Drill bit storage...

[Spinnetti]

I have multiple sets of drill bits, and hate those metal bit holders. I also have more than one of many of them. I have looked all over for a simple drill bit holder, that will hold a-z, 1-60 and fractional to 1/2", but only find one - I still only find one even if I'm looking for just one of the sub sets of holders. Huot makes a little case with slide out drawers that I like, but $300 for a bit holder is NUTS! Doesn't anybody else make one? I hate to waste several days to make my own, and wonder what other folks have done. I'd kinda like a couple small drawers I can mount under the bench, but need appropriate dividers and the like.

Ideas?

[Karl_T]

I bought huot cabinets at an auction for cheap. Have you tried eBay?

[Delw]

I thought spending 350+ was alot of money on the huot was bad too but that was15+ years ago, and it by far is the best investment I have made on cabinates.

Master Dispenser Cabinet - 64ths, A to Z, Wire Guage "

I also have about 10 of these small ones for taps reamers endmills etc etc , they could be mounted under a bench.

My biggest problem with these cabinates is someone walks off with them. thats a big chunk of money inside them.

[judleroy]

I just throw all my drill bits together in one drawer. It takes a little while to find the one I want but I do know it's somewhere in the drawer.

[Spinnetti]

Originally Posted by Delw I thought spending 350+ was alot of money on the huot was bad too but that was15+ years ago, and it by far is the best investment I have made on cabinates. Master Dispenser Cabinet - 64ths, A to Z, Wire Guage " I also have about 10 of these small ones for taps reamers endmills etc etc , they could be mounted under a bench. My biggest problem with these cabinates is someone walks off with them. thats a big chunk of money inside them.

That's what I was looking at, but too spendy.. this is just in my basement after all. Had one of those when I worked as a machinist years ago. Might just have to break down and buy one.

[Spinnetti]

Originally Posted by judleroy I just throw all my drill bits together in one drawer. It takes a little while to find the one I want but I do know it's somewhere in the drawer.

lol.. that's the problem I'm trying to solve... Way too type "A" for that! Besides, I don't like to mess around in the shop. I like to make stuff as quickly and efficiently as possible, and digging through hundreds of drill bits ain't gonna do!

[Karl_T]

at least check ebay. here's one for 70

HUOT 5 DRAWER DRILL STORAGE CABINET DISPENSER NR - eBay (item 150561941100 end time Feb-16-11 11:51:45 PST)

[Spinnetti]

Originally Posted by Karl_T at least check ebay. here's one for 70 HUOT 5 DRAWER DRILL STORAGE CABINET DISPENSER NR - eBay (item 150561941100 end time Feb-16-11 11:51:45 PST)

Thanks.. That's just for the number drills though. I'd need 3 of these for the various bit types... There is a "master" one that does fractional, number and letters, but again, its about $400 which is too much... I keep my eyes on fleabay though! If somebody made a rounded bottom drawer insert, that would be ideal, but might just have to make a mold and vac form my own inserts.

[Ed from NY]

I got 4 of those 50 drawer plastic things at homedepot sometime ago. I keep the singles in indexes and the "extra" ones go in the drawers. That means all sizes I use often are right there. Same for end mills. Then label the drawers with one of those brother labelers. The plastic racks are screwed to a large plywood back that keeps the whole thing stable and that in turn gets screwed to a metal shelving unit. Each drawer holds only one size. Much faster than indexers and no squinting to read the size in the index or in the bit

There is one loose stubby and one loose jobber in each drawer. The rest gets tied together with rubber bands or are kept in the original plastic tubes. That way I use one till it's dull then dump it and get the next one -- instead of having a bunch of half sharp half dull bits. As I have it, all bits are the same material and coating (cobalt) -- though I do have some odd balls I got by "accident". It you have different materials, angles and coatings it could get more complicated depending on your level of OCD

The endmills get organized by brand, cutting geometry and coating instead of by size as it is pretty easy to tell the size by looking at them. It is also good for the one off tooling like carbide drills (organized by coating and angle -- though at this point I only have 140 degrees), inserts (milling vs. lathe and coating), etc.

It is not always that homedepot has the right kind of little shelving -- actually I have not seen it in ages. If you do not find it there you can try the ones sold for electronic components. They are perhaps a little better quality, but more expensive. Allied, Digikey, etc should have them. May be mcMaster.

[Spinnetti]

Originally Posted by Ed from NY I got 4 of those 50 drawer plastic things at homedepot sometime ago. I keep the singles in indexes and the "extra" ones go in the drawers. That means all sizes I use often are right there. Same for end mills. Then label the drawers with one of those brother labelers. The plastic racks are screwed to a large plywood back that keeps the whole thing stable and that in turn gets screwed to a metal shelving unit. Each drawer holds only one size. Much faster than indexers and no squinting to read the size in the index or in the bit The endmills get organized by brand, coating, and function instead of by size as it is pretty easy to tell the size by looking at them. It is also good for the one off tooling like carbide drills, inserts, etc. It is not always that homedepot has the right kind of little shelving -- actually I have not seen it in ages. If you do not find it there you can try the ones sold for electronic components. They are perhaps a little better quality, but more expensive. Allied, Digikey, etc should have them. May be mcMaster.

Thanks for the ideas.