absolute space savers for your toolbox

[youngridge]

What are some great ways to save some space in toolboxes? Im a new member and have been browsing for about a week and have seen many, just wondering if there are anymore out there that you guys highly recommend. Thanks!

Oh and if there is already a thread on this, please redirect

Thanks!

 

[Avgas]

Definitely get some pliers rack

 

[sgtgrizzo]

Ernest space savers on amazon. For wrenches

 

[Ruger_556]

Hansen socket trays

 

[innealtoir]

I'm more of a fan of this type of situation in a tool box. It makes me feel that everything is right with the world. (Also, I find organizing the clutter in and of its self saves some space.)

 

[zkling]

Hi welcome to GJ. Make sure you read through the "show your tool box thread" lots of great ideas on organization and optimization.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466

And the ever cool vintage tool boxes

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49743

Between the two you should be busy for a few days.

I'm with innealtoir. I think the shadowed boxes are really slick. they are not the most space efficient, but as fast as keeping track of what is missing they are hard to beat. Actually that is why they exist.

A good example

http://www.tool-shop.dk/product.asp?product=259


For maximizing storage cap. It is going to depend on what box you have. Some boxes have deeper drawer, allowing you to store thing like pliers and hammer on end. Other boxes have thin drawers with limited weight capacity, so you have to be careful how much weight is in the drawer compared to volume.

Pliers rack, made out of spring?
Socket rails, trays are too space consuming IMHO
Wrench rack, made out of spring?
Flip screwdrivers
Top panel pegboard
Sliding drawer tray

Lots of different methods to maximize space.

 

[richfinn]

Throw away all the plastic cases

Mount your ratchets and extensions to the inside of the top box lid

If you don't use something, get rid of it (Metric only for me)

Avoid hoarding, we all do it but don't let it get out of control

 

[bahcoswed]

Cut your own foam inlays

 

[senor fozz]

here is a link to the ultimate space efficiency I have found to date.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=215660

 

[minhster]

Throw away all the plastic cases

Mount your ratchets and extensions to the inside of the top box lid

If you don't use something, get rid of it (Metric only for me)

Avoid hoarding, we all do it but don't let it get out of control

That's pretty bad advice. I was like that 10 years ago. I worked exclusively on japanese cars and i mean EXCLUSIVELY!!! I tossed all my SAE sizes. Now I have to buy them for other projects because I dont have any...

 

[paranoid56]

I'm more of a fan of this type of situation in a tool box. It makes me feel that everything is right with the world. (Also, I find organizing the clutter in and of its self saves some space.)

this is like the opposite of space saving but i do like it

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Re: absolute space savers for your toolbox

You dn't need space savers...Just buy more (or bigger) tool boxes....

 

[X1 Mike]

I'm more of a fan of this type of situation in a tool box. It makes me feel that everything is right with the world. (Also, I find organizing the clutter in and of its self saves some space.)

I would love to find someone to make those for me. I have tried doing it and they look like a 7 year old that was out of ritalin did it.

 

[mp23]

If you want to foam this is the stuff you want. I have it in my toolbox and its great, especially for the screwdriver drawer.

http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/Kaizen-Foam-p13435.htm

 

[jjjrmx5]

Hansen socket trays

Hansen trays are good for the sight impaired and the organizational OCD types, but they are FAR from being space efficient in a tool box.

Far, far from it. Waaaaay far from it.

BTDT.

 

[bahcoswed]

If you want to foam this is the stuff you want. I have it in my toolbox and its great, especially for the screwdriver drawer.

http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/Kaizen-Foam-p13435.htm

http://www.creativesafetysupply.com/foam-custom-tool-kits-27x36/ These i really want!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Definitely get some pliers rack

Only if your drawers are deep enough !

Pliers and cutters now take up 2 drawers. Had to mix my SAE and metric wrenches into one drawer. Very sad.

 

[richfinn]

That's pretty bad advice. I was like that 10 years ago. I worked exclusively on japanese cars and i mean EXCLUSIVELY!!! I tossed all my SAE sizes. Now I have to buy them for other projects because I dont have any...

You don't need to physically dispose of SAE just take them out of your work box and put them into hibernation to free up space and lighten the load.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

Re: absolute space savers for your toolbox

You dn't need space savers...Just buy more (or bigger) tool boxes....

Truer words have never been spoken....

WoD

 

[2oolhound]

I don't think I've posted this group of photos like this before. Because I have no room to upgrade to a bigger box I've used socket trays hanging off the edges and have an external twist lock strip for some impacts stuck on the front:



I also have baskets (that hang off edges like the socket trays) on some inside drawers:



I have sliding trays in some drawers too, it's kinda like having a mezzanine floor in your drawers, real handy and efficient space wise.

