DeWalt Magnetic Parts Bucket

I lose more time hunting for fasteners than I care to admit. This magnetic parts bucket has been an easy way to keep screws, sockets, and the day’s pocket clutter exactly where I need them—on the rack uprights, a steel pegboard, or the side of a toolbox—without adding another thing to bolt down or knock over.

Build and materials

The bucket is compact at 7 inches wide by 3.5 inches high and 5 inches deep. It’s molded from semi‑flexible polypropylene that feels more forgiving than a brittle storage bin but still holds its shape when loaded. That semi‑flexibility matters; I’ve knocked it off a cart and it shrugged off the fall with no cracks. Polypropylene also cleans up easily and resists the typical shop cocktail of oils, brake cleaner overspray, and general grime.

Inside, molded grooves create light dividers. They don’t form sealed compartments, but they do a nice job of corralling small hardware so washers aren’t skating around under a pile of bolts. The walls are tall enough that sockets and short wrenches don’t tumble out when you move the bucket, and the rounded edges don’t scuff tools.

The bucket is bright yellow. That’s a small thing, but in a cluttered space it’s easy to spot, even when it migrates.

Magnets and mounting options

Three removable neodymium magnets are the heart of the design. Each magnet sits in a steel bracket that screws to the bucket, and there are six mounting locations molded into the bucket—three on the back and three on the bottom. That gives you vertical mounting (to a wall, cabinet side, toolbox face) or horizontal mounting (to a shelf or lift arm) with the same hardware. Swapping magnet positions takes a Phillips screwdriver and a minute.

As for holding power, the magnets are genuinely strong for the bucket’s size. On the painted side of a steel toolbox, using all three magnets on the back, I could load the bucket with a mixed pile of fasteners, a tape measure, and a couple of pliers—around 8 to 10 pounds by my scale—before I saw any creeping. On thicker steel, like pallet rack uprights, it held even more confidently. On thinner or curved sheet metal (vehicle body panels, for example), it still works, but the margin narrows; that’s the nature of thin metal and paint between you and the magnets.

The bottom magnet adds stability when mounting the bucket horizontally under a shelf or along a lift arm. In that orientation, you’re working against gravity a bit more, so spreading the magnets across the bottom helps. I found centering them rather than clustering all three in one area distributes load better.

One important note: the magnets are for mounting, not for magnetizing the contents. There’s no steel plate inside the bin and the brackets are countersunk to mount a specific way, so you can’t flip them to create a magnetic interior without modifying hardware. If you need a bowl that actively holds ferrous fasteners in place, this isn’t that. Think of this as a portable bin that sticks where you put it.

Day‑to‑day use

The footprint hits a sweet spot for grab‑and‑go tasks. It’s big enough to hold everything I tend to carry for assembly or teardown—markers, a utility knife, a small roll of tape, a handful of fasteners, and a couple of sockets—yet it tucks into tight spots on a crowded rack or cart. Because it’s a bucket and not a shallow tray, parts don’t shake loose when you roll a cart across a rough floor.

Those interior grooves do more than look nice. I’ve been separating fasteners by step—pilot screws in one groove, finish screws in another—and it keeps me from fishing through a single pile with gloved hands. It’s not the same as a compartmented bin with dividers and labels, but the subtle organization is useful in the moment.

The magnets make it easy to create a temporary landing zone wherever I’m working. On a steel pegboard, I can park it next to the tool I’m using and move it along as I go. On rack uprights, it becomes a catch‑all at shoulder height so pockets stay light. Along the side of a lift or metal sawhorses, it keeps hardware at hand instead of on the floor.

If your shop is more wood than metal, the magnets and brackets can be removed and the bucket can be screwed to a wall or bench face using appropriate screws. It’s not the primary intent, but the plastic takes fasteners cleanly and the flat back sits well against wood. I’ve used it this way near a miter station to hold pencils and small hardware where a permanent metal surface isn’t available.

Durability and maintenance

Polypropylene was a good material choice here. It doesn’t absorb oil, so a quick wipe returns it to clean. The semi‑flexible nature means it doesn’t shatter if dropped. I wouldn’t leverage it as a handle or use it to carry heavy tools across the shop, but as a fixed bin that occasionally gets bumped, it feels robust.

The magnet brackets are steel and the screws thread into molded bosses. After several magnet relocations, those bosses still feel snug; I recommend hand‑tightening rather than over‑torquing to preserve the threads. The magnets themselves have stayed chip‑free despite repeated mounting and removal from painted surfaces.

DeWalt backs it with a 1‑year limited warranty and a 90‑day money‑back guarantee. For a simple accessory, that’s reasonable peace of mind.

Limitations and wish list

• Capacity is tied to its compact footprint. If you want to stage a full brake job’s worth of hardware plus several hand tools in one place, you’ll bump into the limits. A wider version would be welcome.
• There’s no built‑in pen sleeve or side clip. I’d love a small side holster for a marker or knife so those don’t bury themselves under hardware.
• The interior is not magnetized. If you rely on magnetic bowls to keep nuts and washers from migrating, pair this bucket with a separate magnetic tray.
• Holding power varies with surface. On thin or curved panels (and through thick paint), don’t assume it will hold the same load as on heavy steel. Using all three magnets and cleaning the contact area helps.
• No lid or drain. It’s purely an open bucket; if you work outside or in wet environments, water will collect and small parts can get dusty.

None of these are deal‑breakers for how I use it, but they’re worth knowing so you can match it to your workflow.

Key details I confirmed

• Dimensions: 7 in. W x 3.5 in. H x 5 in. D
• Construction: Semi‑flexible polypropylene, resistant to common shop chemicals
• Magnets: Three removable neodymium magnets; six mounting positions (three back, three bottom)
• Interior: Grooved dividers molded into the floor
• Mounts to: Steel pegboards, storage rack beams, toolboxes, lifts, and other ferrous surfaces
• Includes: Bucket, three magnet brackets, hardware pack
• Warranty: 1‑year limited; 90‑day money‑back

Who it suits

• Mechanics and DIYers who want a movable catch‑all that relocates with the task
• Anyone using steel racks, pegboards, or toolboxes where magnetic mounting makes sense
• Shops where chemical resistance and easy cleanup matter

Less ideal for: folks who want an interior‑magnetized parts bowl or a much larger caddy with integrated tool holsters.

Recommendation

I recommend this parts bucket for anyone who works around metal surfaces and wants a durable, compact bin that goes where the job is. The plastic feels tougher than many budget bins, the magnets are strong and configurable, and the interior grooves add just enough organization without overcomplicating things. Be aware of its size and the fact that it doesn’t magnetize the contents; if you need a wide, compartmented organizer or a magnetic bowl, look elsewhere. But as a portable, stick‑anywhere catch‑all for fasteners, small tools, and odds and ends, it’s a smart, well‑executed addition to the shop.