Drill Bit Storage in Gridfinity: Custom Bin Layouts

Drill bit storage in Gridfinity is its own little category. Sockets are a solved problem (every parametric bin generator handles them), screwdrivers are straightforward (tool-shaped pockets, see the{' '} Wera screwdriver bin guide), wrenches lie flat (the wrench set guide covers them). Drill bits are different: they store standing up, and the right cavity geometry depends on whether you optimize for edge protection (tip-down) or visibility (tip-up). Both are valid; pick one and commit.

This guide covers twist drills, brad-point, Forstner, step drills, hole saws, and spade bits. The workflow differs a bit between standard and irregular sets — standard twist sets do not need photo-tracing, but anything else benefits from it.

Tip-Up vs Tip-Down: Pick One

The biggest design decision happens before you print anything:

• Tip-up — bit cavity opens at the bottom, cutting edge points up. Sizes are visible at a glance because you see the shank end with its size stamp. Cutting edge is exposed (chips and dulls slightly faster from contact). Pulls straight out by the shank. Does not work for very short bits (under ~25 mm).
• Tip-down — bit cavity opens at the top, cutting edge points down. Cutting edge is protected by the cavity walls. Sizes need labels or memory because you only see the shank end's flat tail. Lifts out via the exposed shank with a fingertip pinch. Works for any bit length.

Recommendation: tip-down for hobby and infrequent use (longer bit life, less wear),{' '} tip-up for production and constant use (faster identification, fewer pulls of the wrong size). Most home shops are tip-down territory.

Set Sizes and Bin Dimensions

Approximate Gridfinity bin sizes for common bit sets. Pocket depth assumes tip-down storage; for tip-up, roughly 2× the bit length.

• Twist drill (jobber length, 29-piece, 1/16″-1/2″): 4×2 bin (168×84 mm), 25 mm pocket depth tip-down (or ~80 mm tip-up).
• Twist drill (135° split point, metric 1-13 mm, 25-piece): 4×2 bin, same depth.
• Brad-point (woodworking, 7-piece): 2×1 bin (84×42 mm), 35 mm depth.
• Forstner set (16-piece): 4×2 bin (168×84 mm), 30 mm depth tip-down. Larger Forstner heads (1″ and up) sit proud above the cavity.
• Step drills (3-piece): 2×1 bin (84×42 mm), 60 mm flat-down (step drills store laid horizontally).
• Hole saw set (10-piece): 3×2 bin (126×84 mm), 25 mm shallow tray with stacked storage.
• Spade bits (13-piece): 3×2 bin (126×84 mm), 30 mm depth tip-down.
• Impact-driver bits (1/4″ hex shank, mixed): 1×1 cells per bit; do not need tracing.

Three Methods, Three Use Cases

Method 1: Use a Parametric Generator (uniform sets)

For a clean 29-piece twist set with known sizes (1/16, 5/64, 3/32, ... 1/2), the existing parametric Gridfinity bin generators do this fine. Skip TracetoForge for this case — you do not need photo-tracing for a uniform set of cylinders. Hit{' '} gridfinitygenerator.com{' '} or your favorite parametric tool, type the bit diameters, and you have an STL in 30 seconds.

Use TracetoForge instead if you have a non-standard set (mixed brands, missing sizes), a specialty set (Forstner, brad-point, step, spade), or bits that the parametric generator does not recognize as a preset.

Method 2: Photo-to-Print (anything irregular)

Lay the full set on A4 paper, organized as you want it in the bin. Photograph from directly above. Each bit becomes its own cavity in the trace. Special photographic notes:

• Twist bits are reflective. The tissue-paper trick from the{' '} photo tips guide helps a lot — drape one sheet of tissue across the set before shooting.
• Forstner bits photograph from straight above the cutting face. The silhouette (head outline plus shank) is what you want as a cavity.
• Step drills store flat (laid on their side), not tip-up or tip-down. Photograph them laid flat on the paper showing the side profile; the cavity ends up shaped like an elongated stepped cone.

