Show me (And discuss) your toolbox organizers...

[pfbz]

Would be great if we could have a master thread to show and talk about toolbox organizers, much like the "Show your new tool arrivals" and similar threads...

What organizers do you use and love? Which do you dislike? For what tools? In what kind of box? How easy are they to set up and/or re-arrange? What is the investment in time and money?

I know the print-it-yourself community has a huge following, and while they are also welcome here, I'd like to primarily focus on whats available to buy not build, and particularly what is effective for a larger toolbox buildout.

I'll perhaps start with a list of what I personally use and like, with more details on each to follow...

In no particular order:

*Socket organizers*
Olsa (and similar) "two rows with holes for sockets" socket organizers
Toolbox Widget socket organizers
EZ-Red fexible magnetic socket organizers (great for vertical use)
Workpro magnetic strip socket organizers (great for vertical use)
Olsa magnetic strip socket organizers
Hanson peg-style socket organizers
Ernst Socket Boss multi-row socket organizers
Harbor freight various organizers (only for backup tools... none of them are great)

*Wrench Organizers*
Ernst Wrench Pro magnetic wrench organizers (great for screwdrivers as well)
Toolbox Widget pro wrench organizers
EZ-Red magnetic wrench organizers (great for vertical use)
'Rack style' wrench organizers (I've completely moved away from this style)
Alien wrench organizers (I've tried these, but do not use them, didn't really work for me)

*Plier Organizers*
Ernst vertical plier organizers
Toolbox Widget pro plier organizers (great for ratchets and extensions as well)
Plyworx plier organizers

*Screwdriver Organizers*
Ernst Wrench Pro magnetic wrench organizers (I actually prefer these over their specific screwdriver organizer)
Mechanics Time Saver Magnetic screwdriver organizer (great for vertical use)
Toolbox Widget screwdriver organizers (just testing these out a bit)

*Ratchet Organizers*
Harbor Freight magnetic bars
Toolbox Widget pro plier organizers (though you will need extra spacers)
EZ- Red ratchet organizer (the only EZ-Red organizer that isn't that awesome IMHO)
Mechanics Time Savers magnetic plates
Olsa magnetic buttons

*Miscellaneous Organizers*
Amazon rare earth magnets of various sizes and shapes
Ernst 3-compartment stackable organizer trays

I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton, but should be enough to get the party started?

A single picture of a drawer I'm working on right now, more to follow...

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Socket rails and vertical plier organisers are the only space efficient ones I can think of.

With others, there's a choice and tradeoff to be made.

 

[LWB]

You can add Vim magrails.

 

[pfbz]

You can add Vim magrails.

If they weren't absurdly expensive, I'd like 'em... But at their pricing, It might be cheaper to melt sterling silver to custom fit your sockets..

 

[richfinn]

Big fan of the Ernst tray organizers, reasonably cheap (I buy a few at a time when they go on sale) and reliable way to break up large spaces, stops chemicals leaking onto your liners etc.

Ten Compartment Organizer Tray-Black

The Organizer Tray by Ernst Manufacturing features 10 compartments for storage of tools and parts.

www.ernstmfg.com

Love my Ko-ken socket rails too

 

[pfbz]

Big fan of the Ernst tray organizers, reasonably cheap (I buy a few at a time when they go on sale) and reliable way to break up large spaces, stops chemicals leaking onto your liners etc.

Ten Compartment Organizer Tray-Black

The Organizer Tray by Ernst Manufacturing features 10 compartments for storage of tools and parts.

www.ernstmfg.com

I'm a huge fan of the Ernst trays as well, particularly the 3 compartment. They also stack really well, and are strong enough that you can lift off the top tray even when loaded down with stuff... Two sets of two, the green ones in the back of the picture...



And the ten compartment, in blue...

