How organized is your tool box drawers?

[Souljer]

I'm working on getting my foam all cut out. I can't stand not having everything organized. I bought some magnets off of ebay to label my drawers and I'm using those foam puzzle pices as tool foam. (interlocking foam floor mats) Just make sure your blade is sharp and it cuts great. I'll get some pics up when the project is done. Only downside is now I need a bigger box cause everything is side by side instead of lying on top of eachother.

I have some that are all black and some that are colored on one side. I'm actually cutting out 2 for each tool. I take the colored piece, cut it in half so it's thin and then stick it in the cut out on the black piece. Then when I pull a wrench or screwdriver out, the void is colored so I can see at a glance what is missing.

Hi,

Not sure if this applies (or if you've already finished) but if I understand you correctly there may be an easier way.

Years ago I did the foam cut-out thing in an old tool box which is red. So when the tool is out the red panel of the box is visible through the cut out. This worked great when I was working on my car at a friends garage. Checking for tools before I left for the night was simply a matter of seeing tools or red shapes in the foam.

If you want padding below the tool (not resting directly on the metal) then I would simply lay a contrasting colored mat down across the whole drawer then the foam with the spaces cut out for your tools. Again the places where the tool is out will show the colored surface below.

So you only need to make one cut-out; for the thicker foam that holds the tool.
I hope I explained that correctly.

I should find that old box and post pix here.

 

[JimVonBaden]

In the Air Force we simply spray painted the foam white, then cut out the shape in the black foam.

Jim

 

[1967marti]

I shadowed all of my toolbox drawers... I went with toolfoam.com
The ladies there were great and their product is A+++

 

[99SVT]

I have two sets of these:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-socket-organizer-set/p-00965172000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

One for regular, one for deep.

And, ever since I've gotten them, I have been buying extra sockets for fill them up. The 1/2" stuff is the more empty ones.

They will eventually be filled up.

 

[ARbuilder223]

Here is a few pix of what i got done this weekend..

 

[ARbuilder223]

Here are pix of the socket organizers from HF...Still trying to fill them up

 

[brownbagg]

that foam sure does take up alot of wasted space, I would new three new toolboxes if I went that route

 

[Capt Chrysler]

I never liked tools touching in a working tool box. So in 20 years I had 17 tools boxes.


Capt. Chrysler

 

[ARbuilder223]

Same way..i own 4 boxes now..

 

[cderalow]

Same way..i own 4 boxes now..

Where did you get the foam, and how much?

 

[ARbuilder223]

i went with Cascade foam..if you look at the specials you can get a decent price. I think regular price is like $97 a sheet for 1/2" and $60 something for the 1/4"

 

[ARbuilder223]

the drawer im wanting to use for my wrenches is 2 1/4" tall, some of my wrench sets go up to 1 1/8"..does anyone know the best wrench rack to use? Ive seen the low pro from Ernst, only holds 15 each set. i called SO and they said that their racks for that size drawer would only let me go up to 1"? anyone have any dealings with this? thanks

 

[bnichols04]

wow i didn't relize so many people have OCD!! lol (i started this thread so i think i am in the same boat!!!) lol I think i might have to sell some of my stuff to make room to organize i guess there is such a think as too many tools!!!

 

[Outlawmws]

wow i didn't relize so many people have OCD!! lol (i started this thread so i think i am in the same boat!!!) lol I think i might have to sell some of my stuff to make room to organize i guess there is such a think as too many tools!!!

 

[cptzippy]

wow i didn't relize so many people have OCD!!

It's CDO with the letters in the proper order.

 

[Alchymist]

i guess there is such a think as too many tools!!!

Nope. Even too many tools is not enough. Underlying cause is too few tool boxes!

 

[metalhead212121]

friend of mine was moving out of her apartment and was throwing out her dish rack. I immediatly told her I wanted it! Took a decent amount of work to trim it down and make the bends.. I think it came out pretty decent....

 

[cptzippy]

Mines not organized at all. I have more tools than box. Tried to get organization stuff along the way but it doesn't help when you have to stuff things in the box.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

sockets and wrenches organized. every thing else has its own drawer. newhere by the way, so hello out there. got some way cool garages and stuff here. it has become my new adiction

 

[canuckian]

My OCD is screaming at me to do shadow foam in my box but my wallet tells me i can't do it due to the space it would take up (more toolboxes!). As it currently sits, there's not a lot of free space between any of my tools and in some cases, I've had to pile tools on top of one another. drives me crazy. I'm trading in the curent box (KRL722) for a 68 inch Epiq so hopefully that'll give me some breathing room. Basically, everything is grouped together in a logic that makes sense to me and organized by size and lined up as neatly as I can get them. helps me know if I've left something out when I lock up for the night.

 

[ARbuilder223]

Another Drawer completed..Guys, before you decide if you ever wanted to shadow your box..make sure you have the time to tackle the project. Takes more time than i expected..

 

[JimVonBaden]

Another Drawer completed..Guys, before you decide if you ever wanted to shadow your box..make sure you have the time to tackle the project. Takes more time than i expected..

It sure does at your level of quality and detail!

Jim

 

[vfr-rider]

Just did this today:

Now I need to work on the other drawers...

 

[ARbuilder223]

Just got the low-pro Ernst rails..seems ok so far, not as easy to grab and go as taller rails..

