My first attempt at shadowing

[Richard Cranium]

I had read a lot about shadowing, and every one was right on about a sharp cutter. I got a Yoga mat at Walmart and cut it to fit my drawer and then layed out my tools and traced around them and then cut them out. I think this is ok, could of been better. But for a first try not bad if I say so my self...Rich

 

[Lx460]

I need a shadow to put the tools back when I'm done.

Good job!

 

[stikman56]

Great job. Is it hard to grab them out of there, at all?

 

[drivesitfar]

Rich: now that you cut out the tools from your yoga mat aren't they sitting on the metal drawer? can i make a suggestion? how about cutting another yoga mat to size and setting that one uncut under the one you just did the shadowing (cut outs) on?

or put cork on the bottom of the drawer and all this to keep from having metal to metal contact.

looks like you have quite a selection there.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I am not sure what it is called that I have under it, it is like poster board with 1/8 inch foam in the middle. Like the kids put a school project on for a display...Rich

They are not hard to get out at all.

 

[taumac]

Came out good. Thinking of something similar for my O/A torches I have in a portable tool box.

Have a good one Gerard

 

[MG11068]

Looks good.

 

[soj]

Looking good. Thanks for the Yoga mat and poster board idea, how did it compare cost wise to other shadow material?

Two suggestions: Always use a contrasting color for the bottom mat, that way a vacant wrench will grab your attention.

If the tool is thinner than the mat, and you cut it for a close fit, making the tool hard to remove, cut a semi-circular thumb/finger relief on each side of the tool so you can get a grip on it.
-jp

 

[Richard Cranium]

Yoga mat was 6.00 and the foam core board was a dollar at the dollar store..
I will get two drawers out of it.

 

[zbyler]

Looks good! I agree with soj, cutting some finger holes, especially for the extensions, will help with getting the tools out of the foam quicker.

 

[Chevy-SS]

That's nice, but what happens when you get new tools (which we all do, all the time)?

I greatly prefer the trusty drawer liner, it makes a nice cushion and holds all my tools in place very well.

 

[drivesitfar]

Rich: good plan and looks like you have some great tools too.

 

[Strouty]

I used to do that for my truck tool boxes, I bought the black foam that sears sells for the tool boxes. I wish I had the option of the colors at the time. It made a huge difference for me, I always knew when a tool was missing and I could always open the drawers no mater how far up the mountain the job site was.

 

[Richard Cranium]

lol, people asked me what happens when I get a new tool, My problem is that I got a new tool box. So here is where I start again.

 

[woody 73]

looks fantastic if I did not shake so much I bet I could get it done, darn old age is catching up on me.

 

[Air21]

A sharp blade, and sticking the foam in the freezer for a while to firm it up helps as well.

I keep daydreaming about pouring silicone or some roof elastomer or some other liquid rubber in the drawers. I'd do it in 3 layers: the first in the contrast color just thick enough to cover the drawer bottom, the second also in the contrast color about 2/3 the depth of the shortest tool, and the top layer in black just thick enough to cover the contrast.

 

[Zeroek]

I like the idea of shadowing but I keep adding so many tools and moving stuff around and playing tetris that it'd be a waste for me to do it.

 

[fatfillup]

Looks good. Takes patience and a steady hand. Great suggestions on freezing the foam first, sharp blades and contrasting colors.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Yes, I have never heard of freezing the pad first. I think the key was using a sharp blade. I purchased one of the little knife with the snap off blade and I think I used up 3 sharp sections. Rich