Foam Tool Organization

[Sngma]

I really like the look and ability to see it something is missing. I already did it for my screwdriver draw. Looks awesome but it was pretty time consuming.

My real problem is now I picked up a few additional drivers.... Now what? How do you know when your done and can safely design and cut your layout?

For anybody using these, how many times have you don the same draw?

 

[gagreen]

You do it once after spending enough time doing the job to know what you need in what drawer. Don't jump the gun and cut to soon. A waste of considerable time and money. Use a paint pen to outline your drawer liner so you have a working layout to use for a while then shadow when you're happy. I've made the mistake of doing it before I really had everything set.

After a few years or if you need to make an immediate change to your inventory then you can try to piece it in by replacing a square of foam or **** it up and redo the whole thing.

 

[Fcvapor05]

This is why I don't use foam.

 

[hautpot]

Or in the case where you break a tool and find out they can't replace it because it is discontinued. Now you have a custom cut spot that is going to be empty.

 

[ZRX61]

I have multiple rollaways (7 or 8). I would need at least 6 more 72in models if I were to even consider doing the foam deal.

 

[Phantom552]

IMHO foam tool organization is best served in a portable box, like a road box. For a shop box that spends its life pretty much in one place, tool organizers like the ones at Mechanics Time Saver work great! Just my .02

 

[hangfirew8]

This is why I don't use foam.

Same here. My main box is pretty dynamic. The more I learn, the more I optimize and upgrade my tools and their locations. When it stops being so dynamic, that probably means I'm done.

I understand the appeal, and why it's necessary in aerospace, etc. It just doesn't work for me.

 

[espyking83]

always put your tools as close together as possible, so if you add you dont have to worry as much.

also, dont limit yourself to 'toolbox foam'. ****'s waaayyyy overpriced. There's all types of foam out there, hell, im getting ready to do my home box with those kids colorful jigsaw floor mats. The wife picked up a **** load at wal mart for our boy on clearance, but he quit falling down so much. Just pick a base color like black or white that contrasts everything for the bottom piece.

 

[espyking83]

buy a hot knife too if you already havent. also, you dont have to cut out the entire piece of foam under the tool, you can cut out just enough to hold the tool and notice that its missing. so if you have some hard handled craftsman driver now, and want to upgrade to some crazy *** handle Weras, you wont have to redo your entire screwdriver drawer. you also dont want fobcut out the entire shadow of weird shaped/long tools like speed handles or hammers, just cut enough to hold it and label.

 

[gagreen]

always put your tools as close together as possible, so if you add you dont have to worry as much.

also, dont limit yourself to 'toolbox foam'. ****'s waaayyyy overpriced. There's all types of foam out there, hell, im getting ready to do my home box with those kids colorful jigsaw floor mats. The wife picked up a **** load at wal mart for our boy on clearance, but he quit falling down so much. Just pick a base color like black or white that contrasts everything for the bottom piece.

Put a drop of mek onv those cheap kids mats. If you're going to take the time to shadow don't waste that time on stuff that will rapidly decay in shop chemicals. Not everyone runs into mek or skydrol at work tho.

Moral being test your foam before taking the time to shadow it

 

[DSLTRK]

buy a hot knife too if you already havent.

A dremel works also. I found the foam shrinks with heat, at least the foam I used

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[espyking83]

Put a drop of mek onv those cheap kids mats. If you're going to take the time to shadow don't waste that time on stuff that will rapidly decay in shop chemicals. Not everyone runs into mek or skydrol at work tho.

Moral being test your foam before taking the time to shadow it

What hangar do work in that still uses MPK or MEk? What tools do you use that get bathed in that? Thats a great point but im not so sure that the foam that you and me use are even resiliant against direct ketones.

 

[espyking83]

A dremel works also. I found the foam shrinks with heat, at least the foam I used

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That's brilliant as hell

 

[gagreen]

I do fabric recovering. My foam does not degrade when splashed in mek. I said it wasn't common but a lot of general aviation shops have mek somewhere. Paint thinners can be hell on cheap foam as well

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[espyking83]

you + are = you're

That's a **** move when someone is here asking for help. Not sure if you know where the **** you're at, but we turn wrenches here. We bust each others balls about drunk smashing fatties or wet farts-not grammar and punctuation . So if putting people down for typos is your thing then you can take your Hemingway *** to Reddit.

 

[ZRX61]

also, dont limit yourself to 'toolbox foam'. ****'s waaayyyy overpriced. There's all types of foam out there, hell, im getting ready to do my home box with those kids colorful jigsaw floor mats.

My welding box has yoga mat drawer liners..

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/v/t1.0-9/10257429_10202762583618467_9101406490835299889_n.jpg?oh=39745a06a0886421bb4ab79f81dfd31a&oe=572D022C

 

[TK-421]

I'd also look into "unconventional" organizers. I saw a picture someone on here posted where they use what appears to be a wire dish drainer as their plier organizer. It allows them to keep their pliers standing upright so they save a ton of space, and a gap would let you know a plier is missing.

 

[77Mini]

I used foam in my box at work the first time. I eventually found it a pain and that things took up way to much space that way. I find dividers are the way to go.

 

[hautpot]

I'd also look into "unconventional" organizers. I saw a picture someone on here posted where they use what appears to be a wire dish drainer as their plier organizer. It allows them to keep their pliers standing upright so they save a ton of space, and a gap would let you know a plier is missing.

That particular item is purposely designed.

 

[crewchief888]

I have multiple rollaways (7 or 8). I would need at least 6 more 72in models if I were to even consider doing the foam deal.

yea me too....

if i ever have to move out of my service truck, and back into the shop, i'm in serious trouble.

i sold a couple toolboxes a few years ago, no way i'd ever get what was in them back into a box 1/2 the size...

 

[TK-421]

That particular item is purposely designed.

Well that would explain why it fit so well, I figured he had modified it somewhat.

 

[Rossco]

Yeah I have some high quality Tool control foam in my box. Works good. Haven't lost anything in ages. Not to expensive for the beds. Probably 1/2 the price of a fancy SO cordless impact that everyone seems to have these days.

If you are serious about the stuff you need to plan meticulous.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I put foam into my last box, now I have upgraded and will have to start all over again.

 

[gagreen]

I put foam into my last box, now I have upgraded and will have to start all over again.

This is a side benefit. Lol it makes me double check myself when I find a steal on craigslist. Lol

 

[DSLTRK]

Foam is awesome with shallow drawers. Foam is awesome with drive tools.

Foam is not awesome with t-handle hex drivers, or sockets.

 

[Rossco]

Foam is awesome with shallow drawers. Foam is awesome with drive tools.

Foam is not awesome with t-handle hex drivers, or sockets.

Yeah I agree but why not awesome with sockets? Socket bed would be the last one ide throw.

 

[DSLTRK]

Yeah I agree but why not awesome with sockets? Socket bed would be the last one ide throw.

I usually take whole socket trays with me when working on a vehicle, and foam would prohibit that. I can't drag my box around to keep sockets nearby,.

 

[Rossco]

I usually take whole socket trays with me when working on a vehicle, and foam would prohibit that. I can't drag my box around to keep sockets nearby,.

Yeah good point. Didn't think about that end of the kit.

Fortunately or unfortunately I work in the pit these days doing running repair so I have a separate tool kit for that task and the foam filled set is now my personal set.