Tool Box Drawer Liner?

[bastage]

So I just picked up a new to me box & some of the liners are pretty thrashed. Looking at just replacing all of the liners now before I put my stuff in it, but I cant find much in the way of heavy duty liners big enough. Or that arent super expensive.

Most of the drawers are about 18.5x30" and the top compartment is about 20" deep. Most of what I can find is 16" or so or comes in a length of like 54" which would only do 1 box per roll unless I started adding seem's (which is obviously preferable to avoid).

So anyone know anything that works well in a box thats big enough & fairly inexpensive.

Oh and its new to me for 500 bucks..

 

[Ray-CA]

Wal-Mart yoga mats.

Ray

 

[Tom.C]

Harbor freight sells it but not sure on the dimensions.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Sears has theirs on sale for 9.99 a roll and if you are a shop your way member you get 50 percent back in points to use later.

 

[WWheeler]

Black vinyl carpet runner sold at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. Comes 36" wide and sold by the foot. It's tough stuff. It doesn't slide around in the drawer. Tools don't slide around on it. Best tool drawer liner I've ever found by far.

Edit:
This stuff: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Apache-Mills-Inc-36-in-Black-Extruded-Vinyl-Runner-By-the-Foot/1000043655

 

[AustinChamp]

Over here , even the cheapest liners are £15 for a small roll , i needed 4 rolls to line my boxes , so had an idea of lining them in 2mm thick rubber sheet , was able to purchase 1400mm x 2500mm long wide sheet off a roll for £20 with free postage of ebay , very pleased with the results as if cut carefully it fits well and does not require fixing down like foam does , and does not move under the weight , also does not mark like foam , can see it lasting me out.

 

[bpjr]

I used the Harbor Freight liner stuff in new cabs about 5 yrs ago and its been aok. I tacked the corners down with contact glue to keep it from moving. They sell it in 18" x 72" rolls. It's soft rubber and is textured diamond shapes that grab the tools. I live on salt water and keep my tools well oiled and do it every 3-4 months...the oil doesn't seem to affect the liner material either. Its the best bang for the buck I could find.

 

[454ragtop]

I like the Eppco liner http://www.homedepot.com/p/Grease-B...3001rw&cm_mmc=CJ-_-6147012-_-11210757&cj=true Available on Amazon as well, good stuff, thin so you don't lose drawer height, holds tools from sliding very well, and at 24" width, was perfect for Vidmar type cabs. But before you do anything, I'd try scrubbing your old liners with a strong degreaser like Castrol Super Clean and a stiff brush. My SO KRL used box came with really disgusting liners, scrubbed them down, they look like brand new.

 

[-OSIS-]

I just picked up a roll from Home Depot. It's the black thicker anti slip, 18.6" x 40" I believe.

 

[-OSIS-]

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.solid-grip-liner---black---48-inches-x-18-inches.1000127342.html

There's a 20" version as well.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p....black---48-inches-x-20-inches.1000121222.html

 

[winlinmac]

Use your Sear's SYW Points and get the Craftsman liners

 

[Moparman390]

Ummm, yeah, best kept secret in tool box lining, with a slight trimming each roll should give you two drawers for around $2 a drawer. I used this stuff, I like the mesh if it gets humid or water gets in the box somehow it breathes and doesn't let moisture get trapped against your metal drawer. Same stuff as the Craftsman and some others. Even stocked in store if there's a Menard's near home or just order online.

http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...20-w-x-6-ft-supreme-liner/p-1444442287958.htm

 

[Mr_B]

^ Yep menards or HF stuff similar and seems work well, trick is mist of oil over it and oil rag wipe tools as keeps them pristine and saves surface marks if sitting for long times.
The diamond stuff does seem breathe better and keep tool in order easily .
Real cheap stuff not good as not same material spec. at price of menards or HF it no ballache refresh it after say 5 or 10 years. I've had some of this style stuff for over 10 yrs and it kept pretty well .

 

[dadsEH]

And for the Aussies in here go to Bunnings...in their carpet section they stock non-slip matting...just buy it by the metre...its about 500mm wide.

 

[bdelmar2]

Another vote for the carpet runner.

I do have a bunch of the mesh type **** they sell as drawer liner - I heard all kinds of good stuff about it here so I ordered a bunch from amazon.

It was awful, hard to cut because it wants to distort, so you have to hold it down with a straight edge to get a halfway decent cut and it still wants to pull.

Its not made especially square either, so you don't get a nice edge, it either fits poorly or looks like you cut it wrong.

It doesn't want to stay flat in the drawer with use, it slides and bunches easily. Doesn't want to stick to double sided tape very well so you can't tape it in place really either - you just end up with hard to remove double sided tape stuck in the front of your drawer and a liner bunched up in back.

If you don't use the tools in the drawer fairly regularly it leaves a waffle imprint on them and they kind of stick down to it.

I think I bought 3 or 4 big rolls of it, was planning on redoing all my boxes eventually. It was pretty cheap I think, reasonably priced anyway, or so it seemed.

It is probably a little thinner than the drawer liner, until it bunches up in the back of the drawer anyway.

