Clever Ways To DIY Custom Foam Storage To Organize Tools

When you're done working on your latest home improvement or repair project, it's tempting to throw your tools back in your toolbox or bench drawer without paying attention to where you're putting them. However, if you're doing this often, items such as your wrenches, drivers, and drill bits will mix together and become a cluttered mess that slows you down the next time you need to get something done. If you're tired of wasting several minutes sorting through your entire toolbox whenever you go looking for your favorite pair of pliers, or perhaps that handy set of Allen keys that you bought recently, then it's time to get organized. Picking up a few blocks of polyethylene foam might be the perfect way to get started.

You can use polyethylene foam to create custom-cut organizers for your workbench drawers or toolbox with a retractable knife. Alternatively, you could heat your tools to create slots in the foam for them. Either way, the idea behind this kind of DIY is to give every tool you own a dedicated home so that you can find what you're looking for during your next project within seconds. If you have a collection of socket wrenches or any other kind of tools that come in a set, you can take this opportunity to display them by size. This could also be the perfect chance to get rid of unused tools and start decluttering your crowded garage.

Cleaning up the inside of your toolbox or workbench with foam organizers doesn't have to be a tricky process. The first step is to clean out the space, and then measure its depth, width, and length. Then, you'll need to purchase thick craft foam sheets that match these dimensions. Closed-cell, cross-linked polyethylene foam is the ideal choice, since it has a rigid structure, is effectively waterproof, and better protects your tools compared with polyurethane. ONREVA Polyethylene Shadow Foam Storage Sheets, for example, are an excellent option here. Once you've purchased the foam, cut it down to match the size of your box or drawer. 

The next step is to put your tools on top of your foam blocks in the desired configuration, and trace lines around them with a marker. Then, cut away the foam from the areas in the shape of your tools, and wash off any marker stains with a damp cloth. Be careful not to cut through the bottom of the foam blocks, and avoid making slots for your tools that are too shallow, or they won't be fully inset. If you have a particularly deep drawer, you might be able to fit two or even three layers of foam on top of each other. With your foam organizers, you can declutter your garage workbench faster than ever.

Cutting your foam blocks with a knife won't always create the most exact shapes. If you'd like to mold the foam around your tools a bit more, you could try a unique trick using heat. To start, turn on the broiler setting of your oven. While it's heating up, take off the rubber grips from your tools, grab a pair of metal pliers, and get out an oven mitt. Next, take a metal pan out, put it in your sink, and fill it up with cold water. Once the oven is warm, put your tools in on a baking tray, and leave them for five minutes. When they come out, pick up the individual tools with the oven mitt and your pliers, and gently press them into your foam. As soon as the tools sink down into the foam to create the molded indents, take them out and plunge them into your cold water. Don't put any tools with non-metal components into your oven, and don't use a microwave.

To make your toolbox or workbench drawer look more aesthetically pleasing, you can purchase custom-cut shadow board foam, which is professionally shaped to match your tools. To do this, you'll need to trace your tools and send your drawings to a specialty foam retailer, who will use a die-cutting process to craft the specific shapes for you. Alternatively, you could try a quick DIY wood project for genius tool storage.