Drawer Foam vs Drawer Liners?

[2JZGTESC300]

Anyone have Drawer Cut of Foam for their tools instead of Drawer Liners?

What's the Pros and Cons of Foam vs Liners?

I was browsing online for Foam pictures in Drawers and found this photo which I think is a great way to organized your tools.

 

[cascivic]

only downfall is once you add one item...your screwed! but it looks sweet . they call it "shadowing" alot of airplane mechanics have to have it so they can easily scan there box and make sure they didnt leave a wrench in the intake of an engine

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I think the foam looks ok when done properly. The pics are probably machine cut, which looks awesome. But, even if I could get that done and have it look perfect, I still wouldn't do it. Yeah it would look great and I would immediately know if something missing. It would **** every time I got new tools, plus I could never rearrange tools, etc without it being a major pain in the ***.

Not to mention you would have to layout, and cut it out yourself, I heard of guys taking 3-5 hours to do just one drawer.

I guess if you don't plan on buying more tools, and had the time...

 

[phy6]

Sure looks cool!! If I had a source for cheap foam I could see doing this for some of my drawers

 

[Skin]

also dirt and oil magnets. Its a nice idea if you absolutely need that kind of organization but..eh. I like to be able to move stuff around and get new toys without worrying where it will go.

 

[Rico.]

I think the response you will get from most people is that it looks awesome and is probably
the best way to be able to get to a tool in an instant, but ultimately it's impractical.
As has been said, if you add just one more socket or you find a great deal on a pair
of pliers you always wanted you will either have to do your plier draw all over again or
have your pliers in two separate draws, or start a new foam cutout for all the odd bits
you get along the way.... Just a huge pain.

 

[lennoxlennox]

I think the place where foam inserts work best is in glossy marketing photos promoting foam inserts

 

[2JZGTESC300]

Reason I brought is up is because I have a bunch of pliers. I mean a bunch, over 70+ which are fairly new if not new from Snap On, Mac, and Cornwell. At the moment, it's in a 4'' high x30'' deep drawer that is clutter ontop one another. Was trying to figure out a way to organize it to where I can grab the right plier for the right job instead of just pick one from the pile and use it that may work for the job.

I wouldn't do the sockets or screwdrivers with the foam, just the pliers. They don't seem to have alot of plier organizer for drawers out there do they? I know of just one kind and that beats the heck out of trying to organize 70+ pliers..

 

[lennoxlennox]

one word

plyworx

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200365376_200365376


there are lots of threads on this... i have 3 of them... you can order from snapon for $20 ea free shipping

 

[Skin]

Reason I brought is up is because I have a bunch of pliers. I mean a bunch, over 70+ which are fairly new if not new from Snap On, Mac, and Cornwell. At the moment, it's in a 4'' high x30'' deep drawer that is clutter ontop one another. Was trying to figure out a way to organize it to where I can grab the right plier for the right job instead of just pick one from the pile and use it that may work for the job.

well you could first ask yourself if you actually need 70 pliers. As far as organizing them get a pliers rack.

Snap-On sells it, PLWPLR30, its one of the few deals considering its free shipping.

 

[Mister Moose]

they call it "shadowing" alot of airplane mechanics have to have it so they can easily scan there box and make sure they didnt leave a wrench in the intake of an engine

That helps, but doesn't eliminate the problem. We did an annual on a Ce 210 and found a D cell plastic flashlight melting into the cooling fins on the right rear cylinder!

...and even if you find a wrench missing, that doesn't mean you will find where you left it.

 

[2JZGTESC300]

That's the only Pliers Rack that I've know of. The Plyworx Pliers Rack. Mac tools carries it. That would mean I need to purchase 3 of them, lay the first one towards the back of the drawer, 2nd one towards the left side of the drawer and 3rd on the right side of the drawer. Would be hectic looking at all of them trying to find the right one to use.

 

[Rico.]

That's the only Pliers Rack that I've know of. The Plyworx Pliers Rack. Mac tools carries it. That would mean I need to purchase 3 of them, lay the first one towards the back of the drawer, 2nd one towards the left side of the drawer and 3rd on the right side of the drawer. Would be hectic looking at all of them trying to find the right one to use.

I'm not about to judge someone for having 70+ pairs of pliers.... Esspecially on here ,
but, if you have many multiples of the same type of pliers why do you not pick your
favourite one of each type you have and keep them organised in your plier drawer, and
then just put the spares in a box of some sort and store it in your work place, that way
you'll have instant access to the pliers you use all the time and should you ever need
a pair you put away you'll know where they are.

