For example, if your drawer is three inches deep and 15 inches wide, cut strips that are 3" x 15". Next, measure strips of foam that are the length of your drawer and whose width matches your drawer's depth. Make sure the tools will fit in the drawer at this angle. To do this, measure the depth of your tool drawer and your tools (when they're on their sides). It can even provide the extra space to store both your metric and standard wrenches. This works well for smaller tools such as wrenches, as you can see in the image below. 13) Purchase Large Foam Sheets to Save MoneyĪnother way to save space in your tool chest is to turn both foam and tools on their sides and create an upright tool organizer. Whatever method you use, avoid trying to remove shapes too quickly, as doing so can cause damage. Move slowly along the shape in a way that makes the most sense. To begin, try cutting out small sections at a time. It's also useful when you cut out intricate shapes and want to be careful not to tear the foam. This is usually wise when you're cutting out large shapes. 12) Cut Out Shapes in Sectionsįor some tool shapes, it will be easier to cut out the foam in sections rather than cutting out an entire shape at once. It's best to be conservative when cutting foam so you don't accidentally cut out too much right away. If you fit the object into the foam and it sticks out too much on top, you can always go back and remove another thin layer of foam from the bottom of the section you've already cut out. Make sure the blade depth matches the depth of the object. Before you start cutting, measure the blade against the side of the object you want to place in the foam. Using a retractable blade to cut thick foam will help you cut out the exact depth you need without cutting through the foam. Your edges will be perfectly straight, so your tool box foam inserts will fit snuggly into the drawers of your tool box. If you need to draw long, straight lines to cut a piece of tool foam to size, though, a straight edge such as a drywall T-square can make the task a lot simpler.Īlign the short end of the T-square with the edge of your foam and cut along the length of the device. When you outline small tools, drawing straight lines probably won't be a concern. Multi-colored tool foam can help facilitate this type of program. 5S is a systematic approach to organization and housekeeping that advocates that there should be a place for everything and everything in its place. These shadow foam kits are also ideal for facilities using Lean manufacturing practices such as kaizen or 5S. If you work in an area where foreign object damage (FOD) is a concern, shadow boards can make a big difference. At the end of the day, you can pack up and know you have all the tools you came with. This is especially useful if you take your tool box with you to more than one location. Tool box shadowing foam takes tool organization to the next level by calling out what you're missing. This arrangement functions like a shadow board (which people tend to associate with tools mounted or hanging on walls whenever a tool is missing from your drawer, you'll know immediately it's not where it belongs. When you cut out the shapes of your tools on the top layer and place it over the second layer, that bright second layer shows through. These foam tool organizer kits with two colors have a dark top layer of foam (usually black or blue) and a bright bottom layer. Some types of foam are single color - often called foam drawer liners - and some contain stackable two color arrangements. Toolbox and packout foam comes in several styles, sizes, and colors. ![]() If you start cutting without a plan, you're more likely to space tools poorly and end up wasting material. This tip sounds simple, but it's some of the best advice about cutting tool foam. Once you have the layout you want, trace all the tools using a pen, pencil, or marker. You might want to place tools you use more frequently closer to the front of a drawer were you can access them more quickly. Try putting tools you use together near each other. Stop and consider what the best arrangement and sort order will be. Conclusion - Make Custom Tool Organizers Work for Youįirst, lay out every tool you want in a drawer on top of the foam.17) Carve Custom Drawer Inserts with a Dremel.16) Color Coordinate for Tool Identification.14) Use Foam Scraps as Tool Box Drawer Dividers.13) Purchase Large Foam Sheets to Save Money.11) Cut Thick Foam with a Retractable Blade.9) Don't Forget Spaces for Cords and Batteries. ![]()
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