Part Storage Recommendations

[Gnzo84]

Just got my Mk IV delivered this week and started going through the boxes. I realized I want to transfer to clear bins or some other way to store the parts in mostly the same order as the boxes. What does everything think is the best setup if you used something other than the cardboard boxes?

-PG

[GoDadGo]

PG,

What worked for me was to inventory each box and place the parts back in it.
I then taped a copy of each box's inventory sheet after I finished the inventory of each box.
I became familiar with the parts and when I needed a part, I looked at my list and then went to each box to pull the needed item.
Then I stored the boxes where I could easily get to them.
Yep, the Living Room & Master Bedroom worked great!
It worked well for me and may work well for you, but if you have a wife, not so much except for my better half.

Steve
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8m-MdRZvaH45Y6h4orIm7w/videos

[CraigS]

Don't you have an inventory from FFR listed by box number? 6-7 yrs ago my friend w/ his new MkIV had that. We did a bonzai 2week build almost to gokart tage and found that leaving all parts in the box they came in worked best. We tried consolidating but quickly found that was more trouble than it was worth because we didn't update the inventory list.

[frankb]

Whatever you do, make sure you update your inventory list, especially if you consolidate boxes or move the parts to bins. Also, remember to cross off the items you install on your chassis as you build! With several hundred parts floating around, you need to know where they are.

[Straversi]

I wouldn’t bother with changing out the boxes. Money you’ll find other uses for. A little frustrating in the beginning but you will have those cardboard boxes memorized in no time. Taping the content list on each box and making your own notes on the boxes with sharpies works great. One of the great joys of the build process is throwing boxes away as you empty them.
Have fun.
-Steve

[Traveller]

One of the great joys of the build process is throwing boxes away as you empty them.
Have fun.
-Steve

Too funny - I thought I was weird because of how satisfying I found it to be each time I broke down and got rid of another empty box...

[Norm B]

I got a couple of stacking shelves from Costco so I didn't have move a stack of boxes each time I needed a part and put the inventory on the front of the box so I could easily pick out the box I needed for build step I was on.
I agree, there was a certain satisfaction to emptying a box and breaking it down.

Norm

[JohnK]

Like others, I kept all the parts in their original boxes. I don't have enough room to keep all the boxes in the garage so I moved the boxes I won't be needing immediately down to my basement. I created a box summary spreadsheet that shows me, at a high level, what's in each box and where each box is. Makes it very easy to track stuff down without having to read through the entire inventory sheet when looking for something.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=134046&d=1598108546

[GTBradley]

I wouldn’t bother with changing out the boxes. Money you’ll find other uses for. A little frustrating in the beginning but you will have those cardboard boxes memorized in no time. Taping the content list on each box and making your own notes on the boxes with sharpies works great. One of the great joys of the build process is throwing boxes away as you empty them.
Have fun.
-Steve
I totally agree with Steve. The one thing that would make things easier is if FFR would give you a searchable pdf instead of a paper inventory list. I can’t tell you how much time I spent trying to find parts on the list so I could get the box number.

[Gnzo84]

Thanks recommendations. Definitely like the idea of the spreadsheet to track the boxes and where everything is. I'll give it a shot scanning the inventory sheet and converting the PDF to text to see if I can get something searchable. If it works out I'll post it.

[Jetfuel]

Inventory the box to make sure it is what they say....take a picture, make an album, a month or two from now the text on the box may not make much sense but the picture can be matched to the build manual item required for that task

Jet

[JohnK]

I'm happy to e-mail you my spreadsheet if that's helpful. PM me your e-mail address.