Space efficient Socket and Wrench Storage

[Jsf721]

Need to make better use of the space in these 2 drawers. Need more space efficient wrench and socket organizers.

Please make suggestions and links if you have, thanks

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/153378150@N04/39462691385/in/datetaken/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4719/39462691385_4a1d312665_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


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[Stadger]

How'd you get them to defy gravity like that?

 

[ocloc24]

Literally any wrench rack would be 5x more space efficient than those, as for socket rails I use the trays for all my chrome and impacts and then the plastic socket rails from HF for all my bit sockets, low profile, flex/swivels, etc. If you want to save even more space use the rails for your normal sockets too, but that would drive me nuts. The trays are much more efficient to work out of. The other solution is to buy a bigger box. Then you'll have room to buy evem more tools lol. Until you overflow that one, it's a never ending cycle

 

[Fedwrench]

Rails, both wrench & socket.

Snap on's KRA15a are probably the best wrench rails but you can get taller versions from Ernst, OEM Tools, & Lowes to name a few.

The best socket rails are Vim magrail Tls but, they are expensive. another nice rail are the ones branded wright sold by Epsteins in red or blue varying lengths. They also have extra pegs available. You can also get similar rails from cripe distributing branded Kobalt or Craftsman.

 

[MikeF2316]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=341180

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Ernst Socket Boss and gripper wrench racks is the route I went. Shop around for the best prices.
http://www.ernstmfg.com/

Snap-on wrench rails are also good for mounting in the drawer if you're only grabbing individual wrenches:
https://store.snapon.com/Wrench-Organizers-Wrench-Organizer-Black-For-smaller-wrenches--P646905.aspx

and lots of folks here rave about Westling trays for sockets
http://westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

 

[RAS61]

Do you plan on adding more, because they're well organized and spaced now? Don't see how you can get much more in the socket drawer, the wrench drawer would have more space with the use of racks like those from Ernst:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XSTV5G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[shanny19]

Holy **** where's my hardhat?

 

[Two Door]

I'll ask this as politely as possible - How do you get to almost two thousand posts on GJ without having seen any threads about wrench or toolbox organization?

 

[Jsf721]

The way I got to 1999 posts was by doing my best to answer the OP's question if the information they were seeking was in my wheel house. If I had zero to add to the thread, I did not post anything as it derails the subject that someone is seeking info on or about.

Yes, I have seen many, Many, MANY toolbox organization threads. Some of the most elaborate that I drool over all the way to the normal and everything in-between. Over the weekend I went through my 2 boxes and culled the tools I no longer use. This gave me the opportunity to re organize, and neaten things up. I still would like more room, but its getting scarce. I decided to post 2 drawers that I'd like to find a way to put more tools in and still stay organized. I asked for Links bc sometimes when you see a picture, you like what you see but don't know what it is, or where to buy it. I also like to hear what others like because this forum has been very helpful in allowing me to find great solutions to issues I have faced. It has also allowed me to side step problems. Its a true resource as is the membership on the whole.

If you look over my posts, you will see that when I have some expertise, or experience in what someone else is looking for I chime in to help, to the best of my ability. As do 99.99% of the member here.

I hope you have a good day, and I also hope that when you post something on the forum you get the answers you were seeking.

I'll ask this as politely as possible - How do you get to almost two thousand posts on GJ without having seen any threads about wrench or toolbox organization?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I agree with Fedwrench, again.

The Snap on wrench rails for full sets, Ernst 8 or 11 holders for stubby wrenches, and Vim mag rail TL for sockets.

I do use the red and black magnetic Craftsman / MTS rails for the heavy/seldom used 1/2 sockets.

 

[crewchief888]

this is garage journal,
so the correct answer is, buy a bigger toolbox

nearly any wrench rack system will be better/more space efficient, than what you have.

as for socket storage,

anything out there is more space efficient than hansen type trays.

metal rails, plastic rails,(locking or not), metal socket trays, (like socket sets used to come in "back in the day") MTS magnetic and even lisle flat magnetic holders....

i use them all to some extent or another.

 

[Jsf721]

Thanks that would be my first choice actually.

I will eventually need more storage. I just don’t know where to put it.

The magnetic rails sound interesting. I hate pulling them off the locking ones. The trays are open to ending up all over the place. I know me.

Can you suggest a good magnetic system for sockets. I have a full set of 1/4, 3/8, 1/2” regular and deep metric and sae.

this is garage journal,
so the correct answer is, buy a bigger toolbox

nearly any wrench rack system will be better/more space efficient, than what you have.

as for socket storage,

anything out there is more space efficient than hansen type trays.

metal rails, plastic rails,(locking or not), metal socket trays, (like socket sets used to come in "back in the day") MTS magnetic and even lisle flat magnetic holders....

i use them all to some extent or another.

 

[Toothaker]

this is garage journal,
so the correct answer is, buy a bigger toolbox
(snip)

Crewchief, I know you were being funny, but that's actually the right answer.

