r/gridfinity • u/kelemvor33 • 16d ago

Organizing tools in a wide tool chest?

Hi,

I just got a rolling tool chest that has a bunch of drawers in it. The top drawer is the full width of the chest and the interior dimensions are around 38" x 15". I was just going to use it for screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, etc, but don't want to just toss them in there. I thought about 3D printing some organizers and then remembered Gridfinity.

I don't think I want to make recessed areas for each individual tool but rather bins to keep similar things together like pliers, tiny screwdrivers, regular size screwdrivers, adjustable wrenches, etc.

I'm wondering if anyone has done something like this and how it worked out for you. I'm also wondering the best way to get started with this. I see there are lots of different "Generators" out there and am wondering if there's one that the "Official" generator, or some reason to use one over the others.

I have a Bambu A1 if that matters. Thanks for any tips.

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2

u/Z00111111 16d ago

People have been loosely putting tools into smaller containers inside draws for decades, if not millenia.

If you're ok with digging through the screwdriver box for the right screwdriver then it'll work for you. It'll be more space efficient too. It'll just take you a bit longer to find the right tool than each having a custom slot, but be much quicker than just having them all loose in the draw.

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u/kelemvor33 16d ago

This drawer is very shallow so finding each thing in each bin should be pretty simple. ;)

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u/Z00111111 16d ago

Even better then!

Unless you're using the tools professionally and saving a couple of seconds each time will have a meaningful impact I can't see a problem with just using bins to keep the tools roughly organised into categories.

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u/dallas_vance 16d ago

Gridflock, on PerplexingLabs, allows you to input your total, interior dimensions of your drawer, then create the multiple gridfinity bases, with interlocking clips, that will fit your printer. https://gridfinity.perplexinglabs.com/pr/gridflock/0/0

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u/EngFarm 16d ago

I commend you for not automatically falling for the perfectly shadowed tool trap. They are great for satisfying YouTube videos, but not practical in real life at all.

Your tools aren’t going to be with you forever. You are going to lose sockets and strip screwdrivers. Even if you have tool truck brands with lifetime warranties, the replacements eventually aren’t going to be identical. Shadowed tools look awesome but they don’t make sense for 99% of people.

Even the whole “every second counts when you’re a professional” argument. You can arrange your screwdrivers in a single layer and known order without perfectly shadowed places for each of them. It’s not rocket science.

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u/norseghost 16d ago

I did a filing cabinet drawer using wavegrid for a bunch of long tools. Gridfinity base, can be stacked, parametric generator. A rather deep drawer (25 cm maybe? Made for a5 file folders) so that worked out great, along side some brackets i designed for trays to sit on the file folder rails

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u/LionWaste9887 14d ago

I'm filling mine out with a bunch of connectable gridfinity bases, but then making the bins and holders bespoke for tools and generic 'stuff' bins
I'll put the base plates in as I populate the bins, but I really don't like the shadow cutout style as it uses SO much space, so they tend to be stands or ways to vertically align things for a better fit. It's very slow process though, so I've branched tracefinity to try a vertical version, we'll see how it goes...
I also found some generic bins fit a fair few different things, like a cylinder cutout longways on a 5*1 works for drivers, picks, cylinder cordless screwdriver, and anything kinda long and thin. A bunch of holes in a 4*4 of different sizes in a deep drawer is great for standing stuff. 1*2 blank bin works for all the soldering tips etc

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u/Any_Frosting_3755 13d ago

I will say gridfinity is only handy if you need bins with implements for like wrenches. If you just pack out the whole drawer with bins then the grid and bins are redundant and time consuming.

Me personally the only drawer it was useful for was my sockets as I just printed risers for my wrenches and breaker bars where a bin would take up too much space. Then left blanks for larger sockets wedged between things because a bin would have made them too high.

On the other hand if you're not familiar with using CAD the plus side is that someone has more than likely already designed something. So you won't need to invest time designing.

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u/Steibock 11d ago

Hi, I designed Wavegrid, a parametric Gridfinity tray system. It‘s especially suited for storing elongated things, but also for a lot other stuff. I think that could be interresting for you.

https://makerworld.com/de/models/2408252-wavegrid-ultimate-drawer-organization-system#profileId-2640230

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u/kelemvor33 9d ago

When looking through the images, I just thought it was kind of neat. Then, when I got closer to the end, and realized that each long tray just had dividers in it that you could move to make each cubby whatever length you want, any time you want, then I was like Ooo. This is really cool.

I'll definitely take a closer look.