Spanner Organiser

[Jigantor]

When my new rolling cabinet tool box turned up last week I was to busy to even fill it up.
This week I decided to install all the tools.
The workshop this tool box is in is my welding bay so I don't need a lot of hand tools, just enough to get by.
To get the most from every drawer I need to pack as much in but still be able to find the tool I need.
I have purchased some spanner organisers before but have found a few problems.
First they don't make them hold as many tools that come with the spanner lots or kits I buy.
Second they are plastic.
Third and the most annoying is they cover up the size of the spanner as can be seen in the following image.

Ji

[Jigantor]

Today as I was mooching around in the Snap on van I found a pair of spanner dividers KRA15A.
$20.00 lighter I got out of the van before I lost the will to say "No"
These will make a good basis for my spanner organiser.
I want to make mine out of aluminium but the polished chrome will become scratched over time so the craddle must be plastic my old foe.
That said the base will be aluminium.

Ji

[Jigantor]

I placed the Snap on dividers on top of the bench and slotted in a few spanners. I moved the dividers until they supported the spanners but still allowed the spanner sizes to be seen.
When it all looked good I measured all the variables so I could cut out the base.
The KRA15A are 610mm or 24" long and have 35 spanner recess.
The idea of them is that you cut them off where required, so you can make up a spanner rack as short or long as you like. They have a two sided tape on the bottom to fix to your tool box. Depending on tool purchases I some times need to move tools around in my boxes so these will have to be fixed to a base plate.

Ji

[LarryO]

Where are the Snap-On spanners?

[Jigantor]

Hi Larry,
I thought it would be a nice change to use a different tool makers spanners.
If you would prefer I will only use Snap on in the images from now on.
These tools are to be used in my welding bay so I did not want to use my Snap ons but prefered to use Repco's. Repco tools come with a life time warranty which really is life time.
No need for proof of purchase or even to go back to the shop you purchased them from. Even if you abuse the tool they just give you another one. The 19 piece set I photoed last cost $99.00AUD or about $85.00USD.

Ji

[Jigantor]

Just for Larry and all the others that want to see Tool Eye Candy I will place a Snap on tool of mine in each image from now on. Enjoy !

I went down to my local aluminium dealer and rummaged around in the sheet off cut rack and found this 2mm or 0.0787" thick tread plate.
Perefct for the job.

It only cost $5.00

Ji

[Jigantor]

I cut the plate to shape with a shear and then used a band saw to cut out the corners ready for folding.

Ji

[Jigantor]

I then folded up all the edges to creat a pan.

Ji

[Jigantor]

If everthing has gone well it should look like this.
When working with aluminium always work on a piece of cardboard or carpet so you don't scratch the surface which will take a bit of time at the end to polish out.

Ji

[Jigantor]

Using a file deburr and level any sharp bits.
Take a stainless steel wire brush and remove any oxide on the corners.
Tap the corners with a plastic mallet so there is no gap and TIG weld them up.

Ji