Tool Organisation Show Off Thread

[nkachur]

Like a lot of other guys on here I really like this and it pulls together a lot of the design features I have been thinking about. Is the lid heavy? Do you have a system for opening it like pulleys and how does it stay up.

Any details you can show will be appreciated.

I work in my own shop as a hobby so theft is not a big concern but I like the feature of closing the tools up at the end of the day to keep dust to a minimum or when I am sanding something.

Lid is 3/4 plywood, not very heavy, we just lift it manualy, have pad lock hasps on the top and bottom and an s-hook to hold it open, will take close-ups tomorow of the latch system and a picture of the lid closed.

 

[nkachur]

Nkachur, that is very cool. I also like the fact that when the lid is closed, the angle prevents stuff from being thrown on top of it as a shelf. That is one of the things I have tried harder to do ( keep the work bench cleared off) but some how my wife thinks it's a nice place to put stuff.

I totally understand, this unit is closed everynight for security / tool control reasons. We work on aircraft servicing equipment in the shop.

 

[expatriated]

I keep mine organized.

Your garage is carpeted?

 

[Pro-Painter]

Here is mine finished project. I used foam puzzle mats from Lowe's and automotive masking paper (like masking tape, but 18" wide AKA Sticky mickey's) and a X-acto knife with fresh blades. Ive got about $50 in everything minus the masking paper, I already had that.


I'm still not finished yet. Ive got to do my 1/2" drive drawer, air tools drawer, pliers, etc.... It takes up a ton of room, but it's well worth it. I know right where all my tools are and when something is missing. I plan to buy another bottom box and make a work bench out of the pair.

 

[Rich.]

Thats pretty sick! I spotted it over in the 'Lets see your toolbox' thread aswell.

How did you cut the foam? And mark it out for cutting for that matter?

Thanks
Rich

 

[PeteMoore]

Ditto what Rich says

That is my aim with my kit

Just making sure i have the tools I want to keep long term before cutting anything that neatly now.

 

[Rich.]

Just what i was thinking , cut your sheet for fixed head's then decide you want to go flexy after, just the kind of thing i would do!

Rich

 

[sputnikv8]

Won't that light grey foam get dirty looking pretty quick? An OCD mind would not be able to stand for that!

 

[pipsters]

Won't that light grey foam get dirty looking pretty quick? An OCD mind would not be able to stand for that!

Yeah that is what I was thinking, it looks really nice now but just putting my sockets in there it would be dirty as hell.

 

[Rich.]

Could just use black foam?

 

[Pro-Painter]

I don't deal with as much grease and oils as much as you guys prob do. My tools are used for removing body panels and trim, and interior panels mostly.
Very seldom do I do anything that is real dirty, Grease and oils are a painters enemy !


The mats are made out of a firm, closed cell foam and should clean up with dawn dish soap and warm water. I wouldn't want to pour a quart of oil on them, but basic grease residue should clean off easy without much of a stain.

If your a real dirty tool guy, and don't like the idea of wiping your tools down after every use then you could use the top side of the mats. I picked the bottom because I like the look of the gray foam better then the textured mat surface.

The most time consuming part was the cleaning and organizing of my tools in to sets. After that was done it became easy and fun to do. I cut the mats to size, coved them in a single sheet of masking paper and traced my tools on using a speed square to make sure they stay straight. And then I cut out the tools approx 1/8" smaller on each side so the tools fit nice and snug in their slots.

The mats are $19.99 at Lowe's and come with four 2ft x 2ft squares. For the US General bottom cabinet you can get 4 drawers from one pack.

 

[jrherald420]

Pro-Painter, i love the idea!!! Nice work man!!

 

[nkachur]

So here are the pics I promised

This is the unit with top closed up.

This is the bench top material

And this is the very simple latch / cover hold up setup

Please feel free to ask if you have more questions

 

[nkachur]

and someone was asking about the clips. The post seems to have disappeared. The clips can be found by searching for "tool clips" online or supposedly they are available up in Canada thru Spaenaur.

 

[UncleJoe]

Nkachur,
Thanks for posting those photos

 

[nkachur]

Nkachur,
Thanks for posting those photos

no problem

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

hey nkachur ... where did you guys get the clips that are on the "lid" of the box ... the ones holding the extensions and ratchets?

very very nice box ... well thought out.

