nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Walmart has "camping mats" that are light blue foam, about 1/4-3/8" thick, 70X20", $5.88 each. Great for toolboxes, damn near identical foam to the snap-on kit a coworker got. I just bought 10 of them.
Tool foam tip
- Thread starter nissan_crawler
- Start date
babzog
Well-known member
Also great for crawling under the car when you're out of cardboard or don't want to use the creeper. I bought one for cornfield duck/goose hunting years ago but now it's my garage backside pad.
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nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Here's one drawer done:
and many more to go...
and many more to go...
up_in_the_air
Well-known member
Looks awesome nissan, how did you go about doing it?
Cheers,
Sam
Cheers,
Sam
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
I used double-sided duck tape (duck brand, so to the person that was going to say "duct").
Due to the depth of my drawers, I had to cut another strip since it's only 20" wide. I taped them together, removed the orginal black foam liner, and laid out all the pliers, then cut around them with a utility knife (not going all the way through).
Then, I sat back with a 6 pack and Blazing Saddles, and commenced to cutting all the shapes out.
When that was done, I cut bits of double stick everywhere I wanted it, and stuck it to the back of the blue foam.
Then I laid the black liner down in the drawer, laid the blue liner in also, put all the pliers in but a few rows at one end, and started at that end, peeling the back and sticking it down. Insert pliers, peel a few more, stick down. This keeps the cutout areas from being too small or big. The black foam under it makes it obvious when a tool is gone.
to the person that was going to say "duct").Due to the depth of my drawers, I had to cut another strip since it's only 20" wide. I taped them together, removed the orginal black foam liner, and laid out all the pliers, then cut around them with a utility knife (not going all the way through).
Then, I sat back with a 6 pack and Blazing Saddles, and commenced to cutting all the shapes out.
When that was done, I cut bits of double stick everywhere I wanted it, and stuck it to the back of the blue foam.
Then I laid the black liner down in the drawer, laid the blue liner in also, put all the pliers in but a few rows at one end, and started at that end, peeling the back and sticking it down. Insert pliers, peel a few more, stick down. This keeps the cutout areas from being too small or big. The black foam under it makes it obvious when a tool is gone.
rcm296
Well-known member
great deal considering the cost of tool faom, what are you using for your backing foam?
nvm u posted as i did
nvm u posted as i did
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
It's the thin stuff that came with the toolbox. Most tool stores have that stuff relatively cheap, it's less than 1/8" thick.
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
just a regular utility knife. For $5.88 for a 70x20 sheet, this stuff rocks.
olds88
Well-known member
If I did that all the grease and oil fingerprints that will quickly accumulate around the tool outlines would drive me nuts.
Then again after a couple weeks the whole think will be black lol.
Then again after a couple weeks the whole think will be black lol.
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
I'll try that in a bit, but I think it would turn out pretty crude. It would be different if you had a hot wire.
I clean my tools. This is my work box after 6 years:
damnit make some room for the orange handle cannon plug pliers.
Judging by the sticker on the box, cannon plug pliers, and safety wire pliers and cleco pliers i am starting to think you are a A&P. Or something similar to that extent
Judging by the sticker on the box, cannon plug pliers, and safety wire pliers and cleco pliers i am starting to think you are a A&P. Or something similar to that extent
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Yep, I am.
or should i say..........i just joined the club. Its funny how everyone at work has snap on. I mean everything is snap on with these guys. They laugh (not seriously) at my sk and craftsman pro collection. Then i tell them give me a few years and my box is going to be full of snap on's too
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
using a soldering iron on this is like cutting aluminum with a blow torch, except with nasty smoke.
No extra tools for sale, sorry. Stick to craftsman sockets and c-pro wrenches for now, spend the extra money on snap-on ratchets, 4-way angle wrenches, swivel sockets. For air tools check out theyardstore.com. The prices are so-so, but they have a good selection of used air tools. Personally, I recommend building up all your specialty tools first, then going back and replacing craftsman (if you feel there's a need by then, I sure haven't).
No extra tools for sale, sorry. Stick to craftsman sockets and c-pro wrenches for now, spend the extra money on snap-on ratchets, 4-way angle wrenches, swivel sockets. For air tools check out theyardstore.com. The prices are so-so, but they have a good selection of used air tools. Personally, I recommend building up all your specialty tools first, then going back and replacing craftsman (if you feel there's a need by then, I sure haven't).
