I made a trip to IKEA last week and gleefully picked up a couple of workshop trays for 99 cents each.
Apparently the TILLGÅNG trays are on clearance on gray and pale green colors. I don’t recall how much they normally are – maybe $1.99? – but they’re 99 cents with “last chance to buy” notices.
Technically these are food trays, but they’re also workshop essentials.
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One of my parts trays is in use at the moment – it’s shown here at the very start of a kit assembly project. It’s a very good tray for containing hardware, but it’s hard to clean and its flexibility make it a pain to move around.
The IKEA trays are cheap, sturdy, and multi-functional. I’m happy with my red parts tray, but there are times when the more rigid IKEA trays would work better.
These trays can hold small parts being glued, tools during a messy project, fasteners during assembly or repairs, and so much more.
There are limits to what these trays can be used for, but at 99 cents each, you can’t argue with the value.
I bought 6 of them. Do I need that many? Probably not. Maybe I’ll build a small organizational tower for projects that I need to put on pause.
At least one of the trays might be used in an upcoming project, as a material, since plastic sheets cost a lot more and cardboard would be too wobbly.
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The trays measure 15″ x 11″. There’s a shallow lip that helps with spills. They’re labeled PP-H on the bottom. I have other IKEA trays from a few years ago – these are a bit smaller.
My store only had these in gray. It looks like both are available for shipping.
While not as inexpensive as say coated paper plates, a dollar seems quite reasonable for the level of utility something like this provides.
While I wouldn’t run out to IKEA just to buy some trays, maybe look for them on your next visit.
Price: $0.99 each
MM
Speaking of foodservice products that are useful in the workshop, I find standard 4-compartment cutlery bins–the same kind you see in cafeterias–to be handy for organizing parts.
There’s lots of versions, but for example:
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/box-cutlery-4comp-gray-hd/690FG3362GY.html
Peter
👍
Josh R
I was at IKEA a few weeks ago and picked up 20 of those trays for use in my workshop. At that price, if I ruin one who cares?
Chris
As a mechanic, especially a mechanic with ADHD, you can never have too many parts trays. Those would sure be handy for pulling oil filled components apart without making a mess.
BG100
These would be great for rebuilding carburetors without getting lacquered gas all over my workbench that also doubles as my soldering bench. If only I lived near an IKEA…
Bonnie
These are available for delivery if there’s one at least in your state/province.
Mopar
Almost as cheap as getting them for free from the local fast food joint.
I kid.
That is a good price, if only they had a store near me. I have a few I grabbed at the estate sale of a caterer, and use them for all sorts of things, all the time. I think they were 50 cents each. Wish I had grabbed more. Also grabbed some bus tubs. Also very versatile in the shop. Decently large and heavy duty, with low sides. I could probably use a few dozen, but I only bought 2.
fred
Great price – but I have a few similar ones and also use some old SS sheet pans that are impervious to most solvents. Unfortunately SS baking sheets sell for many multiples of $0.99
I also have what’s called a funnel tray – that helps with sorting through assorted parts dumped out of jars or bins then put back after you find what you want. I only have 1 of these (made by Teerco in the USA) – bought in Y2k for $2.99 – but Amazon sells a 6-pack of look-alikes for about $3ea.
https://www.amazon.com/Reallnaive-Multicolor-Stackable-Organizer-Classroom/dp/B0F3D4F4B4
or you can find sellers who offer singles at around $3 – but perhaps add shipping costs depending on order size.
https://www.mcfeelys.com/easy-sorter-funnel-tray.html
Stuart
I just have this one – https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Sorter-Funnel/dp/B001DSY5P4/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
For your first link, the use of generative AI for such a simple product is highly disturbing.
fred
My Teerco one seems identical to the one from Rockler in look, color and price.
Bonnie
I think that’s just some weird super-aggressive smoothing/post-processing. The third image is the same hand and tray and it looks completely normal (with skin texture and wrinkles and shadows that make me thing it’s not AI just normal photoshopping).
Matt S.
I used to put these types of trays underneath the rear tires of my FWD car, lock the parking brake, and let loose “drifting” in a parking lot
Nathan
I wondered if this use case would come up.
Allen
I’ve thought about buying a used sheet pan rack like they would use in a bakery and then having lots of sheet pans as part / project trays that can then be stacked and put away if needed. As Fred said above, those sheet pans are a lot more expensive. These look to be a little smaller, but wonder if there’s a cafeteria tray rack like what they use in the IKEA cafeterias even.
Does anyone have a setup like that?
fred
Amazon sells several varieties of rolling racks – the cheapest seems to cost about $100
https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-10-Tier-Aluminum-Commercial-Equipment/dp/B0DY7LC8QR
ElectroAtletico
Give me metal trays…..or give me food trays!!