Vacuum Formed Tool Holders

[crazy1323]

I was thinking about a project and I was wondering if anyone has tried anything similar.

I was thinking about making custom inserts for my tool box by vacuum forming plastic like this.

Has anyone done this? If so, how was the result?

 

[BHH]

After watching the vid I feel like it would be pretty ******. It seems that plastic that you have to use is super brittle and wouldn't really last long in a toolbox that actually sees daily use.

Also I don't want to be annoyed by having to get my tools out of perfectly formed slots with very little wiggle room or finger cut outs for easy removal of tools.

 

[crazy1323]

He used thin .020 sheets for that, but you can get .080 sheets or use lexan.

 

[doug.j]

I have a vacuum former and tried making trays. I found that using the tools as the mold does not work well. Second the outsides edges are difficult to form. A well designed mold is very important. I gave up because the end product was not worth the effort. I have milled holders from plastic and they turned out great.

 

[Outlawmws]

You can add something (cork maybe?) to add finger tabs to allow picking up the tools, and you can back it up with spray foam to increase the support of the plastic.

But I doubt this will catch on too much. It's a lot of work, and I think it may be difficult to get really dense results for packing more in a space.

 

[Kent Skinner]

I would use .040 or .060 PETG (the stuff 2 liter bottles are made from).

I'd use it on thin tools, and add something to each tool to make a finger hole in the tray.
I may need to try this with my measuring & layout tools - they are thin, and I don't want them to have much movement in the drawer.

That vacuum former would work, but your wife may get pissed about the smell in the kitchen.