 

[Vinko]

some great posts in here. Swiss Files, that Proto set up, the Lowes foam. All good.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Thanks nkachur - I really like this set up

 

[Bolster]

If tool companies had half a brain, they would sell these BOARDS cheap to the masses...Nobody likes to have an empty board.

B&WP is a genius! That's an excellent idea.

 

[gmhill33]

These aren't all of my boards, and a few more spaces have been filled in since taking the pic, but it will give you an idea of my strategy. When I complete the set, I will have just about every hand tool I need, without losing an inch of floor space and organized in such a way that everything is easily accessible and immediately noticeable if it is missing.

Where can someone (me) find some of those boards?

Thanks,
Gary

 

[Bull]

Where can someone (me) find some of those boards?

Thanks,
Gary

Hi Gary. I didn't see your post until now. Is Blackhawk the brand you want? I search for them every week, hoping to find the ones I am missing. I know where three are right now, in Missouri. Dirty and a bit rough around the edges, but definitely worthy of being cleaned and hung up and used, from what I can tell.

Let me know what you are looking for, and I will keep eyes open.

 

[gmhill33]

Hi Gary. I didn't see your post until now. Is Blackhawk the brand you want? I search for them every week, hoping to find the ones I am missing. I know where three are right now, in Missouri. Dirty and a bit rough around the edges, but definitely worthy of being cleaned and hung up and used, from what I can tell.

Let me know what you are looking for, and I will keep eyes open.

Thanks for getting back with me. I am just looking for any and all of them. I guess they don't make them anymore?

Gary

 

[Bull]

Thanks for getting back with me. I am just looking for any and all of them. I guess they don't make them anymore?

Gary

Actually, I have found one place online that sells the most current style of Blackhawk boards. They are stupidly expensive, as in somewhere over $100 per board, empty!

 

[gmhill33]

Actually, I have found one place online that sells the most current style of Blackhawk boards. They are stupidly expensive, as in somewhere over $100 per board, empty!

WOW, don't want them that bad.

 

[reedwesd]

Nkachur,
I know you ahve been asked before but where did you get the clips you are using to hold your tools. BTW awsome box.

 

[nkachur]

Thanks for the compliment.

But it is not my box per say. It is the tool board we use in the shop at work. We really like it and it fits our needs very well.

The clips can be brought thru any spaenaur dealer in Canada, Granger has some listings in the States, online I found a few companies by searching for "Tool Clips", Gripper Clips" or "Spring Clips" in Google.

I started mine at home too

I have made a little more progress since this picture was taken, will try to update this weekend

 

[redleg]

ProPainter I found the mats you used at Lowes. Seeing how thick they are, what did you use to make the notches instead of cutting all the way threw the material?

 

[MoToys]

ProPainter I found the mats you used at Lowes. Seeing how thick they are, what did you use to make the notches instead of cutting all the way threw the material?

Was wondering the same thing.

 

[thk2c]

ProPainter I found the mats you used at Lowes. Seeing how thick they are, what did you use to make the notches instead of cutting all the way threw the material?

He probably used two mats. The top one he cut all the way through in the shape of the desired tool, the bottom one he left uncut.

 

[powertrip]

What section of lowes are these foam mats in? I don't want to search the whole store over for them.

 

[Sancho]

I went the shadow method myself for most of my goto stuff, racks for pliers and HF trays for the sockets. I got my foam from foamfactory.com I think I spent $40 for 3 4x8 sheets (one in 1/4, one in 1/2 and one is 3/4)

 

[Damian]

If my tools are that neat, that means I've either retired or I've been on vacation for a week.

 

[Sancho]

If my tools are that neat, that means I've either retired or I've been on vacation for a week.

Visual inventory is key, If I cant see whats missing at a glance odds are I'll never see it again.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i really like all the organization ideas that are in here. my box is about the most organized i personally have seen. but if i had foam in my box then half my tools wouldn't have a home. it is stuffed with no empty space to be found, but to each his own.

 

[redleg]

He probably used two mats. The top one he cut all the way through in the shape of the desired tool, the bottom one he left uncut.

These mats are 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick

 

[powertrip]

Lowes is a big store. What department are these foam mats located in?

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

Lowes is a big store. What department are these foam mats located in?

just a guess here, but maybe flooring?

 

[Catamount]

I'm OCD myself, and while the foam looks cool I can't imagine having to add a handful of wrenches once you've gotten the existing ones all cut out already.