 

[Steve_P]

I am all Ernst- socket rails and wrench racks. Ok, no, I do have some SK-11 wrench racks which are similar to what Snap On, and now a few others, sell. I had some Vim mag rails, which came with bit sockets, but made the mistake of getting two of them too close together and got a nice blood blister in the process- so I sold all of them to a fellow GJ member I know a lot of people here love the magrails, but OMG are they expensive- with all the sockets I have I could buy a very nice used car if I bought the Vim instead of Ernst. And the Ernst are expensive enough when you've got a bazillion sockets and wrenches, which is required to be a long time GJ member.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The only thing I use are the cheap plastic Harbor Freight socket holders.

In the screwdriver drawer, all straight blade screwdriver have handles on the left. All Philips screwdrivers have handles on the right. 1/4" hex impact bits are in small zipper bags.

One drawer for SAE wrenches. Another drawer for metric. they lay flat, but I try to keep them organized, smallest to largest.

Pliers. One drawer for locking pliers. Separate drawer for all others.

 

[wandrur]

I'm too lazy to go out and unlock the shed to take a picture.

But Toolbox Widget works well for me. I really like the various shapes and sizes they have to fit everything from larger tools (tin snips, Channellocks, etc.) to screwdrivers and wrenches.

 

[pfbz]

I'm doing a new buildout of my recent Icon 58" triple stack, was working on the ratchet drawer earlier today... Still needs plenty of work, but it's coming along.

 

[Drunkonunleaded]

BIIIG Ernst guy here. I easily have a few hundred dollars in their products. Most of the sockets are on twist-lock rails. Some of the specialty tools like the crows feet or sensor sockets need the regular socket pegs.

Ernst has a version of the Wrench Pro for screwdrivers now, but I’ve decided to standardize on the Wrench Pros for everything.

The trays are extremely handy, I just wish they had more options.

My only complaint is with the pliers racks. They kind of need to be sideways (90* from how I have them configured) in order to keep the pliers from moving when I open and shut the drawer.

 

[51dueller]

I started out with some basic Protoco wrench trays and metal bar socket holders. While they worked fine for what tools I had at the time. When I upgraded to my 72" Montezuma tool chest combo, is when I went all in for organizing my tools. I also upgraded some of the tools, sold the old ones and cleaned out the junk I didn't use.

For my sockets I started out with Mastercraft versions of the Mechanic Time Savers tray. They work good for quick access and have good retention. Not the most compact and suffer from having not common sizes. I liked that they came in blue and not red like lots of socket organizers.

For the less commonly used sockets I have they in the next drawer on Ernst magnetic socket rails. I like that you can have multiple sizes on a rail and have them as close as possible. Not super cheap but can continue my black and blue colour scheme.


For my wrenches I'm using Ernst magnetic wrench pro for my bigger wrenches. For the shorter wrenches I have Protoco stubby trays and an Ernst stubby gripper for my stubby metric wrenches.




For my pliers, I have an Ernst pliers rack. I got high vis as blue wasn't available at the time.


I got a Ernst bit buddy for all my little bits that I have collected over the years and were never organized.


For my screwdrivers, I just have them in the drawer. I see that Ernst has their new screwdriver pro but there is next to no videos on it even though it's been out for a while. Although I don't think it would make more room for me.

 

[pfbz]

Different tool chest, but Ernst style wrench organizers for screwdrivers... I prefer the wrench organizers even for screwdrivers, the spacing is tighter, but they work great if you alternate the drivers.

 

[Callelle]

In the cart, I use Westling socket rails because I'm a sucker for purple anodized aluminum. Ratchets are in 3d tool trays, extensions are in original plastic trays (or whats left of them) because I can't find nicer ones I like. Wrenches are all in magnetic Ernst Wrench Pros. I've been through way too many wrench organizers, nothing beats this style in my opinion. Pliers are all in Ernst Plier Pros, which my only complaint is the bottom rack slides when the drawer closes.

 

[pfbz]

Wrench drawer on the service cart....

Again, Ernst organizers in this one. Going to try the TBW wrench organizers next.

 

[pfbz]

Wrench drawer in service cart...

