How do you store your misc. twist drill bits? Allen keys?

Had some free time this weekend and spent it out in the garage. I'm looking for ideas now - how do you store your drill bits?


Over time, I've collected a ton of misc. twist drill bits, in all sizes and materials (HSS, cobalt, oxide, etc.) Mostly made up of cheap kits that were add-ons, cheap, or free bonuses when buying something else. Some of them are in Dewalt, B&D, or other "small" cases, while others are part of some odd-shaped one-off container that was custom at some point. I don't know that any of them are complete sets anymore, and I also have a small pile of bits that aren't sorted in a drawer at this point. Is there an easy way I'm missing to keep track and sort all these? Something short of having a machine-shop level set of drawers, etc.?

Might ask the same question about allen keys too. I have a couple of the folding multi sets, but still keep a small pile of the cheapies that seem to show up over time. Is it worth keeping them, and if so, best way to sort? Or am I better off tossing them and just investing in a single nice set.

I use small plastic fishing tackle boxes. Super cheap at any of the big outdoor stores and plenty of compartments. If I’m really ambitious I’ll even label everything with a sharpie.

Here's what I do.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ek...=w1632-h918-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rI...=w1632-h918-no

On a serious note, these drill bit indexes are pretty useful. Put your best stuff in the index and everything else can go in a drawer or something. I've seen people make their own out of a piece of wood. That's got more possibilities as you could customize it to fit somewhere like a window sill.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ly...=w1632-h918-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sW...=w1632-h918-no

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Originally Posted by Irving

Here's what I do.

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Are we related? :)

Yes....we're COAR related.. :)

I buy indexes or kits....they already have a place to go. I understand misc. tools that accumulate from assembly leftovers, but usually they're junk and not worth keeping in the first place. I'm thinking that most folks "home" tools are set up about the same way Irving does....my home tools are.

My problem is that I've collected a lot of tools from old guys over the years and I don't know what about 40% of them are even supposed to do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

On a serious note, these drill bit indexes are pretty useful. Put your best stuff in the index and everything else can go in a drawer or something. I've seen people make their own out of a piece of wood. That's got more possibilities as you could customize it to fit somewhere like a window sill.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ly...=w1632-h918-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sW...=w1632-h918-no

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I store my extras in 1 of the tool boxes, all drawers are labeled. Makes it easier for someone to grab a tool out knowing what drawer it's in, instead of me saying . No the top box ... next drawer, no the one on the left side. 1 box is specifically for the extras and misc items one collects over time.



Now turn those bits right side up and sharpen them.

Turning the bits over made more sense to me, but that's how they were in there when I got it, so I left them. Maybe if I have time I'll do that. I've been crazy busy lately. (not)

I've got the original organizers for my numbered bit sets and hex key sets. Spares are kept in discrete plastic organizer boxes so I can look for one if I break the one in the organizer. Common sizes, i'll order spares/extras and keep them in the organizer boxes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

My problem is that I've collected a lot of tools from old guys over the years and I don't know what about 40% of them are even supposed to do.

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That's something to look forward to when you get old then.....you'll know exactly what to do with them once you're officially old.

:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

Turning the bits over made more sense to me, but that's how they were in there when I got it, so I left them. Maybe if I have time I'll do that. I've been crazy busy lately. (not)

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My work tools are a completely different story from my home tools. I have several drill indexes...there is a main one for daily use, and a complete index for replacement. All the original bits in the back up index are upwards if never used, all the ones I stole from it to replace the daily index, are then replaced and inserted downwards into that index. There are folks that have indexes for steel, aluminum, and stainless respectively.

I'll accept the "you're a weirdo" comments now.. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Great-Kazoo

I store my extras in 1 of the tool boxes, all drawers are labeled. Makes it easier for someone to grab a tool out knowing what drawer it's in, instead of me saying . No the top box ... next drawer, no the one on the left side. 1 box is specifically for the extras and misc items one collects over time.



Now turn those bits right side up and sharpen them.

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I have the small center drawer for my misc bits. I have 4 indexes that have letter bits, # bits and fractional bits along with all the other nice things like wood bits and masonry bits. Funny thing is although I have sets that set me back over $500 my go to set is a stupid TIN coated $30 set of Dewalt's that has worked very well.

We had a bunch of different sets of drill bits, etc- we kept the ones that weren't as awesome for loaners, so we wouldn't be out a lot of money if they were lost or never returned.

I put them in large RX bottles that I have accumulated. You can see thru and then spill out what you want. I never could keep bits and allen wrenches in order. Don't even ask me about sockets in my socket sets.

Take a block of wood, or better yet, something like cutting board plastic (HDPE) that won't hold moisture. Drill a hole the size of the shank. For twist bits, it's probably the same size as the drill bit. Repeat a bunch of times. Bam, drill-bit holder.

Not sure I'll end up using it, but earlier this week when I was thinking about this, I mucked around with something on my 3d printer to at least keep the bits from rolling around in the bottom of the drawer. The pins help them stack on top of each other if I felt like printing out a couple. The first one I printed I had the measurements off and it was too small to hold much more than the small ones.

https://i.imgur.com/7Sh3dy6.jpg?2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnnyEgo

Take a block of wood, or better yet, something like cutting board plastic (HDPE) that won't hold moisture. Drill a hole the size of the shank. For twist bits, it's probably the same size as the drill bit. Repeat a bunch of times. Bam, drill-bit holder.

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I do this with 2 2x4's glued together, or scrap of 4x4 and use the bit to drill its spot then use a wood burner to mark the size.