Socket Rails for 1/2 inch impact sockets

[scale]

ANyone have any reasonable recommendations for socket rails that will hold impact sockets? IM tired of them being loose in my drawer and a pain to travel with loose.


I am thinking some husky brand from HD would probably do just fine but just looking for recommendations.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

ANyone have any reasonable recommendations for socket rails that will hold impact sockets? IM tired of them being loose in my drawer and a pain to travel with loose.





I am thinking some husky brand from HD would probably do just fine but just looking for recommendations.

I use the ones from Rural King they are great hold chrome or impact sockets I have multiple of each drive holders in my box and carts both at work and home and for around $3 each you can’t beat them that is if you have a Rural King in your area if not you could order them from their website if you wanted


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[Al Borland]

Deep/Larger 1/2" Impacts are not going to stay very well on the chrome socket rails if you pick the rails up and carry them around. They do keep the sockets organized in a toolbox if you can lay them on their side. Something like the Lisle magnetic carriers would work better to carry out of a box.
Or, buy new sockets that come in a case, because Garage Journal encourages tool addiction.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Deep/Larger 1/2" Impacts are not going to stay very well on the chrome socket rails if you pick the rails up and carry them around. They do keep the sockets organized in a toolbox if you can lay them on their side. Something like the Lisle magnetic carriers would work better to carry out of a box.
Or, buy new sockets that come in a case, because Garage Journal encourages tool addiction.

I didn’t know they made racks for each ones they fit the same on mine just fine


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[Lucid Moments]

I use a Kobalt one for my metric 1/2" impacts and it works fine. Similar to a Hansen tray but not quite. 10mm to 27mm. Got nothing fore bigger than 27mm.

 

[Roadster J]

I use the westling socket holders in my cart for impacts. They work fine for me, but if you want to carry sockets out of your box/cart, you you could look into the Vim Tools magrails.


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[bob15]

If you shop around (hje and look for Wright socket rails), you can find them cheaper than here: https://cloud1.shopsite.com/donofish/product169.html

 

[richfinn]

I like the old skool Snap-On metal rails best

They are stiffer and dont twist like the chrome finish ones

Magnet rails hold most of mine in my truck

 

[Black300zx]

I have my 10mm-->32mm deep 1/2" impact sockets on a 18" Ernst rail, and so far I'm happy with it. My set skips some sizes, so depending on how many you're trying to fit, you might need multiple

https://www.ernstmfg.com/8457-2-rail-twist-lock-socket-boss-18-blue-1/2-clips.aspx

 

[RedneckWelder]

Ernst twist lock is going to be my travel recommendation.

I have VIM Magrails in my box to hold my swivel set (very heavy) and the rest is on Gearwrench and Ernst rails. Both are great choices for sockets the twist lock just add more security when you put them in a bag

 

[Mr_B]

I like the old skool Snap-On metal rails best

Yeh they great and cheap .
I used these for decades, shorten them to suit range of sockets that easily portable and can stay on the cart box worktop all day long plus helps keep track of sockets .

Not biggest fan of magnets as collects to much debris and makes your sockets hold debris .
some of the plastic/alloy twist lock rails quite good, I don't use hanson style trays they seem pointless to me for anything besides show box use and not that adaptable .

 

[Al Borland]

I didn’t know they made racks for each ones they fit the same on mine just fine


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Fit the same, yes. It's the weight and length that make them fall off easier. Fine for box/drawer storage, but O.P. does seem to mention transporting them.

 

[Gummi Bear]

The metal rails are pretty crummy by themselves, but screwing it to a board makes them work so much better. When the rails twist, the sockets fall off.



I have my ½” impact sockets on these, and I can grab a rail to go and do a task. Nothing falls off. I suppose they might if I dropped it on the floor.




I got the idea from a YouTube video. It’s been working really well for me for a couple of years now. I have about $3.00 in each rail (99¢ rail from HF, handle from Amazon a couple of screws, and poplar for the board)


I really like the Westling Machine holders, they’re a bit out of my reach though.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Fit the same, yes. It's the weight and length that make them fall off easier. Fine for box/drawer storage, but O.P. does seem to mention transporting them.

Oh ok


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[SteveCh]

I use the Ernst rails for my 1/2" impacts. There are different capacities [I mean the number of sockets they'll hold], and in mine I purchased a two-rail set. The rails fit into a tray which I can pick up and carry should I need to, and the rails snap into that tray so they won't fall out while carried. I have some deep sockets on one rail, and they do not fall over in the tool box.

Quite inexpensive, and Amazon has them

 

[WinMod21]

I've been liking my (6) Mod-Box rails that I ordered approx a year ago, although I leave them in a travel toolbox (which is probably what they're best suited for) -- mainly just for taking back&forth from our other residence. They're aluminum and come in several colors, and no sockets have fallen off. Though they're fairly narrow, so likely to fall over, especially with impacts, unless supported sideways by other rails &c.

But those Ernest rails look better to me, with the twist locks!

 

[Jeeper]

I am a big fan of craftsman plastic rails and have used them for years. I just swapped the 1/2 impact rails for Osla aluminum rails. They are really nice. They have the stiffness for the weight of a complete 1/2” impact set.

 

[texasprd]

I use the Lock-a-socket style - got mine from Sears several years ago but they look exactly like the Mechanics Time Saver style (I suspect they are rebranded MTS).

I really like them because there is a little overhang in my socket drawer, and the socket engagement on these rails is good enough to let me lift the whole rail by a couple of sockets if needed.

 

[jcbarry]

I use the Ernst Socket Boss trays and rails. Have worked really well for me, I use on sockets from 1/4" to 3/4" drive.

 

[scale]

The metal rails are pretty crummy by themselves, but screwing it to a board makes them work so much better. When the rails twist, the sockets fall off.



I have my ½” impact sockets on these, and I can grab a rail to go and do a task. Nothing falls off. I suppose they might if I dropped it on the floor.




I got the idea from a YouTube video. It’s been working really well for me for a couple of years now. I have about $3.00 in each rail (99¢ rail from HF, handle from Amazon a couple of screws, and poplar for the board)


I really like the Westling Machine holders, they’re a bit out of my reach though.

Thats a pretty good idea. Thrifty too. Ill probably try this. Right now i just have 2 sets of deepwell impacts and boy am i sick of rifling thorugh them to find the right one and transporting them loose. This looks like it would help and be quite handy.

Do you recall the width of wood you use or did you end up ripping down some larger boards for a custom fit. I need to make a trip to the home store and want to grab what i need to try this out.

 

[Gummi Bear]

They’re just 1x2 poplar, got it at HD.

3” cabinet pull. HD has these, but they’re much less expensive at Amazon.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[scale]

i built these with the wood and metal rails but they were still quite worthless for heavy deep impacts. They all fell off the second i picked it up. Looks nice in the box though. I threw them out as they didnt fit my need but its a great idea.

 

[zmotorsports]

My 1/2" deep impacts are in the metal vertical trays that they came in. My SAE are Cornwell and my Metric's are MAC. The metal trays allow easy access and keep them standing upright so they don't take up any more room than necessary. I have my 1/2" shallow impacts on the twist lock style rails.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-12-in-multi-rail-socket-tray-sae-70025.html

HF rebadged this, lots of people sell them for similar money. Has a handle and you can organize as you like.