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Service cart with my Metric tools.
Westlingusa.com socket organizer with cheapo wrench organizer. What isn't shown is the non ratcheting wrenches on magnetic organizer on the lid. The short swivels are on gearwrench rails. Not the most expensive set up but works very very well!

Amazon.com: Mechanic's Time Savers Lock-a-Wrench Tool Organizer: Magetic Locking Wrench Rack : Automotive

Buy Mechanic's Time Savers Lock-a-Wrench Tool Organizer: Magetic Locking Wrench Rack: Tool Sets - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

a.co

 

[pfbz]

I use the EZ-Red wrench organizers for wrenches vertical on the lid... Holds them perfectly, and I can also close the lid and they hold fine (essentially upside down).

Also love the EZ-Red flexible magnetic socket holders... Not for all my sockets, but for grab-and-go sets.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Service cart with my Metric tools.
Westlingusa.com socket organizer with cheapo wrench organizer. What isn't shown is the non ratcheting wrenches on magnetic organizer on the lid. The short swivels are on gearwrench rails. Not the most expensive set up but works very very well!

Amazon.com: Mechanic's Time Savers Lock-a-Wrench Tool Organizer: Magetic Locking Wrench Rack : Automotive

Buy Mechanic's Time Savers Lock-a-Wrench Tool Organizer: Magetic Locking Wrench Rack: Tool Sets - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

a.co

I need to take a close look at the Westlingusa.com

That might be exactly what I have been looking for.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I need to take a cost look at the Westlingusa.com

That might be exactly what I have been looking for.

They are definitely more expensive than Hansen but are better built and much easier to read. I had the Hansen knock offs from HF and the SAE 1/4" and 3/8" drive were impossible to read due to small text and color contrast.

I am waiting for someone to show the Alien Space Saver wrench organizer.

 

[pfbz]

I am waiting for someone to show the Alien Space Saver wrench organizer.

I absolutely hated those... I try a lot of organizers. Some aren't for me, but I can see their use case.. With the *** organizers, they were frustratingly useless IMHO. I simply do not get why someone would like them. Sorry, i know that is harsh, but damn they were junk! The only other organizer i disliked. as much were the Harbor Freight v-bar style. Both had one similar flaw (among other flaws), they both lifted the wrenches WAY too far off the drawer bottom.

 

[gizardlizard]

Homemade wrench organizers.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Homemade wrench organizers.

I want that set in blue anodized! Is that 3d printed or billet aluminum?

 

[kbeefy]

I was fortunate enough to pick up some VIM magrails before the price skyrocketed. Still my favorite organizer, but I doubt I'll buy any more.

I have started sourcing more reasonable priced socket rails for my lesser used sockets so I can get all of my magrails into my cart for the most used items.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I work out of a cramped two car attached garage. So often I’ll work in the driveway under the shade of our elevated deck. (Bi-level house).

I find that I prefer to have a complete socket set come to where I’m working. My 1/4 “ set, both US and metric came in a blow molded case. I purchased a 3/8” set in a case for the same reason.

I did a timing belt job on my truck last year and I got so tired of going back and forth to my roll around tool box I emptied all my 1/2” impact sockets into a plastic shoe box to keep them from rolling away out in the driveway where I was working.

What do you all have for “portable” tool storage. Not only sockets and ratchets, but screwdriver, pliers, wrenches (I got a couple of tool rolls)?

 

[Hakeem]

Harbor freight various organizers (only for backup tools... none of them are great)

Their magnetic socket rails are quite good. Very strong magnets and clips are nice and tight, no slop or wiggle against the rail or the socket. I haven’t found better ones. Granted they’re not cheap at $23 but on sale they’re reasonable.

In the cart, I use Westling socket rails because I'm a sucker for purple anodized aluminum. Ratchets are in 3d tool trays, extensions are in original plastic trays (or whats left of them) because I can't find nicer ones I like. Wrenches are all in magnetic Ernst Wrench Pros. I've been through way too many wrench organizers, nothing beats this style in my opinion. Pliers are all in Ernst Plier Pros, which my only complaint is the bottom rack slides when the drawer closes.

