How To: Form-Fitting Drawer-Liners from T-Shirts and Canned Foam

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How To: Form-Fitting Drawer-Liners from T-Shirts and Canned Foam

From New Zealand hot-rodder, machinist, and active MadModder John Hill comes this form-fitting case for holding tools.

[via MachinistBlog.com]

32 thoughts on “How To: Form-Fitting Drawer-Liners from T-Shirts and Canned Foam

  1. Ben Argyle says:

     http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/08/29/20110829arizona-pruning-shears-impalement.html

    How’s that for somewhere to store your shears?

  2. Matt Bedard says:

    That’s a genius idea! I may use that method to make a custom laptop mold in a pelican case.

  3. Anonymous says:

    How about using paper mache instead of foam? That would be cheaper and would produce less fumes. Remember to put cling-film over the tools to avoid rust.

  4. Trav says:

    Instead of filling the whole drawer with foam, put in a thin layer and then a box on top. This would give you storage area under the tools and use less foam. 

  5. Timothy Gray says:

    Great for tools that stay clean. Tshirt material though will be a bad idea for wrenches of items that get dirty grubby.

  6. Timothy Gray says:

    Great for tools that stay clean. Tshirt material though will be a bad idea for wrenches of items that get dirty grubby.

  7. averagejanecrafter says:

    Hmmm … this might be a perfect trick for creating a custom-fit case for carrying our telescope eyepieces and other parts … love it! 

  8. Anonymous says:

    Wow!  Very inspiring.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Wow!  Very inspiring.

  10. Joel Turner says:

    I like the paper mache idea. How about using this technique for creating negative relief art.

  11. Joel Turner says:

    I like the paper mache idea. How about using this technique for creating negative relief art.

  12. Joel Turner says:

    I like the paper mache idea. How about using this technique for creating negative relief art.

  13. Joel Turner says:

    I like the paper mache idea. How about using this technique for creating negative relief art.

  14. Joel Turner says:

    I like the paper mache idea. How about using this technique for creating negative relief art.

  15. Bruce Richardson says:

    Neat idea, you could make a great guitar pedal board like that.

  16. Kimmy Smalley says:

    do you just let the foam sit? or do you have to do something to the foam? And can the foam be like insulating foam? Someone please tell me so I can do this, i dont want to get the wrong one. :)

  17. Kimmy Smalley says:

    do you just let the foam sit? or do you have to do something to the foam? And can the foam be like insulating foam? Someone please tell me so I can do this, i dont want to get the wrong one. :)

  18. Jay Gerig says:

    wow. did you have to do anything to compress the foam as it took it’s shape to harden or was gravity enough to get it to form so well?  also, what did you do to make sure the bottom was square when you turned it over to fit into the drawer?

  19. Eva Chu says:

    If you actually plan to use the tool and they get dirty, if you can get a hold of an Instapak Quick packet, that would be perfect so you can wipe grease and dirt off of it.

  20. Eva Chu says:

    If you actually plan to use the tool and they get dirty, if you can get a hold of an Instapak Quick packet, that would be perfect so you can wipe grease and dirt off of it.

  21. Victor Michael Prevost says:

    Simple and effective.Good job.

  22. Victor Michael Prevost says:

    Simple and effective.Good job.

  23. Neil Carpenter says:

    oooh gun case. :)

    1. marty says:

      thats what im thinking about making, only for my nerf guns i spend like 4 hours painting them and modding and dont want to keep throwing in a grocery bag and getting banged up

  24. Wallsey says:

    another idea guys, same as above, fabric, and spray foam… but once it dries, get some fiberglass resin and paint it over the fabric… leave it to dry… it will be clear (so ick some fabric you like) and grease wont stick to it

  25. marty says:

    do you need to press it down into the grooves first or does that happen with the expansion? because yours is perfect looking

  26. kai_saerpren says:

    you have so few tools that you can space them this far apart? in a drawer that size in my shop there are at least 50 different plier/bender/cutter/nipper tools. when I look for tool organization THAT is what I want to organize, and don’t tell me to get more drawers there is no room.

    1. Cole Knowles says:

      Turn the tools on their side. or look for a different system. no one said this was the end all of tool organization, sheesh, act like the internet exists solely to answer your google requests.

      1. Joel Anderson says:

        HaHa, Indeed Cole. This looks like a great starter idea. I like it.

  27. Mike McClelland says:

    Great idea, if you had 60 tools some one would complain it was not 70. I thank you for the post and will enjoy the idea to make gun cases and special tin gift boxes with nice looking display thanks to your idea.

  28. Rory Bentley says:

    Great idea, This would work for many different things. Looking forward to trying it. Thanks for sharing

  29. Gene Walklin says:

    An idea to enhance this great idea, using a round wooden rod, about 1″ in diameter, cut discs the depth of the tools, slice in half for two half circles and place on each side of tool before foaming, for finger grab spots to easily pull tool from foam,when finished.

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I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

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