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Stelzer

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2022
Messages
445
Location
Portland, OR
I guess a lot of it would depend upon the height of your drawers, since my main suggestions would be focused around using racks for many of your tools, (pliers for one). This would allow you to orient them in a vertical fashion vs. horizontal, which would free up a ton of space, but again, you're limited on the height of your drawers. Sockets arranged horizontally are another space killer, but socket rails might only work for your shorter sockets if you don't have the height. If it works for you and you can easily find what you need when you need, then you're a leg up above many for sure. It certainly looks orderly. I just like to open my drawers and see my sockets standing at attention like soldiers ready for battle, but that's just me. Still though, looks very clean.
 
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ItsNemo

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Joined
Mar 5, 2016
Messages
4,805
Location
Canada
I guess a lot of it would depend upon the height of your drawers, since my main suggestions would be focused around using racks for many of your tools, (pliers for one). This would allow you to orient them in a vertical fashion vs. horizontal, which would free up a ton of space, but again, you're limited on the height of your drawers. Sockets arranged horizontally are another space killer, but socket rails might only work for your shorter sockets if you don't have the height. If it works for you and you can easily find what you need when you need, then you're a leg up above many for sure. It certainly looks orderly. I just like to open my drawers and see my sockets standing at attention like soldiers ready for battle, but that's just me. Still though, looks very clean.

I used pliers racks for the vise grips, but sadly the wrench drawers for instance aren't tall enough to fit most of my pliers stored on their sides...which would leave the main socket drawer or the very top of the box really, not ideal.

I've thought about 3d printing more custom socket rails (my 1/2" deeps are in ones I made), but would take a lot of time to do. I guess I could gain a ton of space that way though, so thanks for finding me another big project :D lol
 

Griff79

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2018
Messages
583
Location
Denver
What is the minimum depth need to orient a plier drawer with racks, just generally? There will be many variable that could affect this, that is a given
Thanks,
Griff
 

Stelzer

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2022
Messages
445
Location
Portland, OR
What is the minimum depth need to orient a plier drawer with racks, just generally? There will be many variable that could affect this, that is a given
Thanks,
Griff
Depth of drawer or height of drawer? If height, most racks I have are between 2.5"-3", so 3.5" would be minimum drawer height I'd consider. Nothing worse than getting some taller pliers or sockets stuck to the point that you can't even open the drawer. If you were truly asking about the depth, I guess the answer would depend upon the size of the tool, (in length).
 

2ndGearRubber

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Messages
14,185
Location
Pittsburgh
I'm thinking all the drill/driver stuff needs to go with the drills, or in a bag/box to condense. You're using a ton of horizontal space. for bulky bit cases. Do you keep the lid closed? If not, go vertical.

Cutting drawer looks decent. Can you stuff tape measures in there?

Pliers looks like my drawer.

You can slide the wrenches all the way to one side against the drawer edge, offsetting the on side. Saves a little space. You could likely stuff one more set in each drawer by stuffing them in that way. FWIW you're using pretty deep drawers for wrenches. So if you are buying holders you can get ones or make ones that hold the wrenches nearly 90* vs the bottom of the drawer. Angling them in the drawer like most wrench racks makes them easier to read, and saves vertical space which you have lots off. A touch or paint or similar by common sizes means you don't need to even read the wrenches. For a 3/8 socket set for instance I would mark the holder at 10/14/17. You can go up/down from those 3 dots to know where every socket is.

Locking pliers looks good.

Catch-all, you're stuck with that.

Sockets need stored vertically. You could save the entire volume of one of those gray blow molded cases. Easily.

If you can cull screwdrivers you can save tons of space. Yeah right, I have too many too.

Fix the upper socket drawer, all the impacts fix in the top drawer now. That's a full drawer saved.

If you can live without cases, torque wrenches can use less space. Bits may fit up top with the sockets. I think they can.

Air tools look right, they're well nested to maximize space.

Prybar/hammer looks good. Notice the depth again though. Can you stack less used hammers? More common hammers on top? Torque wrenches are in cases, if kept in there perhaps you could save some space too.

Second pliers drawer, sigh. I also have two drawers of pliers.

Hooks/picks/small stuff looks right.

Problem solver looks good. I take all the extractors out and dump them in a container to minimize space of the plastic cases. IMO wheel holder pins should be with socketry as they're complementary. YMMV once you stuff all the bits sockets up the and go vertical. They're likely too tall to store vertically in the top drawer. 02 sensor tool is technically a wrench. You have room in wrench drawers, and can make this drawer visually simpler to use.

Overflow drawer, vertical storage of 12pt sockets in socket drawer, respirators can be hung.



Looks like a nice box.

I think you could save at least 1 full drawer.
 
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gatewaysysop

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
3,290
Location
Arizona
They're nice boxes.

I'm really going to have to try that with the pliers.

Another thing to consider is whether you have a lot of pliers with identical handles but different jaw/tip styles. It's not always easy with them on-edge and in a rack to tell which ones are which. You can see some of what I mean in the pics in this thread. One of the reasons I have shied away from them. Trial and error to find what I need could get annoying.
 
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