Worth the Money?

[Pappy]

I have never drilled the bit storage drawers on my router table and have several individual bits that lay in a drawer in the plastic pouches.

These look like a better option than drilling in that they could be moved to change the spacing for larger bits. Anyone have them? The price isn't bad, although I don't like companies that base shipping on the cost of the item rather than the cost of shipping the item.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...,46180&p=50697

Rockler has a predrilled holder but it limits the arrangement of the bits and the 2 reviews both knocked it for the holes being too tight to get the bits out.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...4&site=ROCKLER

[cabinetman]

I've just drilled shank holes in wood panels. Either they fit in drawers or get wall mounted.

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[Crockett]

I also create my own bit holders using MDF, cut/drilled to the size/shape of where I am putting them, but for the $$ the Lee Valley model seems like they are worth trying and they actually look pretty good.

[sweensdv]

I use the Lee Valley holders and really like them. As with most Lee Valley products the quality is high meaning that the wall thickness of the sides is thick enough that the bits don't wobble when placed in the holders. Highly recommend these!

[LCHIEN]

Bits can take little room like a 1/2" straight bit or a lot of room like door beveling bits.

The trouble with those Lee valley thingeys is that once you dill the places to put the holders its not easy to move them. I recall seeing some honey-comb like material that had cells 1/2" and 1/4" that you could place in a drawer and then put bits where you want.

[sweensdv]

Actually LCHIEN, there is no drilling involved. Those holders sit on top of the wood piece that they are mounted too. Mounting the holders involves screwing them down through the predrilled hole in the bottom of the holder. Easy peasy and no honeycombs.

[mpc]

I recall seeing some honey-comb like material that had cells 1/2" and 1/4" that you could place in a drawer and then put bits where you want.

I saw that too somewhere - a reader's tip in a magazine probably. Basically it was the white plastic grid for garage/shop ceiling lights sold at home centers. Half-inch shank bits fit perfectly.

mpc

[cabinetman]

I saw that too somewhere - a reader's tip in a magazine probably. Basically it was the white plastic grid for garage/shop ceiling lights sold at home centers. Half-inch shank bits fit perfectly.

mpc

That might be 2'x4' "eggcrate" panel, lighting diffuser. It's actually pretty brittle.

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[LCHIEN]

I saw that too somewhere - a reader's tip in a magazine probably. Basically it was the white plastic grid for garage/shop ceiling lights sold at home centers. Half-inch shank bits fit perfectly.

mpc

yeah, that was it! (Thanks for the hint, mpc.)

Light diffuser panel. Woodsmith hints/e-tips here:

http://www.woodsmithtips.com/2013/01..._campaign=6720

Really makes more sense to me than the other methods except that skinny bits (like a 1/2" straight bit) will just fall through - you could make it with a bottom and have the bottom support the end of the shank.

[cabinetman]

What are the objections to drilled holes in wood panels?

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[LCHIEN]

What are the objections to drilled holes in wood panels?

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holes in wood panels
Pros:
Cheap, the wood is probably scrap or very inexpensive and drilling is almost also free.

Cons:
Ideally want a 17/32" or 33/64" bit for a slip fit on 1/2" shanks, which I would bet a lot of us don't have in our arsenal.
Not always flexible, you can drill a dense grid of holes (takes a lot of time) or else you have to drill new holes when you add bits, and moving the holes if desired when you rearrange is a magicians trick.

Not huge issues but there they are. If they bother you then you can look at alternatives, if not, drill away.

[cabinetman]

holes in wood panels
Pros:
Cheap, the wood is probably scrap or very inexpensive and drilling is almost also free.

Cons:
Ideally want a 17/32" or 33/64" bit for a slip fit on 1/2" shanks, which I would bet a lot of us don't have in our arsenal.
Not always flexible, you can drill a dense grid of holes (takes a lot of time) or else you have to drill new holes when you add bits, and moving the holes if desired when you rearrange is a magicians trick.

Not huge issues but there they are. If they bother you then you can look at alternatives, if not, drill away.

Not a bother to me. That's the method I've used for 40+ years. Actually I like it. The "trays" can be cut in size to fit any drawer, or tote trays of tool boxes. Using wood is less destructible than some plastic type arrangement, and seems more "at home" in a wood shop.

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[cabinetman]

Bit storage discussion should also include ¼" shank bits. For ½" bits, drilling the holes 17/32" or 33/64" as suggested work well with those size shanks. For ¼" shanks, I use a 9/32" bit. A 5/16" is just a bit big, but will allow for contraction when using solid wood.

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[LCHIEN]

Bit storage discussion should also include ¼" shank bits. For ½" bits, drilling the holes 17/32" or 33/64" as suggested work well with those size shanks. For ¼" shanks, I use a 9/32" bit. A 5/16" is just a bit big, but will allow for contraction when using solid wood.

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everybody's got those bit sizes, its the ones I named, just over 1/2", that are not all that common in home shops.

I was just responding to Pappy's original issues with drilling bit holding drawers:

These look like a better option than drilling in that they could be moved to change the spacing for larger bits. ...
...

Rockler has a predrilled holder but it limits the arrangement of the bits and the 2 reviews both knocked it for the holes being too tight to get the bits out.

plastic grid solves both those problems and the web in the plastic grid is going to be much tighter than you can drill so you can arrange the bits as you wish.

BTW you have to look for eggcrate light diffusers - 3//8" thick with .5x.5 openings and comes in pieces 2'x4' (same as suspended ceiling tiles) its claimed that both lowes and HD carry it. Sometimes found in the Lighting dept, and sometimes in the suspended acoustic ceiling panel dept.



At Lowes, a single panel for $13.97: http://www.lowes.com/pd_18429-1638-1...274-_-11259695
At home depot $12.97, store stock only, Lithonia Lighting 4 ft. Replacement Diffuser Model # L2GT PLTS R5

Not real cheap unless you can get them to cut it? Or have some friends who need router storage.

[cabinetman]

everybody's got those bit sizes, its the ones I named, just over 1/2", that are not all that common in home shops.

You're probably right. Some of the drill sets may only be in sixteenths, some are in 32nds. Many sets don't go beyond ½". Some drill bits have to be bought separately.

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