tube and forget that I already cut some smaller pieces that I should use instead of chopping more off of a bigger rod. I was thinking of getting some clear tubing and making something I could hang on the wall behind my bench.

How does everyone else store little things like that?

 

[DanF]

Empty plastic medicine bottles labeled with contents

 

[JV Knives]

I use a little plastic tray with dividers (kinda like a tackle box)

 

[Hengelo_77]

I have tubes hanging vertically on the wall that can be taken off.
Depending on your use you may want to sort them per material of per diameter.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Silverware trays work well.
I drilled holes in the edge of some shelves and store pin stock there.
I usually buy stock in 10+ foot rolls, and cut a foot or so off and straighten it.

 

[Thescrawnylumberjack]

I usually store them in the knife handle. Before that they’re round bar stock above the lathe.

 

[D Bloch]

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I have flat trays that are about 6X14" that I keep the long stock in. I use 2oz. plastic condiment cups with lids to store cut up pins. I'll try and take some photos soon.

 

[daily_grind]

That is the validation I had been wanting! Your bench is just like mine!
Only your knives look better than mine ...

 

[daily_grind]

Silverware trays work well.
I drilled holes in the edge of some shelves and store pin stock there.
I usually buy stock in 10+ foot rolls, and cut a foot or so off and straighten it.

I wasn't aware they came in 10 foot lengths! Do you straighten them by hand, or is there some neat roller tool that does it? Mine have annoying kinks in them that I try to get out with pliers. I know that archery shops have straightener pliers for aluminum arrows ...

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I wasn't aware they came in 10 foot lengths! Do you straighten them by hand, or is there some neat roller tool that does it? Mine have annoying kinks in them that I try to get out with pliers. I know that archery shops have straightener pliers for aluminum arrows ...

I use smaller pin stock than most makers, as the majority of my work is refurbishing folding knives. I just cut an 8"-10" piece off the roll, straighten it as best I can by hand, and tap it straight with a small hammer on my cutlers anvil.

 

[tattooedfreak]

Small bits, cut offs go in a plastic cup on my bench, longer bits (~6"-18") go in a larger container on top of my tool chest, 18"-24" in a 57mm shell case and longer than that go in a 76mm shell. As they get shorter, they go in the next down container.

 

[navman]

Plastic parts box with removable sectioned boxes (tackle boxes) from Harbor Freight. Although I will probably switch to a "screw and bolt" storage container.

For things like pins tubes, I usually cut them to length (roughly 1 inch), debur and store a bunch of them in different materials (copper, stainless, titanium...)