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Homemade wrench organizer

gizardlizard

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Aug 29, 2019
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732
Location
Madison, WI
After looking at about two dozen different wrench organizers, I realized I didn’t like any of them, so I made my own. These are made from 1/4” aluminum. I used 2” wide and 1” wide pieces. Measured the thickness of each wrench, added .010 for clearance and milled slots an 1/8” deep and pressed the 1” wide pieces into the 2”. Then added labels. I also added two strong magnets under each holder so they can’t slide in the drawer. I have two smaller drawers to do yet, but these are the mainly used ones. ABCC74DF-052C-4651-9956-F075C60BE3B1.jpeg
 
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BTL-A4

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Feb 28, 2018
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Santa Clarita
Yours look awesome! I'm glad I'm not the only one that didn't like any of the wrench organizers on the market either. I really wanted to like the Tool Widget ones, but they take up too much room and area bit pricey.

I did something similar to you, but I used wood scraps. I used a dado blade to cut grooves in them.
DSC01151.JPG
 

antman213

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Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Messages
328
I've made them out of aluminum rod, coil it around a bigger rod into a spring shape. Then adjust the width to accommodate wrenches or pliers etc.

Also have used wire shelving. Oddly enough this has been the best setup i've come accross and I've gone thru alot lol
 

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gizardlizard

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Aug 29, 2019
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Location
Madison, WI
I wanted to like the tool box widget so much, but they simply waste too much space between wrenches. Especially the smaller ones. You could literally put twice as many in there. That’s because tool box widgets are Modular.
 

Madjik Man

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Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,534
After looking at about two dozen different wrench organizers, I realized I didn’t like any of them, so I made my own. These are made from 1/4” aluminum. I used 2” wide and 1” wide pieces. Measured the thickness of each wrench, added .010 for clearance and milled slots an 1/8” deep and pressed the 1” wide pieces into the 2”. Then added labels. I also added two strong magnets under each holder so they can’t slide in the drawer. I have two smaller drawers to do yet, but these are the mainly used ones. ABCC74DF-052C-4651-9956-F075C60BE3B1.jpeg

I’m gonna go with “perfection.”

So….when’s the “for sale” thread starting on GJ? :)
 
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Madjik Man

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Dec 3, 2015
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1,534
I wanted to like the tool box widget so much, but they simply waste too much space between wrenches. Especially the smaller ones. You could literally put twice as many in there. That’s because tool box widgets are Modular.

Same. If I had to choose one on the market now (because I can’t make anything like you just did) I’d probably go with Toolbox Widget because of the modularity.

But it’s bothersome that a 6mm wrench is supposed to use the same slot as a 19mm wrench. Every video I see of someone’s wrench drawer using the Toolbox Widget you can see the smaller wrenches flopping around.
 

fireplug

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May 16, 2007
Messages
70
Best looking setup I've seen yet! So just a press fit between the horizontal and vertical pieces?
 
OP
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gizardlizard

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Aug 29, 2019
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Madison, WI
The only issue I had was really watching the sizes on the 1” pieces as the thickness varied from stick to stick from .242 to as much as .254. I measured each new piece and took that into account when milling the slots.
 

GeoBruin

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May 5, 2018
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3,750
Soo.. is he taking orders? 😁
Haha. I'm sure it would be tough for him to compete with Toolbox Widget on price at this scale but I'm happy to share the link to the .stl file if anyone is interested. Then you can print your own or convince a friend to do it for you!

Incidentally, he is contemplating bringing another tool storage related idea to market so I'll be sure to share when the time is right.
 

engineer2

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Dec 13, 2009
Messages
11,825
Location
Chicago burbs
I wanted to make my own, but don't have a machine shop. I found as the OP did, they need to be variable width, variable spacing, locking, and labelable. Those sure save a lot of valuable space!
 

gearhead1

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Oct 14, 2013
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1,935
Location
NC
Most carbide tipped saw blades can cut aluminum, you don’t have to have a milling machine. Although, it does fling hot chips everywhere, so when I cut aluminum that way, I use goggles not safety glasses.
 

gvegasg

New member
Joined
Dec 26, 2023
Messages
1
Haha. I'm sure it would be tough for him to compete with Toolbox Widget on price at this scale but I'm happy to share the link to the .stl file if anyone is interested. Then you can print your own or convince a friend to do it for you!

Incidentally, he is contemplating bringing another tool storage related idea to market so I'll be sure to share when the time is right.
I would love to have the link to .all file please
 

CR888

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Feb 19, 2017
Messages
1,198
How come I've seen pretty much the best wrench organisers I've ever seen in a GJ thread that are all home made? Great job fellows.
 
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