"Spring Type" Wrench Holders?

[jeffk14]

I really like the idea of using coil springs as wrench organizers. They use the least space, cost is minimal and they still allow you to reach in and grab 1 wrench without upsetting the others. I've never seen these type holders sold as such. The only examples I've ever run across are either homemade or repurposed springs of some sort.

The pic below shows a couple that I made by wrapping a piece of welding rod around a broom handle. It works O.K. but I'm looking for ideas of where to get some better springs for this purpose. Any ideas?

 

[Sterff]

I read about some in this thread...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25610&highlight=macsimizer+toolbox

 

[jeffk14]

I read about some in this thread...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25610&highlight=macsimizer+toolbox

Yes, and it looks like the ones in Stick's pic are homemade as well. I'm looking for some springs that are about the right size that I could stretch a bit if necessary and repurpose as wrench racks.

 

[84bimmer]

I'm looking forward to seeing what you find. This looks like a cool idea. I liked how it worked with those big wrenches, they were tight together.

 

[LEVE]

I liked the coil idea.

I went out to the garage this morning to see what I could come up with. I took some 10ga copper electrical wire left over from wiring the garage and made these coils.

I wrapped them around a 1/2" long extension. Worked like a charm.

Next, I'm going to make a set for the chromed wrenches that will permit the wrenches to have one end even with all the others in the set. That should free up even more room. The drawer is a small drawer on the left side of a HF tool cart.

 

[jeffk14]

Well dang, LEVE. I didn't even think of regular old copper wire. The welding rod that I used was a pain to bend up evenly and is hard to modify (like narrowing a coil gap for a smaller wrench) once it's been bent up. I may have to try your method.

I like the "feet" you put on the ends too.

 

[whelenfan]

That is a fantastic idea, I might have to do a little coiling up for some wrenches!

 

[srmofo]

I love that!

What about wrapping it around a small board, like a 3/8 x 4 to give a squared type spring that might hold the wrenches even better?

Im going to go try that shortly

 

[AlchemyMetalworks]

If you have a Tractor Supply, Linton's Big R, Murdoch's or similar store near you, they usually have a pretty decent hardware section. My local Murdoch's has an entire endcap dedicated to springs...compression & extension variety.

Then of course there is someplace like an Ace Hardware or Hardware Hank's.

Also check out McMaster-Carr as they have almost every type of hardware you can imagine.

 

[LEVE]

What about wrapping it around a small board

I tried that, it was a PITA to get the coils squared. You'd have to beat the snot outta the wire to get it to lay flat. That makes it hard to get off the wood. I dumped the idea because I'm basically lazy.

 

[Orangestang]

So thats where my valve springs went... Looks like a good idea.

 

[AlchemyMetalworks]

Here is a link to a company that makes rectangular springs: http://rccoilspring.thomasnet.com/item/all-categories/rectangular-springs/item-1005

 

[boro_boy70]

Here is a link to a company that makes rectangular springs: http://rccoilspring.thomasnet.com/item/all-categories/rectangular-springs/item-1005

might also try the magazine spring from an AK-47 or other 30 round magazine.

 

[srmofo]

might also try the magazine spring from an AK-47 or other 30 round magazine.

ya know, Ive got a 30 rd sks mag that I absolutely hate. I just cant throw anything away and it came with the gun

 

[srmofo]

No go on the mag springs. The gap is too big between the coils

 

[Ritter4.0]

To make the rectangle ones just hammer the wire around a piece of 1"xwhatever steel flat bar stock. Or whatever small rectangle tubing you have. Thats what I'm gonna do because it will be easier to slide off than the wood block.

 

[jeffk14]

Wow! Thanks to LEVE, I got to looking around for some wire that I could use for wrench holders. I found some 12 gauge wire, stripped off the outer jacket and left the insulation on. On the left, I've made a rack for my el-cheapo metric set and on the right, the wire rack even works well on my mismatched SAE set. I've only just begun!

Who'd'a thunk that regular old house wire would make such a good, FREE wrench rack?

Much, much easier to work with than the welding rod too.

 

[trout]

great thread!

I've been trying for a while to get my wrench drawer organized, I'm tired of moving the wrench roll out of the way to get the ones under it. I had a whole spool of 12ga wire doing nothing all this this time. Will post pics when I'm done.

 

[Krokodil]

Nice idea!

