Custom tool case foam inserts are one of the best methods for organizing and storing your tools. Durable, hardwearing, and customizable to your needs, these smart foam layers not only keep your tools in top working order, they actually help to minimize tool losses too.
Foam inserts for tool boxes come in many shapes and styles, but in this guide, we’re going to focus on just two solutions: tool drawer case and load out case.
These methods of tool storage are both great for organizing your tools day-to-day, but which is better? Read on, as our tool foam experts debate the pros and cons of these two closely related, but different, types of foam tool organizers.
What are Load Out Foam Inserts?
Load-out foam inserts are individual modular layers of foam, designed to stack on top of one another. Because each layer sits on top of the next, they’re a perfect solution for maximizing tool storage inside tool trolleys or other types of cavity tool storage.
In load-out systems, each foam layer is completely autonomous and can be easily removed just by lifting it out of the chest. This allows you to access lower layers of tools within seconds. When you’re ready to re-pack your tools at the end of the day, you simply stack each foam layer back into the trolley and close the lid.
PROS
Portability
Load-out tool storage systems are perfect for mobile jobs. The foam is lightweight and quick to pack, making it easy to load and transport.
Quick Visual Inventory
Having your tools neatly organized across different layers of foam makes it easy to find tools fast – as well as to spot if any are missing.
Cost-Effective
Out of the two foam insert types (tool chest drawer foam vs. load out), loadout is the more economical solution, available at a lower price point compared to tool drawer foam.
Accountability
Load-out foam solutions can help you to keep better tabs on your tools, reducing the risk of workplace accidents, while helping you to achieve health and safety compliance.
Protection
Loose tools can easily bump one another during transportation. Loadout foam inserts securely grip each item, preventing tools from moving.
CONS
Accessibility
With load-out systems, foams are stacked on top of one another inside your tool storage. This means that to get to the bottom layer, all other layers first need to be taken out.
However, the layers slip out easily, so this isn’t exactly a time-consuming task. Plus, you can customize each layer, prioritizing your most frequently used tools to be at the top, so these are always accessible.
What are Drawer Foam Inserts?
Drawer foam inserts are layers of custom-cut foam that line the inside of your tool drawers. They function similarly to load-out tool storage systems, in that your tools are neatly organized across different layers of foam.
The key benefit a toolbox drawer foam organizer has over loadout inserts is improved tool accessibility. As each drawer opens and closes independently, you can reach any tool at any time, simply by opening the right drawer. This offers you a time-saving benefit over having to remove multiple foam layers to access the tool you need.
PROS
Except for the price, drawer foam inserts offer you the same benefits as loadout inserts, but with a few other advantages:
Enhanced Efficiency
With drawer foam tool storage, tools are more instantly accessible, helping to save you time and enhance efficiency.
Space Optimization
The customizable nature of tool chest foam inserts means you can arrange your tools in such a way as to maximize the capacity of your tool storage.
Easier Access
There’s no need to take out several layers of tools just to access the one you need. Drawer foam inserts offer the convenience of single-access tool retrieval.
CONS
Heavier
While tool drawers and cabinets can still offer you a portable solution, it is a heavier method of tool storage than load out systems.
Considering the added weight of the drawers and their sliders, drawer solutions are often deemed more appropriate for workshops and stationary setups.
More Expensive
Custom foam drawer inserts do work out a little more expensive than loadout inserts but given the added benefits of fast tool access and more efficient organization, they’re a worthwhile investment.
Choosing the Right Foam Insert Case
So, now you’re up to speed with the pros and cons of tool box foam inserts, let’s get down to how to choose the right foam tool organizer for your needs.
As we’ve talked about, both types of foam insert have multiple advantages, so the difference really comes down to three things:
- What’s your budget (or how much are you prepared to spend)?
- Do you tend to work in one fixed location or travel between jobs?
- Can you live with not having instant access to all your tools at once?
If budget and portability are your two top priorities and you’re willing to sacrifice the ease of drawers, then loadout foam inserts would be a perfect choice for you. If, on the other hand, you tend to work out of workshop and you want the ease of being able to quickly access the tools you need, then our recommendation would be to go with drawer inserts. Yes, they cost a little more, but the convenience will more than make up for it, and since you don’t have to transport your tools from A-B it makes sense to opt for this more efficient tool organizer.
Of course, you could find a happy medium by investing in a combination of drawer cases and load-out cases. This would give you the best of both worlds: lightweight portable tool organization for jobs that require an in-person visit and efficient fixed storage for day-to-day life in your shop.
Additional Customization Options
As well as being able to customize the size, shape, and layout of your tool foam inserts, going down the custom foam route also opens other avenues of personalization that can further improve the efficiency and professionalism of your tool storage:
Tool and Foam Etching
You can choose to have your tools and/or your foam inserts etched with unique codes to help make reordering lost or old tools a smoother process.
Push Points or Pick Points
You could add push points or pick points to your foam inserts. Both make tool removal quick and effortless.
Custom Layouts
You could consult with us to customize the layout of your inserts to give priority to your most frequently used tools as well as to optimize space on each foam layer.
Ready to optimize your tool organization with loadout or drawer foam inserts?
Getting your own custom foam inserts made for your tool storage is such an easy process and one of the best decisions you can make for your business.
All it takes is a quick call to our team to brief in your requirements. The rest is down to us. What’s more, there’s no minimum order requirement, so even if you only need one foam insert we can help.
To get started, give us a call on +1(770) 709-5169 or email us at [email protected].
FAQs
- Are drawer foam inserts worth the higher price?
If you value being able to access each of your tools easily and a storage solution that helps you to keep your tools free from damage and brilliantly organized then yes, drawer foam inserts are definitely worth the higher price.
- Can I get custom foam with tool codes for easy reordering?
Yes, tool code etching is available as a customization add-on.
- How do I choose between a load-out case and a drawer case for my tools?
It all comes down to price, environment, and convenience. Loadout case inserts are cheaper and more lightweight but require you to unstack each layer to access all your tools. Drawer foam inserts, on the other hand, cost more and are an overall heavier solution, but they offer you excellent organization capabilities and the convenience of being able to access all your tools instantly.
- What’s the difference between adding push points or pick points to foam inserts?
Push points and pick points are small cutouts or indentations in the foam, strategically placed around each tool compartment to make it easier to grip and lift tools from the foam insert. Push points allow you to press on one end of the tool, tilting it up for easier removal, while pick points are cutouts where fingers can fit for an easy lift. Adding these to your custom foam inserts enables quick, efficient tool access with minimal effort.
- How does lid insert planning help with tool accessibility?
The uppermost layer of your stackable foam inserts, combined with the layer lining the lid are the most accessible, given you don’t need to remove any foam to access these. It makes sense, therefore, that you would prioritize your most used tools to sit in the layout of these two inserts.
- Can I get custom etching for my tools on either type of insert?
Yes, we can add custom etching to either loadout foam systems or foam tool drawer inserts on request
