How I’m using my 3D printer to better organize my tools

My primary toolbox was a mess, to the point that I was constantly browsing Facebook Marketplace and looking through Harbor Freight coupons while thinking of moving to a bigger box.

But the reality was my box wasn’t too small; it was just too messy. Wrenches tossed in drawers, sockets rolling loose or on mismatched racks. It all just needed a good …

Comments

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/9/25 9:07 a.m.

So, while pulling my 3/4 sockets this weekend to torque the Mustang’s lugs, I was thinking, Hey, JG....

theruleslawyer HalfDork
6/9/25 9:24 a.m.

I really need to replace the blown molded case my sockets came in. Its was great until I got a tool cart and now that's near at hand and the case only fits 90 degrees off what I want and isn't super efficient space wise. Getting a part that is 100% exactly what you want is amazing.

JG Pasterjak Tech Editor & Production Manager
6/9/25 9:46 a.m.

It was a busy little nubber this weekend. I also threw my own (metaphoric) wrench in the works when a like-new tool cart (the Harbor Freight one that was the next size up from my existing one) showed up on Marketplace this weekend five minutes away from me for a killer price. I couldn't resist, and that's turned my reorganization into a transfer and reorganization. And ultimately I think that's going to be a huge upgrade because the big thing this box needed was a downsizing.

So now I'm moving stuff over to the new box as fast as I can print organizers to hold it. Anything that doen't make the transfer (and there will be plenty, since a lot of stuff was getting jammed in that black box that didn't earn the right to be there) gets moved to one of the big boxes for deeper storage, or goes in the yard sale pile.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/9/25 11:45 a.m.

In reply to theruleslawyer :

The plastic holders that came with my nut driver sets are falling apart, so I feel your pain.

Austin Cannon GRM+ Memberand Reader Services
6/9/25 1:31 p.m.

So JG, how much do I need to pay you to print me some of these?

Rufledt UberDork
6/9/25 1:34 p.m.

In reply to JG Pasterjak :

Hold up, sketchup 2025 can export STL's? I haven't touched skethup in 10 years, when did that happen?

JG Pasterjak Tech Editor & Production Manager
6/9/25 1:54 p.m.

Rufledt said:
In reply to JG Pasterjak :

Hold up, sketchup 2025 can export STL's? I haven't touched skethup in 10 years, when did that happen?

Yep. No sweat. I think even the free version can do them.

I'm not going to get into the SketchUp vs Fusion debate because both have their strengths. I mostly went with SketchUp because I have some prior experience and because it works a lot like the Adobe stuff I'm used to. That alone was worth the $279 (with a coupon) for the first year of SketchUp Pro. It really flattened my comfort curve and allowed me to design functional parts from the first time I opened the program.

carlc New Reader
6/9/25 3:09 p.m.

The challenge with T-handles is for efficient storage they need to be vertical. Here's a combo inch/metric holder with a slide tray for the loose L-wrenches or combo sets.