Need ideas for bit and tap storage

[Davo3]

Howdy.

At work, we drill and punch a LOT of holes. I've organized the bits and taps in a way that I thought was more or less idiot proof, but we have some amazing idiots here. I set up a plastic parts box for SAE and one for Metric and even color coded and labeled them (sometimes even putting sample bolts in the compartments, too), but folks continually put the bits and taps back in the wrong sections, so we still have to double check them before use. Our present setup is below:

I've been discussing better ways with a coworker; we're thinking about a metal box, with actual holes drilled and tapped in each compartment or in the lid, so we can grab a bit and tap and check them right there might work, but we want it easy enough so that everyone uses it.

I was wondering what solutions or suggestions you guys have for sorting and storing bits and taps.

Thanks much.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Howdy.

At work, we drill and punch a LOT of holes. I've organized the bits and taps in a way that I thought was more or less idiot proof, but we have some amazing idiots here. I set up a plastic parts box for SAE and one for Metric and even color coded and labeled them (sometimes even putting sample bolts in the compartments, too), but folks continually put the bits and taps back in the wrong sections, so we still have to double check them before use. Our present setup is below:

Having worked in the prototyping and fab of specialty vehicles for some time, the set up you have there is pretty "idiot-proof" in my eyes and we use the same set-up but in several of the nicer metal flip lid fastner bins to hold our taps and drill bits. I"m not quite sure how they don't "get it", but they must be quite aloof as to how taps and bits should be organized and labeled.

The hdwre stores use the same method as do the wholesalers.

Hell, I keep my loose taps all in a plastic Minute Rice leftover container and just sort thru them, then find the correspoding drill bit in one of my clear Plano fishing lure boxes. Point me at a tub of metric taps and I can tell the difference between M5, M6, M8, M10 and M12 just by looking at them. Thread pitch is a different matter tho. LOL.

Drilling and tapping a big block to keep them all in upright in storage may work (like keeping and storing collets and bits for a milling machine), but then you have the issue of storing multiples, but then if a space is empty, is it lost, misplaces or on back-order? And then do you keep one of each, two of each or how many on the block for immediate access?

I'll mull this challenge over for a day, but what you have doen get 90% of most shops and lgt. mfgrs by everyday.

 

[billymade]

Enco, has tap, die storage units; maybe check them out and see what might work for you... they have a 20% off coupon code going on right now too!

taps
http://www.use-enco.com/1/3/tap-storage

drill bits
http://www.use-enco.com/1/3/huot-drill-storage

Huot seems to be the company that makes lots of storage for cutting tools; maybe they can provide some inspiration for a system that would work for you or you can fabricate yourselves at the your shop:

http://store.huot-store.com/tool-storage/index.html

examples of storage they sell ready to use:

master tap/die storage cabinet:

http://store.huot-store.com/tool-storage/category/mdc-tapd.html

small tap/drill bit storage cabinet:

http://store.huot-store.com/tool-storage/product/13590.html

smaller size indexes:

http://store.huot-store.com/tool-storage/category/dtri-tapd.html

Amazon seems to have very good pricing on Huot products:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_i...6310091&field-brandtextbin=Huot Manufacturing

Viking sells some too:

http://vikingdrill.com/Master_Tap_Dispensers.html

 

[woody 73]

If you have some extra cash you can go to the Enco website and buy a Hout Tap/drill bit box to hold everything together.
Or if money is tight stop into a sporting goods store that caters to fishermen; you will find tackle boxes out the wazoo.

Woody

 

[Regnar]

Pretty nice setup in my eyes. You will never fix laziness so this is what you should do. Take this set and rat hole it for yourself and buddy. Everyone else gets a shoe box full of drill bits and taps all scattered about.

 

[mrpizza]

I have the Huot trays, my father in law gave me the boxes and put bits and taps in there for a gift for me. One set of coarse and one set of fine thread.

 

[sselander]

Use Pex tubing to hold the bits and taps together, label them and put them back into the boxes you have.

I used 1/2" PEX with flat caps for the bottom and rubber stoppers.
(You could also use the rubber button bumpers from the car supply store for the stoppers)

I reamed the bottom of the tubing with a 1/2" drill bit so the cap would fit. The internal ID of the PEX is usually 0.475 inches, and a 1/2" cap would not fit without reaming. It held fine as a friction fit and did not need to be glued.

 

[JASTECH]

Seems like you've been holding their hand too long. I would write up a little contract on how things are to be kept. Then go ahead and take a few new applicattions for employment. This should correct their behavier. A lot of good people are looking for jobs that can and will do that work.

 

[Davo3]

Thanks for all the feedback. It seems like I just need less recalcitrant coworkers.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I agree, your system is quite nice!

 

[ptschram]

Seems like you've been holding their hand too long. I would write up a little contract on how things are to be kept. Then go ahead and take a few new applicattions for employment. This should correct their behavier. A lot of good people are looking for jobs that can and will do that work.

I agree. You have an employee problem, not an an engineering problem.

You have mistake-proofed the process to a great degree. Train, correct, discipline, terminate.

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

Upgrade to at least Idiot 2.1

 

[98TJ]

Pretty nice setup in my eyes. You will never fix laziness so this is what you should do. Take this set and rat hole it for yourself and buddy. Everyone else gets a shoe box full of drill bits and taps all scattered about.

This.

 

[nateplumb]

Employee problem for sure! As they say you can't fixx stupid! IMHO they are Un trained, stupid or lazy and anyof the above is bad for business.
My method is just black tape around the corresponding tap and drill although I rarely use at work and at home I just figure it out with a tap drill chart from my days in vocational!