Quick Answer

To install Gridfinity in a Milwaukee Packout drawer, print a 9×6 Gridfinity baseplate sized to fit the drawer interior (~390×245 mm for the 48-22-8443 3-Drawer model), drop it in, and add Gridfinity bins designed for your tools. For the 48-22-8442 2-Drawer (~390×245×100 mm internal), use the same baseplate footprint with deeper bins. Custom tool-shaped bins traced from photos work better than generic Gridfinity bins for hand tools. Total print time: ~6-8 hours per drawer; total cost: ~$8-14 in PETG.

Milwaukee Packout solves the transport-and-stackability problem better than any toolbox in its price range. Gridfinity solves the in-drawer-modularity problem better than any insert system, period. Combine them and you get tools that ride to the jobsite without rattling and pop out into a known location when you arrive. The setup is not complicated, but every step has a specific dimension or part choice that the Facebook posts and MakerWorld models tend to assume you already know. This guide consolidates the workflow.

Why Combine Packout and Gridfinity

Packout's strength is the modular case ecosystem — drawers stack on toolboxes stack on rolling bases, all with the same footprint and locking interface. The weakness is the inside of those drawers: a single rectangular cavity with a thin foam mat, where tools shift in transit and you cannot find what you need at the jobsite. Gridfinity solves the inside-the-drawer problem: a 42 mm grid with snap-in bins for any tool. Together they give you a Packout that opens to a planned, modular layout instead of a jumble.

Generic Gridfinity bins from Printables or MakerWorld work fine for loose hardware (bolts, nuts, hex keys), but for hand tools — pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, multimeters — generic bins waste space and let tools roll. Tool-shaped cavities, traced from photos, make the most of every drawer cell. See the{' '} complete guide to custom Gridfinity bins from a photo{' '} for the trace workflow itself; this post focuses on installation and sizing.

Compatible Packout Drawer Models

Approximate interior dimensions for current drawer-equipped Packout SKUs. Measure your specific unit before printing — Milwaukee tolerances vary by production run. All dimensions in millimeters, width × depth × height per drawer.

48-22-8443 3-Drawer Toolbox: ~390 × 245 × 50 mm per drawer. Fits a 9×6 Gridfinity baseplate (378×252 mm) with ~6 mm clearance to the front. Three drawers, identical footprint.
48-22-8442 2-Drawer Toolbox: ~390 × 245 × 100 mm per drawer. Same 9×6 baseplate, taller bins available (50 mm or 75 mm tall versus the standard 42 mm).
48-22-8444 Large with Drawer (verify before printing): deeper interior; check your unit's actual dimensions and choose baseplate width to match.

For Packout cases without drawers (the 48-22-8424 Tool Box, the Compact Organizer, the 48-22-8450 Large Organizer), the better approach is a custom one-piece tray sized to the case interior. See{' '} how to make custom Milwaukee Packout inserts. Gridfinity in undivided cases is possible but wastes vertical space.

Step 1: Measure Your Drawer

Open a drawer. Measure the interior width, depth, and height with calipers or a folding rule. Measure both diagonals to confirm the drawer is square — Packout drawers are usually within 1 mm but not always. Photograph the drawer interior with a tape measure laid along the long edge for reference.

The Gridfinity grid is 42 mm. A 9×6 baseplate is 378×252 mm — fits the standard 48-22-8443 drawer with margin to spare. If your drawer measures differently (a 2-Drawer with slightly tighter tolerances, or a non-US-market Packout variant), pick a baseplate that leaves 5-10 mm of clearance on each side. The clearance prevents binding when the baseplate expands or contracts with temperature.

Step 2: Print the Baseplate

For a Packout drawer, the lightweight Gridfinity baseplate variant is the right choice. You do not need magnets — the drawer floor and walls hold the baseplate in place, and magnets just add print time and filament cost. Recommended source: any 9×6 lightweight baseplate from Printables or MakerWorld that leaves you the option to add rubber feet later if needed.

Material: PETG. The drawer rides in a vehicle or on a worksite — heat is a concern. PLA warps above 60 °C; PETG handles 80 °C cleanly.
Layer height: 0.2 mm.
Infill: 15% gyroid or grid. The baseplate is not load-bearing in this application (the drawer floor takes the load); infill mainly resists warping.
Walls: 3 perimeters.
Supports: none.
Print time: 6-8 hours on a stock Bambu P1S or Prusa MK4.
Filament cost: ~$5-8 in PETG.

Step 3: Choose Your Bin Style

Two paths from here, and the right choice depends on what tools you are storing.

Generic Gridfinity bins. Fast, lots of free models on Printables and MakerWorld. Best for small parts, hardware, fasteners, or any item that does not need a precision cavity. A 1×1 cell holds a small handful of M6 bolts; a 2×1 cell holds a tap-and-die set.

Custom tool-shaped bins from a photo. Traced via{' '} TracetoForge or another photo-based generator. Best for hand tools that lie flat — pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, multimeters. The cavity is shaped exactly like the tool, so it does not roll, does not rattle, and pops out cleanly with a finger notch. Walkthrough:{' '} create Gridfinity inserts from a photo.

