Tool Protectors

[Baldy]

I store my tools in canvas tool rolls when going to carving club. I am having trouble finding suitable protectors for the sharp ends so that they will neither nick each other when rolled up or nick me if I am not careful while pulling tools in or out. I use clear plastic tube on the sizes that will accept it but have recently purchased some larger and some very small gouges that won't keep the plastic tube on when rolled up. What does everyone use for cutting edge protection?

Some of our members use little round racks that fit in a plastic bucket but that takes up too much space and will not fit in my bag.

[Claude]

I use wine bottle corks - I drill a few 1/16 inch holes about and inch deep and close together in a straight line. The just stick the knife into the hole in the cork. Haven't noticed any etching of the blade or decrease in sharpness...
/edit/ Forgot to mention - I do use white wine corks - seems to be less acidic than the red wines...
Claude

[Lightningbolt]

I've mostly made the transition from the canvas tool rolls (especially when traveling or placing in my backpack) to using simple slide-top boxes. "Flex-Cut" sells their tool sets in such wooden boxes with individual dividers to keep the tools in place. They're simple to make if you have access to a table saw and you can customize them for differently sized and shaped knives.

Sometimes I still just cut out a couple of pieces of about 3/16" plywood then use masking tape to wrap them snug around my blade tip for a quite secure protector. Works best on the flatter blades.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

For knives I make wooden protectors, for chisels....clear tubing....Ace and True Value have a large selection of difference size tubings and wall thicknesses.Cowboy I should ad, that I don't particularly like an open ended tubing....should the gouge slip out the end..ouch~! So I put a gob of hot glue in the end of the tubing and when its set and hardened I coat the end of the tubing with "Dip-it" tool handle coating.

[mik1947]

Baldy -

You might want to check out Rick's site - http://www.littleshavers.com/. He sells protectors.
Mike

[Kenny_S]

Various sizes of tubeing.
Ah Dave, You be a Dip-it man also.
Good stuff. I use it all the time, Well use to till I ran out, Even painted it on hoe and shovel handles where I place the other hand. Can wasn't big enough to put the handle in as far As I wanted.

Reminds me of a song a few years ago, "You Dip, I dip, we dip". Course, ya had to have had teen agers in the house. Hated the song

[xsailer]

I've been making wood covers for the blades but I've been happy with using the clear hose. I modify them by heating the end that slides over the handle with a blow torch and then running cold water over it to set the stretch fit of the hose. Works pretty good but I think I will add hot glue in the end as per Hi HO suggested. The heat/stretch fit is especially good for Flexcut Knives

[jamesfa]

for my carving knives i will carve little protectors from scraps of basswood (duck heads,faces)
but will also use clear plastic tubing,wine corks,and blue foam insulation.
what ever will work.

Frank

[Colin-Partridge]

I use corks as well but have seen Franks little scraps and they are really nice each one is a work of art. Frank I am sure the other members would love to see pictures of those if you get the chance.
Colin

[BobD]

I got a bunch of close-cell foam (stiff stuff) that I just cut a chunk off of and shove my tool into it. It sticks on pretty well, but if my hole wears too big, I either shove the tool in another hole or cut another chunk of foam.

I've started putting my chisels in cigar boxes...in my last job, my co-workers were cigar fiends (humidors in their office, etc.) and they gave me ALL their boxes, so I've got a bunch. I think I will go and make some custom holders for knives and such to fit in them...in my space time LOL

Bob