Already received some good advice but one thing you asked was how to protect them.
After I retired I worked part time for an auto parts store for a few years and we had to return stuff on a pallet which was wrapped with what I'll call "Saran Wrap". You know the plastic stuff I am talking about. Well, they have "short rolls" that don't get used and the manager would allow me to get them. Now when I blast/clean/paint a smaller part I let it dry/cure and then wrap it with the Saran Wrap a few times and put it away. Has worked for me for several years and you can do a pretty good size piece.
You can but this same stuff but I don't know if its expensive or not as I get mine free.
Note: you can buy "smaller" plastic "shoe box" size containers for dirt cheap and stuff a lot of smaller parts in them and then STACK them on top of each other. Example: I have all my wheels/rivits/handles/screws/bolts for my window regulator in one. It keeps it segregated but also organized.
....you are definitely on the right track!
