Your parts inventory

[eaglescout526]

How are yall inventorying your parts hoard/stash/pile? 

 

I came to the conclusion that its time to inventory all my static parts that wont have any near plans to sell and am doing just a simple excel sheet and labeling the boxes accordingly. Im curious if theres any other good ideas out there.

[Salvagedcircuit]

Yep. Excel sheet works. Otherwise the google "sheets" version so can pull it up on the phone. I keep a google doc of the repairs and analysis of my comanche. It's a novel at this point lol

[89 MJ]

I just try to remember what I’ve got. For my MJ stuff that works fine, but I’m pretty much down to my NOS gate, tail lights, and a few other odds and ends. My Eagle stuff on the other hand is a mess. Same with the 40 stuff and tractor stuff. I like the sheets idea. 

[Pete M]

I have 4 main piles.  upstairs in the barn (which has fans for air circulation), downstairs in the barn (which has a dehumidifier), under the canopy next to the barn, and gets-wet-with-every-rain.    most all of it is sorted into groups of like items (and by what sort of moisture it can handle), but I've never bothered to actually catalog them.  I can't bring myself to catalog things I want to sell. 

[eaglescout526]

Lol to all.

 

I am mostly doing this cause I go to look for one thing and end up finding another thing I can use. Dont get me wrong, its a nice surprise but not when you already spent the money later on. Like I went to look for the original carb air cleaner assembly to display in the garage and ended up finding a tilt column housing with the switch I needed that I otherwise couldve paid $100 for to have the intermittent wipers. I think this has happened a few other times while building up Chunk to where I want to save myself the hassle and money in the long run if I know what I have and where.

[87MJTIM]

I have a large storage tub full of parts from MJ/XJ.  I made a list of most of the parts inside and taped it to the top.

 

Now, I just have to remember to look at the list before I go and buy a new part.

[schardein]

Funny story.  I used to work out of a small workshop the size of a one car garage.  I bought a spare alternator for the LS engine in my CJ at the junkyard.  When I went to store it in the very crowded workshop, I took a minute to look around.  I then noticed that there was shelf space behind my tool box that I could probably fit the alternator in.  So I moved some things out of the way, looked behind the tool box... and saw a spare alternator.   Still today, I'll occasionally open a drawer, or box, or cabinet and find a part I forgot I had.

 

I have a lot of stuff.  A LOT.  Most of it isn't inventoried.  I have gotten into the practice now, anything I get that is fairly large (steering columns are a great example) I tag them with a plastic tag with a wire tie I got off Amazon ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F63P2YA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) so at least I know the year/make/model/whatever of the part.

 

I store a lot of things in Priority Mail shipping boxes.  I label the boxes with a permanent marker so I at least have an idea what's in them (stereo stuff, LED lights, etc)

 

I purchase "ziploc" bags by the 1000s in various sizes (2"x3", 3"x5", 4"x4") for storing screws, nuts, bolts, etc.  I used to write directly on the bag with a permanent marker, but even that can wear off with time.  Now, I write on a post-it note and put it inside the bag.

 

I do have a dresser drawer of "special" parts that I save with no intention of selling.  Some of these are rare parts, or just "examples" of not so rare parts in case I need one to refer to for some reason.  I keep a simple excel document listing each part, and there is a corresponding folder with a picture of each item.  The list number matches the photo number (part #1 on the list is photo #1 in the photo folder).  It's easy to update when I add something new, take a picture or two and add a line to the list.

 

I've been selling on eBay for 24 years.  Lots of Jeep parts, but other things as well.  I've kept pictures of each sold item since 2012.  Comes in handy sometimes when I can't remember a detail of a certain part, I can reference the old pictures.

[Salvagedcircuit]

1 hour ago, schardein said:

Funny story.  I used to work out of a small workshop the size of a one car garage.  I bought a spare alternator for the LS engine in my CJ at the junkyard.  When I went to store it in the very crowded workshop, I took a minute to look around.  I then noticed that there was shelf space behind my tool box that I could probably fit the alternator in.  So I moved some things out of the way, looked behind the tool box... and saw a spare alternator.   Still today, I'll occasionally open a drawer, or box, or cabinet and find a part I forgot I had.

