My toolbox is getting to be a mess, so I'm going to organize it. I saw some pictures of a person who took some thick foam and cut out the outlines of his tools into it and then put in his tools. It looked really good and I want to do something like that, but I can't figure out what kind of foam to use or how to cut the stuff. Any tips?

 

all of our tool boxes at PHI are shadowed, I will try to find out where it comes from, (I just order it through RAMCO "our maintenance program") we are now getting red and grey, the red is the bottom mat than the grey is cut out for the shadowing. this way you can tell at a glance if a tool is missing. I cut mine with a utility knife for small cuts, and a electric fish fillet knife for bigger cuts.

http://www.toolfoam.com/default.asp

here is a web site also

 

Thanks helifixer, I knew I had heard that term before but couldn't for the life of me remember what it was, that is exactly what I want to do.

I checked out that site and asked them to send me a sample, the confirmation email said about a week, so I'll post back then and let you know what I think.

 

Just to update, I got my sample in the mail today. It is a very high quality product, and I would love to shadow my toolbox with it. Only downside is that it is a little pricey and I can't see myself spending that kind of money to fancy up my toolbox.

 

If I remember right when I bought my Craftsman box, Sears sold foam that you could cut out yourself, and pretty much do the same thing with. It's pretty simple. I just brought the tool box in the house (since it was still new) sat down in front of the TV, watched a race or football game, and cut it out. Probably would help to have a Sharpie to outline the tool, then just cut it out with a sharp tool. Instead of actually cutting the shape of an open end wrench, I just made it look like a box end, so you can slip your finger in to get the tool. I also have a Shap-On box that I "acquired" in the military FULL of tool that we use to work on F-15's that already had the foam that helifixer mentioned. That stuff is really nice, but like you said...pricey. Hope this helps. I'm sure there's something out there cheaper then what you got in the mail. Oh yeah...I also know Sears sells TONS of stuff to organize a tool box too, other then the foam. Good luck

 

I made a case for my Brothers 22 pistol last Christmas. I picked up some nice foam at the local hobbie store. You might try that they have differant density foam, and it wasn't bad expensive.

 

Hmmm, I didn't even think of the hobby shop, I'll go take a look one of these days, Thanks for the tip.

 

how pricey is it?

 

Its closed-cell polyethylene foam with 6LB density, 1/2" blue or black is $88.27 for a 4'x9' sheet, 1/2" yellow or red is a 15 sheet minimum at $97.41 a sheet. 1/4" red, yellow, blue or black is $53.88 a sheet. If you want a 100' roll of any color it's $495.93 . Plus shipping of course.

It's not break the bank expensive but still a little out of my price range.

 

15 sheet min?

 

For 1/2" yellow or red. Don't ask me why though

 

What about that packaging foam, that expands to fit around what ever you are trying to protect, maybe for a fluke Vom it would be nice to have or some other expensive tools!! I have a craftsman roll away but I don't use it for much, I have seperate craftsman tool boxes one for metric, one for sae, one for specialty tools, one for my half inch ratchet set, a big tool bag for my screwdrivers and punches, a tool box with the little parts cases on the lid for my electrical tools/ components and a brief case for my load tester, uv light for leak detection and timing light!! A tool bag with my dremel, a old timey hand powered drill (sometimes it seems to work better than a electric powered drill!!) and all my drill bits, Plus a couple others with back up tools or my antique tools from my grandfather, I got a tackle box with all sizes of hardware from 2-56 up to 3/4 inch, I always take computers and other junk off the side of the road or from family and strip it for the hardware, It is where to find all that hard to find hardware that the stores never carry!! If someone calls me I grab the tool boxes I think I need and throw it in the back of my truck, Try doing that with a roll away.

 

Upholstery shops have foam of different thicknesses and densities. ALL foam seems expensive - had to build a few transmitter and camera cases.

Personally, I hate losing the real estate in the box, with foam - lot's of space between tools, wasted. I have 4 roll-arounds with double top boxes full, and I would lose a lot of that space, with foam. Perhaps in "specialty" draws - meters, etc, but I just can't justify it in my boxes. Plus trying to remember where everything belongs, is good "mind exercise"...keeps me on top...



Roger, the "tool freak"

 

Go to the exercise section of WalMart, Sears, Basspro, where ever and look for an exercise mat. You can find a closed foam one that you can cut up for this. Ends up being a 6ft x 2ft roll of material for less than $10. More like $6 I think. Be sure you get the right stuff though. The "sponge" type stuff is no good for this.

 

Reminds me of a time years and years ago, when I went to work at a shop to help a guy out. He had all his sockets helter-skelter in a drawer. I brought in socket holders, and organized them. He took one look at them, took them all off and threw them back in the drawer. He told me not to do that. I asked him why. He said there were two reasons - first, if someone got into the drawer, he could hear them digging around, and second, if they were all on the "tree", someone could take all his sockets at once very easily. Needless to say, all my sockets are loose, in a drawer.

Roger, the disorganized tool-freak