Drawer liners again but a different direction

[fred d]

I have done a lot of research on drawer liners trying to figure out what would be the best way to go. I have over 60 drawers that I need to line

I don't like the foam roll type because it's such a pain to cut exactly to size so the foam does not slide around in the drawer. That causes the tools to move and ends up bunching up the liner

Read somewhere a while back about using rubberized undercoating as a liner. I sell rubberized undercoating so I thought why not give it a try. It may work up north but here in the Texas heat my tools ended up melting into the undercoating and sticking to the drawer, also transferring black undercoating to the tools(Nothing that was metal but anything that had a plastic or rubber handle ended up getting coated) but I did like the way it looked and application was very easy.

I have read where someone used the spray plasti-coat with success

I am thinking other options
Has anyone ever tried using a sprayable seam sealer designed for car seams as a drawer liner? I sell this product and am awaiting corporate to call me back with their opinion, but they generally don't think out side the box well.

We also have a chip guard designed for rocker panel protection that I may look at as well.

Feed back........
Don't care about resale or originality, more about practicality

 

[daveroy]

Use the foam type roll... with a little dab of rubber cement in each corner. No shifting, no bunching, and don't have to be cut perfect (just lay good and flat when you glue 'em in)

 

[shocksandstrutz]

i got thicker rolls from HF and they hold everything great, never had a problem with things slipping, but i do have a ton of stuff packed in my drawers, only things that move around are my extensions and screwdrivers, but im working on solutions for those

 

[enrare]

Would maybe one of the spray in truck bed liners work? I think some types of spray in liner materials are softer and grip better than others.

 

[-Brent-]

When you figure it out, please let us know. I've got a ton of drawers already done with foam roll and even the with rubber cement have issues. The rubber cement has lost it's adhesiveness and has allowed the foam do slide and such.

I assume I could skuff up the drawer and reapply but I'd entertain a longer lasting solution, for sure.

 

[kazlx]

Small neo magnets in the corners?

 

[kb2tha]

What about a spray adhesive on the underside of the liner ?

 

[junkman104]

Call me cheap, I use good old fashioned cardboard. Easy to cut and change. Recycling is good for the environment is-int it?

 

[Holt]

Spray on plastic dip may be worth a shot.. hit it ones or twice then lay the mat. If it doesn't work you peel it up.

 

[Brad54]

Rubber stair tread runner. It's flat on one side, and has ribs on the other side. Comes in a roll as long as you want. Cut to fit.

I've had it in my tool chest for 25 years.
One tip: Run the rips side-to-side, not front-to-back: tools will slide back and forth a little as you open and close drawers if the ribs are front/back.

-Brad

 

[RivennHewn]

Rubber stair tread runner. It's flat on one side, and has ribs on the other side. Comes in a roll as long as you want. Cut to fit.

I've had it in my tool chest for 25 years.
One tip: Run the rips side-to-side, not front-to-back: tools will slide back and forth a little as you open and close drawers if the ribs are front/back.

-Brad

I used the black carpeted door mats.

I had a few left over from a job, so they were free.

 

[metaleltr]

Based on my background in the body shop industry i think the chip guard for rocker panels would work well.

 

[PT Doc]

I like the idea of a spray on product. Just spray and go. Keep us posted.

 

[geezer48]

i use horse stall mat from tractor supply.4 ft. wide about 3-16 in thick,5.49 a ft.

 

[fury9]

I've been using the HF ones, I just rolled some tape onto itself and stuck it to the drawer then stuck the mat to it.

 

[bibman]

Rubber stair tread runner. It's flat on one side, and has ribs on the other side. Comes in a roll as long as you want. Cut to fit.

I've had it in my tool chest for 25 years.
One tip: Run the rips side-to-side, not front-to-back: tools will slide back and forth a little as you open and close drawers if the ribs are front/back.

