Loose Bit Inserts - How does everyone sort/store them?

[musgofasta]

I've accumulated a bunch of screwdriver bit inserts from various sets over the years, but can't find any storage solutions.

"Bit inserts" =

I can't find any empty bit trays or rails, and I definitely don't need anymore of these things! I have regular and phillips screw heads, Torx's and Allens, and a handful of sized nut-driver headed ones.

Has anyone found or made anything useful to store these? I'm about to drill 50 holes in piece of scrap wood. They're currently kept in a plastic cup in my box. I'd like to find a few of the hard rubber rails, but came up empty trying to find some.

Anyone?

 

[Chris Adams]

For the ones I actually use I put them on a 12x4 inch magnetic strip. It is a thick one, magnetic rubber. All the bits stay put when the drawer is opened and closed.

For the ones I don't use I toss in a plastic lid from a cashew jar. It's about 6 inches in diameter and holds the 50 or so bits I may never need but don't want to trash.

The magnetic strip can be picked up and moved if needed, with the bits staying put.


I use a pair of cheap HF magnetic tool strips for my drill bits. They are screwed to the wall behind the drill press and the bits are just stuck to them in order. I hate pulling them from the plastic containers as they always hold too tight and the small bits are really hard to get loose. The metal boxes with the sized holes are OK but don't go on the wall very well.
The magnetic tool strips are faster to access and hold a lot more bits.

 

[eschoendorff]

I have mine organized according to type (phillips, flat, torx, hex, etc) and they hang out in little plastic containers.

Most of teh commonly used ones are stored either in the tool handle or are on the end of the tool itself anyway.

 

[dxdexter]

I just use a plastic storage container for all my small bits, bit holders, counter sinks, and odds and ends.

 

[eschoendorff]

I just use a plastic storage container for all my small bits, bit holders, counter sinks, and odds and ends.

Aw man! Now yer gettin' all fancy!

 

[jniolon]

mustgo

you didn't quantify 'bunch'. To sum folks that a dozen... to me it's a double hand full or more..

here's a couple of options... one you could make (the block) the other is really handy to just throw in your box or pocket and go...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BHIZAY/?tag=atomicindus08-20


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004YXBY/?tag=atomicindus08-20


lots of options on the net

I use a short plastic butter tub in the drawer with my cordless drills...and one of those drawer organizers you see in the dollar store. You could use those nifty little rubbermaid cube type cups and sort them by type.. my butter tub works fine for me... it's large enough to see a dozen or so on the bottom, easy to dump and find that 7 sided star torx security bit you need, then just rake them off the bench and back in the tub

john

 

[Stuey]

I use a Dewalt tough case, available at Lowes and HD for ~$5, cases that the bits come in, and a magnetic socket rail that I got from Sears. I also have some UHMW polyethylene that I might drill 1/4" holes into.

 

[musgofasta]

A metallic strip sounds like a great idea. Can't believe I didn't think of that. Sounds like it would do just what I'm looking for.

 

[Lyaec350]

They sell these little rubber things that hold ~24 bits in a 2"x3" grid. Work very well.

 

[Stuey]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941371000P

 

[musgofasta]

They sell these little rubber things that hold ~24 bits in a 2"x3" grid. Work very well.

This has been what I've been looking around for, but never found anyone that sells them. Browsed around Sears, HF, and Lowe's without any luck.

 

[Stuey]

http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/enter.asp?pagenum=2775

McMaster's got some.

 

[gotmud13613]

I picked up a small older SK metal box with latch at a flea market for $1 , I believe it was for the 1/4" drive set, It work great for all my asst. bits especially the 3-6" long phillips bits.

 

[Merkava_4]

That yellow plastic block is what I use for the screwdriver insert bits. It has a magnetic base; so it doubles as a partition to keep the other screwdrivers wedged up against the drawer side. I don't have anything designated for power bits though.

 

[Mike83]

I use a crappy old block of styrofoam from some packaging and jammed the bits into it. A real ghetto, but free, solution that was supposed to be temporary but somehow lasted...

I like the magnetic strip idea and that yellow plastic block.

 

[Merkava_4]

http://www.mechanicstimesavers.com/shop/product.asp?catID=1

Mine is the 37 hole block in the link.

