Strong drawer dividers or ideas

[scale]

Im looking for drawer divders or ideas. You know those expandable bars that OTR Truckers use in their trailers that ratchet out to hold the load. They have rubber on each end and expand out across the trailer and stay in place

Do they make anything like this but smaller? I want to put some dividers in some drawers that will stay in place.

I was also thinking maybe they sell some strong magnetic ones where they could grip from bottom or back side to the bottom or back of the drawer given you have metal drawers. I was thinking of trying to make something with those magnetic bars they sell at harbor freight .. Those are strong and with a welder and a bit of sheet steel you could cut and weld up something. I guess thats a last ditch effort if i cant find anything else that will work.

All i am after is to use them to make "adjustable" slots in a metal cabinet to put powertools upright. Drills, drivers etc. Normally just chuck them in the drawer but id like something a bit more organized and space saving. IF they stand upright or at an angle in a drawer, you can just reach in grab the one you need and throw it back in the slot when you are done. IF they are all standing, it would save a bunch of space in the drawer as well so i can put more **** in there .

The idea to make them non fixed is obvious. I could keep a battery charger and its cables in there and not have the cables get all tangled amongst the other items.

Seems like the simplest idea ever but i havent found anything that will work. They do make those bambo kitchen cabinet dividers that are spring loaded but i dont think they would be strong enough to stay in place. Sure they will hold your kitchen ladel or spatula but probably not something heavier like a drill. Id suspect they would just move around and be a pain.

You would thing with all the magnetic tool box accessories, shelves, hooks and thank kind of junk, that they would make some sort of simple sliding or ratcheting divider. A mini version of one of those trucker load bars would be perfect.

IF they made an expandable z shaped version....either ratcheting (like a bar clamp) or even just magnetic it would be perfect. They z shape woudl all you to reach in and grab the handle without the divider being too much in the way to get at the tool.

 

[RTM]

How about taking sheet metal, npbend it into Z or C shape, and put neo magnets to hold them?

I have some Husky magnetic ones, but they are not tall enough to do what you want. Apparently they have been out of stock for a while

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/husky-adjustable-magnetic-drawer-dividers/1001819543

Or see if you can find Magazine Holders large enough, glue magnets on them?

 

[scale]

Thanks. Yeah i am thinking of that as an idea as well. They sell those neos in a small bar that are supposed to be super strong. I might get some sheet metal and bend it up and epoxy the magnets to it and give it a try. Heck...even some thin wood would probably work and be cheaper too

 

[scale]

How about taking sheet metal, npbend it into Z or C shape, and put neo magnets to hold them?

I have some Husky magnetic ones, but they are not tall enough to do what you want. Apparently they have been out of stock for a while

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/husky-adjustable-magnetic-drawer-dividers/1001819543

Or see if you can find Magazine Holders large enough, glue magnets on them?

Yeah those would work great if they were much deeper/taller as you mentioned. It really just needs to be a long right triangle....not a Z shape. Magnets on the right angle parts for the bottom and back with the angled part facing up in the drawer. Maybe 1" of material bent into a L or right angle to put the heavy magnets on and that would do it. Might want to go with a 2 or even 3 inch lip for the magnets. That part will be flat on the bottom of the shelf and keep the dividers from tipping if the tool or your hand hits it too hard reaching for it or roughly putting the tool away.

Magazine dividers might work too as you say. Heck you might be able to cut those down and do the same sort of thing. Hmm....this is what happens when it is 9 degrees outside and all do is sit in the house brainstorming ideas for a nonsense problem that nobody needs a fix for

 

[MidMoBob]

Have you considered wood? If you cut multiple slots you could gain some flexibility.

 

[RTM]

Magazine dividers might work too as you say. Heck you might be able to cut those down and do the same sort of thing.

Cut one side off them, and maybe the front, and they can act like dividers, with a large footprint to glue magnets to.

 

[scale]

Have you considered wood? If you cut multiple slots you could gain some flexibility.

Smart. I might look at this too. At the moment dont have a table or router to cut the many dato? slots for the dividers. EIther way......its a great idea. I like your setup there.

 

[teufel666]

this style is what I grew up with. Spring steel W for the ends, cut some strap steel/aluminium for the actual divider.

Metal Drawer Dividers 82230 - Kennedy Manufacturing

Metal Drawer Dividers

buykennedy.com

 

[RMERR]

There was a thread here with a video using various sized post shields cut in half and cut to length as needed to fit your drawers. Might be worth a look. It's the 5th or 6th post in.

Bins or dividers for drawers

I've been picking up file cabinets to help organize the shop and want to get some sort of bins and/or dividers so it's not just one drawer with stuff thrown in it. Looking for suggestions or links to bins or dividers to see what might work best. I have a bunch of akro mils plastic trays but...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Tchicken]

I've used wood slats for rough dividers - just cut a skootch longer than necessary then tap them tighter to hold in place. For less height I have used aluminum angle stock in the same way ..