-Brad

X2...works great...heavy duty and cheap

 

[Steve_P]

The thick yoga mat is the best- I tried everything but the snap on liners. Many threads on this. I have no liner movement issues - and use no tape, etc. I had a template made at HD from tempered hardboard to my drawer dimensions and used that to cut from the roll. I did four 6 ft tall stacked chests. The yoga mat is holding up great after several years. There is really no sense reinventing the wheel on this.

 

[Jarhead0408]

It's hard to find. But if you can get your hands on some anti-friction mats that are used in semi trailers you will not be disappointed.

They grip very well without scratching up your tools.

 

[andywander]

X2...works great...heavy duty and cheap

On a related note, I use the plastic runners that are meant to be installed under a rug in a hallway, in my drawers that hold reamers,large drills,and similar tools.

These are made of transparent, flexible plastic, and one side is slightly ribbed, while the other side has little points that are meant to dig into the underside of the rug.

Home depot carries 2 varieties, differing in how closely spaced, and how tall, the little points are. They work well for stopping reamers from touching each other and dulling.

Pretty inexpensive, too.

 

[jeremy v]

I use regular 45mil EPDM rubber pond liner in my tool chest drawers and it works great. 30mil would probably work fine too, but I haven't tried it. It cuts easily with a utility knife as long as the blade is sharp, it does not slide around, the tools stay put, it is smooth so it is easy to keep clean, the tools do not try to stick to it like they can with some of the foams, etc. It is also pretty cheap to buy.

What I like about pond liner the most is that you don't need to worry about lining drawers of different widths or lengths, finding a liner that matches your drawer dimensions in one direction, etc. Just order or buy a piece of pond liner in whatever size you want (10'x10' is about $70-80 and is a very common size) and cut it to fit each drawer perfectly no matter if your drawers are 12" x 16" or 36" x 48".

 

[ScorpionKing5.7]

I use a thick grip liner I bought from Big Lots that's meant to be used in kitchens, it works great and doesnt swell up when oil gets on them like the home depot and hf ones do. Like 3 bucks a roll of 18in by 10 feet.

 

[fred d]

Pond liners got me to thinking....has anyone tried using the bulk grey roll shower liner like they sell at lowes?

5ft long and about $5-6 dollars a linier ft

 

[fred d]

Like this

http://www.lowes.com/Search=shower+...n+membrane#!&page=1&nvalue[]=0&nvalue[]=2z8vj

 

[rhastings80]

+1

I have done this as well and it works great.

I use regular 45mil EPDM rubber pond liner in my tool chest drawers and it works great. 30mil would probably work fine too, but I haven't tried it. It cuts easily with a utility knife as long as the blade is sharp, it does not slide around, the tools stay put, it is smooth so it is easy to keep clean, the tools do not try to stick to it like they can with some of the foams, etc. It is also pretty cheap to buy.

What I like about pond liner the most is that you don't need to worry about lining drawers of different widths or lengths, finding a liner that matches your drawer dimensions in one direction, etc. Just order or buy a piece of pond liner in whatever size you want (10'x10' is about $70-80 and is a very common size) and cut it to fit each drawer perfectly no matter if your drawers are 12" x 16" or 36" x 48".

 

[Fyrme]

Here is a product that I have never seen used as liners other than in my own cabinets. Maybe due to the cost though. I got mine for free from a construction job leftovers pile. It is 3/4" thick so if depth space is an issue, it may be a problem. The nice thing about it though is the smooth surface and the ability to carve out tool slots so your extensions and screw drivers don't roll around. I have one piece left that I am resisting to use because once you carve things out in it, it's pretty much a custom piece and hard to "rearrange" your drawer.
http://under-the-ice.com/product_info.php?products_id=74

 

[fred d]

Here is a product that I have never seen used as liners other than in my own cabinets. Maybe due to the cost though. I got mine for free from a construction job leftovers pile. It is 3/4" thick so if depth space is an issue, it may be a problem. The nice thing about it though is the smooth surface and the ability to carve out tool slots so your extensions and screw drivers don't roll around. I have one piece left that I am resisting to use because once you carve things out in it, it's pretty much a custom piece and hard to "rearrange" your drawer.
http://under-the-ice.com/product_info.php?products_id=74

