What do people use the Sortainer for?

Mark

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Jan 22, 2007
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Can't quite see storing screws and fasteners in their as it would require making labels for each tiny drawer to know what is in each one. Stanley makes a handy clear top case so you can see whats inside but its NOT a Sortainer. Anyone want to share what they use them for?
 
Mark, thats a very good question and I look forward to reading the answers.

I have owned a sortainer (4 drawer) for more than 4 years, and I have tried it with various things such as, screws, nails, sandpaper, router bits, plans, marking tools, etc.  But, none of these have worked well for me.  Right now, my Sortainer is empty and just sits there reminding me that I (pehaps  ???) wasted money to purchase it.  [sad]  

I expect that there is a good way to use the sortainer in conjuction with my modified systainer toolbox (see the thread: http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=6164.0) ) but (so far ???) I have not hit upon the right way to organize everything.
 
I also use mine primarily as tool boxes.  I have the four drawer and the nine six drawer I think.  The four drawer carries most of the things that I will use for trim.  The smaller drawers will hold small quantities of pneumatic finish nails and small quantities of assorted screws.  The 9 drawer holds specialty items such as a set of centering drill bits, a few better chisels, a digital protractor, etc.  I have purchased hundreds of dollars worth of bags and other storage devices.  The sortainer is the only thing that has worked for me.  That being said, I am not as organized as others, so much has to do with me versus fabric or plastic.  I just find that the drawers are easier than digging down to the bottom of a bucket or a bag, or emptying out everything to find that tool that has migrated to the bottom.

Personally I would love it if a maxi sortainer was available.

Peter
 
I have several 12 drawer Sortainers that I keep screws in. It took some time to get them organized.
Now I do not have to guess what size screws I will need onsite. I take a Sortainer or 2 filled with screws & have all the different sizes in one place.  
 
I have 2 of the systainers with  the plastic boxes and screw assortments that McFeeley's put together.  It is nice to have something that does not allow screw migration when fully loaded and it flips over.

Peter
 
peter halle said:
I have 2 of the systainers with  the plastic boxes and screw assortments that McFeeley's put together.  It is nice to have something that does not allow screw migration when fully loaded and it flips over.

Peter
I also use 2 systainers with the small plastic boxes for screws.  But, I didn't get them from McFeeley's, rather I put them together myself:

[attachimg=#1]

This has worked very well for me -both in and out of my shop.
 
Frank,

You are correct, anybody can put together their own.  McFeeley's sold - and I think that they still do sell - a systainer with the inserts and also with their screw samples all together.  When they were introduced the cost including screws was only like $15 more for the screws over the systainer set by itself.

Peter
 
I recently bought two of the 4 drawer Sortainers. I setup one for drill accessories and the other is going to be for router accessories (if I ever get around to it). My thoughts are it's nice to have all the Sys and Sortainers to keep everything well organized and easy to transport, it doesn't come at the high cost of the Sortainers.
 
I realize that most of you chaps, if not all, are woodworkers and I am not (I install and program low voltage control/automation systems)...But a couple fellow FOG members sold me on the use of systainers and sortainers.  I will snap better photos later.

normal_Sys2_%282%29.JPG


The top systainer holds my Drill/Impact with batteries and charger. The 4 Drawer is for the drill accessories.

The 4 Drawer holes the following :

1: Hilti Bit set, quick change adapter, socket apaters, sockets, specialty wrenches and keys

2: 7" Auger bits

3: Metal Step bits (3) and Greenlee Metal Punches

4: Section 1: Spade bits, Tap Bits, Safety Glasses; Section 2: Twist Drill set Section 3: Holesaw set

12 Drawer Systainer has screws: 3 Concrete, 3 Wood, 3 Metal, 3 Drywall...Don't over fill them or they jam.

I have another 12 Drawer (not in pic) that holds all terminators, 8p8t, DB9, B, Wirenuts, F, RCA, BNC etc etc.