I used part of one roll in my kr661 and the rest is in my shed somewhere I think, not sure why, can't imagine using it for anything. Might work as a pad for under a piece of wood for routing the edge maybe.


The runner on the other hand is much nicer. Can cut it by hand with a razor knife, don't have to hold it with a straight edge the whole time.

Its not manufactured perfectly either, but way closer than the mesh stuff and not noticeable at all.

its stiffer so it stays flat in the drawer over time, and nothing sticks to it.

Did cost more, but a lot less than snap on drawer liner (especially the premium) or the fancy other stuff you see referred to here on GJ.

 

[Davefr]

I'll repeat my $.02 worth on liners.

You just bought a nice expensive box so why would you sacrifice precious drawer height and storage capacity with thick carpet, exercise mats, stall mats, cut up conveyor belts, and other "hack" ideas.

Go with a quality PVC liner that's thin. (ie .050"). Thin liner can make a difference in a full drawer closing or not.

However if you don't have very many tools it probably won't matter.

My favorite is http://www.nu-sourceinc.com/default.aspx?CN=68208B2B76A3 which is nearly identical to what SO uses on their high end KRL boxes.

 

[bsg1]

Davefr has it right (post #16). liner thickness will often dictate tool organization/placement inside the drawers of a box. in addition to other tool clearance, socket clearance when opening/closing a drawer is frequently either gtg or no-go as a result of liner selection.

 

[WWheeler]

Hmmm, don't know if the site's glitching or bsg1 keeps deleting and reposting the same comment just to bump it back to the top, but that's the third time I've noticed this post bumped back to the front of the pack only to look and see the same last comment made on it. Strange.

Really don't think it's all that often that the 1 or 2 millimeters difference in thickness between the ribbed vinyl carpet runner and the linked nu-source drawer liner would come into play but I suppose if it does it might be worth paying more than twice the price.

 

[4Kings]

If you have a Big Lots near you this is surprisingly good. It's only 18" x 48" so if you have deeper drawers it wouldn't be the best option. I relined an old 26" Craftsman box a few months ago and have been very satisfied.

http://www.biglots.com/product/solid-grip-4-black-shelf-liner/p810229074?pos=1:15&Ntt=liner

 

[MShaw]

I use cork sheet from the local big box craft store (A C Moore or Michael's)

 

[pcmeiners]

Another vote for WWheeler recommendation of Lowes black ribbed runner, have it in (3) 59" Vidmars (12 drawer), and a couple 41" units. Stuff will last a couple life times. This runner material is almost an exact copy of the liners Vidmar sells at much higher price.

 

[VDubJoe]

I use the Zerust liner from Lowes. Works great no rust. I also use a few of Zerust's other products.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Zerust-Drawer-Liner/3374226

 

[bastage]

Thanks for all of the reply's..

Given the dimensions of the box & the sheer amount that I need I think that carpet liner will be the ticket. These drawers are all way deeper then any sockets I own so the 2mm extra that it is over some of the other products wont bother me at all..


And actually the stuff thats in there now is way thicker then that. And some of it is actually tore up, so a simple cleaning of what is there wont do the trick. Before I fill the thing I am going to use goof off & clean the whole thing well and will put in the carpet runner liners. Looks like it'll run me about 35 bucks which is pretty damn reasonable as well.

 

[MikeF2316]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339028&showall=1

 

[str8axle55]

I used Yoga mats from the Five Below store. They were relatively cheap, under $5, and I`ve been pretty happy with them in my S/O box.

 

[Moose364]

Walk-mart drawer liners over in the kitchen section

 

[unslow1]

Wal-Mart yoga mats.

Ray

That's what I use for fender covers. I have real ones but like the mats better.

 

[bdelmar2]

Thanks for all of the reply's..

Given the dimensions of the box & the sheer amount that I need I think that carpet liner will be the ticket. These drawers are all way deeper then any sockets I own so the 2mm extra that it is over some of the other products wont bother me at all..


And actually the stuff thats in there now is way thicker then that. And some of it is actually tore up, so a simple cleaning of what is there wont do the trick. Before I fill the thing I am going to use goof off & clean the whole thing well and will put in the carpet runner liners. Looks like it'll run me about 35 bucks which is pretty damn reasonable as well.

The gray vinyl runner I got from Lowes is no where near 2mm thicker than Snap on liner.

I doubt its 2mm thick itself, much less that much thicker.

I would imagine its terrible carpet runner, but its great box liner.

I'm still in the process of moving tools to my new to me krl1001, but so far nothing has come within the thousandths range of fitting. It either fits, or its way too big.


I don't have anything against the nu-source liner, but the liners I see listed for toolboxes are only 22 1/2" deep, and for the prices they list I could just get KRA liner from Snap on for a little bit more - like $20 to $30 from what I can tell.

Plus with the runner, I was able to go get it, cut it and install it and start putting my tools in the new box the same day.

 

[WWheeler]

The gray vinyl runner I got from Lowes is no where near 2mm thicker than Snap on liner.

I doubt its 2mm thick itself, much less that much thicker.

