Drawer Labels

[Vettman]

My memory isn't what it was in my 40's (or even 50's) So, I decided to label the drawers on my Montezuma box. With 21 drawers I can't remember where everything's located. The design of the drawer trim lends itself to use clear Avery 5167 (return address labels) They meassure 1/2" X 1 3/4" They format in Word and print out nicely on a laser printer. I put them on the tops of the pulls so as not to change the appearance of the front of the box. They can be read easily standing over the tops of the drawers.

 

[kywildcat]

Good idea!! I will be putting labels on all my tool box drawers and cabinet drawers and doors.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I'm about to do that myself.

(Subscribed.)

 

[klhitman]

i cant remember who make them i think cman but they are magnetic labels.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I had the magnetic ones -- Z-Cals? -- and I thought they were useless. I'd rather have text than a cartoon image of a type of tool.

 

[UncleJoe]

Office depot and Staples both sell magnetic labels and 8.5x11 magnetic sheets that you can run through your ink-jet printer and make your own custom labels. With the large sheets you can cut the label in any size and shape you want.

You could cut and paste photos of your tools from web catalogs ot actual photos you took or you can just type out the words.

The magnetic labels give you the ability to easily rearrange a toolbox and relocate tools to a new drawer without the difficulty of removing a stuck label.

I really like how you placed your labels. It leaves the fron of the box with a clean, uncluttered look but still allows the function or reading the label. Nice job.

 

[jakeb]

Sears sell some labels but they do not seperate metric and SAE....I had some but took them back.

There are these on ebay,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280344522637&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I like the ebay ones better but I might do like the OP did and make them using magnetic sheets from staples. That way I can choose what is needed and add more as required.

 

[Mr_Rich]

I'm going to label my tool box drawers using a laminating label maker and stick the label to a piece from roll of magnetic strip. This magnetic strip is available in coil form at craft stores, around here we have Micheal's.

This will let me make custom labels 3/4" tall by as long as the text is.

Rich

 

[spongerich]

I have a Brother p-touch label printer that works great. The heavy duty labels stick reall well, has a variety of label sizes and font options so you can make little ones for little drawers and nice big easy to read ones for the larger drawers. They come off easily with a little heat from your wife's hair dryer.

 

[djjsr]

+1 for the P-Touch. It's also good for labeling a breaker panel.

 

[maybe smith]

Also +1 for the p-touch. I did the magnetic strips and they are too limiting.
I bought the PT-2700. This machine does 9/64 up to 1" tapes.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Another fan of the Dymo labels. I used the yellow plastic ones. They are very durable and stick well...

 

[Vettman]

Sears sell some labels but they do not seperate metric and SAE....I had some but took them back.

There are these on ebay,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280344522637&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I like the ebay ones better but I might do like the OP did and make them using magnetic sheets from staples. That way I can choose what is needed and add more as required.

I like the custom look of these labels. I tried making magnetic labels using magnetic "ribbon" and applying a white laser printer generated label but I didn't like the look. These however may warrant some thought. The labels I used peel off very easy as the finish on the drawer trim is frosted. I have around 760 labels left over (just in case)

 

[Zengineer]

I like the ebay ones better but I might do like the OP did and make them using magnetic sheets from staples. That way I can choose what is needed and add more as required.

For $10, I thought I'd buy a set of these and try them out. I'll try to remember to post a review once I receive them and try them out.

 

[Ign]

I like the custom look of these labels. I tried making magnetic labels using magnetic "ribbon" and applying a white laser printer generated label but I didn't like the look.

This is what I still do. Love it. Look seems fine to me. The white labels do show abrasive dust as the magnets slowly attract it, but the labels serve their purpose so I don't care. Function over form.

The production labels inevitably don't cover everything I want. Prefer to choose my own phraseology.

 

[crewchief888]

ive been keeping the same type of tools in the same drawer location in all my boxes for a long time.

makes working from multiple locations and boxes much easier.

 

[kywildcat]

Sears sell some labels but they do not seperate metric and SAE....I had some but took them back.

There are these on ebay,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280344522637&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I like the ebay ones better but I might do like the OP did and make them using magnetic sheets from staples. That way I can choose what is needed and add more as required.

Ordered my set tonight!!!

 

[InPrimer]

I tried a few variations of toolbox labels, the best and cheapest way was to print them on your printer find the font?? that you like and easy to read and use poster paper, to keep labels clear & clean I covered each label with clear shipping tape and slid them in the drawer groove. total cost?? maybe a dollar for the printing ink BTW, the metric section was printed in red so its easier to spot.

 

[srmofo]

I can grab the right drawer without thinking about it, but if someone asks me where "blank tool" is, It takes me 10 mins to figure out where its at.

 

[DYNA BILL]

here's what I use.

 

[jsonic6]

I use the Craftsman magnetic labels from Sears... Works just fine.

 

[Hit-By-Thunder]

+1 for the P-Touch. It's also good for labeling a breaker panel.