 

[OEXL16B]

What's the Pros and Cons of Foam vs Liners?

Foam shadowed drawers are for ease of inventory. The drawback is you can't cram a bunch of tools into one drawer on top of each other like you can with drawer liners. You lose allot of potential storage capacity with foam shadowed drawers.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

I tried that system once then when you buy more tools it *****

 

[garfunkle24]

That's the only Pliers Rack that I've know of. The Plyworx Pliers Rack. Mac tools carries it. That would mean I need to purchase 3 of them, lay the first one towards the back of the drawer, 2nd one towards the left side of the drawer and 3rd on the right side of the drawer. Would be hectic looking at all of them trying to find the right one to use.

Would you rather have like 15 shadowed plier drawers?

 

[2JZGTESC300]

I'll give the Plyworx Pliers Rack a try and see how it goes. The 70+ Pliers I have, aren't doubles. So you gotta keep them all.

I wasn't thinking of doing the whole drawers with foam, just one drawer for my pliers.

Does anyone know if you order from Snap On, Mac or Cornwell online, what am I expecting as far as delivery time? I never order any of their products online before. Want to get my storage system situated within the week. Can't sit around and wait for them, my Mac guy didn't show up today.. without notice.

 

[Skin]

Snap-On usually has a 1 day delay for me +3 days transit time, for you further out west i'd say 6 days.

 

[1967lemans]

I have the foam in my personal tool box at home, as stated its great to keep inventory but ***** once you get new tools. I still love it and wouldn't trade it. Must be the 12.5 years of working in aviation.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I like the idea of the foam but it isnt practical for me. Im always adding stuff to my sets.

 

[barney rubble]

Try laying out your 70 pair of pliers and see just how much room it is going to take up. No tool box is going to hold them in 1 drawer.

 

[smschriefer]

I love shadowed foam boxes. I have a background as an aircraft mechanic and am a bit ocd with organization. People complain of dirt in the box, but I don't find that to be an issue. I inventory and clean my tools before putting them away. Saves me time and money in the long run.

I do see where others have issues with foam and can understand why some don't like it. It does take time to do, but you can cut out a drawer in 15-20 minutes - not 4 hours. We would do toolboxes in the military and we'd do a few Vidmar cabinets each night. They were mainly 5 drawer boxes, roughly 3'x2'x2'. I will admit that in my personal boxes at home, I leave one drawer uncut for overflow tools and I position tools in drawers for potential growth.

 

[rsanter]

I have both
I really prefer the cutouts but it's not good for everything.
If you are going to fill the drawer and not add or change stuff then you are set.
For wrenches I used to use just the wrench racks. But as I started to get to where I had 2 of each and then 3 of 4 of the most common used ones I found it took less room to use the foam and then just stack the wrenches.
For a toolbox you take to the racetrack it's ideal as the stuff dosent move on the trip and it's harder to leave stuff behind

Bob

 

[jetmech09]

My box at work is shadowed. I like it a lot more than what I have at home. Easier to find things, know when somethings missing etc.. It took me about 3 hours to do my entire box. If you lay it out correctly, you leave space for things youll think you will buy, and it works out. I think it is worth the time and effort. As far as dirt and stuff, I don't have an issue. I deal with nasty chemicals too at work (MEK, skydrol etc.) and have had no issues with that either.
I think I have pictures in the aviation tool box thread.

 

[JKady]

I like the idea of the foam but it isnt practical for me. Im always adding stuff to my sets.

That's my feelings on it. I have doubts about fitting things the way I'd want to on my cart with foam, and I'm constantly adding tools. I just see a ton of wasted space in the foam setups.

 

[csargents1546]

I have my rollcart shadowed in two of three drawers. Took my time and decieded what tools I use the most, then grouped them together by drive size. Left room in the drawers for future expansion. Kept all my sockets on rails and wrenches on a magrail.

 

[2JZGTESC300]

I order 3 of those Pliers Racks already from Snap On today. It should be here next week.

I've tried to lay out the Pliers I have, and I'm able to fit 36-40 Pliers into one 4'' high 30'' deep drawer. I have another 4'' high 30'' deep drawer that I'm not using, maybe if the Plier Racks doesn't fit right, I can use two 4'' high 30'' deep drawers to hold the 70+ Pliers?

I have to see how the Plier Racks work first next week.