 

[ex-x-fire]

^^^I made one for my HF cart. I luv it!

 

[2mJps]

^^^I made one for my HF cart. I luv it!

Very nice. I need one for my cm bottom box. It is the only box i have at one shop. and the first drawer is a deep one. I keep thinking i need another box but maybe i just need to organise better.

 

[zkling]

^^^I made one for my HF cart. I luv it!

Very nice, can you post a larger pic please?

 

[Zeke]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92266

 

[ex-x-fire]

Very nice, can you post a larger pic please?

here you go.

 

[ex-x-fire]

here you go.

Here's another.

 

[innealtoir]

I would love to find someone to make those for me. I have tried doing it and they look like a 7 year old that was out of ritalin did it.

Many, many, CTK's later ... I find that tracing the tools with a fine point sharpie and a *very hot* hot knife with a long and sharp blade on it works very well!

I prefer the two piece foam, e.g. one color on top and the other on the bottom. It is also nice because they are adhesive and you just stick the cutout on top of the bottom layer.

 

[innealtoir]

Here's another.

Trays are a great way to organize gang boxes as well!

 

[wafrederick]

I use threaded rod for storing crowsfoot wrenches.I tried it and it saves space.Long bolts work too,secure in with a nut on both sides if using threaded rod.

 

[Rakoprtr]

I don't think I've posted this group of photos like this before. Because I have no room to upgrade to a bigger box I've used socket trays hanging off the edges and have an external twist lock strip for some impacts stuck on the front:



I also have baskets (that hang off edges like the socket trays) on some inside drawers:



I have sliding trays in some drawers too, it's kinda like having a mezzanine floor in your drawers, real handy and efficient space wise.

Where did u get those baskets from

 

[cheechi]

I really like those trays. Dumb question what order did you make the bends and with what tool?

 

[youngridge]

I got the Hansen socket trays, really like them, the pliers rack is definitely gonna be made lol. Do those trays scratch much up on the top of the drawer walls? Thanks guys! Much appreciated!

 

[2oolhound]

Where did u get those baskets from

Unfortunately I don't have a source for the baskets. I was scrounging for wrench rack type stuff in a "kitchen zone" of a second hand store and found 4 of them, 2 @ 12" and 2 @ 16".

 

[Gregg33]

Wrench rails and socket rails free up lots of space!

 

[StevenB]

wrench roll up pouch. They save allot of room, you can even use them for screwdrivers. I personally don't like them, to time consuming for me. They work great on the wrenches I don't often use though.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G8XIG8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zkling]

Here's another.

Thanks for that pic, it is much clearer. Do you have any tips on forming? I think I'm going to try to make a few up for my 27 and 33" wide boxes.

 

[ex-x-fire]

Thanks for that pic, it is much clearer. Do you have any tips on forming? I think I'm going to try to make a few up for my 27 and 33" wide boxes.

This was my 1st attempt at using a sheet metal brake, I got the 18" brake from HF, its made out of 16ga so its plenty strong. At first I made it slightly too long, so I had to unbend , trim, & bend again. So do a lot of measuring. I cut the corners with tin snips & welded the gaps.

 

[crewchief888]

Re: absolute space savers for your toolbox

You dn't need space savers...Just buy more (or bigger) tool boxes....

Throw away all the plastic cases

and flimsy plastic trays that seem to come with everything nowadays

Hansen trays are good for the sight impaired and the organizational OCD types, but they are FAR from being space efficient in a tool box.

Far, far from it. Waaaaay far from it.

BTDT.

i agree, hanson type scket organizers are a huge space waster

I don't think I've posted this group of photos like this before. Because I have no room to upgrade to a bigger box I've used socket trays hanging off the edges and have an external twist lock strip for some impacts stuck on the front:



I also have baskets (that hang off edges like the socket trays) on some inside drawers:



I have sliding trays in some drawers too, it's kinda like having a mezzanine floor in your drawers, real handy and efficient space wise.

^^^
excellent use of limited space in a smaller box.

metal socket trays are the way to go IMO
i use a lot of them, unfortunately they seem to be pretty much extinct now

 

[crewchief888]

Unfortunately I don't have a source for the baskets. I was scrounging for wrench rack type stuff in a "kitchen zone" of a second hand store and found 4 of them, 2 @ 12" and 2 @ 16".

i found a few plastic trays with a hanging lip on them in the kitchen section at a dollar type store.

probably a silverware organizer

 

[regguy1]

I made my own socket/ratchet/extension storage in full length drawer from 1/2" MDF as base board painted gray and HF $1.00 socket rails screwed to it and 1 1/4" alum angle to make extension area, low cost customizable and does a neat job
Some of the HF plastic trays help to organize .