Wrench organizers

Brock Wood · Apr 8, 2017

Shows us your ideas for wrench organizers. I like having 2 of each size together, so came up with a quick 'proof of design' a few years back & need to make a better version. Show us what you have or at least give ideas for an improved version.

LB-1911 · Apr 8, 2017

One members solution -

12-22-2011

WR250F said:
Other wrench drawers look essentially the same. I tried using wrench racks etc and none allowed the density or flexibility of the coiled wire.

Maybe not the most high end solution, but it damned sure works well.

Thanks to whomever posted this idea first.

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WR250F said:
I thought about doing that, but the wrenches are stable and tacking the ends down eliminates the option of clipping the coil where you need to in order for something else to fit.

I used 10 gauge solid conductor wire.

Put one end in a vise, and used a piece of 1" PVC scrap to 'walk' the wire in as I wrapped it around the PVC, keeping the wraps good and tight as I went..

The end result was a coil of wire

Just make sure to keep it pulled tight when wrapping around the PVC (or whatever you have on hand).

I drilled a small hole in the PVC to act as a keeper for the end of the wire as I wrapped it, so it was simple to keep the wraps tight

This wasn't my idea, I think many here use the same arrangement, but, it's cheap, it works and it's flexible enough to move things around if I need to.

I tried several wrench racks. Either they wouldn't hold all the wrenches in a series, they were flimsy, expensive or just wasted too much space for my liking.

Ghetto, maybe, but I'm 110% happy with this setup

ETA: the drawers in the pics are 16 deep x 23 wide x 2 high

T45 · Apr 8, 2017

Those 10gauge wire coils are a nice DIY solution.
if you find you have the materials around, its quick and functional.
For modest money you can get some decent wracks w/ free shipping from snap on (<20)
so unless your time is really cheap, and money really tight,
(so called) proper solutions shouldn't be out of reach/ either.

www.snapon.com
Home > tool storage > tool storage accessories > hand tool organization > wrench organizers >Wrench Organizer, Red (For smaller wrenches)

Item: KRA15A
17.05 USD
Wrench Organizer, Red (For smaller wrenches)

The cost maybe starts to add up if you are doing 10 sets tho, so this is where a nice DIY solutin can scale and save you something.

Good luck.

asm154 · Apr 8, 2017

This has actually worked well. Hard rubber. Magnetic. Fits my larger wrenches up to 32mm.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/8-3-4-in-10-Compartment-Magnetic-Tool-Organizer-MWH10SHD/204766572

77Mini · Apr 8, 2017

Snap-on wrench strips.

colin39 · Apr 8, 2017

Ive used mainly ernst wrench organisers of one kind or another

Corndoggeh · Apr 8, 2017

Tekton makes some awesome wrench organizers

Brock Wood · Apr 8, 2017

Thank you all for the comments & suggestions! I agree that there are some really nice options out there in preformed styles. Trouble is that they all expect a single set of wrenches to be organized by itself or are generic in 1 angle / 1 cut size for every wrench. I'm doing 1/4 up to 1-1/4 by 1/16nths twice in 1 row all within a standard Craftsman drawer.

Gotta say though, I have the wire to try that coil version! Thanks Guys!!!

bert1913 · Apr 8, 2017

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/par...SUo1QT5IptxUdhjwvnRbNJ-Wh73qJOS3KGhoCVq3w_wcB

LXCam · Apr 8, 2017

Brock Wood said:
Thank you all for the comments & suggestions! I agree that there are some really nice options out there in preformed styles. Trouble is that they all expect a single set of wrenches to be organized by itself or are generic in 1 angle / 1 cut size for every wrench. I'm doing 1/4 up to 1-1/4 by 1/16nths twice in 1 row all within a standard Craftsman drawer.

Gotta say though, I have the wire to try that coil version! Thanks Guys!!!

Welp considering your request it sure looks like this here dude has the only store bought solution for ya

bert1913 said:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/par...SUo1QT5IptxUdhjwvnRbNJ-Wh73qJOS3KGhoCVq3w_wcB

I used these foam ones for many years and didn't have any complaints even though I changed up my racks to Ernst. They do work. :beer:

Sam'sAutoParts · Apr 9, 2017

I use a combination of Ernst Racks and the coiled wire.

HanShotFirst · Apr 9, 2017

Sam'sAutoParts said:
I use a combination of Ernst Racks and the coiled wire.

Color me jealous, I love SK's long pattern combo wrenches. I have a set of English, and I'd really love a set in metric, but I'm poor these days.