My problem with that is that I am cheap

 

[worknhard]

I guess I'm not seeing the problem... I have 3 tool chests with 3 different types of drawer lining material: cork; something called "easy liner" -- a product from the Duck Tape co.; and the common rubber mesh stuff. None of them bunch up or slide around to the point it presents a problem. I realize you have a lot of drawers to deal with and want to minimize cost and time to reline them, but at the end of the day, I bet you will be way ahead by purchasing one of the better quality, easy to cut, materials on the market. Heck, I'd hate to pull all those drawers, prep them for spray application, mask off, etc., then sometime later discover the spray-on stuff ages or breaks down over time.

 

[rick carpenter]

I'm probably gonna try hardboard inserts with spray-on bedliner or spray plasti-dip. That might be more than you want to do with your drawers, but I only have a few.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Any spray on liner that is stickey enough to keep tools in place is likely going to adhere to the tools themselves over time, wear off over time and be a ***** to clean or even be uncleanable.

Work in a metal shop with lots of grinding or work in a wood shop and no matter how hard you try metal shavings and wood dust get in your drawers. Yes, no matter what.

Mats, removeable liners and cardboard allow you to pull tools and liner and clean. Especially of you spill or leak air tool oil and the like.

If a non-hardeneing (meaning stickey enough to keep tools in place) sray in is used, you'll NEVER be able to get metal shaving out of it.

So in the end, you create a dust, grit and metyal shaving magnet that will likely wear off on your tools (especially in any heat) and also devalue your box should you ever sell it off.

Thus why you seldom see it as a "good" or effective solution in the tool world.

Do what ya like, but there are way too many cons vs. pros for me to every even entertain the idea.

Good luck.

 

[pipsters]

I actually like the idea of using some carpet for some reason. Nice and soft and you could place the tools down without hearing a big clunking noise. I like it. If thick enough they would sink in a bit and not roll around at all.

 

[Tack]

Spray on plastic dip may be worth a shot.. hit it ones or twice then lay the mat. If it doesn't work you peel it up.

I did this to my top drawer on my craftsman chest (because its so hard to cut little pieces. I taped it off and really applied a lot of coats. It looks good and its durable. I don't put any heavy tools up there though.

 

[Tack]

I actually like the idea of using some carpet for some reason. Nice and soft and you could place the tools down without hearing a big clunking noise. I like it. If thick enough they would sink in a bit and not roll around at all.

I had a friend that went with carpet and it got gross quick. All the grease and oils really makes for a hot mess.

 

[fred d]

Work in a metal shop with lots of grinding or work in a wood shop and no matter how hard you try metal shavings and wood dust get in your drawers. Yes, no matter what.

Mats, removeable liners and cardboard allow you to pull tools and liner and clean. Especially of you spill or leak air tool oil and the like.

If a non-hardeneing (meaning stickey enough to keep tools in place) sray in is used, you'll NEVER be able to get metal shaving out of it.

Good luck.

Good points I had not thought of. The rubberized undercoating I used did not do a good job of keeping the tools in place, but would clean up well

 

[purpurite]

I know you said you didn't like drawer liners, because of the hassle of cutting, but thinking about the effort needed to mask off each drawer to spray bed liner on it hurts my head just thinking about it.

I have been experimenting with a lot of different roll foam liners, from kitchen stuff found at Target to the expensive foam sold at Sears with their Craftsman tool boxes. I was at Menard's today looking for the on sale Hansen socket trays, and I decided to look at their drawer liners to see what I could use to finish off my new top box with.

What I found not only worked fantastic, but my wallet was happy, too.

They sell rolls of a product called Performax and it's a solid, black foam. Yes, it needs to be cut to size, but that's not a complicated task. What's great is that it sticks to the drawer bottom like a wet suit and doesn't move around at all. It's almost tacky when it's down in the drawer. Best part, it it was on sale today for $8 for 2 rolls of 16" x 72".