 

[MidMoBob]

You could run small screws through the side of the drawers to secure a wooden divider like the one in the post above. Drill a couple small holes in each side and sink a couple of screws.

 

[MidMoBob]

Looking at Harbor Freight's 12 Days sale listing for today I noted that they have a drawer insert designed for holding drills, impacts and the like. Maybe this will inspire something for the OP's particular situation: Seems like a fella could hobble something together using PVC pipe and scrap lumber. If nothing else you might be able to construct a raised shelf with a cut-out for the "nose" of the tool (or maybe construct cradles for each tool) . . .

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-and-air-tool-drawer-organizer-58956.html

 

[MidMoBob]

More brainstorming to try to inspire . . .

In the gun world, people use racks to store pistols upright in their safes. The OP could build some sort of rack or stand designed around each tool he wants to store. I know the OP said he wanted to fashion some sort of dividers, but I'm thinking some sort of insert that he could place into his drawers might be a solution.

 

[scale]

There was a thread here with a video using various sized post shields cut in half and cut to length as needed to fit your drawers. Might be worth a look. It's the 5th or 6th post in.

Bins or dividers for drawers

I've been picking up file cabinets to help organize the shop and want to get some sort of bins and/or dividers so it's not just one drawer with stuff thrown in it. Looking for suggestions or links to bins or dividers to see what might work best. I have a bunch of akro mils plastic trays but...

www.garagejournal.com

Thanks....thats actually what i am using. Ive got a couple lateral file cabinets. They work great.

 

[scale]

Looking at Harbor Freight's 12 Days sale listing for today I noted that they have a drawer insert designed for holding drills, impacts and the like. Maybe this will inspire something for the OP's particular situation: Seems like a fella could hobble something together using PVC pipe and scrap lumber. If nothing else you might be able to construct a raised shelf with a cut-out for the "nose" of the tool (or maybe construct cradles for each tool) . . .

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-and-air-tool-drawer-organizer-58956.html

This might actually do the trick. Probably a bit overkill actually. Sadly the deal is over. Dang it. I probably could have had it for around $18. Ill have to take my measurements and watch for another sale if it looks like it might fit. It's something worth condsidering either way. Id like to to be a bit more universal so i can adjust the widths for max space savings. I am going to look at this thing next time im in HF. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Jgaz]

@scale I’m going to show you the dividers I made 25 years ago for my work box.
Warning: Some of what I’m going to post will give a few GJ members nightmares!

At the desert proving grounds were I worked for 6 years we moved our boxes at least 100 yards every shift.
Some of this distance was over a blacktop parking lot between outdoor hoists.
3 or 4 times when the box truck wasn’t available, I’ve strapped my box to the mast of the fork lift and moved it about 1/2 mile on the forks!
Extreme? Maybe, but reality.

These dividers were made with scrap 16 gauge aluminum most of which was salvaged in the drop box behind the shear.
I wanted something heavy duty, and low or no cost, and this fit the requirements.

These dividers were bent on a simple brake the depth of the drawer. The top 1” or so is bent over to stiffen the divider and the foot is secured to the drawer bottom with machine screws and lock nuts.
(Gasp! Drilled holes!?)


Close up of the flange


Fairly heavy load. Never moved the dividers.

Smaller version with no hem in many of the other drawers.
One example


I have successfully bent up a few of the shorter dividers on the HF 30” brake

 

[MidMoBob]

I have successfully bent up a few of the shorter dividers on the HF 30” brake

I was not aware HF sold an affordable brake. I'll file that away in the event I ever need such a thing . . .

 

[Jgaz]

I was not aware HF sold an affordable brake. I'll file that away in the event I ever need such a thing . . .

I have a thread on here if you ever want to see the “tweaks” I did to mine to make it easier to use

Edit: Link to my thread

Modifications to the 30” Harbor Freight Sheet Metal Brake

This may be old news to some of the crowd here but after a question in a recent thread I posted I thought I’d share some modifications I made to this brake. https://www.harborfreight.com/30-inch-bending-brake-67240.html This is the brake mounted to my bench. It‘s a five minute job to grab it...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[richfinn]

I know this isn't really what you are looking for, but if you want to divide up your shallower drawers and the tray dimensions work.

These Ernst divider trays are relatively cheap and indestructible

Tray Organizers

Ernst stackable, impact resistant tray organizers will help you find a place for everything in your toolbox (or anywhere else!)

www.ernstmfg.com

 

[tiredoldironworker]

For work I drive a RAM 3500 4x4 with a nine foot Knapheide utility box. Their shelf design with adjustable width dividers is a pretty neat system. I would recommend looking at this system for ideas. Most of the components can be bought individually in various widths for the shelves. I've been very lucky with some junkyard shelving scores.