Making more room in your toolbox

***NOTE*** If there are spare image notes everywhere I will fix it when Instructables gets the glitch fixed : )

Many toolboxes use blow-molded plastic, which leaves lots of hollow nooks and crannies.  If you take care to not completely remove the structure of the box, you can add significant amounts of space and storage to your toolbox.

In my case, I wanted to be able to carry more tools that go with my cordless tool kit.  The toolbox that I started with is a cordless tool kit which originally meant to house 5 tools, two batteries and a charger.  My charger I almost never take with me (or didn't when I had four batteries), so that alone frees up quite a bit of space for extra goodies.

Step 1: Finding Space

The idea for adding space for the tool in question came about by accident, and during the course of using my tools and then having to pack them up and move them.  I happened to set down the tool on the toolbox in a place shaped like the tool, and I looked at how much space it appeared to have in the hollow cavity.  After I put the tool against the box and checked it in a few directions I felt sure enough that I would have room that I decided to go ahead and cut into the toolbox.

Again, you have to be careful and make a judgement call on how much material you can remove and not affect the structure of the box, as well as have unintended consequences as far as removing tool support profiles in the molding portions.  In this case, there were two tools in the area I wanted to remove, so I took a close look at how those tools would be supported and held in place if I cut out the area large enough to get a new tool in place.  The main concern in my toolbox was the reciprocating saw, but it was supported on several surfaces so removing what I needed to would not affect the support.


 

Comments

[heathbar64]

A thought occurs to me. the blow molded cases are thermo plastic. I wonder how it would work to soften the plastic with a heat gun and re shape it instead of cutting sections out?

[wilwrk4tls]

That would work will for smaller spaces, but the main aim of this particular part of the project I was putting in a new tool. I'm not sure that it would have left much material intact by the time it would have accommodated the tool. That should work really well for bit storage and such, though. I'm thinking of making some fiberglass or other sort of bins custom fit for the box next.

[daggerofblood1243]

Lovley sabre saw

[RedneckEngineer]

I've done very simular with a plastic socket sett case I found on the side of the road. It was empty and I cut out the inner protion of the case on both sides. It then had plenty of room for the ICE (in case of emergency) tools that I keep in the car from getting scattered all over the trunk. Nice ible and keep thinking outside the box!

[isacco]

Congratulations! This is a good idea that everybody can fit into his own toolbox

[paganwonder]

Clever re-work, well done. I have never put much thought into getting more into the box, but you inspire me, thanks!