 

[sberry]

I like it because its practical, can be made out of no/little cost, is fast, can be made custom, made from common stock. Its a great idea.
At first I didn't see how it would be so applicable but the more I think about it there are some uses for me. Most of my stuff isn't really in sets, whats left from what we really use is tossed in big tool box but our dailys reside on service cart type places. It is in a general circulation and I like regular combo's on nails and have a couple racks with 50 nails in for common sockets, if I need a weird one I go get it from box. I been working to come up with ultimate socket solution for a while now, just getting some ideas. Then there are another couple roll cabs for the stuff we got to have but doesn't see daily service, the hoist tools have another whole wrench rack on other side too.
The first roll cab in pics sits near our workbenches.

 

[DHS]

This has to be the best deal yet. I like that they are compact.

 

[sberry]

That one set sits just to right of hoist, air drop on each side. When I do say a brake job I grab a service cart, do passanger side first, ****** up all the tools and wheel over to driver side to do the rest.

 

[trout]

holy **** I have room in that drawer again, now I guess I gotta add something to it.

 

[jeffk14]

holy **** I have room in that drawer again, now I guess I gotta add something to it.

It's a vicious cycle, ain't it?

 

[jeffk14]

Well, the "Spring Wrench Organization Project" is complete. To say I'm pleased is an understatement. I can't believe how many wrenches I was able to neatly organize in such a small space, all using "free" 12 gauge house wire that I had lying around. Thanks again, LEVE for giving me the idea to use the wire.





The scale does not do this last pic justice. That's 2 long-pattern combo sets and 2 angle wrench sets, SAE and metric. The standard sets go from 1/4" to 1 1/4". All in one drawer with room left over!

 

[DRhodes]

Wow! That is a really neat idea. Jeff great pics, thanks for sharing. Chalk this up as a lesson learned for the day. I swear everyday that I'm on the forum I learn something new from you guys.

Thanks again,
Derek

 

[Pug}{maN]

Sweet, i to have been look'n for some wrench holders, might give this a try...

 

[Krokodil]

That looks very nice. I might do some widing this weekend!

 

[davidj]

nice! im stealing that idea. i never could find a wrench rack that could hold all the wrenches close together, so im going to give this a try.

edit: i had enough wire in the garage to give it a try. im going to lowes tomorrow to get enough for all my wrenches and i may try it out on my pliers too!

 

[ajchien]

I need some more wire, but I loved this idea. Cleared up a lot of space.

 

[boogerboy72]

made mine out of the left over uniform coat hangers and a broom stick, its so simple and brilliant.

 

[jeffk14]

I need some more wire, but I loved this idea. Cleared up a lot of space.

After finishing mine up, I bought some more wrenches. I got sticker shock when I went to HD today to price some 10 gauge wire. Copper prices must be way up!

I was about to leave when a rep walked up and showed me a bulk spool of 10/2 on clearance for .86 a foot. I bought 25 feet which will give me 75 feet of "spring wire". I'm gonna redo some of the larger wrench sets with the 10 gauge wire and reuse the 12 gauge springs on some of the smaller sets.

 

[jeffk14]

made mine out of the left over uniform coat hangers and a broom stick, its so simple and brilliant.

I guess that other than being a bit stiff to work with, coat hanger wire would work O.K. The only other thing I can see is that you can't get a very long piece of wire out of a coat hanger. The pieces used to make some of the springs for my larger 14 or 15 piece wrench sets are about 75" long.

 

[boogerboy72]

it was just kind of a "hey ive got this, lets see how it works" moment. ill probably pick up some solid copper wire this week,

 

[mooman]

So broom handles are the preferred "winding tool"?

 

[jeffk14]

So broom handles are the preferred "winding tool"?

It depends on what diameter of spring you want. My first "prototypes" were wound around a broom handle but I'm now using a piece of conduit. I haven't measured the diameter but I think it's a little over an inch.

 

[trout]

So broom handles are the preferred "winding tool"?

Depends on the size of the wrenches. Large ones wont stand up if it's too small, small ones will move around too much if it's too big. Something tapered would be ideal.


I used a large dowel, then 3/4" pvc, then a 1/2" drive extension. Seemed to work out well.

 

[Jeffksf]

Damn and I thought my drawer was looking good, I just did this last week to.
Might be redoing my wrench drawer now.
Do these springs allow you to pick up the whole set of wrenchs if you wanted to?

 

[38D]

I did some this weekend. I used 3/32" aluminum tig rod. Figured it would be easy to bend, wouldn't rust or make rub marks on the tools.

I now have so much room in the box!

 

[srmofo]

I used 10 gauge wire and I can lift the whole set and move them around. You have to support the whole set with both hands, but it is do-able. When I find more time I would like to bend some sheet metal up and make trays for the set to sit in. Then the copper spring will just keep them together.