Shadowing out a toolbox

[MossRoad]

I've recently switched careers from I.T. to maintenance. So, I had to buy my own tools, toolbox, etc... I trained with a retired military mechanic, who's made his living with his tools for a long, long time. He has a very nice toolbox, tools, etc... and they are organized to a T. He shadowed out his toolbox so each tool has its own space in the drawer, kind of like when your dad outlined everything on a pegboard in the garage, so he could see what's missing. It saves time and keeps things in their place when we wheel our boxes around the plant. So I started on my toolbox in my spare time. I thought this might be interesting for some of you. I found this foam product and ordered some. After a little practice, I like it.

Kaizen Foam - FastCap - Woodworking Tools

Here's some pictures of my first drawer.

 

[MossRoad]

And a few more....

 

[mark02tj]

Pretty cool!

 

[MossRoad]

What I like about that foam product I purchased is that its multi-layered and its pretty easy to just cut around the tool with a good, thin razor, then peel out layers until the tool fits nice. They recommend using a marker to go around the tool, then cut inside the marker line for a good tight fit, but I found it just as easy to hold the tool down to the foam with one hand and go around with the razor knife with the other.

As you can see from the photo where my inspection mirrors are out, its a multi-level hole to fit the tool. Same thing for the screwdrivers.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it was about $15.00 for a sheet that was 2' x 4', which was enough to do three drawers that were 22" x 15". So only about $5 per drawer! Cheap investment. :thumbsup:

 

[jlgurr]

I LOVE IT! Our plant does 5S and things likes this with tools for helping employees setup up machinery too. Problem at home is that I would need two more tool boxes to spread out all my tools like that. Still looks very nice and I'm sure convenient. Where did you buy the foam? I'd like to organize my socket set like this to help keep the MM and Inch sizes separated better.

 

[Baby Grand]

A place for everything and everything in its place!

 

[k0ua]

Very nice!, and very well organized.:thumbsup:

 

[jones6780]

OH NO, Tool Control!!! I worked for the Airforce at a Depot and we had to inlay all our tools to make sure we didn't loose or leave a tool inside an airplane or component. This is a good way to quickly view and spot missing tools along with an inventory sheet. There are some 2 color sheets of foam to show contrast when the tool is not there.

 

[MacLawn]

Yeah, but if I do this, I'll never find what I lost last year while looking for the tool I need now! Good idea!

 

[RoMad]

Very nice and neat. i will show this to my youngest son. He will want some. A bit too much organization for my nature :laughing:

 

[brain55]

That's awesome for a finite set of tools. Not so much when you are expanding and adding new tools all of the time. I try to stay reasonably organized, but like others have said, I'd need two more tool boxes to get that organized. I only have room for one box in my trailer, and it is about to bust at the seams with how much I'm forcing it to carry.

Brian

 

[MossRoad]

I LOVE IT! Our plant does 5S and things likes this with tools for helping employees setup up machinery too. Problem at home is that I would need two more tool boxes to spread out all my tools like that. Still looks very nice and I'm sure convenient. Where did you buy the foam? I'd like to organize my socket set like this to help keep the MM and Inch sizes separated better.

Thanks! I bought it from the manufacturer. The link is in my first post.

 

[MossRoad]

Another nice thing about this foam is that if you decide to add/remove tools, you can just cut out a section, replace it with a fresh blank and start over. There's a bunch of videos on that website that show how to customize the foam.

 

[zing]

Another nice thing about this foam is that if you decide to add/remove tools, you can just cut out a section, replace it with a fresh blank and start over. There's a bunch of videos on that website that show how to customize the foam.

Aha, that makes sense. I was looking at your pictures and thinking "That looks useful, but what happens when your tape breaks and the next one you buy doesn't fit, do you redo the whole tray?" Cutting out a block to replace when required, makes it seem a lot more functional in the long run. Nice work.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Kaizen Foam - FastCap - Woodworking Tools

Cool site, but when the little guy walks out at the bottom corner of the page and starts his advertising spiel I thought "not this again!"...then I saw the little bomb button next to him. Press it and he blows up, never to return (unless you press 'replay'...which I've done several times already).

hahaha! I feel like a little kid LOL.

Oh yeah, and the foam is neat too.

 

[MossRoad]

Cool site, but when the little guy walks out at the bottom corner of the page and starts his advertising spiel I thought "not this again!"...then I saw the little bomb button next to him. Press it and he blows up, never to return (unless you press 'replay'...which I've done several times already).

hahaha! I feel like a little kid LOL.

Oh yeah, and the foam is neat too.

Yeah, I dislike that kind of advertising as well, but they give you an awfully fun way to opt out. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

Forgot to add picture of 2nd drawer.

 

[kenlip]

Many years ago I had to move out of my house and spend some time in a small flat. I build this cabinet to house a basic selection of tools, and it has proven to be fantastic. Now that I have a proper workshop at the house, there are many more tools that are not stored in this cabinet, but the cabinet still works like a dream.

The one drawer has become a bit messy, but the rest have stayed pretty much the same for the last 38 years.

 

[Wagtail]

Many years ago I had to move out of my house and spend some time in a small flat. I build this cabinet to house a basic selection of tools, and it has proven to be fantastic. Now that I have a proper workshop at the house, there are many more tools that are not stored in this cabinet, but the cabinet still works like a dream.

The one drawer has become a bit messy, but the rest have stayed pretty much the same for the last 38 years.

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That's absolutely gorgeous (and pedantic)!

When you cark it can I have it?