ToolNuttt · Apr 9, 2017

Can't wait to see more customs one show up in this thread. I've been meaning to make some myself but need more ideas.

gdocktor3 · Apr 9, 2017

Brock Wood said:
Thank you all for the comments & suggestions! I agree that there are some really nice options out there in preformed styles. Trouble is that they all expect a single set of wrenches to be organized by itself or are generic in 1 angle / 1 cut size for every wrench. I'm doing 1/4 up to 1-1/4 by 1/16nths twice in 1 row all within a standard Craftsman drawer.

Gotta say though, I have the wire to try that coil version! Thanks Guys!!!

That's why the Snap On's are the best. They are one size fits all. You can stack 4 of the same size one after the other if you wanted. Trust me on this one. Buy them. You won't be disappointed. KRA15A holds up to 1" I believe and KRA22A are for over 1". Snap On is doing another update and can't access the site, but they're like $16 each with free shipping. They are 2 feet long hold up to 30 wrenches I think, but you can cut them down to what ever size you want. Just Google Snap On KRA15A and look at all the threads that come up.

LB-1911 · Apr 9, 2017

ToolNuttt said:
Can't wait to see more customs one show up in this thread. I've been meaning to make some myself but need more ideas.

A few more @

"Spring Type" Wrench Holders?
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92266
02-19-2011

4 FN 27 · Apr 9, 2017

About 20 years ago I tried finding Wrench Racks that would work out the way I wanted. Just couldn't find anything. So took every wrench I owned and made my own from Stainless Steel. A few hours of design time, a few hours of Laser Cutting and a little bending and they were done. Each one made to fit each wrench set.

manwithtools · Apr 9, 2017

4 FN 27 said:
About 20 years ago I tried finding Wrench Racks that would work out the way I wanted. Just couldn't find anything. So took every wrench I owned and made my own from Stainless Steel. A few hours of design time, a few hours of Laser Cutting and a little bending and they were done. Each one made to fit each wrench set.

I give up!

You win.....

:pimpflash

FlushingDIYer · Apr 9, 2017

4 FN 27 said:
About 20 years ago I tried finding Wrench Racks that would work out the way I wanted. Just couldn't find anything. So took every wrench I owned and made my own from Stainless Steel. A few hours of design time, a few hours of Laser Cutting and a little bending and they were done. Each one made to fit each wrench set.

Sheesh... That's absolutely amazing.

T45 · Apr 9, 2017

4 FN 27 said:
A few hours of design time, a few hours of Laser Cutting and a little bending and they were done. Each one made to fit each wrench set.

Holy smokes those are nice looking :thumbup:

4 FN 27 · Apr 9, 2017

manwithtools said:
I give up!

You win.....

FlushingDIYer said:
Sheesh... That's absolutely amazing.

T45 said:
Holy smokes those are nice looking

Thanks guys...I like to be organized, well at least when it come to tools. I hate loosing them. I did the same with my Socket Set. Made some of these back in the day from cold roll steel and they have rusted a little over the last 20 years. Was just thinking this morning I should redo them from Stainless. Might be a project in the next coming weeks.

manwithtools · Apr 9, 2017

Yep, you ****....

Fire up that new plasma and get to work on the stainless.....I'll wait.

:lol_hitti

4 FN 27 · Apr 9, 2017

manwithtools said:
Yep, you ****....

Fire up that new plasma and get to work on the stainless.....I'll wait.

Got the Plasma sorted out, got the software sorted out and now I am waiting for $500 in "fine cut" consumables to arrive. Spent all day yesterday playing with it. Not sure if I am liking this Plasma thing...not use to this type of cut edge. Might be ordering a Water Jet soon. Time will tell...

manwithtools · Apr 9, 2017

I like water jet cuts and as you know, laser is even better, just not practical ($$) for a home shop.

Waiting to hear your final decision.

Matt_C · Sep 19, 2018

Four years ago I made this one for my combination spanners

Before;

And after;

It was an off cut of dense foam that I "cored" with a 5mm drill bit, then cut channels from with a sharp blade. Not the neatest, or even straightest, but not bad for a first attempt. The result was what I needed - able to quickly select the size I wanted (although you cant see the sizes, I know which is which as it runs 7 through 19 mm) and the foam grips the shank of the spanners so they don't move around - important since at that time my box was a mobile van box.

I have another two sets of spanners, both metric and both ratchet - one set flex-head and one set fixed. The fixed ones always remained in their supplied case, and the flex-head ones in the plastic rack/holder that came with them, but that took up a lot of space due to how they were arranged;

So a new one was fashioned this morning using some hard sponge type foam and a glue gun. Just cut a base-plate to shape, then cut strips, roughly 10mm wide and hot-glued them down leaving space for each spanner to sit snugly in it's "channel". Doing it this way meant as the spanners got smaller, the channels could get thinner with them, but also meant that they don't all sit at the same height since they were sitting on a common height base plate. But that's not big deal.