One thing to note: Sortainers are not efficient use of space, for the height you only get about 1/2 the storage of a partitioned systainer.  You have to label your drawers, and it forces you to keep things organized.  I still love them because it saves me a ton of time stacking and un-stacking.  Also I can leave them in the back of my vehicle, open the gate and its like having a hardware store at my fingertips.

I use the sys1s with the coloured boxestoo, one for my wire straps, one for contacts. 

I need more!

Hope this helps.
 
Very nice!!

I have a ton of stuff in my Sortainers, a ton.  An Imperical ton, not a metric one!! [big grin]
 
I have the Tanos 5-drawer as part of my standard go-everywhere 'stack'. Small drawers are for larger screws, epoxy, smaller screws and fixings/plugs, drill bits etc... first big drawer has screws in the coloured boxes, lifted straight out of the Sys1 they were in before, bottom drawer has bigger fixings, odds and ends, cordless multitool, nuts, bolts, washers, sealing wax, piece of string, prayer mat etc.. etc...

This sits underneath my Sys4 with home-made tool organiser - mentioned in this thread - and literally goes everywhere. The whole stack weighs about 40 Kg so it's handy to be able to split it into two pretty much equal weights for carrying up stairs as well, though I'm heartily glad it's on a roll-board most of the time. :)

Cheers, Pete
 
I have a number of Systainers and Sortainers that are used for storage.  The Sys-1 with the boxes inside is nice for screws.  The 12 drawer Sortainers are also good for screws and other hardware.  My favorite is the 4 drawer Sortainer with its wide drawer -- TS 55 & 75 saw blades fit nicely in one of mine, and vacuum accessories fill another that I keep mounted on one of my CT22s.  And the Systainer carts are great for a roller base to stack those Systainers and Sortainers.
 
Mark Enomoto said:
Can't quite see storing screws and fasteners in their as it would require making labels for each tiny drawer to know what is in each one. Stanley makes a handy clear top case so you can see whats inside but its NOT a Sortainer. Anyone want to share what they use them for?

That is exactly what I use one for it is an 11 drawer.
also use a 7 drawer for copper fittings
a 5 drawer for router accessories
an 11 drawer for electrical and cable fittings

I dont worry about labels as i have a fair idea about where a paticular item is  and it is easy just to open several to find what you need

Craig

EDIT  once you have a critical mass you can swap out larger and smaller drawers  thus the werd # of drawers in my unit.  Seth on talk festool has actually cut down the big drawer on the 4 drawer sys to work in the 6/8/12 openings.
 
For screws and such here is a good option people like.  I have two sortainers, one sits empty and the other has my kreg pocket hole jig with clamps, screws, etc.  For me I just don't think I get much out of them.  I'm going to think about it over the next month but I might be selling mine as they just don't get enough use.

http://www.pdysystems.com/

 
I almost bought the lift-n-lock.  Then I would have had to make more trips carrying supplies/tools in.  Those thinks don't stack or latch, one in each hand.

Hoover-What size Sortainers do you have?
 
I did buy the lift&lock, and wound up returning it.  It didn't have the flexibility for storing what I wanted.  And it certainly doesn't feel like Festool quality.  But the price is reasonable, and they would be useful for some applications.  If they stacked with systainers I probably would have kept it.

Tom in Central PA
 
Frank Pellow said:
  Right now, my Sortainer is empty and just sits there reminding me that I (pehaps  ???) wasted money to purchase it.  [sad] 

Hoover said:
  I have two sortainers, one sits empty and the other has my kreg pocket hole jig with clamps, screws, etc. 

PM me if you want to sell  [big grin]

Craig
 
I use a 9 drawer, with lables. labeling the drawers only hurts once. the labels are reasonably basic for most of the drawers. one drawer is labeled 1 1/4" screws, keeps my Kreg screws, a small supply of galv-phillips and black assembly screws. the rest of the drawers are similarly labeled. like labeling anything, it takes a little time, but you only have to do it once.
 
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