Off topic but you use the USAGs as your primary wrench? No issues with the 6 points? Also - No SAE for hd mechanic like yourself?

Back on topic - I like the Hansen trays for sockets. Inexpensive, easy to read, made in US. They can’t be moved easily when full, so I have a couple magnetic socket holders for taking the entire set with me. This picture is a couple months old and out of date but you get the idea:

For wrenches, I have mine on the HF wrench organizers, which I believe are Ernst knock offs:

I like them, they hold & display both complete wrench sets very well and have room for expansion. The magnet on the underside could stand to be a bit stronger, so as to resist being knocked over when moving the cart. Also, they are a bit tall. I have a Masterforce cab with shorter drawers and the 24mm in the holder would rub against the upper drawer.

I really like the sharks tooth style, seen on the right hereSleek and unobtrusive, and the long cut-to-fit lengths allow for continuous pieces to run the entire length of the drawer.

I DONT like the Wrench pro style seen on the left. Mainly because the sharp corners tear up my liners when I try to move them after they shift.

 

[orangeblood]

anybody have a clever, space efficient way to organize offset, double box end wrenches? i have full size and shorty metric and SAE sets. Although they aren't the everyday go-to solution, when they are needed i like myself for having kept them around. My hobby car is a 69 pontiac and it is probably the only reason i keep the SAE sets.

 

[Callelle]

Off topic but you use the USAGs as your primary wrench? No issues with the 6 points? Also - No SAE for hd mechanic like yourself?

No issues using 6 points, they're a lot nicer in the salt hell that we live in. There are a couple SAE things in the cart, Mac flex head ratchet wrenches are SAE, Mac flare nut wrenches are SAE, and there's a handful of sockets in the top, everything else is in the main box if I need it. 90% of what I touch is metric though.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I work out of a cramped two car attached garage. So often I’ll work in the driveway under the shade of our elevated deck. (Bi-level house).

I find that I prefer to have a complete socket set come to where I’m working. My 1/4 “ set, both US and metric came in a blow molded case. I purchased a 3/8” set in a case for the same reason.

I did a timing belt job on my truck last year and I got so tired of going back and forth to my roll around tool box I emptied all my 1/2” impact sockets into a plastic shoe box to keep them from rolling away out in the driveway where I was working.

What do you all have for “portable” tool storage. Not only sockets and ratchets, but screwdriver, pliers, wrenches (I got a couple of tool rolls)?

Isn't that the point of the VIM magnetic rails? If I were to spend the money on magnetic rails it would be because I was carrying them around the shop. If you leave the rails in the box there is no reason to use magnetic unless you are rolling your box through a gravel driveway daily.

I use the gearwrench rails on my impact swivels since I typically grab the rail and head to the job. I typically grab swivels over chrome sockets because I believe I can work faster even though I am using an electric ratchet.

Working on you back in the driveway is nearly impossible to stay organized. I would suggest magnetic bolt trays. That is by far the cheapest most efficient method for the situation.

 

[BWWgarage]

anybody have a clever, space efficient way to organize offset, double box end wrenches? i have full size and shorty metric and SAE sets. Although they aren't the everyday go-to solution, when they are needed i like myself for having kept them around. My hobby car is a 69 pontiac and it is probably the only reason i keep the SAE sets.

Be like TEKTON?

 

[rdoty]

We have a thread going on Gridfinity modular storage.

 

[gizardlizard]

I want that set in blue anodized! Is that 3d printed or billet aluminum?

It’s aluminum but not billet. I machined grooves using a Bridgeport and pressed the smaller pieces in. Added super strong magnets to the bottom and affixed labels.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

anybody have a clever, space efficient way to organize offset, double box end wrenches? i have full size and shorty metric and SAE sets. Although they aren't the everyday go-to solution, when they are needed i like myself for having kept them around. My hobby car is a 69 pontiac and it is probably the only reason i keep the SAE sets.

