A magnetic mechanic’s bowl—available at any auto-parts store—is a woodworker’s spill-proof solution for screws, nails, or other ferrous hardware items. Even sideways or upside-down, the fasteners stay put until you need one. While the bowl’s strong grip solves one problem, it can create another, making it difficult to remove the leftover fasteners to return them to storage. But you can sidestep this inconvenience with a plastic container such as a baby food dish with a clear snap-on lid. Even with this insert, the magnetic attraction is still strong enough to prevent most spills.