Most well-organized Packout drawers use both — generic bins for hardware and consumables, tool-shaped bins for the actual tools.

Step 4: Print the Bins

Sizing notes for common tools in a 9×6 drawer baseplate (54 cells total):

1×1 (42 mm cell): small parts — hex keys, drill bits, bits, fasteners.
2×1 (84×42 mm): small hand tools — utility knife, multimeter probe leads, a single Knipex Pliers Wrench. Also {' '} stubby wrench sets.
3×1 (126×42 mm): standard pliers, mid-sized hand tools. The canonical bin for a pair of Knipex Cobras.
3×2 (126×84 mm): a small set of screwdrivers, a multimeter, or a pair of pliers plus accessory.
6×1 (252×42 mm): long tools. Combination wrenches up to ~250 mm fit, but anything longer overhangs the cell — see the{' '} wrench set Gridfinity bin guide for full-set layouts.
6×3 (252×126 mm): a 12-piece combination wrench set or a Wera screwdriver set.

Keep the standard Gridfinity stacking lip on. You may want to swap a setup across drawers identically, and the lip is what allows that.

Step 5: Drop In and Test

The baseplate sits flat on the drawer floor; bins drop into the baseplate. No glue, no screws, no fasteners. The baseplate's weight plus the slight rubber friction lining inside Packout drawers holds it during transport.

Stress-test: close the drawer, tilt the case 90 degrees, give it a sharp nudge. Bins should stay seated. If they pop out, your tolerance is off (bins printed too small) — reprint the offending bins with smaller tolerance values. If the baseplate slides forward when the drawer slams shut, you have either a 2-Drawer with deeper bins (more momentum) or worn drawer rubber. The fix is rubber feet.

Anti-Slip for Heavy Setups

For the 2-Drawer model with full-height bins (heavier load, more momentum at speed), four 6 mm rubber feet on the underside of the baseplate stop forward sliding. M3 self-tap screws with rubber tips work too. For most users with the standard 3-Drawer and 50 mm-or-shorter bins, no anti-slip is needed.

Print Time and Cost Worked Example

A typical first-pass setup: one 9×6 baseplate, eight bins (mix of 2×1 and 3×1 sizes), rough breakdown:

9×6 lightweight baseplate: 6-8 hours, ~$5-8 PETG
Eight bins (~1 hour each in parallel where possible): 8 hours total wall-clock, ~$3-6 PETG
Total: 14-16 hours print time, ~$8-14 in filament

For three drawers (full 48-22-8443 setup), multiply by three. ~$25-40 total filament for the entire toolbox interior. Compare to the cost of foam custom-cut by a service ($40-80 per drawer) or the time cost of cutting Kaizen foam by hand (a half-day per drawer): photo-traced custom bins win on cost, durability, and modularity.{' '} 3D printed inserts vs Kaizen foam covers the comparison in detail.

Buy Pre-Made If You Do Not Print

TracetoForge sells precision-fit PETG inserts for common Packout drawer setups on{' '} Amazon{' '} and{' '} Etsy. Inserts ship from a small workshop in Northeast Ohio. Common Knipex, Wera, and Klein tool-set inserts are in stock; for your specific tool set, the photo-trace path is the only way to get a custom fit.

FAQ

Will a Gridfinity baseplate fit the 48-22-8424 Toolbox?

No, not directly — the toolbox has a single deep cavity (~480×295 mm), much larger than a standard 9×6 baseplate. Options: print a 12×8 baseplate sized to the cavity (long print, ~12-16 hours), or use a custom tray instead. For the toolbox specifically, the custom-tray path is usually the better trade.

Can I use a magnetic baseplate?

Possible, but unnecessary in a drawer. Magnets are useful for benchtop or wall-mount setups where the baseplate sits on a steel surface. Inside a Packout drawer, gravity and friction handle the job.

How do I stop bins from popping out when the drawer slams shut?

Most users do not have this problem with the 3-Drawer. If it happens: check that bins are printed at proper Gridfinity tolerance (42×42 mm cells, 41.6 mm bin footprint is the spec). Some downloaded bin models are slightly oversized — reprint at -0.4 mm scale.

Can I mix Gridfinity bins with non-Gridfinity inserts in the same drawer?

Yes. Cover part of the drawer with a 6×6 baseplate (252×252 mm) and leave the remaining 138 mm for a custom tray. Useful when half your drawer is small parts (Gridfinity bins) and half is one large tool (custom tray with a tool-shaped cavity).

Does this work in a non-Milwaukee toolbox?

Yes — the Gridfinity baseplate does not care about brand. DeWalt ToughSystem 2.0 drawers, Ridgid Pro Gear 2.0, Klein ModBox, Festool Systainer drawer modules, and any rolling cabinet drawer all accept a baseplate sized to their interior. Measure the drawer; pick a baseplate that fits. The rest of the workflow is identical.

How long does the printed plastic last?

PETG bins in a Packout drawer last indefinitely under normal use. The failure mode after years of heavy use is fatigue around the stacking lip if you frequently lift bins out by gripping the lip. Easy reprint if it ever happens.

Gridfinity in Milwaukee Packout Drawers: Setup Guide