An older post from decades ago, when I first joined helped me for a long time. For those that are staying in the toolbox, I had an electrician friend give me scrap, cutoff pieces of 12/2 wire, which I rolled around a broom handle into a spring shape, then spread out and put the wrenches in between them. This could also be done with screwdrivers if one wanted, but I had other methods for them. (typically I kept them in a drawer except when using them and I would put those in a screwdriver holder on the side of the box.

For wrenches that might go to a job, I had wrench rolls. i kept my Armstrong box end/gearwrench end wrenches in one of them, and my Snap on, flare nut/open end in another
Then in my cantilever road box, I kept my flashlight, knife, pliers, sockets/ratchets, screwdrivers, some punches and a hammer, those Craftsman twisted 90degree wrenches, that didn't have a 16mm (expected you to use the 5/8, etc). It was a fairly well loaded toolbox, I could actually do about 90% of any fix I needed with it.

Now that I have finally the larger garage, and bought the 56" US General box, I am planning on 3d printing some socket holders. Probably doubling up the magnetic HF bars (L shape) for my impact sockets. Keeping some wrenches in rolls (grab and go, or more rarely used, while others I may 3d print, but there are some wrench holders I want to try (Alien spacesaver v2).
Then I have to figure out what I am doing with my older tool chests (expect to make one SAE only, now mostly for home repair, may go in the basement)
At this point, I am thinking about making the US General, just metric stuff, because if I pass, a home SAE box would be good for multiple nieces and nephews, while the metric should go more towards ones that will work on other stuff then just home repair.

EDIT: Something else I have been thinking about. When I was a kid, my father bought his first set of metric sockets to change the oil on my mom's first car (superbeetle). Before that, most sockets would be in metal containers with a handle that flipped out of the way for use or could be carried and hung on the side of a toolbox (when in use).
I am seriously considering making those instead of socket rails. They don't have to be heavy duty, but they will make things able to grab and go, if needed.

 

[regguy1]

Piece of 1/2' MDF painted gray / HF $1.00 socket rails screwed down on it. 1/4" plywood edge seperating extensions and sockets.
Low cost / can lay it out any way you prefer. Here is a full tour of the tool box:

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

It’s aluminum but not billet. I machined grooves using a Bridgeport and pressed the smaller pieces in. Added super strong magnets to the bottom and affixed labels.

How thick is the aluminum? My friend has a Bridgeport so I could make this happen!

 

[username2]

I got a small pile of those wrench and screwdriver thingies for free (Ernst), used them, looks cool.

OTOH, it sure did spread everything out. My amateur mechanic caveman brain is telling me to go back to the Old Ways.

I think that Phase II (question: why did Motion Performance use Phase III?) might be taking out everything that isn't used very often and putting in some secondary storage. High chance that a hand box will suffice.

Attached: Grumpy Jenkins toolbox.

 

[Steve_P]

anybody have a clever, space efficient way to organize offset, double box end wrenches? i have full size and shorty metric and SAE sets. Although they aren't the everyday go-to solution, when they are needed i like myself for having kept them around. My hobby car is a 69 pontiac and it is probably the only reason i keep the SAE sets.

Mine deep offset Stahlwille DBEs are on Ernst rails. It did take some experiments to figure it out.

 

[Snapped-off]

I only like organizers for sockets, wrenches, and pliers. Everything else lays out nicely.

Old pics, there's been some minor updates. I use Olsa rails and Hanson trays for sockets, Toolbox Widget for Wrenches, and I don't even remember who makes the plier rack (not pictured).

 

[wandrur]

I'm too lazy to go out and unlock the shed to take a picture.

But Toolbox Widget works well for me. I really like the various shapes and sizes they have to fit everything from larger tools (tin snips, Channellocks, etc.) to screwdrivers and wrenches.

You people are impressive.

Took pics of my very utilitarian choices.

 

[pfbz]

Homemade wrench organizers.

Gorgeous... Tell us / show us more?