BackTracker
Well-known member
Thanks for the tip! I "foam" all my tools and it's getting expensive!
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
The guy at work that I sold my International box to showed me the drawers, and I asked where he got it. I'm glad he thought of it. Oh, it's actually 72x20, not 70x20. For $5.88, I don't think you could find cheaper.
The only sucky part is they come rolled tight, so you have to unroll them and weight them down for a few days to straighten out some before you use them. All in all though, a small price to pay.
nate379
Banned
Do you have to do the FOD boards for work or just doing it because you want to?
All our work boxes are setup like that and it's a HUGE PITA. Granted I took care of 7 or 8 different tool boxes, some of them had 400-500 tools in them.
What works well to cut the foam is a router/roto zip. Makes a big mess though.
All our work boxes are setup like that and it's a HUGE PITA. Granted I took care of 7 or 8 different tool boxes, some of them had 400-500 tools in them.
What works well to cut the foam is a router/roto zip. Makes a big mess though.
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nissan_crawler
Well-known member
We're not required to at work, but I prefer it. I found white foam that I used at work, but it was something like $15 for a 24x36" sheet.
This blue stuff is way cheaper. I do all the tracing in the box, so I cut with a knife, don't want that stuff clinging everywhere.
This blue stuff is way cheaper. I do all the tracing in the box, so I cut with a knife, don't want that stuff clinging everywhere.
dustin19
Banned
dont u mean crapsman pro ?
we all start somewhere bro im still starting out but i save my money before i buy anything and buy the biggest most expensive thing first i need then go down the line
BackTracker
Well-known member
There's nothing wrong with the new Craftsman pro screwdrivers. Though I have seen some issues with the Snap ON instinct's, possibly a bad batch with brittle tips but still...There's no need to knock the guys choice, especially when he keeps cash in his pocket for more important things.
Stuey
Well-known member
Damnit. This might be enough to prompt me to to go to Walmart for the first time in 3 years.
nate379
Banned
The biggest hassle was when a tool broke and the replacement wasn't the same shape or when a tool was removed and replaced with something else. Either would have to redo the foam or modify it.
It sure is handy for making sure you have all your tools, don't get me wrong, but it was just a pain. I wouldn't be able to do it with my home toolbox since I'd need a much larger box. It's funny because when I bought it about 6-7 years ago I thought it was WAY too big for what I needed. I've since added on a side cab and another roll cab and still need more room.
It sure is handy for making sure you have all your tools, don't get me wrong, but it was just a pain. I wouldn't be able to do it with my home toolbox since I'd need a much larger box. It's funny because when I bought it about 6-7 years ago I thought it was WAY too big for what I needed. I've since added on a side cab and another roll cab and still need more room.
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speed bump
Well-known member
They sell it at any camping store as ground pads.
olds88
Well-known member
I clean my tools as well. The issue is greasy hands when pulling them out from the foam cutout.
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
Good job NC....I tell you what, if you are ever in Tampa, I will give you a few pitchers if you do mine...Ha ha..
Looks great but no way would I have the patience to do that. I counted 29 drawers in your box. Almost 60 hours of cutting foam would drive me nuts.
I know you're not doing every drawer, but still, that takes a lot of patience.
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Same type of deal, I wash my hands all the time, I hate to be greasy. Also, the foam cleans up easily, at least the stuff I have at work does.
Yeah, there's definitely time involved. It'll be worth it to me when it's done, though. I've had several times where I've tried to find a tool a while after I worked on something, and it was on the vehicle, or laying on the work bench, in the shed, etc. Now, quick inventory of the box when the work is done, and all tools can easily be accounted for (or not accounted for and found).
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nissan_crawler
Well-known member
A few more drawers done:
GDA
Well-known member
NC
Man that looks nice. Thanks for sharing.
Man that looks nice. Thanks for sharing.
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nissan_crawler
Well-known member
hguerrero
Well-known member
OP
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Two more done.
BackTracker
Well-known member
Done my ***. You have blank space. Thus, you need more tools to fill said space. Get back to me when that space is filled!!!
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nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Yes, LOTS of blank space in this box...I like that.