Before we look into how to make shadow boards, we first have to explain exactly what one is. A question that we are frequently asked is whether shadow boarding and shadow foam are the same thing, and the answer is no, not quite. Of course, they are extremely similar in the fact that they offer a solution to help you store your tools more effectively but, whereas shadow foam is ideal for mobile and general tool storage, shadow boards are more appropriate for permanent storage and organisation. This is because they hang on walls near to the areas where specific tasks are likely to be completed within a workshop, garage and so on.
What Exactly is a Shadow Board?
Shadow boarding sees your tools and equipment sitting in foam and then hung on a wall to achieve an organized workplace, resulting in your tools and other equipment being efficiently stored in appropriate areas close to the desired working area.
It is not uncommon for users to own multiple shadow boards within their workshop, each containing a specific set of tools that are required to complete all tasks within specific areas of their work space. This allows users to reduce the amount of time that it takes for them to locate their required tools from a further away shadow board, ensuring that each task is completed much quicker and more efficiently.
What are the Benefits of Shadow Boarding?
- Efficiently highlights if any tools are missing and, due to the shape of the foam, allows you to instantly know exactly what tool you need to look for
- Improves workplace organisation
- Can be fully color coded
- Fully customizable to your specific requirements
- Offers a storage solution to many more items than simply just tools
So, how exactly do we make a shadow board? We use custom foam that is then cut with a CNC Router, which is a computer controlled system. The tools required are then scanned using an electric pen and board, which provides us with an accurate drawing, which then creates tool paths that are directed to the CNC Router and then “tool path lines” are cut extremely accurately into the foam layer.
All of Red Box’s predesigned tool sets comes complete with shadow foam, whilst bespoke shadow foaming® can be created too.
Did you know, the first kits that our team produced focused on the aircraft industry. View all of our aviation tool sets here.
We can provide bespoke shadow boards to match any requirements, so please contact us today on +1 (770) 709-5169 to discuss your individual needs.
