awsome tool organization

[Zippthebee]

Just wanted to share and get other ideas from tool people. thanks in advance.
<a href="http://s1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc519/zippthebee/?action=view&current=IMG_1797.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc519/zippthebee/IMG_1797.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[mypov]

Re: awsome tool orginization

that foam would dirtier then an ****** on saturday morning by the time one 8 hour shift was over...

But it sure does looks nice and neat.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

Re: awsome tool orginization

My solution

I used black Kiesan foam from fastcap, easy to work with and doesnt get too grungy, it helps though that I wipe down all tools before I put them away.

 

[Kevin54]

Re: awsome tool orginization

Just wanted to share and get other ideas from tool people. thanks in advance.
<a href="http://s1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc519/zippthebee/?action=view&current=IMG_1797.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc519/zippthebee/IMG_1797.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

So are you just showing or selling?

 

[Zippthebee]

Re: awsome tool orginization

To O M Jeep - What did you use to hold your sockets on the wood

To Kevin 54 - Just showing. It takes to much time and i don't think i could charge enough to make it worth it and people still want to pay.

 

[toytech40]

Re: awsome tool orginization

Zippthebee Very nice looking, you put a lot ime and thought to lay out to maximize space.

O M Jeep Also looks nice, I did something similar with my socket drawer on my tool cart, well that is what I call it anyway.

Both of you Excellent Job

 

[Steevo]

Re: awsome tool orginization

So, for you guys with the foam.
Do you lay a tool in place, trace it with a pen, then painstakingly carve out a hole in the exact shape of the tool to be stored? How many hours/days does it take to make a foam insert for a drawer like the one in the OP's picture?

 

[caspian65]

Re: awsome tool orginization

Think the foam is too limiting on what to put in and does not allow easy method to change/re-order.

I use the Ernst socket rails in my krl1003 top drawer, think it works great:

http://www.early-mustang.com/charles/tools/tools 001.jpg

That pic is from about 5 years ago, but still looks about the same (did trade up all my ratchets to the new style)

 

[JTG]

Re: awsome tool orginization

I agree. I like the fact that I can grab a whole set of sockets on one rack and bring them where I'm working. Now if I was always working in the garage the foam setup would be great.

 

[Zippthebee]

Re: awesome tool organization

to Steevo - Yes, once the pattern is traced I used a Dremel with a depth adjustable rotozip attachment to cut out the foam. It makes alot of "dust" but the edges are really clean. An exacto knife works pretty good to. Especially when you buy new tools and you just need to add a few more spots. The Foam is three layers. 1/4" red top, 1/2" black middle, and 1/4" yellow bottom

To Socket rail guys. The magnetic socket rails are cool but they are not FOD (foreign object damage) approved.

 

[Zippthebee]

Re: awsome tool orginization

To Steevo
Sorry, I worked on it off and on. but i guess i spent about 6-10 hours.

 

[mking1865]

Re: awsome tool orginization

To Steevo
Sorry, I worked on it off and on. but i guess i spent about 6-10 hours.

Wow, that long just for the one drawer? Love the clean organized look of it but I would be afraid of changing my mind on where I should keep the wrenches after spending all day shadowing everything in the wrench drawer.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: awsome tool orginization

Foam looks good in drawers but with my luck as soon as I got it done, I'd want to add or move something.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Re: awesome tool organization

... To Socket rail guys. The magnetic socket rails are cool but they are not FOD (foreign object damage) approved.

Nice job. What is "FOD (foreign object damage) approved" ? Does this refer to some regulating entity? Management? ???

 

[O_M_Jeep]

Re: awsome tool orginization

To O M Jeep - What did you use to hold your sockets on the wood.

Yes, I used dowels 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" all cut to 3/4" length and drilled in to 1/4" plywood, no glue, no mess, just drill and seat the dowel, so far its worked better than I had a right to expect with no more than I put in to it.

The foam, and I use foam in almost all my drawers works very well, I didnt use anything to cut them out, just a razor cutting tool, a magic-marker around the tool to form an outline, cut to depth and peel the foam out of the cut, Kiesan foam is in layers, makes it super easy. Each drawer I did was different, the ratchets in the pic the foam took less than 20 minutes from start to finish.

 

[Zippthebee]

Re: awsome tool orginization

FOD is an aviation term. There are MIL-SPECS that call out specific tool storage methods to help avoid FOD. When a tool is missing it can be easily seen at a glance

 

[chevy.stroker]

Re: awsome tool orginization

Here is a great link on FOD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_object_damage

However, let me put it in more realistic numbers. If overhead billable hours to the customer are $90 per hour and you have 300 people devoting 2 hours per week to walking the work area looking for FOD (rivets, drill bits, etc) that is $54,000 per week paid for by the customer for FOD prevention. Multiple that by the number of large aircraft facilities in the US and the cost becomes quite high.

 

[cheechi]

Re: awsome tool orginization

I used black Kiesan foam from fastcap, easy to work with and doesnt get too grungy, it helps though that I wipe down all tools before I put them away.

