How to Shadow your toolbox on the cheap with foam

[terabyte]

NO it's NOT the nice 6k foam that would cost me $200 for two sheets. Yes I still want that stuff but wanted to try something a lil cheaper first.

This is DOW blue Styrofoam insulation from Lowes. Less than 9$ a sheet.

Tools used

first hack at it with an xacto knife

RESULTS!!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed...

 

[<>Severed<>]

I like that the bottle opener got its own spot.

 

[terabyte]

I like that the bottle opener got its own spot.

that is how I roll

keep in mind this is a track toolbox

 

[383astro]

You take 3 torque wrenchs to the track? Now that is impressive.

 

[<>Severed<>]

that is how I roll

keep in mind this is a track toolbox

Thats even better, then you dont have to look long for one when the days over.

 

[bchee]

great picts but looks kind of messy. All the little blue pieces must be a pita to clean

 

[mkdive]

great picts but looks kind of messy. All the little blue pieces must be a pita to clean

 

[terabyte]

Thats even better, then you dont have to look long for one when the days over.

plus with it being shadowed I remember to put it back when I'm done

You take 3 torque wrenchs to the track? Now that is impressive.

Well you got me. I'm setting this up with my most often used\needed tools to use at the shop as a service cart almost and got a small enough chest so that I can take the same box to the track.

but yea I've needed those at the track before anyways. alot of things can break on a bike when you go down

great picts but looks kind of messy. All the little blue pieces must be a pita to clean

dude it's freaking dust almost and it's covered the whole shop. I have no idea how it is to clean cause I just shut the door and went home. We will see tmmw.

want to come over and help? lol

 

[joecaver]

very nicely done

 

[johnny1290]

wow man thats really nice!

 

[gotmud13613]

Looks good

A tad messy for me but it will be worth it in the long run, plus you could probably paint it a different color if you wanted to with that Krylon Fusion paint.

 

[terabyte]

Looks good

A tad messy for me but it will be worth it in the long run, plus you could probably paint it a different color if you wanted to with that Krylon Fusion paint.

hmmmm I have a ton of that stuff. I need to test and see if it wont eat the styrofoam

 

[buening]

Now you just need to line the foam with felt and you have a deluxe toolbox

 

[terabyte]

I think you may be onto something. LMAO!

 

[72chevy]

I was required to shadow my roll cab back when I did Avionics. We used two sheets of 1/2 in. open cell foam. Cut the shadow in the top sheet, and sandwich the two with spray adhesive. Some would spray paint the bottom sheet a dayglo color to make the missing tool standout.

I never thought I'd have a need to do that again but the Track Box makes perfect sence.

 

[terabyte]

I was required to shadow my roll cab back when I did Avionics. We used two sheets of 1/2 in. open cell foam. Cut the shadow in the top sheet, and sandwich the two with spray adhesive. Some would spray paint the bottom sheet a dayglo color to make the missing tool standout.

I never thought I'd have a need to do that again but the Track Box makes perfect sence.

thats where i learned about shadowing boxes.
I have a friend that is an airframe mech loved it then and I have always wanted to do it to my own box

 

[Red Green]

After seeing this thead I finally got around to getting my screwdrivers shadowed.

I skipped the pics of the mess it looked about the same. I didn't even try the Stanley knive. Thanks for sharing how you did your's terabyte

 

[Bolster]

I wonder...if you COULD put cloth/felt over the top, and possibly use a veneer vacuum to get the cloth tightly into every possible available corner...hmm...

 

[terabyte]

After seeing this thead I finally got around to getting my screwdrivers shadowed.

I skipped the pics of the mess it looked about the same. I didn't even try the Stanley knive. Thanks for sharing how you did your's terabyte

dang dude yours came out really

I need to get off my **** and do the rest of my box.

I wonder...if you COULD put cloth/felt over the top, and possibly use a veneer vacuum to get the cloth tightly into every possible available corner...hmm...

man that would be just TOO cool. would you just use contact cement to bond them together?

 

[komobu]

I use the exact same stuff from Lowes! I bought a dremel tool though instead of using a router. It looks messy but with a quick blast from the air gun and all is well

I learned to do this from Army Aviation. It really cuts down on tool loss. I have a Big MAC box that I done it up in.

Pat

 

[vlpronj]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bolster
I wonder...if you COULD put cloth/felt over the top, and possibly use a veneer vacuum to get the cloth tightly into every possible available corner...hmm... man that would be just TOO cool. would you just use contact cement to bond them together?

I did this on a very small scale for a set of calipers - just used Super 77 spray adhesive, and the felt stretched just enough to not need vacuum. Don't know if it woud be good enough for a drawer full of tools - start with a small drawer?

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Now you just need to line the foam with felt and you have a deluxe toolbox

I wonder...if you COULD put cloth/felt over the top, and possibly use a veneer vacuum to get the cloth tightly into every possible available corner...hmm...

Perhaps an easier way would be to use spray on flocking. Relatively inexpensive and available in many colors.

http://www.donjer.com/

~Steve

 

[terabyte]

here is a little update

 

[Toolhorder]

I like the shocker sticker....awesome

 

[mkdive]

Hmmm, going by those decals.... What kind of bike do you have? Redline, VP, were old sponsors of mine.

