How to store your mill tools

[Blogwitch]

Holescreek,

Not milling tools storage, but your showing the QCTP holders has reminded me, and it might come in useful for someone who has a few more than normal.

Those piston type toolholders can be a real PITA when come come to get them into some semblance of order, all different shapes, sizes and lengths.

About 6 months ago I came up with a very cheap system for storing them on the wall, and you can knock up a new rack whenever you get a few more holders.

As I said, I have been using it for the last six months and found it has no vices, and is perfect for what I needed to do.

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=1029.0


Blogs

 

[shred]

I copied Bogs design not long after seeing his. It works well. No worries about length and you can instantly see what's on the holder. Dead easy to make as well.

 

[steamer]

That' the simpliest way to store tool holders I've seen.....I'll have to do that I suppose...Thanks Blogs...now I have another project! ;D

Dave

 

[ksor]

Blogwitch: You'r right - not the lathe tools - but anyway your design is a good one, and I'll remember when I finishes my QCTP for my old Stanko lathe.

Best regards
KSor, Denmark

 

[shred]

Here's a photo of my setup; a little cruder than the Blogster, but it works for me:

BTW, if you don't stop your lathe when switching tools, this is a bad place for them!

For end mills, the loose ones I keep those in plastic ammunition boxes. To believe the media, the streets here are awash in such things, but I've found I generally have to go buy them at a sporting goods store.

The box on the left is for 9mm ammunition and works great for 3/8" shank tools. The one on the right I use for 1/2" shank tools (though it looks a few 3/8"s have snuck in) originally held .50 AE. .45 boxes would work as well (and are much easier to locate), but this one has a nice spacing to it and was free from a friend.

It may take considerable asking-around to find such things in other countries..

 

[ksor]

Shred:
Oh ... no in Denmark you nearly go to prison for posessing such things - you could be a terrorist !

... but thanks anyway - I got the idea.

 

[shred]

Shred:
Oh ... no in Denmark you nearly go to prison for posessing such things - you could be a terrorist !

... but thanks anyway - I got the idea.

Actually there's a neat shooting range in Denmark-- in the air raid tunnels under one of the cities-- right in town and no chance of a bullet going the wrong place... I forget where exactly.

Anyway, I'm sure there's something else that comes in similar containers if ammo boxes are hard to come by.

 

[robbieknobbie]

Having worked in a couple job shops when I was younger (and now my work has me visiting them too), I think that storing a lot of tools out in the open is pretty standard. The Kaizan/Lean folks insist that anything you need for a job be right at hand, and the old timers I've worked with always seem to have special racks, jigs and holders devised for every little nicknack they've accumulated over the years.

I'm not advocating one way as being better than any other - do what fits you best - but I certainly wouldn't think twice to see a shop with collets set in racks out in the open, cutters arrayed accross any flat surface, and extra-long drill bits neatly standing up in a holder arranged by size... it's what I've seen a hundred times since my first after-school job!

 

[BobWarfield]

Ammo boxes? Ammo boxes! ammo boxes...

DOH!

I can't believe how many endmill organizers I have thrown away thoughtlessly over the years. I must mend my evil ways!

Meanwhile, I use this organizer for my mill cutters:

Kind of a lousy piccy, but it's the only one I have at the moment. The little round bins are pencil holders. Handy!

Cheers,

BW

 

[shred]

I like the pencil/tool bins; great idea there for all those loose tools that otherwise gather around and pile up. I have several blocks and stands for various tools and collets. Never can have enough tool blocks. Super easy to make with a CNC and the Mach bolt pattern wizards.

Frank Ford has a neat tip for making nice ones on a manual machine-- start in one corner of a somewhat oversize bit of material, move over the hole spacing you want until you get the right number in and then do the rest of the rows. Trim off the excess to make it look like you carefully laid it all out.