Thanks very much, I had been looking for a good solution to add foam to my organization and that is exactly what I've been looking for.

 

[Kevin54]

Re: awsome tool orginization

FOD is an aviation term. There are MIL-SPECS that call out specific tool storage methods to help avoid FOD. When a tool is missing it can be easily seen at a glance

At work we have to go through a FOD training program every year. Quite a lot of things have happened to planes and copters because of FOD. You never hear about it on the normal news, but the training tapes we have shows a few of the major manufacturers of aircraft have had some serious issues. FOD not only covers the organization of tools in a box or workplace but also goes into other foreign objects as chips, trash, candy wrappers, and even the tangs that get busted off of helicoils that will short out a circuit board.

When my wife worked as an electronic assembler for both military and commercial aircraft, they had to get in the habit of putting down a white towel and counting the number of broken off helicoil tangs compared to the number of helicoils the tangs were broken off from.

The average person doesn't think too much about FOD, but when you work for a company that either builds aircraft or builds the aircraft components, it is a very serious issue.

As far as cutting the foam for tools, there are a few companies out there that does laser cutting of the foam sheets. Makes for a neater looking job. IIRC, you can buy precut foam or you can give them your design. I don't think it is real cheap, but when selling to a large company, what is cheap?

 

[Rust]

Re: awsome tool orginization

Is the drawer half full..or half empty?

 

[Rag Roc]

Re: awsome tool orginization

A number of years ago several friends and I used styrofoam sheets from flower arrangements. It was 1" thick, & green, and hard enough that the tools could be set in place, and tapped into position with a rubber mallet to make an impression. This worked well, but the downside was the color, dirt accumulation, and after several years of use the depressions were wallowed out, and drawers were full of green "crumbs".

Today I prefer the Hansons for reasons mentioned above.

 

[Steevo]

Re: awsome tool orginization

I can fully understand the need to use something like the foam cutouts to shadow tools in an aircraft-related profession where everything must be accounted for.
I can't imagine doing it in my home toolboxes. I can barely fit my tools in there, much less a bunch of "lost" space due to the foam. I have to make use of every square inch to fit something in there.

 

[Zippthebee]

Re: awesome tool organization

Not only is the foam great for keeping track of your tools but it's also a huge time saver (once it's cut out). I don't have to dig through a pile of tools to find the ratchet or screwdriver that I want. I think it also saves money. I rarely need buy tools that I don't think i have, just to find out later that i already had it but couldn't find it when i needed it.

 

[allinon72]

Re: awsome tool orginization

I add tools too often for the use of foam. Plus it wastes a lot of space.

 

[daveroy]

Re: awsome tool orginization

Is the drawer half full..or half empty?

To an optimist the drawer is half full.
To a pessimist the drawer is half empty.
To a GJ lurker the drawer deserves more tools.

To an Engineer the drawer is twice as large as it needs to be.

 

[yost69]

Re: awsome tool orginization

What happens when you buy another ratchet? Where would you put it?

 

[Zippthebee]

Re: awsome tool orginization

To Yost69 and other foam haters

Think and plan before you cut your foam.

Foam is not a waste of space. It is the best way to combine ease and speed of access, efficient use of space (a screwdriver that is buried under a pile of screwdrivers and forgotten is basically lost and taking up space) and minimizes buying unnecessary tools.

Deciding to go the foam route is a big commitment, for sure. It takes years of experience and a lot of forethought to execute properly with minimal waste and maximum efficiency But if you look closely all ratchets/sockets/extentions that could be used on a regular basis (at least in the work that I do and probably most mechanic based fields) are in that drawer. Any tool that is not in that drawer could be considered a specialty tool and should be in a different drawer that is not used as often I.e. torque wrenches, torque multiplier and very large sockets/ratchets.

I started this thread to share my work/idea and to get other ideas for future tool storage. So if there is no constructive criticism to be shared, please don't.

 

[kyles974]

Re: awsome tool orginization

I'm waiting for the "auto socket organizer"

Like the auto coin machine that seperates the quarter, nickles, dimes, etc.,
.....but as you dump your sockets into it, it auto puts them back in order!!!

..

 

[Scuderia-F1]

Re: awsome tool orginization

I would really like to foam my box, the OP´s drawers with the red foam is pure art to me.
I would like to upgrade my box to a KRA5311 and go this route.

 

[Moose02]

Re: awsome tool orginization

how about if you use the flower store stuff and then seal it with some sort of spray clear or some color that could seal the foam stuff ? just another useless thought

 

[Ricoch3T]

Re: awsome tool orginization

Has anyone ever thought to have the socket sizes somehow printed on the foam?

When/if I get a box I would LIKE to use the foam for it but it would be nice to have the size right in front of me kind of like the hansen socket organizers

 

[yost69]

Re: awsome tool orginization

To Yost69 and other foam haters

I'm not a foam hater. I asked a legitimate question.