 

[dxdexter]

That yellow plastic block is what I use for the screwdriver insert bits. It has a magnetic base; so it doubles as a partition to keep the other screwdrivers wedged up against the drawer side. I don't have anything designated for power bits though.

Did you just wax that drawer ? Whats with the Crapsman Tools???

 

[Lyaec350]

I was going to bust Merkava on the display of the Craftsman screwdrivers as well

 

[wilbilt]

I was going to bust Merkava on the display of the Craftsman screwdrivers as well

And then someone will have to chime in just to ask if the handles stink.

 

[eschoendorff]

I was going to bust Merkava on the display of the Craftsman screwdrivers as well

Damn! I'm third in line!

 

[T56 Impala]

That yellow thing just made me think. You could use a plastic bullit holder. I used to get 9mm cartridges in red plastic holders. I bet they would be perfect!

 

[Mike83]

Did you just wax that drawer ? Whats with the Crapsman Tools???

I thought that Snap-On boxes were designed to reject any non-Snap-On tool attempted to be stored in it

 

[TNToy]

That yellow thing just made me think. You could use a plastic bullit holder. I used to get 9mm shells in red plastic holders. I bet they would be perfect!

Never seen a 9mm shotgun. Seen lots of 9mm parabellum cartridges, though.

To the original poster:
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/mts581.html

 

[Stuey]

Or you can get one of these to get an organizer and extra bits. I just cannot see the logic behind spending $15-$20 on a piece of plastic with holes in it. I mean, gosh, they're even costlier than Hanson socket trays!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HBC8IE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Uncle Buck]

Did you just wax that drawer ? Whats with the Crapsman Tools???

I was going to bust Merkava on the display of the Craftsman screwdrivers as well

And then someone will have to chime in just to ask if the handles stink.

Damn! I'm third in line!

I thought that Snap-On boxes were designed to reject any non-Snap-On tool attempted to be stored in it

I should have known these clowns would beat me to the punch!

 

[creatureofthewheel]

Wiha make a nice bit collector box. think there are thirty-two and sixty-four place models. they do cost around $30. pricey but they keep your bits free of corrosion.

 

[T56 Impala]

Never seen a 9mm shotgun. Seen lots of 9mm parabellum cartridges, though.

To the original poster:
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/mts581.html

Words, words, words........ You are absolutely correct. I've corrected my poor choice of words.

 

[epmills]

I built my own. A piece of MDF I had laying around and covered it in a sheet of aluminum. Holes are spaced 1" apart, but I could have spaced them closer.

 

[eschoendorff]

I built my own. A piece of MDF I had laying around and covered it in a sheet of aluminum. Holes are spaced 1" apart, but I could have spaced them closer.

We have a winner! I bet you could make and sell a few of those.....

 

[Kevin54]

eschoendorff beat me to it. I was going to say go to Lowes or such, and where they sell the hardwoods, get a piece of oak or poplar and fill it full of holes. I mounted all of my socket rails to some pieces of 1/2" x 4 Poplar and filled one large drawer.

 

[Merkava_4]

Kevin54, does that sheet of poplar start to lift up when you pull a socket off? I was thinking about doing the same thing, but out of a piece of 1/8 heavy steel so the thing doesn't lift up when I pull a socket off.

 

[Kevin54]

Kevin54, does that sheet of poplar start to lift up when you pull a socket off? I was thinking about doing the same thing, but out of a piece of 1/8 heavy steel so the thing doesn't lift up when I pull a socket off.

It hasn't yet. But I have three rails on one board soe the weight from the others hold it down. I was surprised myself as the socket rails are the cheaper Chinese version and some of the sockets are a little tougher to get on. They pull a little tough but the board stays. I think that there is a total of 5 boards in the drawer. I bought the 1/2" x 4" x 3' for something like $6 apiece and cut them in two, then added one screw at each end of the rails. I just couldn't see drilling holes into the drawer bottoms like some do to hold the socket rails. And it need be, they will lift out for cleaning or moving.

 

[Merkava_4]

I just couldn't see drilling holes into the drawer bottoms like some do to hold the socket rails.

I'M VERY GLAD YOU DIDN'T!

 

[Theo]

I just noticed this in the JHW Catalog.

Part Number 24875

http://www.jhwilliamstoolgroup.com/...groupcom/Commerce/ProductImages/pdf000327.pdf

You should be able to get these for under $5.