 

I have a lot of stuff.  A LOT.  Most of it isn't inventoried.  I have gotten into the practice now, anything I get that is fairly large (steering columns are a great example) I tag them with a plastic tag with a wire tie I got off Amazon ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F63P2YA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) so at least I know the year/make/model/whatever of the part.

 

I store a lot of things in Priority Mail shipping boxes.  I label the boxes with a permanent marker so I at least have an idea what's in them (stereo stuff, LED lights, etc)

 

I purchase "ziploc" bags by the 1000s in various sizes (2"x3", 3"x5", 4"x4") for storing screws, nuts, bolts, etc.  I used to write directly on the bag with a permanent marker, but even that can wear off with time.  Now, I write on a post-it note and put it inside the bag.

 

I do have a dresser drawer of "special" parts that I save with no intention of selling.  Some of these are rare parts, or just "examples" of not so rare parts in case I need one to refer to for some reason.  I keep a simple excel document listing each part, and there is a corresponding folder with a picture of each item.  The list number matches the photo number (part #1 on the list is photo #1 in the photo folder).  It's easy to update when I add something new, take a picture or two and add a line to the list.

 

I've been selling on eBay for 24 years.  Lots of Jeep parts, but other things as well.  I've kept pictures of each sold item since 2012.  Comes in handy sometimes when I can't remember a detail of a certain part, I can reference the old pictures.

So this is how you are able to have all those brackets, bolts, clips, lights etc... I find myself needing. Nice

[schardein]

22 minutes ago, Salvagedcircuit said:

So this is how you are able to have all those brackets, bolts, clips, lights etc... I find myself needing. Nice

Yep, and it all started because I needed a part, so I thought someone else might need one too.  I get a good deal of satisfaction knowing that I helped someone keep their vintage Jeep on the road.  My eBay sales have grown a lot since 2018 when I retired from the Marine Corps and was able to devote more time to it.

[M.T.Hands]

4 hours ago, schardein said:

Funny story.  I used to work out of a small workshop the size of a one car garage.  I bought a spare alternator for the LS engine in my CJ at the junkyard.  When I went to store it in the very crowded workshop, I took a minute to look around.  I then noticed that there was shelf space behind my tool box that I could probably fit the alternator in.  So I moved some things out of the way, looked behind the tool box... and saw a spare alternator.   Still today, I'll occasionally open a drawer, or box, or cabinet and find a part I forgot I had.

 

I've been selling on eBay for 24 years.  Lots of Jeep parts, but other things as well.  I've kept pictures of each sold item since 2012.  Comes in handy sometimes when I can't remember a detail of a certain part, I can reference the old pictures.

^^^^I am the worlds worst about hiding stuff from myself and buying a duplicate, and the worst part, when I get back to the shop with my "New" item, I'll tell myself "I'll put this right here so there is no chance of not having/finding it", and Whoala, there is the original part/tool I'd been searching for

 

I also do the photo and cataloging of items I sell on FB marketplace and ebay

[eaglescout526]

22 minutes ago, M.T.Hands said:

buying a duplicate

This is mainly why I asked what everyone is doing or thoughts haha. I hate wasting money these days as is when everything is hard enough and buying a part that you already have and got it cheaper to add an insult to the injury. 

 

Its hard enough to sell what I have as is so I can figure out what else I dont need and would like it to be in the hands of someone who can. Like the NOS and used Renix knock sensor. I cant use it and probably never will and want it to go to the right home without tossing it to the wayside. 

 

To where as if I inventory what I know I plan to keep but may up selling one day or really just wont have a use for it once all my stuff is done done, I can then get it to someones hands who needs it. 

[Pete M]

yeah, acquiring a duplicate was never an issue with me.   do I need that 10th door panel?  nope, but it's mine now.  

