Reinforcing screwdriver trays

[MR2FC]

Hi all,

I have a few sets of Halfords Advanced screwdrivers, they come in thin plastic trays that quote by chance fit my drawers almost perfectly. I really don't think I could organise them any better in the drawers, but I am worried about the longevity of the trays.

I thought about some kind of filler or caulk to fill the backs of the trays?

I wondered if anyone had done similar, without either spending a fortune or melting the trays?

Any thoughts gratefully received, thanks in advance

 

[MR2FC]

 

[MR2FC]

 

[MR2FC]

This video shows the sort of tray, hope this is helpful?

 

[conmanumber1]

Hi all,

I have a few sets of Halfords Advanced screwdrivers, they come in thin plastic trays that quote by chance fit my drawers almost perfectly. I really don't think I could organise them any better in the drawers, but I am worried about the longevity of the trays.

I thought about some kind of filler or caulk to fill the backs of the trays?

I wondered if anyone had done similar, without either spending a fortune or melting the trays?

Any thoughts gratefully received, thanks in advance

Easy; get some cheap silicon or ask every neighbour if they have any part tubes that they don't want and just fill narrow weak areas and corners of trays. This may make it heavy though. Another option is mix pl
aster Paris with p.v.a wood glue in a really stiff mix and fill. I've done this with near end of use expanding construction foam too.

Those trays cost big money.

 

[MR2FC]

Good idea to canvas friends and family!

Also, expanding foam could be an option, thank you

 

[scooby074]

Spray foam. Fill it up and trimmer the excess

 

[DGersic]

Bondo. Fill in layers to allow for shrinkage.

 

[rlitman]

Spray foam expands. It's guaranteed to warp the tray.

Bondo is a great idea. You don't need to fill in layers, because you don't need (or even want) to fill it solid. Years ago we retired non-stick cookie sheets from our kitchen, and I keep them in the shop for glue-ups. That would be perfect under this, so it has something flat to sit on as it hardens. But some non-stick baking parchment would work too.

 

[jimy]

If the screwdrivers “snap” into their slots, it may not work with bondo stiffening everything up.

 

[stonesfan68]

Use the spray foam for doors and windows. It doesn’t expand as much as the regular kind. Use less then you think you should.

 

[Zeke]

You certainly must test the compatibility of any foam to the plastic tray. Should work but you never know. Ever poured acetone into a cup you thought was going to work and instead the acetone ate its way out of the cup while melting it into goo.

Just a thought before you lose a tray.

 

[MR2FC]

Thank you all. Went to the hardware store earlier for something else and bought some black silicone sealant. I panicked a bit when I got to the expanding foams! So over the next few days I'm going to fill the trays from the back and see what happens.

@jimy that was a good idea to look out for, but no trouble with that with these trays

 

[walta]

You could use the original as a mold and cast a copy.

plaster of Paris is cheap but not durable. Maybe you could cover it in fiber glass.

Cast a copy out of polyurethane is expensive.

I was watching a foundry pattern making video and this product looked great. https://www.freemansupply.com/produ...polyurethanes/repro-83-fast-cast-polyurethane

Walta

 

[Stuart in MN]

they come in thin plastic trays that quote by chance fit my drawers almost perfectly.

Since they are in your tool box and fit well, and assuming you take basic care in how you use them, I think they're probably going to be okay as is. I have a similar situation with the wrenches and screwdrivers in my tool box; they're in the original plastic trays which fit well in the drawers and don't slide around or anything. They're 40 years old and are still in good condition.

 

[Spareparts]

This seems like a good time to take up 3 D printing

 

[4xdog]

I‘d use spray foam-in-a-can. It's rigid and light, and easy to cut flush when cured. With the open back on these (typically) thermoformed trays there'd be virtually no pressure trying to bow or distort the tray. Like a balloon, the foam is gonna go where there's no restraint, which would be upward toward the open back.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

You could use the original as a mold and cast a copy.

plaster of Paris is cheap but not durable. Maybe you could cover it in fiber glass.

Cast a copy out of polyurethane is expensive.

I was watching a foundry pattern making video and this product looked great. https://www.freemansupply.com/produ...polyurethanes/repro-83-fast-cast-polyurethane

Walta

I would think the plaster of paris approach could work. As long as it's wet enough to flow without deforming the tray while you fill it. It doesn't have to be durable once it's set - it's just there to support the flimsy plastic tray.

If you want to make a mess take the foam pellets out of a bean bag chair, mix them with a binder/glue and use that as the filler. That would be lighter than the plaster, you just need to find the right binder.

That came to mind as I got a free vacuum when a neighbor used a cannister vacuum to clean up a burst bean bag chair and it clogged the filter and got into the fan. I had to take the entire thing apart and pick the bb size foam balls out of the entire machine. The vac was an Amazon Miele clone/tribute model but it works just fine and will go with my daughter when she leaves the ancestral manse.

Jim

 

[Youngandfree]

I would put the screwdrivers in the trays and fill the backside with low expansion window foam.

 

[rayra]

as mentioned above, the tray has to retain some give for the screwdrivers to snug into place. I agree with the silicone suggestion. But suggest using A-B RTV. It won't cost much more than silicone caulk at current high pricing. And it comes in different grades of plyability.