Plastic Tubes or Boxes for Storing Router Bits

[Thomas McCurnin]

I want to move away from fixed router bit storage in a drawer with shank holes in them, as it is not very adaptable to new bits or labels. And the shank with the specs of the router bit are often worn and cannot be seen.

Putting the router bits in plastic tubes seems to work for me, and I color code them by category: Dovetails, Straight Bits, etc and label the box with the precise specs of the router bit.

But I cannot find replacement plastic tubes or boxes for storage and my search to the usual suspects (Woodworkers Supply, Highland, Lee Valley, etc) has not yielded results.

Does anyone know of a supply of plastic tubes (or boxes) in varying diameters for storage of router bits?

[Frederick Skelly]

I saw these at McMaster-Carr. They seem to range from just under 1/2” in diameter to just over 1 1/2” diameter. But they aren’t cheap. Amazon, etc might be another source.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/storage-tubes/?s=plastic+storage+tubes

[Edward Weber]

What size range are you looking for?

[Christopher Charles]

eye piece cases for cameras/telescopes might work?

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_cas1.htm

[Thomas McCurnin]

Typical router bit sizes. Quarter inch to one inch, and a few larger profile router bit sizes of up to 2 inches.

The plastic tubes also have an advantage of protecting the router bit.

[Jim Becker]

I use parts box systems...column on the right is 3/4 router/spindle tooling. I also have a color coding system I use for a lot of the tooling to denote UC, DC, Compression, etc. because I keep multiples of various sizes because of CNC use.

509148

[Dan Friedrichs]

How about these guys?
https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23166&catid=598

Or these?
https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=22730&catid=604

[George Yetka]

The tubes seems good for cnc or straight bits only but when you get to form bits the tubes arent going to be much help. I did this in my cnc drawer. I use a picture of it on my vcarve laptop to confirm what bits I have for programming. My router table drawer is very different. I use a piece of foam I bought that has 1/4 and 1/2" holes in it to hold many of the bits but I keep the sets together in their original packaging. I dont have much in the way of spiral stuff so there is no monitoring UC/DC/Compression. I also try and buy the router table bits all with a 1/2" shank so writing is legible

509153

[Lee Schierer]

Prescription pill bottles come in various colors and sizes. THey can be purchased various sources, here is one (https://www.calpaclab.com/pharmacy/).

[Bill Dufour]

Prescription pill bottles come in various colors and sizes. THey can be purchased various sources, here is one (https://www.calpaclab.com/pharmacy/).
Contact the local old folks home.
Bill D.

[Derek Meyer]

You could buy clear PVC pipe in long lengths and cut it to your desired lengths.

https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=25313&catid=554

Derek

[Kent A Bathurst]

Contact the local old folks home.
Bill D.

Hi - How can I help?

[Patrick Varley]

Check out Cleartec Packaging.

https://cleartecpackaging.com/all-products.html

I buy the GripPaks which work for endmills/straight bits. But they also sell larger square packs (and a million other types of packaging).

[Thomas McCurnin]

Thank you Patrick, the GripPaks seem perfect.