Tool drawer lining/shadowing idea

[Foose911]

Got the EVA rubbery stuff for $5.99/m^2 and cut to size (took me about an hour) -- I needed 6m.

I'd seen people on YouTube "shadow" their tools by cutting foam with an X-acto knife. Nice to know where everything goes and what's missing, but 6 hours for organizing a tool chest? Seems excessive (even for me!)

I don't know if my idea is totally unique but I gave it some thought and decided to try out an idea and it seems to work. Put a coat of carnauba wax over tools, organize on pre-cut liner, mist with rattle can, and wipe tools clean of overspray. The EVA I used didn't like the Sharpie I had and the black paint (night shade was on hand) made a crisp shadow.

When I find the missing wrenches, I'll actually do it! LOL

 

[fitz11]

Cool idea but when you factor in the time it takes to wax and clean the tools wouldn't it be easier and faster to just outline them with a marker?

 

[ADSR]

I'd use the fastcap foam IMO. It's pretty cheap.

http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/Kaizen-Foam-p13435.htm

 

[Foose911]

Cool idea but when you factor in the time it takes to wax and clean the tools wouldn't it be easier and faster to just outline them with a marker?

Yes, but the paint came off these with a dry microfibre towel -- waxing and removing paint would definitely be a challenge with other tools though. The pen idea is definitely easier!

I'd use the fastcap foam IMO. It's pretty cheap.

http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/Kaizen-Foam-p13435.htm

... Looks like good stuff!! (Now you tell me!)

 

[MrJason]

I bought yoga mats, and organized my stuff. No cut outs, as I'm not that retentive, just yet.

http://www.wholesaleyogamats.com/everyday-yoga-mat-68-x-24-x-1-8/

I do like your idea however. A buddy of mine used a Vis-a-Vis projector pen to trace his stuff out, then he cut. When he was done, a little water, got rid of the marks. Dried and he was in the ball game.

 

[Foose911]

A buddy of mine used a Vis-a-Vis projector pen to trace his stuff out, then he cut. When he was done, a little water, got rid of the marks. Dried and he was in the ball game.

Nice!

 

[SASORacing]

Trace your wrenches or tools with a sharpie over a white piece of primer paper. Once you have done several cut all the shapes out with scissors and then lay the shapes over your mat our foam. Then spray paint.

I like carving foam the best, it's probably the most expensive and time consuming though .

 

[Foose911]

^
I like that idea a lot! Thanks Saso

 

[Adam.C]

I used masking or painters tape on my foam. Layed the tools on the tape, traced the tool with a fine line sharpie, then cut thru tape and foam at once. When done, I removed the tape and viola!

View media item 41548
The picture shows some fairly imperfect socket cutouts. Doesn't matter; The foam compresses. In some ways, imperfect holds better. Under the foam is a piece of 1/8" colored craft foam to help me know instantly what I'm missing. I thought about writing the sizes on the colored foam, but no marker worked on it. Could have made up labels.

If you glue the gray stuff (camping mat) to the colored underlay, you can space the tools VERY close together without the foam inbetween breaking away. Only downside is it becomes pretty much impossible to modify. So I glued only those areas where there was a high density of small tools. The bit sockets above are VERY close together.

My recommendation to all shadow box makers is to make up small sections, not entire drawers. That way you can modify/replace sections.

I've lately been thinking about sourcing shallow black plastic trays and making custom fitted holders for ratchets or extensions or whatever. Could then apply PSA backed magnet to hold tray in drawer - and could then be easily removed, put in service cart or stuck to hood or fender.

 

[Foose911]

Good advice, especially the part about doing sections. Can you post up a pic?

Cheers