Screwdriver Organizer

Intro: Screwdriver Organizer

Simple does it:

I wanted to make a compact organizer for my screwdrivers.
Since I'm still "building" my "workshop" and gathering equipment, this presented me with the challenge of making something using only very basic hand-tools.
Aside of this, it needed to be compact, sturdy and provide for easy tool access.

STEP 1: Materials/tools

I chose balsa wood as construction material for being easy to cut up by hand and being stronger and more "classy" than cardboard. (In my honest opinion)

The broad (cough) range of tools/products used:(in order of appearance)

• 2 panes of balsa wood(100 mm x 1000 mm x 6 mm) (€ 5)
• Pencil
• A square
• X-acto knife
• The screwdrivers themselves
• Wood glue
• sandpaper (grit 220)
• Varnish (I prefer matt varnish)

• Paintbrush

STEP 2: Drawing Plans and Making the First Cuts

I drew a very basic plan to work from but I've added some ready to use templates for everyone to use (pdf; scale 1:1).
When designing your own version (which you will probably need to do), keep in mind the heights of the side panels.
They must be at least the hight of the screwdriver shaft.

Some general tips:

• Draw before cutting: mark the sections that need to be cut to avoid any mistakes.
• Before every step, think "what could I possibly screw up now?" (Adam Savage wisdom)
• Always cut away from any fingertips or other delicate body parts.

Most important:

• Be patient: you'll notice cutting parallel with the wood fibres goes a lot smoother than perpendicular cuts.
  you should keep this in mind when laying out the patterns.
• When you put to much pressure on your knife, you'll compress the wood, making the cut look ugly and making further cuts harder.

STEP 3: Line-up and Holemaking

Place your tools in a logical order and mark the holes on the board.
Next: start making the holes with a small screwdriver and build up to the desired hole size.
(I couldn't resist putting it together without the glue)

STEP 4: Gluing/varnish

• Sand the pieces (pencil lines and splinters at the holes). Make sure the wood is semi-dust free for gluing.

• Glue every plane that makes contact with another, wipe of any excess glue.

• Use painters tape to put some pressure on the joints.

• Let dry for 24 hours, personalize (optional) and varnish.

• Let dry again.

• ... Congratulations! you've got yourself a screwdriver organizer

Enjoy!
If anyone were to make this: Feel free to share your results with me (and the rest of the world).

Comments

[NateS70]

Thank you for sharing! Definitely more "class" than cardboard.. Looking forward to constructing one of these for myself, already planning a few puzzle boxes with the left over material.

[Handy_Bear]

I plan to buy the same set of Stanley screwdrivers! Are they good?

Great build otherwise.

[GrimSteve]

This is friggin epic!

[HelenaTroy]

great idea, wondering if I can adapt this for my artist paint brushes, always takes me ages to read the tiny numbers on the handles to find the size I want; I could label the frame to make the right one easier to find!

[PVBS]

I've thought about labelling too, that's why the stamps (Paper poetry) came in the picture. But since my screwdrivers are already labelled I didn't go on with it. If you were to go for the stamps, let it dry for long enough (hair dryer) before you apply varnish.
Curious how it will turn out with your paintbrush stand.

[HelenaTroy]

I'm visually impaired, and have quite a few brushes, a lot of which have lost their numbers through use - it's a pain trying to compare brushes to see which size an unknown one is! Because of my vision I need very large, very clear labels: usually I use a marker pen or print self-adhesive labels in very large type - but often the label takes up more space then the item it's labelling! I'll give it a go and see what happens. lol if it's not too awful I'll post a photo

[charliewinters]

Balsa is nice and light, but it also breaks pretty easily. Personally, I would have gone with a harder wood for more durability if one of the screwdrivers gets torqued to a angle, or the rack gets knocked off the bench (accidents happen).

It's a nice rack, well made. I was just thinking about doing this for around 50 pairs of pliers, and screwdrivers, this morning when I found the link to this.

I've used pegboard tacked to a frame by drilling out the holes to match the tools dimensions for a table top. It works great if its nailed to the frame well.

[srilyk]

You could check out Adam Savage's version - https://youtu.be/TWQAYfGxsPE it's a little sturdier ;)

[charliewinters]

Thanks for the link. I completely understand "where tools go to die".

It's a nice concept, but I'd have to go sturdier than that still. I'd put some doors on it too. It's a good design that I can jump off of.

A good and cheap source of hardwood is old pallet risers. I like to take them and rip clean sides onto them. They're usually a very hard wood, and can be ripped into very strong thin boards. Just make sure ya get all the nails, or don't rip it.

[PVBS]

Glad you liked it,

I agree that it's not the most durable material and it shouldn't be used in "abusive" environments (my workbench is pretty balsa-friendly:p). Although i've been pleasantly surprised about the sturdiness of mine i'll probably make a stronger version for garage use.

[muadibe]

Hi again, I was wondering if you could tell me the name of the green mat on your work top, it looks very useful, is it? Yes, I am quite new to wood working.

[PVBS]

Hi, it is, as Katzta stated a self healing cutting mat.
A piece of cardboard will do the job just as well (for this instructable).
When cutting paper or thinner materials the markings for angles and such are handy. Mine is a cheap nockoff from a local store for only 4 € but the self healing part is not really convincing :p.

[srilyk]

When I worked at a frame shop we used scrap matting duct taped to cardboard. We just added more duct tape and matting until it got too thick and we just threw it away. Usually you can buy a big box of scrap mats at Hobby Lobby for $20 or so.

[Katzsta]

I believe those mats are self-healing mats generally used for cutting items and material usually with x-acto knives or rolling blades. You can cut into them but they sort of seal up so you don't see the cut. You can find them where quilters get their supplies, like at a fabric store, BUT they are very expensive. I think you would only need it if you were actually making cuts that could go through to the mat.

Very nice, targeted instructable and well written and photographed. Thanks for posting.

[PVBS]

Thank you for the possitive feedback, and thank you for the answer to muadibe's question. It is indeed a self healing cutting mat.

[muadibe]

This is exactly I need for my screwdrivers and I will also make one for my growing collection of chisels.

Thanks for taking the time to share

[MikeH227]

That's fine but I don't know anyone, including myself, that owns a complete set of MATCHING screwdrivers.

[dmadam]

Great idea!. Was looking for ideas for my drives but did not want to mount a rack on the wall. This solves my problem. Many thanks!

[ranhan55]

Elegantly simple. Thanks.

[JGG1701.]

I like this!!!

-Jim G.G.