Sliding Trays in Toolbox Drawers?

[HarleyArley]

Looking at my toolbox drawers, it is apparent that there is lots of wasted space above what's in the drawers. I keep thinking that a sliding tray say 1/2 the depth and 1/3 the width of the drawer that coud be slid back and forth would add considerable square inches of "drawer bottom" to lay out tools on, and still allow access to items stored below.

I'm considering bending up some trays with a lip to hook over the front and back walls of the deeper drawers.

Has anyone tried this? What kind of approach did you use and how did it turn out?

Pics would be great!

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I went to a metal shop and had three trays made up for an old 50's KR-300 Rolla bench pictures later

 

[bobcatdan]

My SO came with them, they're are **** collectors.

 

[blown94conv]

I have some in all my deep drawers, they add some space. I put small items in them that tend to get lost in the bottom of the drawers.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm planning on making up a tray like that for my socket drawer, and line up ratchets and extensions. You can take the next step and punch holes for the drive end of the ratchets and keep the tray as shallow as possible if you have clearance under it.

Not sure I'm keen on metal lips on the drawer front and rear though for something that will get heavy. I'm thinking 1/4" or 5/16" Oak front and rear as bottom rails to sit the tray on, and you can get that real smooth and then soap it with bar soap and have minimal friction.

Another candidate are punches and chisels. What you want are tools that lay flat and don't need a lot of "head room". If you have too many deep drawers, screwdrivers are another good candidate.

This example is why I argue for lots of shallow drawers for most tools. Sockets being one exception. Even that drawer if you get all the deeps to one end can use the technique.

 

[Outlawmws]

I went to a metal shop and had three trays made up for an old 50's KR-300 Rolla bench pictures later

Interested in seeing those.

 

[ptschram]

soap it with bar soap and have minimal friction.

I much prefer using wax for this application. Bees wax or paraffin IMO are preferable to using soap.

This example is why I argue for lots of shallow drawers for most tools.

I am amazed at how many people will buy toolboxes off the truck, rather than spend some time determining how they truly use their toolbox and have one configured to fit their workstyle.

If done with any foresight at all, the same savings that can be had with the boxes already on the truck can be had with a bespoke toolbox.

 

[Vvmvbb]

Kennedy has them in 23", 25", and 30" (23" shown):

 

[Outlawmws]

I don't like that lateral tray as it limits the space available; front to back and about 1/3 the width as the OP suggested seems far more useable.

 

[ianguilly]

I have two of them and use them for key chucks and small vise grips.

 

[HarleyArley]

Thanks for the pics and feedback. It looks like I may give it a go and see how it works out.

I did get a kick out of the comment that I shouldn't just buy a toolbox off the truck, but have one custom configured to how I use my toolbox... sorry to disappoint, but its a HF 13 drawer with matchng top box. For less than $600 for the entire investment, it works remarkably well for use in my home garage. I just want to make the best possible use of what it provides.

The drawers for punches and chisels are definitely candidates as previously mentioned, but I think my file drawer will benefit the most. I've picked up a ridiculous number of files and rasps over the years making flintlock rifles, wooden bows, and doing green woodworking.

 

[HarleyArley]

Outlaw - Love your sig line!

And having re-read your post about the ratchet and socket drawer, I'm going to take another look at it also. Its getting pretty crowded in there as well.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks!

Question on your files and rasps: Do you have handles on all/most of them, or do you move a few handles to what you are using?

I've found generally storing them with the "blade" vertical is the most space effective, but the handle seat a lot of real estate. that said with or without handle, you can cut a 1X2 of a piece of easily sawn Plastic (HDPE?) in a radial arm with slots for the files spaced to allow maximum density.

But yes those are a definite candidate, and if you do store them without handles another option is "nested" trays and store them flat, and only make the trays as deep as needed for the files in question.

 

[Givl Reggin]

I lay my files flat with handles - the 'trick' is to lay them like sardines flipping the handles to the other end on every other one.

 

[HarleyArley]

Thanks!

Question on your files and rasps: Do you have handles on all/most of them, or do you move a few handles to what you are using?

I've found generally storing them with the "blade" vertical is the most space effective, but the handle seat a lot of real estate. that said with or without handle, you can cut a 1X2 of a piece of easily sawn Plastic (HDPE?) in a radial arm with slots for the files spaced to allow maximum density.

But yes those are a definite candidate, and if you do store them without handles another option is "nested" trays and store them flat, and only make the trays as deep as needed for the files in question.

I probably have a 1/2 dozen handles between 60+ files. Right now I have more than 1/2 (the larger ones) on edge in those slotted craftsman drawer dividers. The rest are sitting flat in the bottom of the drawer under the ones in the dividers. Plastic packages of smaller files sit on top of the "racked" ones.

Files are one tool type I really want to protect. Too easy to screw one up letting them rattle around on each other. For that reason alone a look into trays or your HDPE idea is worth a shot, so thanks for the follow-up!

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I just copied a neighbors tray from an older SO Box