Shadowboarding

[Strouty]

I think that the best way to do this would be for the foam company to work with tool manufacturers, then they could have exact fits for each tool. I am willing to bet that even a low end tool maker has dimensional CAD drawings of all the tools they make. Then it would be a matter of knowing all the part numbers and implementing it.

I have cut foam with a razor and it absolutely looks terrible up close, but it works well and keeps the tools in the proper place. I would love to have foam in all my drawers, but the costs have stopped me.

 

[Super Sport]

I would love my drawers shadowboarded, but you would have to cut your costs by 1/2 or more to make me and most others interested. I think if you made the software available to the customer to design their own shadowboards you might be able to cut the cost enough to where the average joe might be able to afford them.

^This.

I would LOVE shadowboard, but it's not a need for me. The cost is too high for me to buy in, as much as I would love to. Add to it the fact that I often replace, upgrade, or add to my tool collection, the shadowboards would also need to be modified or replaced more than once.

I would consider the concept for about $25/drawer, either with the idea that I design the layout using a software on my home computer or I could rent your light board and camera to do it the way you have set up currently.

 

[Burgerkong]

Many times the specs/dimensions are right in the catalog. For example, just model a generic SO flank drive wrench and change the dimensions when desired. You could set up a program and a script which loads a generic tool shape and the user modifies the size of said tool themselves.

 

[osaapamerica]

Hey guys I am back with another question for you all about Shadow Boards. After reading everything you all said and spending the year trying to learn about how to build a business making shadow boards I agree with most everything said in this forum post.

So here is my question: what would you think of free CAD software with a big tool database. The idea is that the user could search the database by vendor and part number. Once the tool needed is found the user can simply drag and drop the tools on the CAD designer work space and layout their shadow board. They pay nothing until they load their design up to a web application for us to Mill out of foam.

See this web link: http://support.osaapamerica.com/kb/article/26-using-tool-box-8-the-online-selector

I need your advice before spending a lot of time and money adding a ton of tools to the database. As of now we have about 500 tools in the database most of which are Proto. We would need about 10,000 tools to make this viable I think.

Please let me know if you think this is a good idea or crazy.

Thanks

 

[osaapamerica]

Oh one more thing: 100% guarantee that the tools fit or we make the foam for free

 

[Adam.C]

I think you are going about this the wrong way. Forget users deciding what goes where. Instead, make foam modules for Snap On tools. Compete against the Hanson racks. Offer modules for the basic wrench sets, screwdriver sets, socket sets. The cutouts neednt be so tool specific.

Modules could be fit together to form larger drawer layouts.

 

[osaapamerica]

I think you are going about this the wrong way. Forget users deciding what goes where. Instead, make foam modules for Snap On tools. Compete against the Hanson racks. Offer modules for the basic wrench sets, screwdriver sets, socket sets.

Modules could be fit together to form larger drawer layouts

We could do that by putting sets in the database. Then the user drags and drops the complete sets they want to combined into their shadow board.

Great idea - thanks

 

[Adam.C]

We could do that by putting sets in the database. Then the user drags and drops the complete sets they want to combined into their shadow board.

Great idea - thanks

Nope, these are COTS items, not custom. You dovetail the edges and fit the shadow boards together. You offer generic modules:

Module 1 a has std holes for 3/8" drive shallow, and deep (lying flat) sockets. Make an option for semi deep.

Module 2 is for std Snap On extensions.

The ratchet module would just hold ratchet heads. The handle section would be oversized to accommodate any handle.

No need to completely fill a drawer either. I would offer a high quality drawer liners in different colors to go with your modules.

I'll PM you my address so you can send the check.