 

[concealer404]

Just did this today:

Now I need to work on the other drawers...

Damn dude you're getting your money's worth out of your real estate!!!!

 

[ARbuilder223]

Decided to go back to the Ernst rails

 

[akdiesel]

Decided to go back to the Ernst rails

Was it because the others were to low and hard to grab?
The foam looks nice but seems to take up too much room. The magnetic rack also looks nice but only supports in the middle. For long wrenches it looks like they would teeter.

 

[jetmech09]

Company policy. A few drawers are missing, they have a whole bunch of PPE (gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, etc. and sealants, rtvs, DC111, etc. etc.

 

[ARbuilder223]

Akdiesel..im using the foam for all drawers other than my wrenches..they are on the rails. Yes..would of been alot of wasted space if the wrenches were shadowed. the low profile rails are great for shallow drawers, but was hard for me to reach and grab a wrench without knocking other around.

 

[Trbobuick]

Right now i am operating out of this :

As you can see, im completely out of room so this :

And this:

Will both be here this week.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

You know, after re-reviewing this thread and seeing the best of the foam shadowing some of you guys have done I've gotta admit it really appeals to my overly **** retentive side. Having said that I think its not for me. I'd never organize all the stuff to suit me. I think after I did it I'd think, "Oh man, I should have put these things over here, those things over there" etc.

I like the socket and wrench racks because they organize my stuff but I'm able to move them from place to place in a drawer, or in the box from one drawer to another.

And frankly, I don't have as many expensive tooltruck tools as many of you have but what I do have work fine for me.

 

[darkk]

I'm not going to go out, take, and post pictures. But trust me when I say it looks like a tool and toolbox display. A place for everything and everything in it's place.

 

[zmotorsports]

Wow, both ends of the spectrum here. Personally I don't care for the memory foam for one reason and one reason only, real estate. A lot of room is taken up where tools could be stored. I like how organized everything looks with the memory foam but it really cuts down on the storage and I can't get everything in my toolbox now.

I will get a few pics of mine when I get home and throw them up.

Mike.

 

[Trucky]

I have a single Cman unit (top and bottom) of a smaller size.. 26" I think? You know, the cheapie. The amount I have in tools eclipses the box in cost by almost 10x, and it's very... cramped. It DOES fit in there.. just not well. I weed out what I don't use much and throw it into the numerous little carry size tool boxes we have. But no way am I taking of picture of it now with all the rest of the new stuff I just got.

Some of you take the organizational thing a bit too far IMO. I can understand foam/cut-outs and color coding if you're req'd because of FOD concerns. I'm sure my box would drive some of you crazy with how everything is just kind of... in there.

 

[zmotorsports]

Here are a few pictures of some of my busier drawers. I try to keep the trays/organizers with as small of a footprint as possible to be able to stuff as much into all available space. Even then I have quite a few tools in boxes on shelves that I don't use as much yet still be accessible.

All of my sockets and wrenches are organized so SAE is on the left half of the drawer and Metrics on the right. The sockets are also marked by using RED trays for SAE (left) and yellow or orange for Metrics (right). Another reason I like to keep everything organized and arranged accordingly is for quick tool retrieval as well as noticing if anything is not in its' place. This makes for much faster working as well as cleanup. After all time is money and you don't have to have tools thrown all over the place or scattered to look like you are busy.

Mike.

Here is my socket drawer.

Ratchets/extensions.

Wrenches.

Pliers.

Pneumatic tools.

Punches/chisels.

Torque wrenches.

Coolant/hose tools.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

My wife truely thinks I have a problem. She honestly said we need to get you help. I said I am not alone and here is the proof.. showed her this thread, now she thinks we are all need help..lol I just like to think that we like to have our things organized in a nice neat fashion, no?

Here's my start. I don't have much time to organize with my schedule but this is a couple hours worth of moving things inches, re-configuring..etc. It's truely maddening at times. I think it took me a solid hour to adjust the hammers the way they were in multiple combinations to maximze how many I could get in the drawer.

So far so good though.. lots more drawers to do still but having a larger tool box to me is actually much harder to organize than the little craftsman I had...hahaha

This is my one wrench drawer: I have more so will have to organize it this weekend.

This is my main socket drawer with not everything in it yet.

This is my ratchet drawer:

Hammer Drawer:

I might add that the MAJORITY of the tools I have came from GJ... so who knows at one point in time you might see a tool that once belonged to ya!

-Nigel

 

[sberry]

The only part I am real **** about is the top. This doesnt move much but it can.

The real factor is "where" its at for us and the duty cycle if we are busy makes routine work fast if we want and dont cost, eat much if we are not.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Welp did some more organizational management...lol

Wrench drawer above my other wrench drawer.

Half of the pliers drawer:

Some screw drivers:

More screw drivers and punches/picks:

Some allen and Torq:

Prybars:

Speeders and Torque wrenches:

Air Tools:

So far so good! More to do still.

-Nigel

 

[JimVonBaden]

Nigel, your OCD is showing!

Not only are you incredibly neet, but your tools are so clean they look new and unused!

I am jealous!

Jim

 

[Ted Lan]

I have a similar box layout in my EPIQ Snap-on cart. I love the layout those boxes, as I am normally really scattered with my tools. I get most of my stuff from my franchisee, and the rest from http://stores.nationalpremium.com/snap-ongifts/main.asp.