Tool drawer liner material suggestions?

[pgmrdan]

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[This message has been edited by pgmrdan (edited 09-02-2004).]

[ibewgypsie]

Rubber floor (carpet runner) mat from home depot at $1.20 a foot

David

[SGW]

Being a cheap sort, I've used really thin (1/8" or so) sheet foam packing material that has come wrapped around things in various packages I've received. I assume you can buy it someplace (Mailboxes Etc. maybe?) and it ought to be pretty inexpensive.

[chardy]

An idea that i have used,is the preforated rubber that you can buy at a Dollar store. It is a bit lite,but it can take a beating,needs to be glued down for best use;I use contact cement,water base? The adhesive depends on the material,some i have used isn't bothered by solvent-based glue;others act strange.This stuff is marketed for kitchen storage-flatware etc. will work in tool box drawers and is cheap enough. I also lay rust-vapor paper on draw bottoms,then the rubber material. Just a suggestion that has worked for me.

[Joel]

If you use anything slick, all of your tools will slide around in the drawers every time you open and close them. HF sells the same 'grippy stuff', and regularly has it on sale for a reasonable price.

[nheng]

Craft foam, about 1/8" thick comes in packs of assorted colors (11"x17" or so sheet size).

The stuff looks good (dull finish) and I've used it on some shelves to dress them up.

I then discovered that anything with any mass to it, centers, chucks, boring bars, etc. stay put and will not roll off into oblivion accidentally.

Some of it is also in a Kennedy workstation (5 drawers to one side). Same deal, stuff pretty much stays put without having to do any carving and provided you don's slam the drawers shut http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//eek.gif

added - it's dirt cheap http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//smile.gif

Den

[This message has been edited by nheng (edited 06-04-2004).]

[cncmadman]

I purchased a roll of cork from Lowes to put in my Kennedy 297X. I like it better than the rubber and packing stuff mentioned earlier. Only thing I don't like is when you cut them out and the first few days they won't stay flat and it shows dirt and grease pretty bad.

[Tim Clarke]

I've recently re-covered my Kennedy machinist's box with Felt I got from the fabric store. Used spray glue to hold it in. So far, so good.

After 30-some years as a mechanic, I've tried lots of things for toolbox drawers. So, I'd have to ask, what kind of service will your box see? If you will store mechanic's tools and will put them back in less than clean condition, the rubber floor mat previously mentioned is hard to beat. If the drawers are deep, and you put your tools back clean, then you have lots of options. I've used thin carpet, like indoor/outdoor, cardboard, thin plywood and some diamond plate looking rubber mat from Goodyear. I never liked the 1/16" funky foam stuff. No need to spend the big bucks here, try what you can find cheep. Sometimes it's better, as long as it has enough strength to not wad up when you slam a drawer.

[CCWKen]

Watch the perferated non-slip stuff. If you get oil on it, it will start turning to goo. But of course, I know you keep your tools wiped clean and spotless. http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif

Forgot to mention:
I don't use any liners in my mechanical tool box. No mater how you try there's always some oil or grease spots on them. Everything I've tried seemed to stick to the tools and leave residue. If you're trying to protect the drawer bottom http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//rolleyes.gif , use card board.

[This message has been edited by CCWKen (edited 06-04-2004).]

[cncmadman]

I should add that I am not a MECHANIC!! I am a CNC lathe programmer, setup person.
Don't get me wrong I have the upmost respect for mechanics! My stepfather was one and I have spent many a night "up under" vehicles!!!

If you are putting precision instruments in there I suggest using cork or felt.

If just basic hand tools use the "Rubber Stuff"

I do believe that scratching any TOOL BOX is a SIN!!!!

BTW I will one day have a full Gerstner rollaway and chest hid in my closet so it will never be touched by human hands!!!!!!!!!!

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[This message has been edited by cncmadman (edited 06-04-2004).]

[pgmrdan]

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[This message has been edited by pgmrdan (edited 09-02-2004).]

[Mike W]

I have used some approx 1/16 plastic that was used under wet cell batteries. It is easy to clean and nothing seems to affect it. It has lasted.....30 years. http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif

[Forrest Addy]

I use vinyl floor covering remnents; the high priced stuff on smaller piece I can get for free. It's 3/32" or more thick and bears the color all the way through. I cut them to fit on my rotary wheel paper shear and don't glue them down.

It's supple enough to lay flat and proof against oil and the usual machine shop crud. It's also kind to edged tools.

[Joel]

Dan, I should have mentioned that I use the grip net stuff in my mechanics boxes. Most of my machinist toolboxes have short loop, indoor/outdoor carpet in them (got it from the Depot). It works quite well, comes in an appropriate brown color, and sure is cheap. Use a SHARP razor blade and a straight edge to cut it. If you are concerned about it holding moisture, you can spray a little WD-40 on it, although I haven’t had any problems.

[wierdscience]

Guys for the perforated grip foam mats,

http://www.mcmaster.com/

has it in 24" widths for $1.25 a running foot,look on page # 3292 bottom of the page.

[wierdscience]

BUMP.

[Steinmetz]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ibewgypsie:
Rubber floor (carpet runner) mat from home depot at $1.20 a foot

David</font>

I use green or black felt
First stretch and apply rubber cement to back of felt.
When tacky, add thin paperboard to glued surface and apply heavy weight to flat board over paperboard

Two hours later, cut panels to size using straight edge and sharp knife. Big ED.

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STEIN

[Rich Carlstedt]

That Rubber non slip mat is really cheap if you go to a RV supply , like Camping World.
All trailer and motorhome folks use it in their drawers and cabinets to stop shifting supplies. our local farm supply sells it too.
A lot cheaper than Sears and the tool guys and comes in bigger rolls .

[jfsmith]

I use the stuff from the dollar store, it works and it lasts a good while. Sometimes the colours are not to my liking, but what do you expect for a buck these days?

Jerry

[suprdvn]

http://img53.photobucket.com/albums/v163/suprdvn/drawer_liner_002.jpg

This is 1/2" thick from Craftsman. Expensive though. Cheaper version would be 4'x8'x 1/2" thick insulation sheet. I forget what its called, similar to styrofoam. Those 4x8 sheets only come in white and pretty pink though.

Super Dave

[CCWKen]

Why did you paint those needle nose and tin snips brown? http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//smile.gif

Geez; if I did that with my pliers, I'd need a whole tool box just for those. Nice layout and very tidy but a "working toolbox" doesn't look like that. LOL http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net//biggrin.gif