Tool boxes and tackle boxes are my choice for organizations things that 
are used in specific pursuits.  I have plastic tackle boxes for my chip 
carving and leatherworking tools, etc.  This week, I got a new plastic 
tool box for my grilling and smoking accessories.

All of these come with smaller plastic boxes intended to help separate 
and organize contents.  The problem is that the divisions rarely match 
up with the sizes I need for storing things.  I have, in the past, 
resorted to cutting out partitions with a pocket knife or eXacto knife; 
however, an accident that put a knife point almost completely through my 
left hand last year has made me leery of this approach - to say nothing 
of the berating I get from SWMBO.

I started to fall off the wagon and get out a rotary cutting tool with a 
tail.  In fact, I did get it out but I forgot that I had let the smoke 
out of the motor the last time I used it.

Is there an efficient but safe way to accomplish this task with hand 
tools?  What tools would you use?

(I use plastic boxes because they are lightweight.  I tried making a 
wooden box, but to overcome heaviness I had to use wood too thin to work 
well.  My skills are not those of most on this board.)

TIA

-- 
Bob Hutchins
Temple, TX, USA
Preserving ASCII art with every post

    \|||/
   ( © © )
ooO_(..)_Ooo_______ _________
_____|_____| _____|___ __|____
___|____|___ __|_____| _____|_
Kilroy Was Here!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Thu, Aug 2, 2012 at 12:32 PM, Robert Hutchins <rhhutchins@h...>wrote:

>
> All of these come with smaller plastic boxes intended to help separate and
> organize contents.  The problem is that the divisions rarely match up with
> the sizes I need for storing things.  I have, in the past, resorted to
> cutting out partitions with a pocket knife or eXacto knife; however, an
> accident that put a knife point almost completely through my left hand last
> year has made me leery of this approach -
>

I use a hot knife attachment for my soldering gun, which isn't quite old
tool, but less intrusive than a rotary tool.  Also works well for cutting
rope, plastic tarps, steaming dents out of wood, and occasionally soldering.

I have a gun like this (used Dad's when I was a kid, broke it often, then
dad took it when he moved away, so I bought another at a garage sale for $5)

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-8200-Universal-Soldering-Gun/dp/B00002N5LN/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1343936829&sr=1-1&keywords=weller+8200

With new tips 6110 for cutting & 6120 for steaming dings, per below

http://www.apexhandtools.com/brands/weller/index.cfm?model_list=1&att_id=WEL007&att1=Tips%20and%20Nozzles&att2=Soldering%20Gun%20Tips

Kirk in HMB, about to dive back into the real work of the day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert,

I have used various types of snips, and side cutters to successfully cut
plastic in tackle boxes just like you mention. Sometimes it does require
a little bit of a touch with some sand paper or a file to clean it up a
bit after the cut. I also have used a hack saw blade or a metal cutting
blade for a recip saw (sans recip saw) to cut plastic. I usually use
whatever will get into the spot I'm working in.

Doc

On Thu, Aug 2, 2012 at 2:32 PM, Robert Hutchins <rhhutchins@h...>wrote:

> Tool boxes and tackle boxes are my choice for organizations things
> that are used in specific pursuits. I have plastic tackle boxes for my
> chip carving and leatherworking tools, etc. This week, I got a new
> plastic tool box for my grilling and smoking accessories.
>
> All of these come with smaller plastic boxes intended to help separate
> and organize contents. The problem is that the divisions rarely match
> up with the sizes I need for storing things. I have, in the past,
> resorted to cutting out partitions with a pocket knife or eXacto
> knife; however, an accident that put a knife point almost completely
> through my left hand last year has made me leery of this approach - to
> say nothing of the berating I get from SWMBO.
>
> I started to fall off the wagon and get out a rotary cutting tool with
> a tail. In fact, I did get it out but I forgot that I had let the
> smoke out of the motor the last time I used it.
>
> Is there an efficient but safe way to accomplish this task with hand
> tools? What tools would you use?
>
> (I use plastic boxes because they are lightweight. I tried making a
> wooden box, but to overcome heaviness I had to use wood too thin to
> work well. My skills are not those of most on this board.)
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Bob Hutchins Temple, TX, USA Preserving ASCII art with every post
>
>    \|||/ ( =A9 =A9 ) ooO_(..)_Ooo_______ _________ _____|_____|
>    _____|___ __|____ ___|____|___ __|_____| _____|_ Kilroy Was Here!
>
> ------------------------------**------------------------------**
> ------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options: http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/**-
> mailman/listinfo/oldtools<http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listi-
> nfo/oldtools>
>
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> ngleydev.com/archive/faq.html>
>
> OldTools archive:
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>