Shocker decal is on every kids car around here. It is a little trendy around Socal.

 

[Toolhorder]

Hmmm, going by those decals.... What kind of bike do you have? Redline, VP, were old sponsors of mine.

Shocker decal is on every kids car around here. It is a little trendy around Socal.

Really? I haven't seen it yet but I haven't been to Socal in at least 6 months. I thought "F word industries" was pretty common down there last time I was there.

 

[catmech]

:
man that would be just TOO cool. would you just use contact cement to bond them together?

Go to woodworker supply http://woodworker.com/mini-flocker-applicator-mssu-907-337.asp?search=Flock&searchmode=2 and buy a flocking kit. You spead glue on the foam and use an air pump to dispence a felt like particle across the glue. You can get it in different colors so you may be able to do the bottom blue and the outline red, or whatever. Have used this on wood and it works great.

 

[Toolhorder]

Hey OP,
Where did you get the clip thingys for your T-handle, extensions, etc..

 

[terabyte]

Hmmm, going by those decals.... What kind of bike do you have? Redline, VP, were old sponsors of mine.

Shocker decal is on every kids car around here. It is a little trendy around Socal.

i have 2 r6's one is my track bike and one is my girls
1 gsxr 750 and 1 1000

shocker decal isn't too common in so florida yet...

 

[terabyte]

Go to woodworker supply http://woodworker.com/mini-flocker-applicator-mssu-907-337.asp?search=Flock&searchmode=2 and buy a flocking kit. You spead glue on the foam and use an air pump to dispence a felt like particle across the glue. You can get it in different colors so you may be able to do the bottom blue and the outline red, or whatever. Have used this on wood and it works great.

thanks I will check that out.

Hey OP,
Where did you get the clip thingys for your T-handle, extensions, etc..

they were actually a gift ... to this day I have no idea where to buy those and I need a few more

 

[terabyte]

i guess i never posted these...

 

[kwhitelaw]

Go to woodworker supply http://woodworker.com/mini-flocker-applicator-mssu-907-337.asp?search=Flock&searchmode=2 and buy a flocking kit. You spead glue on the foam and use an air pump to dispence a felt like particle across the glue. You can get it in different colors so you may be able to do the bottom blue and the outline red, or whatever. Have used this on wood and it works great.

flocking looks really good when done, but I'd imagine the finish would wear off pretty quick with tools being placed back unless you were absolutely perfect taking them in and out..

I did a lot of flocking in my previous profession so I learned first hand about the nuances of using it, i.e. proper drying times, thickness of material, proper handling so as to not "crush" the flocking.. I'd wrap dashboards, interior paneling, a pillars with molded gauge pods etc with flocking and it always looked amazing imo..But I could just see a wrench slipping out of your hand as you are placing it in its spot and gouging the finish.

that being said, I am going to break out some fibers and make me something for one of my drawers for the hell of it...

 

[Sloper0204]

Very nice idea on how to cut it. I might be trying this with some thicker foam for a few of my drawers. Have been looking for a good option that doesn't require me to buy 10 of each drawer layout....

 

[tpolley]

terabyte, the pictures in the original post, the bottom of the wrench cut outs are jagged or saw-tooth looking. how did you clean them up so they're smooth? did the router do that?

also, it will **** when craftsman changes the design of their pliers or screwdrivers again. you'll have to redo the liners!

 

[terabyte]

yes i got it smooth by using the router set to a certain depth for that tool

 

[mkdive]

i have 2 r6's one is my track bike and one is my girls
1 gsxr 750 and 1 1000

two R6s here, & two R1s...one of my R6 is track only too. Nothing for the wife...she allows me to have the bikes, she isnt interested in getting one for herself. That's ok with me!

 

[fatboyf150]

Just doing a little research on shadowing my toolbox after helping my bro/n/law and found this thread. He just left for another year in Afgahaninstan as a contractor/heli-mechanic and had to have 4 toolboxes, weighing less then 50lbs a piece and shadowed. Someone told him to use the blueboard and heat all the tools that wouldn't melt and lay them in the board. It turned out really well and I though about doing my boxes in my shop. Cutting out for the other tools was a pain in the ***. Here are a few pics.

 

[tex_downey]

Just doing a little research on shadowing my toolbox after helping my bro/n/law and found this thread. He just left for another year in Afgahaninstan as a contractor/heli-mechanic and had to have 4 toolboxes, weighing less then 50lbs a piece and shadowed. Someone told him to use the blueboard and heat all the tools that wouldn't melt and lay them in the board. It turned out really well and I though about doing my boxes in my shop. Cutting out for the other tools was a pain in the ***. Here are a few pics.

I know its been a while but did you really just heat them up and drop them in? i would beafarid to hurt the finish

 

[nissan_crawler]

Wal-Mart camping mat works great:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44693&highlight=camping

 

[fatboyf150]

I know its been a while but did you really just heat them up and drop them in? i would beafarid to hurt the finish

Thats it. just turn your oven to broil and pop them in.