Think of the last thing that you took apart and put back together.  When you were taking it apart, did it have bolts and screws?  If so, where did you set them?  I remember as a kid when I would help my dad with the, car, I would have to hold the bolts and screws.  I couldn’t set them on the garage floor, because they would either roll away or just magically disappear.

A tool that many novice car mechanics don’t know about is a magnetic tool tray.  This try is a god send when it comes to working on anything that requires taking apart screws and more.  Simply throw it into the tray and it’s going to stick.  The reason it will is simply because it’s magnetic!

If you’re thinking about purchasing one, they won’t break the bank.  The average tray on the market is going to run you anywhere from $10 to $20.

I wanted to point out what I thought were the best trays on the market today.  Each and every one has it’s own unique feature that you may want to consider when thinking about purchasing one.

  • #1 Advanced Tool Design Model ATD-8761: Simple, yet effective rectangular shaped tray.  By reading the reviews, people tend to like this model the best based on the fact that it can hold a lot, as well as have a strong force to keep them from moving.  This one will run you around $12.
  • #2 ATD Stainless Steel Parts Tray: This one is a little smaller.  It’s designed more for your smaller jobs.  5 3/8″ in diameter and includes one magnet.  This one runs around $10.
  • #3 Magnetic 5-1/2″ Parts and Hobby Tray: This one isn’t really design for the car, but great for hobbies.  Yes, while it can be used when working the garage, I guess it can be great for all jobs that you’re going to do around the house that require bolts and screws.
  • #4 Wilmar W1264: If you’re on a budget and you want something that is going to work, this tray manufactured by Wilmar is only going to run you $5.  It has fantastic reviews and is only the price of a fast food lunch!
  • #5 ATD Square Parts Tray: This is the most expensive one of the list running around $20, but the thing I like about this one is that you can sort your screws.  Let’s say that you have 5 different bolts.  There are circles on here that allow you to separate them, making it pretty cool!

As you can see, the tray won’t break the bank and it will probably be something that you can use.  Be sure to add it to your collection!