plastic containers

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

I have been hunting ebay and google to find a supplier of the two part plastic containers that a lot of new milling cutters etc come in, but I can’t find any. Does anybody know of a supplier of empty containers of this type and do these containers have any special name?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Have a look for “telescopic plastic boxes” I assume thats the type you mean rather than the hinged top ones the likes of Dormer use.

 

like this supplier

 

Jason

Edited By JasonB on 29/06/2009 20:36:14

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

Thanks for the reply, these boxes are indeed what I have been looking for but there do not seem to be any suppliers of small quantities of these boxes. All the references seem to be about manufacturers making the boxes or trade suppliers with huge minimum orders. I will keep hunting!

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi There

Allendale electronics have started doing trays to store cutters on.

Basically plastic with semicircular grooves in.

They are properly moulded, not blow moulded.

They are just over £1 a piece +P&P.

They are excellent value for money.

regards David

 

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I don’t know where you are but is there not an engineering/machine shop someware near by.Have a wee word with someone there,you may at least get a look in the rubbish,because they must use slot-drills and end mills,and the boxes have got to go someware,and you never know what else you’ll find! Happy hunting Ian s c.

[Colin ReedParticipant @colinreed51485]

Are these the Allendale trays David?

 

Link 

 

Colin

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

I have just ordered the allendale trays which look ideal for storing cutters, so thanks for pointing me in their direction David, but I still can’t find a supplier of telescopic boxes for other applications.

Douglas

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

HI There

Yes, that is them.

£4.99 for 5 can’t be bad.

They are good quality mouldings, not cheap blow mouldings as you would expect.

regards David

 

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

I have just received a set of 5 trays from Allendale (only took 1 day in the post- very quick service). A couple of them were a bit twisted which is not unusual with this type of plastic moulding but they sit flat with the weight of cutters in them. They are not the greatest bargain in the world but will serve the purpose well.

Douglas

[Frank DolmanParticipant @frankdolman72357]

I bought a few telescopic plastic boxes from Tilgear a few months back . They were a special offer, so they may have all gone . Worth trying
Regards

Edited By David Clark 1 on 24/09/2010 08:06:13

[Axel BentellParticipant @axelbentell]

http://www.ikea.com/se/sv/catalog/products/30105369

 

thats a CD organizer sold at IKEA here in Sweden, can´t find it on the UK site though! Ask for it locally if you like it, its dirt cheap way to sort small stuff like drill bits and taps!

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

I used the tip given in MEW to use the DVD ‘cakeboxes’ to store lose screws, nuts etc etc. The black plastic spindle bit I stick in the 3 jaw (the long bit that is) and shove a milling cutter up it about 1/4″ so the bottom  comes away clean (it’s very soft plastic so I just grip the milling cutter in a bog standard chuck in the tail stock – cue lots of ‘that isn’t safe and you should be shot for even suggesting it’ replies. .  .

 

That way, you end up with a clear plastic ‘cakebox ‘ with  a small hole in the top – ideal for quickly dropping items in when you’re clearing up (obviously need to be stored upside down) AND a plastic tube just the right length for storing tapes and milling cutters in – allbeit without a top !

 

w.

Edited By WALLACE on 23/09/2010 20:57:53

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Hi

Following up Axel’s lead the Ikea cd rack is available in the UK. It goes under the title of INREDA CD RACK – priced at £5 HERE. Not sure if it’ll be in your local stores but should be available for on-line ordering.

Keith

[BogstandardParticipant @bogstandard]

I can’t actually see exactly what you are after because the ad bar on the right is running right thru the middle of all the posts.

 

But if you require tap and die boxes, whenever I place an order with the Tap&Die Co. they always ask if I want my bits packing with tap and die plastic boxes (brand new and clean). I usually get a few hundred of all mixed sizes FOC.

Fishing friends are always asking when I am going to place another order.

 

 

Bogs

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I store my collets and milling cutters in simple stand made of two layers of mdf, the top one with lots of holes drilled in it. In a fit of shed-pride I even painted a couple blue.

 

Neil

[oilcanParticipant @oilcan]

not quite off topic , but my teenage son being an avid muncher of tic-tacs, i’ve persuaded him not to throw away the empty containers and now nearly all my small rivets and BA screws live in them. take up virtual no room and easily sorted/identified for use. Also, bless that teenage appetite for a take-away at weekends, those empty  microwaveabe take-away cartons make superb storage containers for almost everything else. In an unheated garage workshop they help keep the rust menace down during damp winters. And they’re free. I’m dreading the time he adopts a healthy lifestyle. may have to start buying stuff!

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

microwaveabe take-away cartons make superb storage containers

 

Excellent for keeping together bits of small projects and etching small circuit boards.

 

Neil

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Found some little tin boxes, they contained Eclipse mints, size 40mm X 20mm X 75mm, with a hinged lid at the end, My other containers are, tobacco tins, and Kodak 35mm slide boxes. Our local cabinet maker puts the off cuts in a bin outside the factory (for fire wood), and I’v been using that stuff to make my own boxes, also boxes for my hot air engines and other bits and pieces. Ian S C

[Axel BentellParticipant @axelbentell]

Befriend a pipesmoker, although they are a dying breed, they can be found. I smoke myself and all the tins are great for storage!

[Bill PudneyParticipant @billpudney37759]

Posted by Axel on 26/09/2010 11:24:08:

Befriend a pipesmoker, although they are a dying breed, they can be found. I smoke myself and all the tins are great for storage!

 

 Not in Australia!!  I smoke roll ups and haven’t seen a tobacco tin for about 20 years.  Really sad as they are an ideal storage method.

I also fly model aircraft (Free Flight….F1B) and have a need for storing small sizes of (typically) nuts and bolts, M1 up to M2 screws for instance.  I asked the local chemists if they could save me some 35mm film canisters which they were happy to do.  Even these day when film has been  superceded by digital they still collected about 50 for me in a week!!

 

 My wife has a bottle of “Yakult” yoghurt every day, I’m trying to think of a use for them, we have about 60, any ideas??

cheers

Bill Pudney

 

 

 

 

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

For storage, I bought a few metal filing cabinets from Lidl at about £20 each. In two of the drawers, I fitted 1″ thick timber, drilled to take my end mills and other small cutters.

Another tip is a plastic container, useful for storage on the shelves are plastic boxes from the £1 store. They measure about 7″x5″x11/2″ complete with lids and you get 10 for £1!!. Being greedy, I bought 2 packs which look good on the shelf. Contents can be written in marker ink or stick on labels.

[Richard ParsonsParticipant @richardparsons61721]

Bill

Yoghurt pots etc are a very good source of medium thickness plastic sheet.m  Pop the pots in a pressure cooker and give them 15 PSI for 15 mins. let cool and see just what you have got.

 

Good Luck

[Alun Owen 1Participant @alunowen1]

The clear chinese takeway containers in different sizes are what I use.  If the family doesn’t have takeaway often enough they can be purchased at approx £9 for 50.  Google ‘Takeaway Containers’.

 

Alun

[Richard MarksParticipant @richardmarks80868]

Gentlemen

I have in the corner of my workshop a piece of plastic window ledge with holes and cutouts for all of my taper tools that are always required in a hurry, just go to your local double glazing factory and ask for an offcut, If they say no go somewhere else, I find if you want something for free and you ask in a polite and friendly manner you will usually get it, try your local ice cream or sweet shop for plastic containers, If you dont ask you dont get.

Dick

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