Why do washers cost more than nuts?

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:00 am

I was at the store looking for nuts and washers I was amazed that the washers cost more.
Less material less machining but cost more....
I could drill holes in nickles and save money...

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:07 am

Maybe that would be a useful jig to hold a roll of nickles to drill a hole through them

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:17 am

Just in case you didn't know.

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/17/333

rjn2649 · Post by **rjn2649** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:17 am

Well at first I thought maybe it was a big box store pricing thing, then I checked mcmaster. All the stuff I bought there and I never noticed it before. Stamping a washer must be a way more expensive process than running nuts off a machine.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:31 am

rjn2649 wrote:Well at first I thought maybe it was a big box store pricing thing, then I checked mcmaster. All the stuff I bought there and I never noticed it before. Stamping a washer must be a way more expensive process than running nuts off a machine.

I am inclined to believe it all has to do with the bottom line. I'd bet that people buy far more washers than they do nuts or even screws. Thus, money in the kitty.

I wish I could sell every nut, washer, bolt or screw that I have for today's prices.

Whenever I discard something, I disassemble it and I keep the hardware. That junk, as someone I know and love refers to as, has saved me many, many times. Ask Ed in Tampa. He doesn't throw anything away either.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 12:02 pm

dusty wrote:I am inclined to believe it all has to do with the bottom line. I'd bet that people buy far more washers than they do nuts or even screws. Thus, money in the kitty.

I wish I could sell every nut, washer, bolt or screw that I have for today's prices.

Whenever I discard something, I disassemble it and I keep the hardware. That junk, as someone I know and love refers to as, has saved me many, many times. Ask Ed in Tampa. He doesn't throw anything away either.

You are right Dusty. I take everything apart too. I never throw away anything unless I take apart first, salvage all the screws and nuts and bolts. I usually also have a collection of little parts that I'm sure will be useful someday somehow. I usually keep them 5-15 years and then throw them all away and pride my self on all the room I have. Which will immediately be refilled with more precious junk.

Once in a blue moon I will need some stupid looking something and find something equally as stupid looking that will substitute nicely for the actual part I need. I think that has occurred about 3 times in my life. But that doesn't slow me down no sire! Take it apart and salvage everything I can is my motto. The other day my stash of salvaged power cords rained down on me. I think I had to have about fifty all about 6 foot long and all 14 or 16 gauge wire in assorted colors. I finally tossed them all and already I have found 5 more "really special" ones that I had squirreled in separate locations. Tossed them too.

I also threw away all the empty storage containers I had squirrel away so I could fill them with salvaged parts. I must have thrown away 50 large pill vials and 20 empty coffee cans, and a small ton of tupperware containers my buddies wife bought and was throwing away which I salvaged for salvaged parts container.

I now have a ton more oxygen in my shop.

I may have to buy some tools to fill the empty spaces.

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 12:22 pm

I'm a borderline hoarder when it comes to throwing stuff away.
Nuts bolts washers cords etc. I'm trying to kick the habit.
I'm running out of room to put things so I save much less now days.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 12:44 pm

lightnin wrote:I'm a borderline hoarder when it comes to throwing stuff away.
Nuts bolts washers cords etc. I'm trying to kick the habit.
I'm running out of room to put things so I save much less now days.

I solved that problem.

I repurposed all of the large plastic chlorine containers (that I have been saving) by making tops from cutoffs. With those lids, they are weather proof so they can be lined up out behind the shed.

Examples: I have one that is full of miscellaneous power cords (mostly computer related), I have one that is nearly full of battery eliminators, I have one that has power supplies, I have one that is full of small hardwood cutoffs, I have ......

I should label them. I get a work out when I need something that might be in one of those.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 3:46 pm

dusty wrote:I solved that problem.

I repurposed all of the large plastic chlorine containers (that I have been saving) by making tops from cutoffs. With those lids, they are weather proof so they can be lined up out behind the shed.

Examples: I have one that is full of miscellaneous power cords (mostly computer related), I have one that is nearly full of battery eliminators, I have one that has power supplies, I have one that is full of small hardwood cutoffs, I have ......

I should label them. I get a work out when I need something that might be in one of those.

I hope you got every trace of chlorine out of the containers, if not all the metal will corrode. Bad for electrical plugs and receptacles. Also for anything you wanted to keep shiny.

I ruined a ton of new screws by putting them into chlorine bucket and forgetting about them for about a week or two.

sawmill · Post by **sawmill** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:10 pm

When we moved to our retirement home my shop in only a fraction the size that I had. My dad had a nail keg full of 1/2 and 5/8 inch bolts nuts and washers of different lengths. It had been sitting around for as long as I can remember and I ended up with it. I took out the 1/2 inch stuff and got rid of the 5/8 stuff because I never used it or so I thought. Every time I have to buy a 5/8 inch bolt or nut I kick myself