Socket organization.

[Esteban86K5]

Show me what you guys use to keep your sockets in line. I was thinking of getting some of those rails that the sockets clip onto, but I don't want them to just fall off all the time. Anyone have some that are good quality? Mabey a locking type?

What else do you guys use? Trays? Bins? Or do you just throw them in the drawer and find them when you need them?

Just trying to clean up my garage and tool box a bit.

 

[rjfguitar]

I got what appears to be a plastic pegboard like doobober from Orchard and this is what I did in my service truck. They come with little plastic pegs that fit into the slot of 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2 drive. It's a craftsman product and you might be able to find it on their website.


In my shop box I just keep each gang of sockets on it's own metal rail and line them up in rows. Then, each size (1/4, 3/8, 1/2) has it's own drawars.

 

[Esteban86K5]

That looks good. But what rails are you useing? Do the larger sockets fall off easily?

 

[divorced]

I have Crapsman sockets and keep them in the plastic thing they came in. It makes it nice when working on stuff to be able to take a small plastic strip with me and have all the sizes I need.

I would use the magnetic strips if I were to buy something else. I had the metal rails with the clips before but really didn't like them.



.

 

[Confedneck79K30]

check out "mechanics time savers" 'lock-a-socket" holders... you can put a whole set of 1/2" deep impacts on one, and shake it and they wont fall off...

 

[Confedneck79K30]

http://store.brandsright.com/0246-mts-las50.html

this guy's high on the price... but they work great

 

[Esteban86K5]

Divorced, magnets don't stay very clean in a garage that has a lot of welding dust. The metal rails will work great if I can find some that hold tight.

Confed, those look good except for the magnet.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I use these Hansen socket trays. These things rock.

 

[Esteban86K5]

I'm having a bit of DE JA VU

 

[88sub4x4]

I use these Hansen socket trays. These things rock.

Agreed, I use these too!

 

[Confedneck79K30]

those work very well also, and just like the MTS ones i showed ya, can be screwed down...

 

[readymix]

I have the Hanson trays and the MTS rails.
The trays are great for leaving in a toolbox but suck to have to move out to the driveway.
The MTS rails work all around. The magnet will hold a full rail of 3/8's sockets to my fender horizontially until you smack it. If you put it verticle it will stay in place all day. Even the 1/2" rail with deep sockets will stay on the side of my roll-away.

 

[Txchevy18]

Ive got two sets of teh hansens at work. Both metric an standard 1/4 up to 1/2". They keep teh drawers very organized but can use up quite a bit of space... I guess you have to have a trade off some where. My only complaint is that they dont cover every socket size i have. My 3/8" only goes to 20mm and i have all the way to 23mm. The 1/2" standard only goes to 1" 1/4" while my set goes all the way up to 1 " 3/4" and my metic only goes to 26mm i belive while my set goes to 40mm. Other that those few issues they work great and are awesome for checking to see if anything is missing with just a quick glance.

 

[rdn2blazer]

http://store.brandsright.com/0246-mts-las50.html

this guy's high on the price... but they work great

I use these and I love them. I also use several others like the Craftsman plastic socket holders that have like a ratchet square with the ball and spring as the socket holder, they work great too.

 

[ryoken]

the ones just posted, I used in my box and like them...

For my carry bags I use the ratchet end style, where you push down the base to pop em off... freakin awesome.. they'd work well "in-box" too...

After 25 yrs, I think I've tried every method available..

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

i have the craftsman sticks with the metal nipples on it(. i love them b/c ill grab one rack and my air ratchet and it works fine. Mine havent fallin off ever and they are over a year and a half old.

 

[Esteban86K5]

Yeah I am pretty sold on the Craftsman plastic type with nipples on them. I found some Kobalt ones at Lowes that are the same and hold very well. I guess I just need to pony up some cash and get them.

Thanks for all the info gentlemen.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Hey Esteban, why do you really need these socket trays anyway. After selling all your stuff you have nothing to work on so tools aren't needed anymore right.

 

[K5MONSTERCHEV]

I use these Hansen socket trays. These things rock.

I have these also. Cheap at the swap meets, same ones Snap-On sell for less $.

 

[BigBen]

I use these Hansen socket trays. These things rock.

I vote for these too if you want'em in your garage. I filled a drawer in my toolbox with them.

I got a full set of 1/2 3/8 and 1/4 both SAE and metric for Christmas the other year. She got them out of Summit. (Best price at the time)