I would imagine its terrible carpet runner, but its great box liner.

I'm still in the process of moving tools to my new to me krl1001, but so far nothing has come within the thousandths range of fitting. It either fits, or its way too big.


I don't have anything against the nu-source liner, but the liners I see listed for toolboxes are only 22 1/2" deep, and for the prices they list I could just get KRA liner from Snap on for a little bit more - like $20 to $30 from what I can tell.

Plus with the runner, I was able to go get it, cut it and install it and start putting my tools in the new box the same day.

The black vinyl ribbed 36" width runner sold at Lowes is 1/8" thick, which is just over 3mm.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Apache-Mills-Inc-36-in-Black-Extruded-Vinyl-Runner-By-the-Foot/1000043655

And the nu-source liner Davefr linked which he claims "is nearly identical to what SO uses on their high end KRL boxes" is 1.2mm thick.

http://www.nu-sourceinc.com/default.aspx?CN=68208B2B76A3

When you mention a 'gray' runner at Lowes, are you talking about this stuff with the cross tread plate pattern?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/36-in-Gray-Extruded-Vinyl-Runner-By-the-Foot/1000043771

I don't recall seeing that at the store when I picked up mine. Just looking at that image it looks like it would be even thicker but looks can be deceiving I guess. I also wonder how well that pattern would keep tools from sliding/rolling around on it. Assuming that's what you were referring to can you comment on that? The ribbed kind does every bit as good a job if not better in that area as any liner I've ever used before.

It would be nice to know for sure how thick it is but unlike the black it doesn't list a thickness in the specs. I do notice it is a little cheaper. Might be worth checking out when I get my new box.

 

[bdelmar2]

This stuff is more like carpet, just really thin and stiff.

Comes on a roll, sold by the foot, took me 27ft to do a krl1001, little less than $3 a foot if I remember correctly.

The scraps are what I had to trim off to make the depth right, you can kind of get an idea of how thick is it from the ones on their side.

I believe it was 27 1/4" wide and the drawers are closer to 27.

It kind of compresses down, so its not even as thick as it appears.

 

[bastage]

I bought the black carpet runner stuff today.. Will get it installed later tonight or tomorrow.. Right now I have it spread out as flat as I could get it in my garage hoping that there is no memory left in it when I get to cutting. Though I am fairly impressed with how little memory there was for it coming off of a roll.

Based on my first impressions of the stuff it will be about perfect..

 

[T45]

op, post some before / after pics

good luck +1

 

[bastage]

op, post some before / after pics

good luck +1

Will do...

 

[bastage]

Ok.. Before & after..

I apologize for some of the pictures not looking so good. I got a new phone & was playing with the settings & didn't realize the outcome until just now.

 

[RCsGarage]

For anyone else...I just bought several rolls of this for my new tool box;
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Con-Tact-Ultra-Grip-Black-Shelf-Drawer-Liner-04F-C6O51-12/100388913

I previously had the same stuff for almost 8yrs. in my old box and it held up great. The new stuff is much thicker than the older stuff.

 

[Manswerpant]

When I got tired of the drawer liners in my SO box sliding to the back and not keeping tools in place, and some of them were torn, I ordered new ones from SO that were precut to the box. I ended up with two different types of material for the top and bottom because its an older classic series and they didn't offer it in the same material for top and bottom. One set is basically a felt that has a plastic layer on the back side. The other set was kind of a rubbery foam type material. The rubbery stuff holds tools in place better than the felt but I like the felt better. This was far from being the cheapest option but it was nice not measuring and cutting or worrying about size.

The best thing I did when I replaced the liners was using 3M spray adhesive in the drawer and back of the liners before putting them in. The liners will never move, never bunch up, pretty sure the felt ones will never be torn and the rubbery foam ones would be pretty dang hard to cut. They could get some holes or very small tears but being glued down they aren't going to have long tears or rips that flop around.

I may extremely regret gluing them down should I ever have to replace them, but I believe that will be a long long time from now. I did this two years ago and most of them look like brand new even after heavy use every day, other than my air tool drawer. The felt is little dirty from throwing my dirty greasy impacts in there.

 

[-OSIS-]

For anyone else...I just bought several rolls of this for my new tool box;
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Con-Tact-Ultra-Grip-Black-Shelf-Drawer-Liner-04F-C6O51-12/100388913

I previously had the same stuff for almost 8yrs. in my old box and it held up great. The new stuff is much thicker than the older stuff.

Finally got this same liner setup on my tray. I love it so far.

 

[bsaint]

What does Matco use for their Premium liner? I LOVED that stuff. It kinda stuck to my tools but the liner and the tools stayed in place.

 

[Ralf11]

comments on this review??

https://www.garagetooladvisor.com/storage/best-tool-box-drawer-liners/

 

[Shelbylex]

I use black yoga mats from the Five Below store ($5) for bigger drawers and Home Depot Husky for drawers with a lot of small dividers.
Heavy wrenches leave indentations when placed sideways on yoga mats

The first picture shows Husky mats in my 1955 KR-56 and the second yoga mat in Kennedy