Toolbox Without the Box

Can a toolbox be made without being a box? The answer is yes, and this intstructable will show you a solution you can build on your own. Our concept consist of a textile that stores the tools trough the help of foldback clips. Multiple sheets can be attached with snap buttons, rolled up and by attaching a belt, the product can be used for travelling when you need your tools on a different location. When used at home the product can be attached to a wall, this way you don't have to remove the tools everytime.

Step 1: Supplies

What you will need (for one module):

- Textile (min 100x70cm), choose a material that's strong enough so it won't tear. In our build we choose a polyester/cotton woven canvas. A material like jeans can also be used.

- 5 wooden bars (100cm, Ø8mm), you can find these in any hardware store. Aluminium bars will work as well.

- 3 elastic straps (3x100cm)

- Snap buttons (8 females and 8 males)

- Snap buttons attachement tools, you can usually buy these together with the snap buttons. They consist of 3 steel punching tools and a hammer (optional, any hammer is fine to use).

- 2 metal eyelets

- Eyelet pliers

- Hole punching pliers (optional)

- 12 foldback clips (25mm), you can ussually buy these a dozen a piece, which is enough for one build

- 4 belt rings, the shape of these is up to you, just make sure they are between 2.5 and 4.5 cm in width

- Ruler

- Scissors

- Cutting knife

- Chalk or crayon (to draw on the textile)

- Saw

Step 2: Patterns

These are the patterns for the main sheet, the pocket and the belt. You will need these troughout the build. The red and white lines are respectively cutting lines and folding lines (fold towards the back), the green crosses are the places where the buttons will have to go later.

Step 3: Cutting the Parts

Use a ruler and a piece of chaclk or a crayon to draw the patterns a seen in these pictures. We used a lighter to scorch the edges to prevent them from raffling out, this depends on the material and is enterily optional.

Step 4: Making the Main Sheet

Fold over the left and right sides first and stitch these shut. Then fold over the bottom and top, make sure to leave opening for the wooden bars to go, as seen on the patterns above.

Step 5: Making the Pocket

Fold the bottom first and then the sides, stitch on the lines as seen in the patern images. Check to make sure 3 wooden bars fit in the left side and 1 in the right one.

Step 6: Making the Straps

Cut one strap in half. Fold over and stitch one side in such a way that the wooden bar can fit in between.

Keep the other 2 straps in one piece, stitch one side the same way and place two belt rings on the strap. Stich on the orange lines as seen on the patern image.

Step 7: Making the Belt

Fold over the belt and stitch the 3 sides to eachother.

Step 8: Cutting the Wooden Bars

Cut every bar at a lenght of 45cm, you will need 10 bars per module.

Step 9: Assembling

Place the wooden bars in the main sheet. Put them in the pockets created on the back sideand alter in the middle in a woven pattern (see image). Place the pocket on the botom before putting in the bars on the side and wave the ealstic strips as seen in the images. You can choose to put the pockets or straps at other places or don't use any pockets at all. Depending on what tools you want to store, choose the best fitting option.

Step 10: Adding the Snap Buttons and Rings

Use a hole punching plier to make holes in the sheet or use a knife to carefully make a hole. Use the eyelet pliers to place the eyelets on the top of the sheet. By using the snap buttons tools and a hammer, place the snap buttons at the correct places. Put the males on the right side of the sheet and the females on the left. Make sure to use the right tool as seen in the images. Also put 4 snap buttons on the belt as seen on the image.

Step 11: Finished Product

Place your tools behind the strap and inside the pockets, as seen on the images. You can secure the tools in place by pulling on the straps and/or placing clamps on the straps throught the lines that were cut in the sheet.

Step 12: Add the Belt for Transportation...

Attach several modules to one another with the snap buttons, roll it up and pull the longest straps arround and secure them with the rings. You can attch the belt to these rings to use for transport.

Step 13: ...or Attach It to a Wall at Your Workplace

Use the holes you created in the top of the sheet, to hang the module at a wall in your workplace. Noo need to take the tools out, thius way you can easily roll it back up to take with you on transportation.