Trace settings:

• Sensitivity: 5-7 for most reflective metal bits. Lower for matte black coated bits.
• Mode: Gridfinity Bin.
• Cavity depth: per the size table above.
• Tolerance: 0.5 mm. Bits slide in and out frequently; tighter tolerance causes binding.

Method 3: 1×1 Cells per Bit (no tracing)

Drop each bit into a generic 1×1 Gridfinity cell. Wastes some space but is the fastest setup, no editor time at all. Best for tip-up storage of mixed bit collections where having one cell per bit is more important than packing density. Generic 1×1 small-parts bins are everywhere on Printables.

Print Settings

• Material: PETG. Bits in a workshop see oil, cutting fluid, and occasional heat. PLA holds up but PETG is more durable for this application.
• Layer height: 0.2 mm.
• Infill: 15% gyroid.
• Walls: 4 perimeters for tip-up bins (the bits press against cavity walls repeatedly); 3 perimeters for tip-down (less wall stress).
• Supports: none for standard bins.
• Print time: 3-5 hours per bin.
• Filament: $2-4.

Indexing and Labels

Tip-down storage hides bit sizes — you only see the flat shank end. Three ways to address this:

• Embossed numbers in the bin floor. The TracetoForge editor supports a label feature on the bin floor next to each cavity. Adds a small height to the print but no extra filament cost.
• Printed paper labels. Print a small label sheet with the size next to each bit position, slip under a clear adhesive top sheet for protection.
• Sticker per cavity. Brother P-touch label maker, one label per cavity. Labor- intensive but durable.
• Memory. Sort by size and learn the layout. Works fine if you use the bits often enough.

For tip-up storage, sizes are visible directly — no labels needed.

Multi-Set Bins (mixed bit types)

If you have a 29-piece twist set, an 8-piece brad-point set, and a 3-piece step drill set in the same drawer, two paths:

• Three separate bins. Cleaner. Each bin has consistent depth and bit type. Trade some space for organization clarity.
• One combined bin. A 6×2 or 6×3 bin with mixed cavity sizes. Compact and uses fewer baseplate cells, but harder to expand if you buy more bits later (the layout is fixed at print time). Photo-to-print mode is the only practical way to design this — lay all bits out on one sheet of paper, trace at once.

Buy Pre-Made If You Do Not Print

TracetoForge sells drill bit Gridfinity bins for standard 29-piece twist sets on{' '} Amazon{' '} and{' '} Etsy. For irregular sets (Forstner, brad-point, mixed) the photo-trace path is the only way to get a custom fit; pre-made inserts only cover the standard SKUs.

FAQ

Magnetic drill bit holder vs Gridfinity?

Different jobs. Magnets are great at the drill press itself — bits are at-arm and visible. Gridfinity is for storage between projects. Most well-organized shops have both: magnetic strip at the press for active work, Gridfinity bins in a drawer for the larger collection.

Is PETG safe for drill bit storage?

Yes. Bits do not off-gas, do not heat the cavity, and any cutting fluid residue wipes off PETG cleanly. ABS would also work but is overkill.

Will it work for impact-driver bits?

Use 1×1 Gridfinity cells. Impact bits are too short for tip-down storage in deep cavities — they disappear into the cavity if you make it deep enough to protect the tip. Tip-up in 1×1 cells is the right pattern.

Can I sort by size and decimal/fractional?

Your call. The trace captures shape only — it does not know whether the bits are SAE or metric. Lay the bits in your preferred order before photographing, and the cavity layout matches.

How tight should the cavity be?

Bits slide in and out frequently, so tolerance matters more than for hand tools. 0.5 mm is the right starting point. If bits drop in too freely (rattling when the bin is tilted), reprint at 0.3 mm. If they bind, reprint at 0.7 mm.

Related Reading

• The Complete Guide to Custom Gridfinity Bins from a Photo — pillar workflow
• Wrench Set Gridfinity Bin — sister tool-specific guide
• Wera Screwdriver Gridfinity Bin
• Gridfinity in Milwaukee Packout Drawers — workshop integration
• Photo Tips for a Clean Gridfinity Trace