Metric shank sizes?

Gusbub · 02-07-2008, 07:57 PM

A question concerning the European standards in shank sizes.
Background :
My friend's wife is from Germany (Bavaria). Her family is
involved in woodworking. As a favor to her uncle, she's asked me to build him
a box to hold some of his router bits to gift him the next time they
visit. She has no clue as to the sizes and from what I could see
from a few pictures, he's got a nice collection ranging from small
straight bits to giant shaping bits.
I've gathered one standard to be 8mm, but not sure of others.
Any help here would be appreciated as I don't want to screw up a
project that will be scrutinized by a pretty discerning group.

Thanks,
Tom

**bobj3** · 02-07-2008, 08:33 PM

Hi Tom

I'm not sure what type (size) of router bit holder you are going to make but the item below would fit the bill I'm sure...
You could cut it into strips if needed..you can get get from just about any woodworker supply outlet....

Foam Router Bit Storage
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=6064

=========

Gusbub · 02-08-2008, 09:15 AM

Thanks, bob.
Actually, I'm going to bore matching holes into blocks of wood
which will be set into the box. The size of the holes obviously
dependent upon the shank sizes.
It seems the most popular option lately is the 1/2"--8mm adapter.
But again, I'm not certain of exactly what he has and I
just want to try to cover all bases.

Thanks again for the help.

**bobj3** · 02-08-2008, 09:39 AM

You'er Welcome Gusbub

I have made many router bit boxes and you may want to pickup some clear hose/tubing to push the bits into not just the wood,, the wood will rust up the shanks over time not to talk about the acid and resin in woods...like Oak for just one of them..the plastic cup plugs are the best but hard to find...plus the tubing will let the bits go in and come out easy unlike a drilled hole in some wood..

Have fun making the box..

Below you will see just two of them..they can be hung on the wall or just sit on the work bench taking up room

LOL

=========

Gusbub · 02-08-2008, 01:45 PM

Truly useful tip on the plastic tubing....Thank You!
The box itself will be a sort of scaled-down trunk with a
lift-out tray to make the most use of space.
Their tastes are pretty simple (think Pennsylvania Dutch [Deutsch]).
Stout joinery and straight-forward design...form definitely follows function.

I'm really looking forward to it..........it's not everyday you're asked to
make something for another woodworker.

Thanks again for the great tip!

P.S.---nice examples of your work there........

**bobj3** · 02-08-2008, 02:39 PM

You'er Welcome Gusbub
and Thank You

Here's just one more small tip,,pickup some gasket punchs from the auto parts store for about 8.oo bucks a set of 6 or so.

Then find some thin plastic in the shop or the house and punch out some plastic circles that will just fit in the bottom of the drilled holes then push the tubing in the hole, it will hole the circles in place and keep the bottom of the bit free of any rust..but DON't glue them in place, most glues are now water base..as I'm sure you know..

I get books now and then that have plastic for indexing cards ( A to Z ) and keep them around just for the thin plastic...

for shims,etc. on the router table...or gluing thngs up that I don't want to stick to each other..

====================

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gusbub

Truly useful tip on the plastic tubing....Thank You!
The box itself will be a sort of scaled-down trunk with a
lift-out tray to make the most use of space.
Their tastes are pretty simple (think Pennsylvania Dutch [Deutsch]).
Stout joinery and straight-forward design...form definitely follows function.

I'm really looking forward to it..........it's not everyday you're asked to
make something for another woodworker.

Thanks again for the great tip!

P.S.---nice examples of your work there........

**Hamlin** · 02-08-2008, 05:08 PM

Hey Bob, unless my eyes are fooling me but, aren't you're bits a tad close to each other in the storage case on the rightside of pic? Just curious my friend.

**bobj3** · 02-08-2008, 05:17 PM

Hi Ken

It looks that way in the picture but it's a double row, some in the front and some in the back roll,, it's looks like they are touching but it just looks that way in the snapshot ( the shelf is about 3 1/2" wide ) the one on the right side..

But it's time for a new bit box,,, I have too many now I think,,LOL LOL just over 600 or so LOL LOL ... I do like router bits ..

==========

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlin

Hey Bob, unless my eyes are fooling me but, aren't you're bits a tad close to each other in the storage case on the rightside of pic? Just curious my friend.

**Hamlin** · 02-08-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobj3

Hi Ken

It looks that way in the picture but it's a double row, some in the front and some in the back roll,, it's looks like they are touching but it just looks that way in the snapshot ( the shelf is about 3 1/2" wide ) the one on the right side..

But it's time for a new bit box,,, I have too many now I think,,LOL LOL just over 600 or so LOL LOL ... I do like router bits ..

==========

Only 600 or so? LOL

Gotcha, it just looked like a few were "touching". That's why I asked.

I may have to bug ya about some plans for such a thing. Currently using OP's sliding drawer in my table.

**bobj3** · 02-08-2008, 05:44 PM

Hi Ken

The Oak-Park way is a good way to store them but I would go the extra step and put them in a pull out draw box with a flip up lid , I see many use the table and just put the hand under the top and pull out one,,,that's a good way to nick one or your hand if they are sharp like they should be, a box with a lid would make you slide the draw all the way out and lift the lid and lift one out the top side...but that's just my 2 cents..

==============

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlin

Only 600 or so? LOL

Gotcha, it just looked like a few were "touching". That's why I asked.

I may have to bug ya about some plans for such a thing. Currently using OP's sliding drawer in my table.

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