How to store socket rails?

[JVB]

I used to use the Ernst socket boss holders. The plastic flexed too much for my liking with larger sockets although one never broke .

Recently purchased some aluminum rails. Olsa, mod box, ABN all appear identical and have a slot on each end to make a hold down.

My thought was either use 1/4” oak or 1/4” vinyl cut to size to fit each set with recessed pins or permanant screws. Similar to the Ernst design just made of wood or thicker plastic. I would be fine with the whole tray being removable or the socket rails only.

Anyone have any better ideas or thoughts?

 

[flushcut]

I have to lay my rails on their sides.

I like the look of those rails. Twist lock?

 

[JVB]

Ernst had the twist lock. These are standard ball detents identical to a ratchets end.

 

[LXCam]

Those look really nice. And because of that don't use wood, get a piece or pieces of aluminum to mount them on.

Btw, where'd you get those at?

 

[JVB]

Amazon. All prices were close but The mod box and olsa included the most clips . ABN was the least.

I do lots of woodworking projects and could make it nice. Aluminum may get pricey as I need enough to mount 12 rails on. Roughly 3” wide x 18” long each pair

 

[tarmy]

This...same rails with a different name...

 

[lowside67]

I recall a post where the guy had used a new baking sheet as a base and then pinned the rails in it - looked really slick.

-Mark

 

[JVB]

This...same rails with a different name...

Nice drawer, what brand are yours? They stand upright pretty well without anything added?

 

[Yarpo]

I bought some Olsa rails and really like them, very sturdy. Mine actually stay upright in my drawer very well, tho I have them wedged between other trails/rails. They've tipped once in the two weeks I had them, but I'm pretty sure I gave the drawer a much harder close than usual (stupid M54 breather hoses ****)

I would say double sided tape would probably do fine, but I like the idea of adding little pegs that would seat into the slots on the rails, good thinking.

 

[Two Door]

Buy the rails mounted four to a set on a metal sheet with a handle from Lowes, ABN or OLSA. The clips from your rails will fit right on. While not all clips on the market are interchangeable, I know yours will, as I just bought the mod box rails to get the clips for my Lowes organizer.

 

[hangfirew8]

I screw them down to Masonite (aka tempered hardboard) sheets at 2 rails per board. The board is cut wide enough it doesn't flop over and I sand the edges round. I can get high density storage and they're still light enough (for 1/4 and 3/8 anyway) I can grab the whole thing and bring it over to the car I'm working on.

 

[JVB]

I bought some Olsa rails and really like them, very sturdy. Mine actually stay upright in my drawer very well, tho I have them wedged between other trails/rails. They've tipped once in the two weeks I had them, but I'm pretty sure I gave the drawer a much harder close than usual (stupid M54 breather hoses ****)

I would say double sided tape would probably do fine, but I like the idea of adding little pegs that would seat into the slots on the rails, good thinking.

They look good in there. Double sided tape I worry with my 1/2” drive impacts and other large sockets. Wanted either pegs or screwed down.

Buy the rails mounted four to a set on a metal sheet with a handle from Lowes, ABN or OLSA. The clips from your rails will fit right on. While not all clips on the market are interchangeable, I know yours will, as I just bought the mod box rails to get the clips for my Lowes organizer.

The kobalt rails are also another one that appear identical to these.

I screw them down to Masonite (aka tempered hardboard) sheets at 2 rails per board. The board is cut wide enough it doesn't flop over and I sand the edges round. I can get high density storage and they're still light enough (for 1/4 and 3/8 anyway) I can grab the whole thing and bring it over to the car I'm working on.

That was my original thinking on either plastic or hardwood 1/4” thick . 2 rails per strip . Perfect for storage in the box or easily removable if needed .

 

[ghost68]

Instead of pinning, a fixed base, or screwing them down, if you want to be able to pull the entire rail out, why not epoxy small magnets to the bottom. I think it would work for the smaller sockets. Deep ones might tip over.

 

[JVB]

Instead of pinning, a fixed base, or screwing them down, if you want to be able to pull the entire rail out, why not epoxy small magnets to the bottom. I think it would work for the smaller sockets. Deep ones might tip over.

Might be worth a test to see if they will hold.

 

[PartsGuy]

I have a dozen or more of these Olsa/Modbox/ABN aluminum rails in my socket drawer, and they don't tip at all. (I even have 1/2" swivel sockets and swivel spark plug sockets on a couple of rails....) Instead of-side to-side "rows" like yarpo, I store them in front-to-back "columns" like tarmy, so when I open the drawer, they aren't apt to tip. If the drawers are too shallow to fit (18" box, etc), they are easy to cut, and you can get end caps for them pretty easily. I have fit a rather high density of sockets into my top drawer this way, but I still use the Hansen 3-row racks for my regular 1/4 and 3/8 sockets, and I just ordered the Westling 3-row trays for my 1/2 drive sockets, because Hansen skips sizes in both SAE and Metric.... and I have OCD about that stuff.

 

[Yarpo]

I have a dozen or more of these Olsa/Modbox/ABN aluminum rails in my socket drawer, and they don't tip at all. (I even have 1/2" swivel sockets and swivel spark plug sockets on a couple of rails....) Instead of-side to-side "rows" like yarpo, I store them in front-to-back "columns" like tarmy, so when I open the drawer, they aren't apt to tip. If the drawers are too shallow to fit (18" box, etc), they are easy to cut, and you can get end caps for them pretty easily. I have fit a rather high density of sockets into my top drawer this way, but I still use the Hansen 3-row racks for my regular 1/4 and 3/8 sockets, and I just ordered the Westling 3-row trays for my 1/2 drive sockets, because Hansen skips sizes in both SAE and Metric.... and I have OCD about that stuff.

