Tool Chest organizing

[R_Ethug]

so i bought myself a really fancy tool chest a few weeks ago and a complete new tool set a few months ago too..

so starting to put it together instead of just leaving the tools on the mats i thought lets make it fancy and shadow the box with foam. Well you can DIY with exercise mats or those kid mats; just have to measure it out.

Trace the tools with a pen then get out a sharp 9mm utility knife and cut away. then to make it easier so the tools don't sit too low what i did was take each cutout piece and then sliced them in half/thinned them out and stuck them back in

if you follow me on instagram you'll see a few photos of what i did but basically like this

takes about 45-1hr per insert depending on well you want to cut it and not cut your fingers off too



anyways

so what i'm trying to do now is find a home for all my sockets. i think i have like 200 sockets or so

anyone have any ideas they may have done to get these guys done? i don't think i can trace 200 circles and cut them out but maybe i could drill them out or something or i was looking at a few things but it seems its hard to find these locally unless someone knows where to snag this stuff?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-96...-/390794831411

[onceover]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

princessauto carries socket holders similar to the one in your link.

Edit: heres a couple options

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/S...izer/8309643.p
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/S...Rail/8341802.p
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/S...lder/8272858.p

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/H...&_D%3Afh_gtp=+

[witchcraftz]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

Cool idea, post some pics of your organizer.

and for your sockets why not put them in on their side too?

[Stonewall]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

If you have room to do that you don't have enough tools I just have rails for my sockets to keep them in order and together. No room otherwise and I have a very large tool box.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

yea i will put the sockets sideways not vertical so the yard easier to read.. actually that www.foamfitftools.com site has PDFs of their layouts LOL they ask you print and cut and put into your toolbox to ensure they fit

mind you all their stuff is made for craftsman boxes in the USA not mater craft but i'll see if i can take these layouts and trace them for my sockets

here is a shot of 2 drawers i've done so far using those square kid mats you can buy at superstore/walmart,etc

http://instagram.com/p/lvyR92yizk/

http://instagram.com/p/lvyVUDSizp/

[onceover]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

All of your links are broken!

[R_Ethug]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

^works for me.. i think you need to be signed into instagram on the web tho.. i dunno

[dwvw]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

I have Foam in a couple drawers. I use the plastic trays that some tools come in. For sockets I have magnetic holders that lay on their side so they fit in a shallow drawer. One thing with the foam to be careful with is if you get a solvent on your tools then put them in the foam, most of the hobby stuff will break down. I order my foam from Creative Safety Supply. It won't break down with oils and solvents.

[CGY_GTI]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

That's an awesome idea with the mats! My big tool set came with trays that sit in the drawers nicely but I've been looking for a solution for all the screw drivers that are always rolling around!

[R_Ethug]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

^yep all you need to do is buy a 4 pack of exercise/kid mats that are like 1" thick and then go to town.. they dull knives pretty quick so you need really sharp blades and be careful but its really easy to do and looks really fancy when your done. don't buy black mats as you'll never see your trace marks unless you have a white pen haha i learned that already

my fancy tool set has trays too but the damn trays are 2" wider than then the new tool chest drawers :/ so meh i'll do this instead

[MechEngg]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

Nice idea. My trays JUST fit in my tool chest so i got off lucky but i will certainly do this for my box wrenches. My box wrenches are just sitting on the foam bottom of the drawer, it is hard to tell if i'm missing any or if some are in the wrong place.

[RONDAL]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

i use pegs on rails for sockets. much easier and allows you to remove a whole rail and bring over to work area which you often need when you've got a job on the go. going back and forth to the box can be a pain.
as long as you clean up and put everything back afterwards its not an issue

[Lo)2enz0]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

haha i'm sure some of you would cringe if you saw my tool box. its been kicked, wrenches and hammer thrown at it.... even say's that michael jackson likes to touch me on it.

the socket trays are really nice but most high end socket sets come with them or something. I have a couple of mac sets that are like the trays in the op... hate them

[witchcraftz]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

I'm jealous of all you guys, I live on the 3rd floor of an apartment building, when I need to do some work I need to try to get all the tools out of my various tool boxes into a bag and bring them with me into the basement parking.

If I forget something or have the wrong tool, I have to put everything into the car, lock it up, and go up and down 4 flights of stairs. It always ends up taking me a lot more time than it should to do anything.

[Lars]

Re: Tool Chest organizing

Work tool box is oranganized ... Home box not at all .. Got trays with centre pegs that poke up the middle of the socket (princess auto, ct style) work great and for my wrenches I got racks and a couple Mac trays for miscellaneous tools and testers the rest are organized in there draws and stuff... Home one is stuff goes where ever .. Lol