 

but selling my last one is a real fear and will likely result in some better organization in the future.  gotta find some epic free time though.   (free time where I'm also injury-free.  laying around all day because I hurt my back yet again doesn't count.  can you hear me Universe?  that doesn't count!)

[schardein]

1 hour ago, Pete M said:

but selling my last one is a real fear 

That's a big reason I created my "special drawer" and inventory for it.  Partially it was to make sure I kept parts that I intend to use in future projects, like a 242 shift gate and bezel.  Then it also became to keep items that I want an example of for testing or research, like keeping both a blue and black warning buzzer so I could figure out the pinouts for testing them.  Or both a pre 92 and post 91 headlight switch.  And finally to keep a few really cool rare or obscure parts like a NOS Metric Ton badge, or an OEM chrome tailgate handle.

[M.T.Hands]

11 hours ago, eaglescout526 said:

This is mainly why I asked what everyone is doing or thoughts haha. I hate wasting money these days as is when everything is hard enough and buying a part that you already have and got it cheaper to add an insult to the injury. 

 

Its hard enough to sell what I have as is so I can figure out what else I don't need and would like it to be in the hands of someone who can. Like the NOS and used Renix knock sensor. I can't use it and probably never will and want it to go to the right home without tossing it to the wayside. 

 

To where as if I inventory what I know I plan to keep but may up selling one day or really just won't have a use for it once all my stuff is done done, I can then get it to someones hands who needs it. 

I had a simple excel spreadsheet like you mentioned and kept my ebay junk fairly well cataloged, and used a bunch of rubbermaid like totes for storage, at the time I had built racks in the 40 X 60 shop I had and it was not a problem, we have since sold our little farm and bought a different property and currently very limited space (couple of barns and a few out buildings) so very little storage at the moment, planning on a 30 X40 building soon, but no where near the amount of junk I had been fooling with, the totes and the catologging that stuff really helped, going forward i'm not going to be as ambitious in my selling and trying to keep what I need for myself, some car/truck parts, tractor junk, and a little bit of hunting and fishing stuff, but I will say, in the peak of my activity the totes, and the racks (the vertical storage is the best way to go), as well as cataloging items help tremendously

 

2 hours ago, Pete M said:

yeah, acquiring a duplicate was never an issue with me.   do I need that 10th door panel?  nope, but it's mine now.  

 

but selling my last one is a real fear and will likely result in some better organization in the future.  gotta find some epic free time though.   (free time where I'm also injury-free.  laying around all day because I hurt my back yet again doesn't count.  can you hear me Universe?  that doesn't count!)

Yeah, I figure I have plenty of spares, Hope the back is better soon

[pizzaman09]

I'm a big fan of Google sheets, but haven't needed it to inventory stuff.

I have very few Comanche parts around except a small box of things removed from the truck.  Generally I try to pretty quickly sell the food stuff to people that might find use of it so it's not cluttering up my garage.

[ComancheKid45]

I honestly forget what I have most of the time. I really need to record inventory again.....

[gogmorgo]

I had everything reasonably well organized into labelled boxes at one point. But I’ve moved the hoard a half dozen times now and every single time more stuff gets purged and shifted between boxes for better packing, so the labels aren’t strictly accurate.

The second to last time I figured I was going to be bouncing between rentals for a bit so I bought an 18’ enclosed trailer and stashed everything in there, but at the cost of not being able to get at it easily because the only reasonable place to park it at my current house has it backed right up against a garage so I can’t get the ramp open without moving it. And the man door has a big stack of axles to climb over if I want to get at stuff that way.

Eventually the goal is to move everything into said garage but I need to clean out all the previous occupant’s junk first…

 

A few years ago I started keeping stuff in clear totes, which helps a fair bit. Hat tip to Adam Savage there. They are kinda labelled and organized, but not super specifically. Being able to see into the totes without pulling out the whole stack and opening them all is pretty handy for quick finding of stuff. 
 

Whenever I get around to organizing it into more permanent storage I plan to label everything with source and approximate price and then maybe 30 years from now I can set up a table at a swap meet or something when I need to start purging again.