Got any pics? My box is deep enough to turn everything side ways I just haven't had time to experiment with it much. I agree tho, even straight up they dont tip, I imagine sideways they'd be obviously even less apt to tip as you stated. That said I loaded it up when I rolled into this shop and have been super busy since, but I'd like to maybe switch the sockets sideways too as my extensions are sideways in their respective trays.

Also speaking of shops, westling machine is like 5 minutes from my work, I keep wanting to pop in there and buy some of their stuff, but I really think hansen 3 row trays are going to be my new trays unless westling does 3 row stuff.

 

[6PTsocket]

Amazon. All prices were close but The mod box and olsa included the most clips . ABN was the least.

I do lots of woodworking projects and could make it nice. Aluminum may get pricey as I need enough to mount 12 rails on. Roughly 3” wide x 18” long each pair

I was looking at those on Amazon. They advertise that they come with 2 extra end caps so you can cut 1 rail into 2. One reviewer was ticked off because he did not get the exra caps and Mod Box ignored his emails Do any of the vendors at least offer extra clips for sale? They come in a whole mess of different colors.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Yarpo]

I was looking at those on Amazon. They advertise that they come with 2 extra end caps so you can cut 1 rail into 2. One reviewer was ticked off because he did not get the exra caps and Mod Box ignored his emails Do any of the vendors at least offer extra clips for sale? They come in a whole mess of different colors.

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Olsa offers lots of extra clips, you can find them on amazon rather easily. That said for the price you might be better off ordering another set or individual rail, the clips where a little spendy in my opinion. 7.49 for 10, or you can order the whole set again for 25 dollars, or each individual rail for 13 which gives you 16 for 1/2" 18 for 3/8" and 20 for 1/4"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2ZGUXV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSWZGMV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G31X7AE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[GeoRoss]

Got any pics? My box is deep enough to turn everything side ways I just haven't had time to experiment with it much. I agree tho, even straight up they dont tip, I imagine sideways they'd be obviously even less apt to tip as you stated. That said I loaded it up when I rolled into this shop and have been super busy since, but I'd like to maybe switch the sockets sideways too as my extensions are sideways in their respective trays.

Also speaking of shops, westling machine is like 5 minutes from my work, I keep wanting to pop in there and buy some of their stuff, but I really think hansen 3 row trays are going to be my new trays unless westling does 3 row stuff.

Westling does make 3-row in 1/4 and 3/8. I can't recall if they do in 1/2.

 

[Two Door]

I was looking at those on Amazon. They advertise that they come with 2 extra end caps so you can cut 1 rail into 2. One reviewer was ticked off because he did not get the exra caps and Mod Box ignored his emails Do any of the vendors at least offer extra clips for sale? They come in a whole mess of different colors.

Ditto what Yarpo said - Buying a pack of clips is no cheaper, (usually about seventy-five cents a piece) and in many cases is more expensive than buying the whole rail. For example, check out the mod box rails, essentially they sell you the clips cheaply and throw in the rail for free. Or figure the per-clip cost on this - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Steel-Socket-Storage-Tray/3381278?cm_mmc=display_-_-D-_-RT-_-MIS-_-& or this https://www.amazon.com/Olsa-Tools-Portable-Organizer-Sockets/dp/B0776Z4ZTQ/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1550024119&sr=8-7-spons&keywords=mod+box+socket+rail&psc=1

Here are the end caps for the metal rails - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSWZGMV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[JVB]

Olsa offers lots of extra clips, you can find them on amazon rather easily. That said for the price you might be better off ordering another set or individual rail, the clips where a little spendy in my opinion. 7.49 for 10, or you can order the whole set again for 25 dollars, or each individual rail for 13 which gives you 16 for 1/2" 18 for 3/8" and 20 for 1/4"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2ZGUXV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSWZGMV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G31X7AE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That was the best option for me. I just ordered a whole new set. Lowe’s (kobalt) has a short rail that uses these same clips as well. Usually 7-9$ each. With coupons and savings that is not a bad deal .

 

[Yarpo]

Westling does make 3-row in 1/4 and 3/8. I can't recall if they do in 1/2.

Oh hell ya perfect as I dont need a 1/2 3 row. Maybe I'll stop by their shop Thursday then and see

 

[6PTsocket]

Personally, I like the Gearwrench rails but something I don't like is the 1/4" rail is only 9" long. I like to keep my 1/4" shallow and deep on the same rail. I would have to convert a 3/8 or 1/2" rail to 1/4" which involves buying a lot of extra stuff. The rails are glass filled nylon rather that aluminum but they are plenty strong. I also like the enclosed clips rather than clips that straddle the rail. Do those vinyl end caps stay on the aluminum rails or would I end up installing some kind of screw stop thru the rail?

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[PartsGuy]

Yarpo, Westling is making 3-row trays in 1/2 inch now, too. I have a set on order as we speak (type)... I also agree that the best way to get extra clips is to just order the Mod-box rails. Cost effective, and an extra rail is always handy... I don't have any pics of my layout, but I can take some tonight or tomorrow and show my "system".... although it will change up a bit once I receive my Westling order...

 

[Jeeper]

Those look like the rails that came on my Astro stubby sockets.