Tool drawer organisation

**markharrison** · 8th December 2020, 07:54 PM

So a while back there was a thread going on drawer organisation and the use of Kaizen Foam. I'm not a fan of the stuff myself but plenty of people of disagree with me, and that's okay. I made the suggestion of using what you probably already have in your workshop; in abundance! Scraps of plywood, glue/nails/screws.

So as last weekend's weather was so brutally hot, I did something that did not involve a large a large expenditure of energy. I organised a couple of the shallowest drawers in my workbench that are used for marking and measuring tools. They aren't going to win the H. O. Studley Memorial Annual Prize for Innovative and Aesthetic Tool Organisation (I just made that up, but we should totally create one!); but here they are.

IMG_0470.jpg IMG_0471.jpg

I settled on 7mm wide plywood trips as being wide enough to use my 23g pin nailer accurately enough on and not too wide as to waste space.

As they are just held by a couple of pin nails, they can be pulled up with a pair of pliers and rearranged as you need to.

I'm not sure about that row of slots for metal rules and may re-do that using a solid piece of wood and cutting grooves with a plough plane. Or I may not!

I bulk cut the strips from the plentiful supply of 12mm plywood scraps on the bandsaw and then made them nice, smooth and even with the drum sander. I then cut them to length with a handsaw and round over the ends on scraps of sandpaper.

**orraloon** · 11th December 2020, 01:47 PM

Thats as good a way as any. The fact it can be changed is the winner. Any storage system with a defined space for everything is thrown out of kilter as soon as you get another tool. Evolution has no place for the shadow board.
Regards
John

**Treecycle** · 12th December 2020, 10:52 AM

What is the thing that looks like a vernier but not in the second photo?
Always like good organisation.

**BobL** · 12th December 2020, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by markharrison

I'm not sure about that row of slots for metal rules and may re-do that using a solid piece of wood and cutting grooves with a plough plane. Or I may not!

I used a solid piece of wood and cut the grooves with a TS.

**markharrison** · 12th December 2020, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Treecycle

What is the thing that looks like a vernier but not in the second photo?
Always like good organisation.

Vernier marking gauge from Banggood: 0-200mm measure scale ruler 0.05mm accurate parallel line digital vernier caliper w/case woodworking Sale - Banggood.com

Just noticed it is on special for less than $18. A bargain!

**IanW** · 13th December 2020, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by orraloon

.... The fact it can be changed is the winner. Any storage system with a defined space for everything is thrown out of kilter as soon as you get another tool. Evolution has no place for the shadow board...

John, why didn't you tell me that 20 years ago when I made the "last one I'll ever need" toolbox that had a place for all the tools I owned at the time & even a couple of spare spots "just in case"!??

So Mark, the fact that you are preparing for future alterations even as you set things out is sensible foresight..

The 'spare spots' I'd included were taken within months (weeks, probably), there have been two major re-arrangements of the general internal layout (mostly to find room for about 10 more planes I didn't know I had to have or was going to make), & I've literally lost track of how many times I've rearranged the drawers. They started out with carefully made & fitted dividers, something like Mark's, but all let into little trenches, with dovetailed corners & small trays and all sorts of fussy (& space-hogging) arrangements. Now, they mostly have modifiable/removable/rearrangable inserts whipped up from scraps of whatever was to hand (mostly camphor wood). These are pressed in like jigsaw pieces (a couple even have tags to hold them in place, but only where absolutely necessary). A few cut-outs are moderately elaborate (sort of minimalist "French fit"): Gauges b.jpg

A coupleof drwers still have bits of my original layout, but there's preciious litle of all that work Squares b.jpg

I think we have to accept that a toolbox is going to be a work in progress - as long as we keep using the tools.....

Cheers,

**markharrison** · 13th December 2020, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by IanW

So Mark, the fact that you are preparing for future alterations even as you set things out is sensible foresight..

I think we have to accept that a toolbox is going to be a work in progress - as long as we keep using the tools.....

Cheers,

Indeed. There will be changes. In my case because I may decide to enhance the aesthetics down the track. This started out pretty rough with the first objective to stop things rattling and moving around.

The second objective was to demonstrate a less wasteful and inexpensive alternative method to Kaizen foam, which is all the rage now.

Plastics have their place where durability is important. Kaizen foam (and all of the other similar products) are not going to last and they will end up in landfill sooner rather than later.

This weekend I did a couple more drawers. Weather is mild but I have not had a lot of spare time so I just did these between other things.

IMG_0473.jpg IMG_0474.jpg

**Fumbler** · 17th December 2020, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by markharrison

Vernier marking gauge from Banggood: 0-200mm measure scale ruler 0.05mm accurate parallel line digital vernier caliper w/case woodworking Sale - Banggood.com

Just noticed it is on special for less than $18. A bargain!

Did it come with the usual Chines disclaimer accurate to +/-3mm?

**markharrison** · 17th December 2020, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Fumbler

Did it come with the usual Chines disclaimer accurate to +/-3mm?

No.

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