Storage for drills, blades, grinding wheels etc.?

[jkwilson]

Over the weekend I noticed I have a bunch of jigsaw blades, recip saw blades, oscillating tool blades, grinding wheels, wire brushes, cut-off discs, hole saws, circular saw blades, drills, sanding discs and probably several other similar things stored pretty haphazardly. Recip and circular saw blades on nails, grinding discs and wire wheels in an old tool box. Every now and then I find an extra pack of blades for something that didn't get put away.

I think when something doesn't have a good storage spot it's more likely to end up in the wrong place. This all came to a head when I realized I had sabre saw blades stored in two different places. When you can't easily see what you have and don't have, you end up buying extras you don't need and not buying what you do need. Not good when you live out in the middle of nowhere like I do.

I'm trying to come up with a better way to store all this stuff. Thinking of the HF plastic parts storage cases. I have a file cabinet that has one drawer I use for staples, pop-rivets, strip nails etc., and several of those plastic boxes would probably fit nicely in another drawer putting all of that stuff together.

Anybody have a good system or ideas?

 

[matt_i]

I try to keep the consumables in the cases that the power tools come with. I have sort of a duffel bag for my angle grinder, it carries all of the cutoff discs, flap wheels, grinding wheels that I have. I keep the sawzall blades in the metal case for the sawzall. I keep the SDS drills in the case with the Hilti hammer. I keep the dremel accessories in the molded toolbox for the dremel tool. Its not a perfect system, holesaws have their own case for a set, plus a drawer for loose/extra. Oscillating sander discs live away from the sander itself.

Whatever system you choose, I find it does help my brain to keep like items together, which could be with the tools they belong to, or conversely it could be all sorts of material-removal consumables that live together in a central location.

 

[James-W]

I have several plastic utility boxes that I put those types of items in, not circular saw blades, but jig saw blades, scroll saw blades, reciprocating saw blades, cut-off wheels, stuff like that all have their own utility box. That way I know where they are when I need them.

 

[Fishplate]

Anybody have a good system or ideas?

Use your Zoro discount on some of these:

http://www.zoro.com/acorn-corrugated-box-corrugated-shelf-bins/g/00020814/

 

[bcradio]

I try to keep the consumables in the cases that the power tools come with. I have sort of a duffel bag for my angle grinder, it carries all of the cutoff discs, flap wheels, grinding wheels that I have. I keep the sawzall blades in the metal case for the sawzall. I keep the SDS drills in the case with the Hilti hammer. I keep the dremel accessories in the molded toolbox for the dremel tool. Its not a perfect system, holesaws have their own case for a set, plus a drawer for loose/extra. Oscillating sander discs live away from the sander itself.

Whatever system you choose, I find it does help my brain to keep like items together, which could be with the tools they belong to, or conversely it could be all sorts of material-removal consumables that live together in a central location.

Where do you keep the drill bits then?

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I pick up way too many drill bits with the intent on learning how to sharpen the darn things, but never get around to it. I know I have the bits I need, but they are buried in piles of unsorted messes so- yeah. I just go get a new bit.

I really need to get some simple plastic long slot cases to sort bits in at least for the common sizes. Have I done so? No. But I can think about it and wish I did.

 

[matt_i]

Regular drill bits either in their index or in sleeves of 12. In a drawer with other sized bits.

 

[dutchgray]

I think I would be getting some Huot cabinets or similar for the drills, blades and such other small consumable items.

 

[PelicanPines]

Might be in a different direction than expected but... Walmart has some nice plastic boxes with lids that kind of nest together in their different sizes in their "closet organization" section. They are clear so you can see whats inside. They don't have separations inside tho... so you might need a bunch of them instead.

Specifically for jig saw blades... I use fishing lure organizers by plano.

Specifically for small wire brushes... I use the long organizer boxes from HF.

 

[cheechi]

start in the aisle for office supplies, then go to the kitchen supplies, then go to the general storage containers aisle all in walmart or equivalent. drill bits especially if you don't store them in an index you are going to find several solutions from several people and all of them are good but may not all be ideal for you.

For dremel bits for example I have one of the biggest Flambeau boxes they make. I bought about 4 of them before I found the right size for what I wanted.