But if you look closely all ratchets/sockets/extentions that could be used on a regular basis (at least in the work that I do and probably most mechanic based fields) are in that drawer. Any tool that is not in that drawer could be considered a specialty tool and should be in a different drawer that is not used as often I.e. torque wrenches, torque multiplier and very large sockets/ratchets.

So what your saying is that if you purchase another ratchet and would like to replace one that you already have you can't. You would have to put it in another drawer.

I started this thread to share my work/idea and to get other ideas for future tool storage. So if there is no constructive criticism to be shared, please don't.

I thought I did ask a question about future tool storage.

In all seriousness what happens if you buy another ratchet? Where would you put it? In another drawer?

 

[O_M_Jeep]

Re: awsome tool orginization

In all seriousness what happens if you buy another ratchet? Where would you put it? In another drawer?

I think that for most who use foam its about organisation and appearance, its not about the ability to expand, most people dont need 35 ratchets, some do, and for those that do foam is certainly not the way to go. Like brands, foam isnt for everyone, and the ability to argue that it isnt for you isnt what this thread was about.

I happen to like the ease that foam gives to finding tools, I dont care to have to get tools for someone who may ask if I have something particular, it also helps those who borrow a tool from me to put it back where it belongs.

For folks who like having tons of tools laying about foam isnt the way to go, having like tools in a single pile is enough organisation and works perfectly, that doesnt lessen the value of foam organisation or of tool collecting, they simply dont go well together.

Some foam products do use way more space than they should, and go only with specific sets, others are prohibitively expensive.

I also looked at the green floral foam that Rag Roc mentioned, the foam used today is completely different, I wonder if he ever got that smell of that green foam out of his tools.

Has anyone ever thought to have the socket sizes somehow printed on the foam?

When/if I get a box I would LIKE to use the foam for it but it would be nice to have the size right in front of me kind of like the hansen socket organizers

There are a few ways to imprint socket sizes on foam, the easiest is probably steel series socket labels, they are the cheapest and simplest solution to labeling sockets (http://www.mysiteforsoreeyes.com) I use them and they amazingly stick even to sockets that are less that perfectly clean, I dont know how, but they do, and the guy makes lots of other label solutions.

 

[jbmorrey]

I just purchaes 2 of the Kaizen foam sheets today and was looking hee to get some ideas... Wish there were more pics and samples. I plan on using it for some of my older tools that I do not want to get scratched or dmaaged. I am more interested in woodworking and once you find a nice block plane or chisel set, they can last quite some time, so I thought a $5 per drawer investment was worth it!

 

[mdbeck1]

I grew up working in a DIY/mechanics shop. Now I work around the aircraft industry. If a DIY or mechanics shop loses a screwdriver it's not usually a big deal. If an aircraft mechanic loses a screwdriver the whole team stops and finds it. That screwdriver could take out an engine that costs upwards of $1,000,000.00. Different types of thinking.

I don't shadow my toolboxes however I'm thinking about a new organization for the socket drawer...

 

[James E]

I have the foam--used the Craftsman sets. It's a PITA to set up and cut but the results are great. And yes, once I break or lose a tool or buy a new one, I am **** enough that it drives me crazy so I leave space in the drawer for additions.

It's good for me because it helps me take inventory. My tools get spread all over the garage and house and I'd never know what my ten year old took out of there without an empty hole to tell me.

 

[rickyboy]

I can relate to losing a tool around an aircraft. I work in the dieing newspaper trade and if we drop something into a folder or somewhere, the press will not be started, regardless of time, until the part or tool is found.

But anyway, I use the the tray's my tools came in. .... which kind'a fit the drawers but not really. I think this foam is a great thing and I will be doing my tool chest drawers soon. I also like the labels too.
Thanks to those who posted.

I didn't see the kaiser foam link and here is the label link too, for anyone just starting to read the thread.
http://www.fastcap.com/

http://mysiteforsoreeyes.com/index.php

 

[xtremek]

I'm not big on the foam, but I love the organization. If you could seal it, I'm there. I'm an old man who keeps forgetting where I laid that %#@*&^ tool, being organized helps me keep my repetitive tool costs down so I can spend my money elsewhere. And the 10 year old thing is so accurate. My boy is 25 and I still bust his chops about all the times he borrowed my tools and didn't put them back. I love the block of wood and dowels. I did the socket rails with the spring clips. They **** when your hands are greasy. I've got the plastic rails with the pegs that you put in them. Lots of wasted space. The plywood and dowels is a great idea because you almost always have some scrap plywood around and you can seal it when your all set up. Idea stolen!

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I'm just a home use guy and when I thought about the foam and the time it takes to lay it out and the stress of buying a new tool and having to redo the job turned me off.

That said after a number of years of using my current system I am beginning to reconsider using dense foam for my wrench, pliers, and screw driver drawer because ultimately everything gets shifted to the back and I end up having to re-organize every couple months.

I prefer my sockets in those metal holders because I can take them with me to the various nuts in question. Plus I am sure I am not done accumulating the requisite number of socket wrenches...

 

[customh]

I'm not a foam fan, I love these snap on wrench slots/rails. Don't know what else to call them, part number KRA15A