--John Holladay DocHolladay0820@g... 205-229-8484
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 8/2/2012 1:32 PM, Robert Hutchins wrote:
> Tool boxes and tackle boxes are my choice for organizations things 
> that are used in specific pursuits.  I have plastic tackle boxes for 
> my chip carving and leatherworking tools, etc.  This week, I got a new 
> plastic tool box for my grilling and smoking accessories.
>
> All of these come with smaller plastic boxes intended to help separate 
> and organize contents.  The problem is that the divisions rarely match 
> up with the sizes I need for storing things.  I have, in the past, 
> resorted to cutting out partitions with a pocket knife or eXacto 
> knife; however, an accident that put a knife point almost completely 
> through my left hand last year has made me leery of this approach - to 
> say nothing of the berating I get from SWMBO.
>
> I started to fall off the wagon and get out a rotary cutting tool with 
> a tail.  In fact, I did get it out but I forgot that I had let the 
> smoke out of the motor the last time I used it.
>
> Is there an efficient but safe way to accomplish this task with hand 
> tools?  What tools would you use?
<Snick>

Vintage Eclipse Pad Handle for hacksaw blades, like you'll see on that 
auction site (not the one on Amazon). Especially good pull-cutting with 
broken blades.

Don
-- 
The things which are advertised most are things you need least. - 
Notsurewho said that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not really on topic but speaking of tackle boxes...

http://galootcentral.com/index.php?option=com_copperminevis&Itemid=2&pl-
ace=displayimage&album=lastup&cat=0&pos=2

How many Kennedy toolboxes find their way into my shop?!?!

(currently it 3, with one under the desk at the office)

Found this little bugger, T18 ?? for a buck on the way to the marketwith
the GIT in tow. The only other tools at the sale were brand newcheap
screwdrivers and putty knives. Most of the exterior finish istrashed,
and the trays were bent but easily straightened.

and the label inside

http://galootcentral.com/index.php?option=com_copperminevis&Itemid=2&pl-
ace=displayimage&album=lastup&cat=0&pos=3

It was a dollar, wouldn't have bothered if it had been $5, well,
maybenot.

Michael S

On 8/2/2012 1:32 PM, Robert Hutchins wrote:
> Tool boxes and tackle boxes are my choice for organizations things
> that are used in specific pursuits. I have plastic tackle boxes for my
> chip carving and leatherworking tools, etc. This week, I got anew
> plastic tool box for my grilling and smoking accessories.
>
> All of these come with smaller plastic boxes intended to
> helpseparate and organize contents. The problem is that the
> divisions rarelymatch up with the sizes I need for storing
> things. ----------------------------------------------------------------
> --------

GGs,

Well, this one I have to reply to. Van Wert, Ohio is where my mother's
side of the family is from. Always a surprise to see the name of a
family friend associated with a business I knew nothing about. My mom's
family's claim to fame is the Brumback who coughed up the money to fund
the first free county library in the U.S. in Van Wert.

OT content: my grandfather, Willson Pinkerton Brumback of Van Wert, had
a very rare patented transitional plane that I still have no idea how he
managed to obtain. Used it well.

Regards,

Dwight--------------------------------------------------------------
----------

On 8/2/2012 3:32 PM, Robert Hutchins wrote:
> What tools would you use? 
I'd skip the cutting tools altogether and use a heated nail held in a 
cheap flea market pair of pliers. Bend it if you need to get to the 
bottoms of small compartments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wanted to thank everyone for their excellent ideas.  I hadn't though of 
soldering iron because the sides of the compartments are so close 
together, but clamping a nail in vice grips and heating it to color 
sounds like something I can do - a great use for all those bent nails I 
didn't throw away.

Thank you, again!

On 8/3/2012 8:19 AM, Cliff Rohrabacher Esq. wrote:
> On 8/2/2012 3:32 PM, Robert Hutchins wrote:
>> What tools would you use? 
> I'd skip the cutting tools altogether and use a heated nail held in a 
> cheap flea market pair of pliers. Bend it if you need to get to the 
> bottoms of small compartments.

-- 
Bob Hutchins
Temple, TX, USA
Preserving ASCII art with every post

    \|||/
   ( © © )
ooO_(..)_Ooo_______ _________
_____|_____| _____|___ __|____
___|____|___ __|_____| _____|_
Kilroy Was Here!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 8/3/2012 3:37 PM, Robert Hutchins wrote:
> ...a great use for all those bent nails I didn't throw away.
>
Who would throw a bent nail away?  A bent screw, maybe, but never a bent 
nail...
------------------------------------------------------------------------