Before GJ, I had all my tools in a terrible mess. All my SAE wrenches were tossed into a small drawer, all on top of each other. Similarly, all my metric wrenches were in one drawer. It was space efficient, but it was impossible to quickly find the right wrench.

So now I have my wrenches in my new, bigger tool boxes. They are much more efficient, but in a very different way - they are quick to find, and quick to identify which ones are being used, out of place, missing.

 

[DavidB]

I like the DIY coiled wire wrench racks. They're cheap, adjustable, and allow for dense packing of the wrenches. Someone on here suggested it a while back and I've been happy with it.

 

[Jsf721]

What kind of wire did you use ? What did you wrap it around to get the
Correct diameter ?

I like the DIY coiled wire wrench racks. They're cheap, adjustable, and allow for dense packing of the wrenches. Someone on here suggested it a while back and I've been happy with it.

 

[magtl]

Should be a wider Magrail TL soon. Three "T" channels for pegs to align tools. Longer pegs for placing wrenches on edge to maximize space. They should look something like this.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I tried the Ernst wrench rails but, they were too tall. I ended up using the Lowes (Kobalt) as they allow the drawer to close. I did like the Ernst as they reversed the wrench faces when having the longer wrench in the front. I ended up cutting four sets to the lengths I needed.

Your socket racks look fine. You may just need to move them around to see what works the best. I like my Hansen's quite a bit. On some jobs I'll pull the whole rack and put it in my bag or cart. Some times I'll just carry the tray with the extensions and drive tools I think I need in the middle of the trays. I also use metal and plastic rails, small metal box, and homemade racks for my pass through sockets.

 

[DavidB]

What kind of wire did you use ? What did you wrap it around to get the
Correct diameter ?

You can use whatever kind of soft wire that will hold the shape. I've used soft steel wire, aluminum wire, and copper wire. I like copper because I usually am able to remove it from Romex cutoffs for free. Wrap it around whatever you want that is a good size. The diameter and number of loops depends on the wrenches you want to hold. Smaller loops work better with smaller wrenches. Larger loops work better with larger wrenches. I've used a 1/2" extension and broom handle as forms before. I also leave some extra loops on a rack in case I want to add some more wrenches to the rack. The extra loops can be pressed together so they don't take up much room.

 

[fos373]

Can you suggest a good magnetic system for sockets. I have a full set of 1/4, 3/8, 1/2” regular and deep metric and sae.

Probably already been said, but VIM magrails. Not cheap but work great. Use them in my race tool cart and nothing moves. Can be configured nearly any way you want

http://www.vimtools.com/store/page30.html

I also saw ONCE a hansen type track that had a magnetized base, unfortunately it was a one off item, didn't have a full set for metric/sae in 1/4 - 1/2.....

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019QNFQE6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[crewchief888]

Crewchief, I know you were being funny, but that's actually the right answer.

Before GJ, I had all my tools in a terrible mess. All my SAE wrenches were tossed into a small drawer, all on top of each other. Similarly, all my metric wrenches were in one drawer. It was space efficient, but it was impossible to quickly find the right wrench.

So now I have my wrenches in my new, bigger tool boxes. They are much more efficient, but in a very different way - they are quick to find, and quick to identify which ones are being used, out of place, missing.

in my service truck i really had to condense my storage, and find alternative ways of making it "work" basically stuffing 100 lbs of **** into a 5 lb box...

i have 3/8" and 1/2" sockets in the top compartment crammed in so tight that nothing moves unless i pull it out. 3/4" dr sockets are in a separate drawer, again all crammed together so they dont move. 1/4" dr stuff is all in a separate blow molded box that keeps everything together.

i have a little more toolbox space in the garage, and not nearly as many sockets, (or wrenches), nor the larger sizes that i carry in my service truck. wrenches up to 2" sockets up to 2 1/8". larger 3/4" dr sockets i dont have a use for at this time are still in my big work boxes, that i moved home a couple years ago for "safe keeping"

last pic is from the last dealer i worked at, had to "condense" down from that setup to the CM top/mid boxes for basic hand tools in my service truck

 

[EOC_Jason]

Here are most of my wrenches, I used the ernst and trimmed them to fit the depth of my drawers. I have another drawer with DBE & DOE wrenches with the same rails...

For sockets I just have the HF plastic trays. Work well enough even though they don't have slots for all the size sockets I have.

 

[dale500]

I'm a big fan of using custom wire wrench racks. You can fit a lot in each drawer and make them with the exact number of slots needed for each set. I have a mini base ball bat that I cut the end off of. That allows for the loops to taper to match the size of the wrenches.

 

[tool_scrounge]

It depends on your use case. Are you grabbing tools and taking them to your project? Is a larger tool box not an option in the short term? Is down sizing your tool collection not possible?

Put your wrenches in tool rolls. You can cram in a crazy amount of wrenches that way. This of course presumes your trays have some height to them.