Dewalt drills in systainers?

Mac

Member
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
729
Hi all,

I have a couple of pretty good dewalt drills that, although not black and green, aren't ready to be replaced yet.  I'd like to keep them in systainers though as I've embarked on the beginnings of what one day, as God is my witness, will be a mighty systainer pyramid and a wonder of the DIY world...I wondered if anyone has come across an insert that they would fit into?  I don't hold out much hope and will end up knocking something together myself if I have to, but would rather something premade. Any thoughts?

Mac
 
Mac,

I am not sure that you can find the pre-made insert you want.  You could buy a systainer with just the foam inserts or just buy the a plain systainer and cut out your own from foam or styrofoam.

It has probably been done before.  We have some very creative members out there.

Neill
 
Mac,

You can also make your own dividers.  I cut a piece of Masonite to fit diagonally in a systainer where I store my RO 150 and ETS 150/3,  and couple of pads, along with a few disks, which I keep in a zip lock bag.

There are several other options discussed on other thread that should work.

Richard
 
I had the very same idea of putting my other tools in systainers and stumbled on the very same problem as you, Mac.

I'm pretty sure there are no pre-made inserts available.  :-\ I think it should be mandatory for tool manufacturers to offer a systainer insert as an extra option.  ;D

I also have a DeWalt drill and I compared the case it came in with the systainer, and it's roughly the same size. It did cross my mind to cut the original DeWalt case up and put the remaining insert in a sys 1 systainer. Would fit pretty well and leave just a couple of small gaps that you can fill with some glued-in pieces of black plastic. But I decided to leave my original case intact. However, I sometimes see people offer empty cases for such drills and if I find one for my drill I will buy it and make a proper sys insert out of it.

But what would be a really great idea for Festool/Tanos, is to create a system that would allow people to design their own inserts and then order them from Festool/Tanos and get them professionally made. I've been thinking about this idea for a while now and I think it could be possible to do so. All you need is some online CAD program or something like Google's Sketch Up to design the insert and a machine that will allow you to form molds for the vacuum press on the fly. (I guess the inserts are made in a vacuum forming press where sheets of plastic are heated so they become pliable and then sucked with a vacuum over a mold) Now the machine to form custom molds is gonna be the really tricky part in designing, but with some clever thinking and designing, this could be done.

If there would be a way to export your design of an insert from the program, you could even build up a public library of all kind of inserts, and you could make standard elements for inserts and combine them like a sort of Lego.

I think this would be very useful for people to store their tools. Not just power tools, but also non-power tools. Because the way people organise their tools, is very personal for everybody. And I think that a universally available way of storing all those different tools people have has been lacking until now. Just look at all the different sizes of boxes or cases tools come in. Now every manufacturere of course has the freedom to design his own cases, but when it all comes together at the end user, this can become quite a mess and very difficult to store or transport.

And this is where the systainer system comes in, I think this is a real gem. And you can see it's slowly but steadily expanding and taken over by other tool manufacturers. I've seen systainers now by DeWalt, Makita, Metabo, Bosch and dosens more.

Now all we, as the end users need, is a system that will allow us to fit in the things WE want, and not just the pre-made solutions that come from the factory. In this way, the systainer system could really expand into a universal storage solution.
 
I never tried this so it's just a thought experiment....  I noticed that some stuff comes packaged with sprayed in foam.

0. Encase your drill in clear plastic wrap along with charger, spare battery, etc.
1. Line the bottom of the Systainer of your choice with plastic, have a second sheet of plastic ready.
2. Spray in some expanding foam on the very bottom, lay on the second sheet of plastic
3. place your various bits on top
4. lift edge and spray a bit more foam where needed.

mark
 
Tanos does make a generic drill insert, see Drilling machine tray.

If you're in Europe Kofferfunshop is a good source, but shipping to North America is expensive, especially for small orders.

If you're in NA, try MySystainer.com.  They don't list it, but could probably get it for you.

I don't have the drill insert, but I do have the angle grinder insert, which will work with most 115mm (4-1/2") grinders.

Ned
 
Hi guys,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Mark, I liked your idea but am not sure if I'm man enough for this...whenever I've used expanding foam I always seem to get overexcited and go beserk and spray about 5 times the amount that I need...I end up needing to be hacked out of it by my wife.  I do like the challenge though...

Mac
 
Mac said:
Hi guys,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Mark, I liked your idea but am not sure if I'm man enough for this...whenever I've used expanding foam I always seem to get overexcited and go beserk and spray about 5 times the amount that I need...I end up needing to be hacked out of it by my wife.  I do like the challenge though...

Mac

Just start with 1/5 the amount you think you need.  ;D  A can of expanding spray foam and a dry cleaning bag or two. Worst case throw it away and pretend it didn't happen.  Best case, take a picture and show it off.  8)

Mark

Mark
 
Hi
I use allot of systainers in non Festool applications and kits.

  If you want custom inserts for your systainer:

Use pink rigid foam as the base, cut it ,rasp it, rout it..., to hold everything you want the way you want them held. 

Add in storage for accesories that you use with the tool, yellow boxes from Stanley are good for this. mount the assembly in the sys of your choice and apply body filler to make everything seamless.

            Make sure the Lid closes

Pop the lid take the box to a bed liner company and have them spray the inside with a thin coat (1/16" ish).

            Make sure to allow for the thickenss of the liner when making the insert

When finished you will have a custom box that is Sharp looking and super durable.

Craig
 
It sounds like a great way. scoreOmatic. Does sound like it's permanent though.

Btw, what's a bed liner company exactly?
 
This method is "long term" ;D but you can make any configuration look like it was made by a factory.

  You could make the insert to be removable and just get that sprayed (for that matter you could just coat it your self) it would still look great.  I have several kits, electrical, plumbing and tile tool systainers  with no dividers. Don't really see a need to protect pipe wrenches and margin trowels.  and a sys2 is perfect for cover plates, switch and outlet boxes.

Warning: Your Systainer Pyramid will start to eat your wallet :o.  As of now I am a bit under 1/2 way to the 47 (needed) nonfestool systainers in my tool trailer.

Craig
 
Hi guys,

I haven't come across this idea before, it sounds perfect. Thanks for your advise.  I am however worried about the systainer addiction that I can feel creeping up; less costly than a full blown festool tool habit, but I've got a feeling it'll hurt nonetheless...

Cheers,
Mac
 
There's a guy over on talkFestool selling used Systainers for a little less than new. It will help your wallet a little with your Systainer addiction. Systainers for sale. I'm assuming these are for sale in the US.
 
I know 2 stores here in Holland that sell them new cheaper than this guy at talkfestool. :D

But I just buy them used. They are offered in abundance here. I generally buy a sys1 for 15 euro. I would pass this talkFestool guy right by. But I guess systainers aren't as easily available in The States.
 
Unfortunately being based in the UK means I miss our on pretty much all the classified ads anyway...gah.  Having said that,

http://www.tooled-up.com/ManProduct.asp?PID=147195

is selling the systainer 1 with the removeable coloured plastic containers for 29.50 (uk pounds) which is about 5 pounds less than you can usually get an empty systainer 1 for. Good deal.

Mac
 
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