Sort fasteners and hardware into labelled containers as you remove them, by type, size and thread: nails by size, screws by head and length, bolts by diameter and thread pitch, and hinges, locks and plumbing fittings by kind, because metric and imperial threads do not interchange and small parts lost in debris cannot be replaced. Reuse only parts that are straight, unstripped and uncorroded, and keep electrical parts only if they are not scorched or cracked.
Part of Building Material Recovery
A building holds thousands of small metal parts, and almost none of them can be made without a forge, a lathe and a thread-cutting kit. Their value lies in being kept sorted from the moment they come out.
Sorting At The Moment Of Removal Is Cheaper Than Sorting A Mixed Pile
The parent article’s rule is that organised recovery saves hours later. Bring containers such as buckets, coffee cans and zip bags, and sort as you go.
- Nails: by size (penny weight or metric). Even bent nails have value.
- Screws: by type (wood, drywall, machine, lag) and size. Modern construction uses far more screws than nails.
- Bolts, nuts and washers: by diameter and thread pitch. Metric and imperial do not interchange.
- Hinges: door, cabinet and gate hinges. Reusable indefinitely.
- Locks and door hardware: locksets, deadbolts, handles and latches. Security matters.
- Electrical components: switches, outlets, junction boxes, wire nuts and breakers. These are standardised and directly reusable.
- Plumbing fittings: elbows, tees, couplings and valves. Sort by material: copper, PVC, PEX or galvanised.
What You Need
- Containers with lids, and a marker and labels.
- Screwdrivers, a wrench set, pliers, a punch and a hammer.
- Penetrating oil for rusted fasteners; see Joints, Hinges & Moving Parts.
- A magnet, to find stray steel fasteners in debris.
- Gloves and eye protection.
Method: Remove, Check, Sort, Store
Step 1: Remove without damage. Back screws out with a driver that fits the head. For hinges, tap the pin out from below with a punch. For rusted bolts, soak with penetrating oil first. For nails, see Denailing & Board Cleaning.
Step 2: Check each part. Reject stripped heads, bent shafts, damaged threads and heavy corrosion. A thread that has been cross-threaded will not seat.
Step 3: Match threads. Try a nut on a bolt by hand. If it runs smoothly, the thread matches. If it binds, do not force it: the thread is a different pitch or system.
Step 4: Sort into containers and label each with the type and size.
Step 5: Clean and oil. Brush off rust and rub a light coat of oil on steel parts.
Step 6: Check electrical items for scorching, cracks or loose terminals. Do not reuse any that show damage, and do not reuse a device you have not proved dead; see Copper Wiring & Plumbing.
Common Mistakes
- Dumping everything in one bucket. Hours go in the sort afterwards.
- Forcing a nut onto a mismatched bolt. It ruins both.
- Reusing stripped screws. They fail under load.
- Straightening and reusing bent nails for structural work. They are weaker (parent article).
- Discarding “ugly” hinges. A rusty hinge is usually a sound hinge.
Safety
Rusted fasteners snap, and sharp small parts are easy to lose
A rusted bolt that breaks under a wrench can slip your hand into sharp edges, and a hammer striking a punch can chip and throw fragments, so wear gloves and eye protection. Never apply a flame to a fastener wet with oil or solvent. Electrical parts may still be live; treat them as live until proven dead. Keep sharp offcuts and loose screws in containers so nobody steps on them.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Insulation & Roofing Materials — the last material in the group
- Combine with: Denailing & Board Cleaning — where most of the nails come from