Iris Ohyama IRIS USA Screw Tool Organizer Small Parts Cabinet, 44-Drawer, Electronics Hardware Nuts and Bolts Plastic Storage Drawers Garage Storage, Stackable Bead Craft Organizer Building Bricks Sorter, Black

Small parts multiply faster than anyone expects. Screws, wall anchors, hex keys, wire ferrules, beads, and stray drill bits all seem to find their way into the same catch-all box. I put the Iris 44‑drawer organizer on my bench to see if it could restore some sanity. After several weeks of daily use in a mixed workshop (wood, electronics, light automotive, and the occasional craft project), it’s become the primary home for all the tiny things that used to slow me down.

Build and design

The cabinet is molded plastic, made in the USA, and measures 19.5 x 7 x 15.5 inches. It’s a familiar format: 44 drawers with a bank of smaller bins above and larger bins below. The small drawers are 6 x 1.75 x 1.5 inches; the large drawers are 6 x 4 x 2 inches. That front-to-back length is the quiet hero here—you can store longer items (machine screws, small files, Allen keys, zip ties, paint pens) that don’t fit in many short, cube-like bins.

The frame has just enough rigidity that it doesn’t twist when loaded with hardware. I can grab a corner and reposition it without feeling like I’ll rack the whole unit. The drawers are clear enough to see contents at a glance, and they slide on smooth rails. Practical touch: there’s a subtle stop at the back of each slot so a fully opened drawer doesn’t fall into your lap. When you want a drawer out completely, a firmer tug clears the stop.

Setup, mounting, and stacking

I ran the cabinet freestanding on a workbench for a week, then stacked a second unit on top. The molded grooves on the top cap nest cleanly with the feet of another cabinet, which prevents lateral creep when you open drawers. If you live in an area prone to vibration or you plan to stack more than two, I’d still recommend either wall-mounting or adding a simple bracket/cleat for extra security.

Mounting is straightforward: the back panel has holes for screws. Lag it to studs or a plywood backer and the risk of a cascade of open drawers from an accidental bump goes way down. For mobile carts or narrow shelves, I prefer a slight forward tilt so drawers naturally close.

Day-to-day use

This organizer earns its keep by saving reach-and-search time. I split the small drawers into fasteners and electronics consumables and used the larger drawers for “odds and ends” that never had a proper home: small hand drivers, hex key sets, shrink tubing spools, and specialty bits. The depth pays off; I can lay out a full set of metric M4 hardware (6–30 mm) in a single drawer, front to back, separated with thin dividers.

A few practical notes from use:
- The drawers glide best when you leave a few millimeters of headroom. Overfilling to the lip can cause a light scrape on opening, especially with flexible items like heat-shrink or zip ties.
- Standard address labels fit perfectly on the drawer faces; I used Avery 18294 and they’re sized just right.
- The stops are tuned well for normal use. You won’t accidentally dump a drawer, but you can still remove it one-handed when you want to take a bin to the workpiece.

If you tip the whole cabinet forward, the drawers will slide out. This isn’t unique to this unit; it’s the nature of gravity and smooth plastic. Mounting or a small anti-tip strap resolves it.

Capacity and flexibility

For a cabinet of this footprint, capacity is excellent. Here’s what fits comfortably without cramming:
- Small drawers: screws up to 2.5 inches laid diagonally, resistor/LED tape cuttings, wire ferrules, cable glands up to M16, utility blades, deburring tool heads, and assorted bits in sleeves.
- Large drawers: 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch socket sets (shallow), small pliers, precision driver sets, paint markers, short rolls of solder and wick, and most common wall anchors.

The long dimension makes it particularly good for segmented storage. I added thin dividers (3D-printed and some cut from corrugated plastic) to split drawers into front/middle/rear lanes. If you don’t have a printer, cardboard works fine and still allows the drawer to glide.

Materials and durability

It’s all plastic, but not flimsy. The drawer bodies are thicker than bargain-bin units, so they don’t bow under a heavy load of fasteners. The cabinet shell has a bit of flex if you grab it at the top corners, which is normal for this category; wall-mounting eliminates that flex entirely.

My unit arrived with a light film of warehouse dust and a couple of superficial scuffs on the outer shell—cosmetic, easy to wipe off. After loading it with several pounds of hardware and stacking a second cabinet, I haven’t seen any cracking, rail wear, or drawer lip damage. The rails remain smooth and the stops haven’t loosened. I’d still avoid storing truly heavy items (hammers, large pliers) in the big drawers; that’s not what this cabinet is built for.

Ergonomics and visibility

The clear drawers strike a good balance between visibility and glare. You can identify contents from a couple of feet away without needing labels, and labeling just speeds up retrieval. Because the drawers are long and relatively shallow, items don’t bury themselves the way they do in deep bins—you see most of what you own at a glance.

One quirk: if a drawer is packed with light, flexible items (nylon ties, gasket cord), a strand can occasionally catch on the slot lip. Leaving a little headroom solves it. For tiny items like watch screws or beads, a drawer liner or small cups prevent slide-around when you open and close repeatedly.

Compared to other storage options

• Versus flip-lid parts cases: the Iris cabinet is faster for daily access and better for static stations. Cases are better for mobile work.
• Versus metal drawer cabinets: metal frames can be stiffer and heavier, but at much higher cost and weight. For small parts in a home shop or light professional environment, the Iris hits the durability sweet spot.
• Versus other plastic 44‑drawer units: this one is slightly deeper front-to-back than some competitors, which I prefer for longer fasteners and tools. Drawer clarity and glide are on par or better.

What I’d change

• Optional locking stops would help for mobile carts or high-traffic areas. The current stop is fine for benches and walls, less so if you expect bumps.
• A few included dividers would go a long way. The long drawers beg to be segmented.
• Quality control on cosmetics could be tighter. Mine had minor surface scuffs; functionally perfect, but worth noting if you’re particular.

Tips for setup

• Mount it if you can. Even two screws into a stud makes the user experience better.
• Group by task, not just by size. I keep a “wall hardware” column (anchors, screws, drivers) so jobs involve fewer open drawers.
• Label consistently. One label per drawer face, left-aligned, saves time scanning.
• Don’t overfill. Aim for 80–90% capacity per drawer to keep the glide consistent.

Who it’s for

• Home shops and garages that need a reliable, space-efficient place for small parts.
• Electronics benches and makers who benefit from quick visual inventory.
• Crafters and bead workers who want long, shallow drawers that prevent lost items.
• Light professional use where wall-mounting is available and the load is primarily small hardware.

If you need to store heavy hand tools or you routinely move the cabinet around, look to a different form factor. This is a station-based organizer, and it shines in that role.

Bottom line

The Iris 44‑drawer organizer does the core job well: it keeps small parts visible, accessible, and sorted without eating up bench space. The long drawer dimension increases what you can store compared to many lookalikes, the glide is smooth, and the built‑in stops balance safety with easy removal. Mounting and stacking are thoughtfully handled, and the overall build feels sturdy for the category.

Recommendation: I recommend this organizer for anyone who wants a dependable, reasonably priced small-parts cabinet for a bench or wall. It’s especially strong if you value longer drawers and clear visibility. Mount it, label it, avoid overstuffing, and it will make your workspace calmer and your tasks faster.