+2

I can say here is the proof for labelling the breaker panel

 

[MoonRise]

P-touch. You can label just about anything that way.

You can use different fonts and text sizes and (some) graphics and depending on the labeler/printer's model capabilities, you can use different width tapes. Print horizontally, vertically, 'flag' style, backwards/mirrored, etc, etc. Again, depending on the capabilities of the specific model labeler/printer you have.

Quite a handy gadget. And a bit 'neater' and cleaner looking than writing with a Sharpie. (although I do a lot of that too).

 

[reinhardt]

i've thought about labeling my toolbox drawers. i cant remember which drawer is which. i like the labelmaker approach. i hate magnets of any sort! i do enough grinding in the garage that i get grit everywhere, everywhere!

btw.... how is this thread related to fabrication? i would think it would fit under general tool discussion. anywho, carry on.

ben

 

[kywildcat]

I got the labels like the ones above from Ebay today...........I like them alot!!!!

 

[drof]

My eyes are not as good as they use to be so I make my own. I just go to Word and select the size of the print and the color. I print off labels for everything I need, cut them out with scissors, and then use clear shipping tape to stick them on whatever. I can almost read my items from across the room. It is a big help when you ask someone to get something for you. The tape keeps them clean and the cost is very low.

 

[BlindViper]

I am very good any remember where tools are in my boxes and peoples I work out of. However if I have someone helping me and I say go to the top box middle drawer and grab this. Nine times of ten they walk over and say what drawer again. The labels have fixed that.

 

[Zengineer]

Got my ebay ones... not too shabby! I'll try to snap a photo tonight.

 

[bww_mnm]

Got my ebay ones... not too shabby! I'll try to snap a photo tonight.

based on your impressive review, i just pulled the trigger and dropped $10 myself on an ebay set.

btw, i dig the description: "Magnetic TOOLBOX LABELS for your High Dollar Tool Chest" ... didn't know my HF 13 drawer was a high doller tool chest

 

[Zengineer]

based on your impressive review, i just pulled the trigger and dropped $10 myself on an ebay set.

Not sure I can handle the ridicule... Here are some pics.

 

[Jack Olsen]

No ridicule here. At least, not from me. Have you ever been over to someone else's garage to help them with something -- and you find yourself opening every door in the box every single time you need a hand tool?

I've got some drawers labeled right now in my garage and some that aren't -- and even though I know where everything is, I find myself going through two or three doors sometimes before I open the right one on those unlabeled boxes. If I thought about it, I'm sure I could tell you which drawer is which for everything that's in there. But when I'm working on something, then that's the thing I'm thinking about -- not what the contents are of each drawer.

So when I get a little bit of time, I'm labeling all the drawers.

Even if it means some ridicule.

 

[DatsunLover]

I labeled my tool box with a p touch at home, but everything else is labeled with painters tape and sharpie...fast and easy makes me do it everytime..

i also do the "tape and sharpie" at work and friends massive muscle car shop!!!

love the site and love the ideasss

 

[MP&C]

Some of you guys may pick up on the excessive number of drawers on this S-O box... Changed out some of the taller ones to have more layout space. Found most of the tall drawers you'd have to dig to find what you want anyhow

Labels for the drawers were courtesy of previous employer with an engraving machine...

 

[Zengineer]

No ridicule here. At least, not from me. Have you ever been over to someone else's garage to help them with something -- and you find yourself opening every door in the box every single time you need a hand tool?

I know exactly what you mean, and even prior to now I'd find myself reaching for the wrong drawer far more often than I'd care to admit. I've noticed that since the labels have gone on I just don't do that anymore...

A small efficiency increase, but good bang for the buck at $10.

In a perfect world I'd make my own so they could be custom, but I don't have a way/time to do them neatly at this point.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

When I bought the new 40 inch bottom unit, I had to re-organize all my tools in new drawers. Knowing where everything used to be, vs where they now are was driving me crazy. After a few months I could remember most things but this really helps out when friends are over wrenching on projects. I didn't want them to be over-powering, so I made them out of a silver colored vinyl. Owning a sign shop has it's advantages
The top box was my Dads before he passed away, had to make a tribute to him on the inside of the lid.
View media item 5219View media item 5220

 

[Vettman]

Those look real nice! Not too obstusive. Nice tribute to your dad as well!

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Thanks Vettman

 

[SpeedCoach]

Ordered the ebay version mentioned earlier after reading this thread a week or so ago.....they came late last week. I like them. Simple. my FIL got me those z-calz and I dont like their animations.....happy to take them off.

 

[e-tek]

Thanks fo posting those Jakeb, now we can just print them from here - or take them to a sign maker and have them do them in vinyl.

My new Ranger boxes came with labels and inserts, but I like the ones you posted too...

 

[Stuart in MN]

These are nice, except for the apostrophe in Allens that's not supposed to be there.