Oscillating tools sit in the waterproof ammo box style. They have a lid that most of the blades fit in there though not all. Envelopes and zip pouches can sit in the side there with the tools for the real big ones.

jigsaw blades I don't feel like there's any best option. Dewalt makes a case for them if you buy a pack of theirs. That's what I use. I'm sure any brand in lowes or HD that includes a case should be good but who knows whats best for you. Sawzall blades are similar though I have several of those cases for several different kinds of those. I kind of like the Lenox cases best.

bigger blades and grinding stones right now I store in a drawer. Some will be going on to pegboard soon.

I use the 'interlocking' type drawer organizers meant for silverware and i hang the lip of it on the edge of toolbox drawer. I have one for my hand impact driver for example since that doesn't 'go' with anything else. Clear plastic bins far better value than opaqe ones, especially in smaller sizes.

A little time with some scrap and the woodworking tools and you can create some useful things. a bunch of 1/8" and 1/4" holes drilled into a scrap 2x4 now you have storage for dremel and die grinder accessories. Takes 5 mins to make that on the DP. The machinists make fancier ones but they take longer to do and cost a lot more too.

 

[600SL]

I recently had a job where I needed a 2.05mm and 2.10mm drill bits. I also had several metric drills just kicking around in my tool box plus a set of 1 to 6mm drills by 0.5mm.

So when I bought these 2 small bits I decided to get a complete metric index to put all my metric drills in.

That worked out really good except now I feel compelled to fill the box with all the rest. I have since populated the box with all metric drills from 1 to 13mm by 0.5mm increments, plus all the other odd balls I had lying around.

I have also recently put all my taps in indexes with the correct size drill bits.

I plan on getting plastic box's to hold extra little spare drill bits, sockets, wrenches etc. Attached is a link to a place for these boxes. Label them and put them on the shelf. Also get a drill doctor.

http://www.carrycasesplus.com/economy-cases/economy-standard

 

[crewchief888]

in the garage
drills bits are tossed into a drawer
taps & dies in a different drawer
3" rolocs and cutoff wheels all together in sliding drawer
4 1/2" grinding wheels, cutoff wheels, grinding/sanding disks, flappers and electric grinders all in one cabinet hanging on the wall

 

[fteufert]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00018A1YQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Letters, numbers, fractions, taps..... you can get them in all types

 

[jkwilson]

Where do you keep the drill bits then?

My grandfather never let me get away with referring to drills as "drill bits". It's the common term, but it's one of those terms that has become accepted because of use.

 

[KenS]

My grandfather never let me get away with referring to drills as "drill bits".

Hhhmmm ... I wonder what he called a "brace and bit?"

 

[matt_i]

My grandfather never let me get away with referring to drills as "drill bits". It's the common term, but it's one of those terms that has become accepted because of use.

Having worked west, south and north, there's sort of this language division between the prime mover and the edge tool being either: drill motor/drills and drill/drill bits. They both seem to convey the proper meaning but you can tell which side I'm on

 

[bcradio]

Having worked west, south and north, there's sort of this language division between the prime mover and the edge tool being either: drill motor/drills and drill/drill bits. They both seem to convey the proper meaning but you can tell which side I'm on

I was always curious why some people call them 'drills'. I have always just referred to them as drill bits myself and the tool itself as a drill.

 

[ATC]

Anything that goes on the grinder, gets put in the drawer that the grinder lives in.

Anything that goes in the drill, gets put in the drawer that the drill lives in.

Same with die grinder, dremel, sawzall, etc...

 

[HOTRODPRIMER]

I was always curious why some people call them 'drills'. I have always just referred to them as drill bits myself and the tool itself as a drill.

You and me both. HRP

 

[600SL]

You and me both. HRP

If you look at my last post you will see I use the terms interchangeably.

 

[zkling]

Non abrasive cutting tools I keep in a tool box with thin drawers (Kennedy 29 and 27" boxes). Abrasive wheels, stones, belts, etc I keep in two large wall cabinets.

 

[MillerMav]

Those small Plano tackle boxes work great for this kind of stuff. I usually keep an eye out at Home Depot or Walmart for clearance on these things; if you're patient you can buy quite a few and store all of your goodies in there!