Old tool cases to Systainers

[Sign Guy]

Thanks Michael...I'm having a double Baileys
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Tool:        Circuit Finder
History:        ~15 yo
New Case: Mini
Mods:      ) custom Craftsman foam
                ) acrylic window for instructions
                ) custom label
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photo 1) finished kit
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photo 2) spray booth spraying aerosol adhesive - fan on - filters match home HVAC - lazy susan clockwise -
              spraying carefully so no adhesive gets on sides of foam - original trim waste pieces kept in place so no adhesive
              oversprays inside where your tool goes.

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photo 3) assembled foam - foam looks nice when you remove tool - clean flat bottom - no adhesive on any vertical surface

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Hours: 4 hours on case
Beverage Rating: 4 if at night

 

[NuggyBuggy]

Sign Guy - I might have missed it, but what kind of foam are you using here ? I couldn't see mention of it.  I bought some foam from Lee Valley, but it sucks for this kind of work - or I suck at it.  After cutting out spaces for my tools, the foam looks like a bunch of dogs cut it for me on a Friday.

 

[jonny round boy]

Sign Guy - I might have missed it, but what kind of foam are you using here ? I couldn't see mention of it.  I bought some foam from Lee Valley, but it sucks for this kind of work - or I suck at it.  After cutting out spaces for my tools, the foam looks like a bunch of dogs cut it for me on a Friday.

He mentioned it above, reply #15:

Craftsman foam - this is a medium density - closed cell in nature - $10 yields 2.0" (four 1/2" layers) in a Sys

 

[Sign Guy]

...... After cutting out spaces for my tools, the foam looks like a bunch of dogs cut it for me on a Friday.

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dude, I hear ya dude.
Or field mice who chewed out a nest area.
Oh the Humanity....
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years ago I had to visit a foam supplier in Chicago. They dealt with all kinds of foams.
You name the density, open or closed cell, thickness, force deflection, layers it seemed to be out in the ware house.
Along with workers sleeping on some. Fun day.
I remember enough to know it should be easy to source different thicknesses for our tools in modern 2013 internet.
.
My next step is googling to find more options.
I demand clean layers.
Pros: professional results, appearance and touch of a skinned layer
Cons: timel, potential mess

 

[Sign Guy]

Tool:        basic tool kit in work truck
History:        use it daily
New Case: Mini
Mods:      ) hammer cut-out
                ) custom epoxy trays
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photo 1) what i was using next to new tool kit
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photo 2) what I carry
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photo 3) what I carry spread out
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photo 4) craftsmanship and clean work
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photo 5) a basic hammer is a necessity for me and the picture says it all. Not sure what other guys do but this works.
notes: the links will come out with a bit of care. I used the pair of scrapers and drift punches and went easy.
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Hours: 16 hours on case

 

[madmaguire]

Neat and clean sign guy! I like it. Check out stiletto hammers, that's what I use but I probably swing it a little more than you? (I'm a carpenter) Another carpenter said I was crazy to spend that kind of money on a hammer! I asked him what his elbow was worth and he had nothing to say  [huh], very light being  titanium and a denser metal so it takes less force to drive the nail farther. I swung a estwing for years and HAD issues with my elbow, not any more! Anyway very nice work out of you.
Cheers
John

 

[Guilliaume woodworks]

Yup, it's very neat and clean. What's the material you are using in between the wrench holder?

 

[jonny round boy]

I'm curious as to where you got the extra insert boxes from - I thought they weren't available in the states yet?

 

[madmaguire]

I'm curious as to where you got the extra insert boxes from - I thought they weren't available in the states yet?

I believe Kmart as stated above and some modification
John

 

[jonny round boy]

I'm curious as to where you got the extra insert boxes from - I thought they weren't available in the states yet?

I believe Kmart as stated above and some modification
John

No, I mean the Festool ones for the cantilever box. Didn't get those at Kmart...

 

[GarryMartin]

I'm curious as to where you got the extra insert boxes from - I thought they weren't available in the states yet?

I believe Kmart as stated above and some modification
John

No, I mean the Festool ones for the cantilever box. Didn't get those at Kmart...

I can't see any more than ship with the SYS StorageBox to begin with. Where are the extras?

 

[madmaguire]

I'm curious as to where you got the extra insert boxes from - I thought they weren't available in the states yet?

I believe Kmart as stated above and some modification
John

No, I mean the Festool ones for the cantilever box. Didn't get those at Kmart...

Reply #17 3rd pic down. Kmart!

 

[semenza]

Those are definitely insert boxes glued together. I think they are probably from another Sys- Stor. In one of the other posts / pics there is a stack of the Sys-Str tool boxes in the background.

Seth

 

[madmaguire]

Those are definitely insert boxes glued together. I think they are probably from another Sys- Stor. In one of the other posts / pics there is a stack of the Sys-Str tool boxes in the background.

Seth

I stand corrected  [embarassed]! Sorry Mr. Johnny Round boy either way pretty ingenious !

 

[madmaguire]

Sign guy, have you decided what to do with your dremmel yet? I need to do mine and so far love your approach to clean storage.
  The k-foam I like because it's easy to modify and only looks unattractive when the tool is in use, once everything is set and in place is looks great!! What about cut out normally and some way use heat to have a finished look in the bottom or when the tool is removed?? Like when they heat up a pipe and melt finger access channels?? Just a thought? So far it all looks great!!
Cheers
John

 

[Sign Guy]

Morning All,
Yes I purchased (3) Sys-Storage but also got extra trays.
Our local rep brought them in a loose bag.
I told him it made no sense to not have extras.
Yesterday I did order more trays.
Some are in stock and some are not, that per my local dealer this morning.
They come (4) in a bag and (2) in a bag. The big ones.
I ordered 30 or so.
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ABS cuts well and accepts 15 minute epoxy. Scuff it first.
Just tape the sides and cut-outs, turn it upside down and fill the draft angles.
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In the old days I used whit ABS trays from K mart.
Those were molded by a company in Minneapolis. But no longer.
Always like them and had decent results.
Nowadays all you can find in stores is dopey poly-vinyl trays, but they are soft  like an ice cube tray.
I’m just doing my best.

 

[Sign Guy]

Tool:        rotary hobby tool
History:      use it often
Mods:    custom inserts - .75" tk, white, sign grade, PVC sheet             
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Hours: 12 hours on case

 

[nclemmons]

Fantastic!  How easy is the white PVC to cut?  And where does a non-sign person find it?

Enjoying this thread!

Neil

 

[Sign Guy]

How easy is the white PVC to cut? ...

High density PVC shapes well, it has to as we cut custom letters out of it that are often at eye level -  porosity is minimal - saws like hard wood, drills like aluminum...providing your brad point is sharp and feed rate is about right
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...  And where does a non-sign person find it?

any plastics distributor or any sign supply.
In your town Wensco and Midwest Neon have daily drivers
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In the background you see what is left of a sheet from my stock.
many colors in thinner sizes up to .25" and just black/ whit over .38"
that 4'x8' sheet was $300 or so.
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if you were next door I would cut (4) pieces off

 

[bkharman]

Fantastic!  How easy is the white PVC to cut?  And where does a non-sign person find it?

Enjoying this thread!

Neil

Depending how wide/deep you need it, you can get PVC "parts" at most of the big box stores as well...  Glue lam it together and make it your own!