Now they can sit in a much smaller drawer, taking up a much smaller space, and I can get the fixed-head ratchet spanners in there too

I could have just bought one of these, but mine was more fun to make

4 FN 27 · Sep 19, 2018

Matt_C said:
Four years ago I made this one for my combination spanners

I could have just bought one of these, but mine was more fun to make

Nice work Matt!!! They look great.

I can never cut foam that straight!!!

orangeblood · Sep 19, 2018

Mr. 4 FN 27, you sir are an awesome SOB.

4 FN 27 · Sep 20, 2018

orangeblood said:
Mr. 4 FN 27, you sir are an awesome SOB.

Just another "GJ Crazy" doing what I love in my Shop.

2oolhound · Sep 20, 2018

Nice stuff 4 fn 27 and others too. I cut some down and dirty out of foam which was nice because I was able to angle the large wrenches almost flat so they would fit in the shallow drawers. This enabled me to keep whole sets together instead of separating the large wrenches in another drawer. It's posted in post #23 in the "Foam Wrench Racks" thread.

marineman · Sep 20, 2018

Anyone else miss the good 'ole days of just tossing stuff in a drawer and closing it?

Mr_B · Sep 21, 2018

4 FN 27 said:
Nice work Matt!!! They look great.

I can never cut foam that straight!!!

Matts is pretty easy design to do as foam not over thick and ribs are glued on.
As long the foam decent then it cuts pretty straight with razor blades.

I'm doing some of these reorganise my wrench drawer for new additions and easier handling and tracking of awol tools .

Better than retail racks as can make to match sets you got, harder do tilted wrench slots though .

JBradley500 · Sep 21, 2018

This is an older picture, but I used 1/2” HF socket rails.

Hagatronics · Sep 21, 2018

Here is mine

fos373 · Sep 21, 2018

I picked up a couple of sets of the Toolbox widget https://toolboxwidget.com

Work very well. Magnets are strong, but not too strong and they are modular - can add enough spaces for the wrenches you have.

4 FN 27 · Sep 21, 2018

2oolhound said:
Nice stuff 4 fn 27 and others too. I cut some down and dirty out of foam which was nice because I was able to angle the large wrenches almost flat so they would fit in the shallow drawers. This enabled me to keep whole sets together instead of separating the large wrenches in another drawer. It's posted in post #23 in the "Foam Wrench Racks" thread.

Thank you.

I ran into this issue too on 1 Double Open End Wrench. Had to tip it too to get it to fit.

Lots of great ideas in your link. I am going to organize a few other items in my Tool Box using Foam.

Mr_B said:
Matts is pretty easy design to do as foam not over thick and ribs are glued on.
As long the foam decent then it cuts pretty straight with razor blades.

Like I said I can never cut Foam straight. I am going to give it a shot on my Water Jet. Just need to find some time to do it.

JBradley500 said:
This is an older picture, but I used 1/2” HF socket rails.

I like this (the Rails). Simple and works. Great idea.

My tipped Wrench:

Mr_B · Sep 21, 2018

4 FN 27 said:
My tipped Wrench:

tipped wrench rack looks real nice made .

Mr_B · Sep 21, 2018

JBradley500 said:
This is an older picture, but I used 1/2” HF socket rails.

That pretty clever repurposing ...

Unruh · Sep 21, 2018

4 FN 27 said:
Thanks guys...I like to be organized, well at least when it come to tools. I hate loosing them. I did the same with my Socket Set. Made some of these back in the day from cold roll steel and they have rusted a little over the last 20 years. Was just thinking this morning I should redo them from Stainless. Might be a project in the next coming weeks.

Kinda crushing on this right now! Make sure to make a build thread, I don’t the machinery to make that but I’d still like to see.

4 FN 27 · Sep 21, 2018

Unruh said:
Kinda crushing on this right now! Make sure to make a build thread, I don’t the machinery to make that but I’d still like to see.

When I get to it...it will be here:

The GDS Skunkworks, 4 FN 27's Shop Projects

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=398490

geartow · Sep 21, 2018

wish I could buy a couple of the folding ones mac uses . dealer says not available individually

techieman33 · Sep 21, 2018

I have a normal 26" craftsman box that's packed to the gills. So I stack mine to save on space. It's Kaizen foam, and most are cut to the bottom of the drawer. It's not the nicest foam cutting job, but it's good enough to keep the sizes separate. Most of those slots are holding 3-4 wrenches, a couple are holding 5-6. It's not super efficient time wise, but as a DIYer a few extra seconds to grab the wrench I want isn't a big deal.

Left and right side of the SAE drawer

Left and right of the metric drawer

Wrench organizers

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