Anyone have good luck with HF Socket Trays?

[Farmall450]

I know there's a Hanson thread going on, and Westling has some sweet aluminium billet trays, but I just can't justify that type of money for "better orgainzation."

So any good luck with HFT's socket trays?

I like how I can get SAE x3 AND Metric x3 for the price of one Westling.

They have good reviews.

Thanks.

 

[ATC]

I have them, and I really like them. However my OCD doesn't like the open end of the sockets facing up. Doesn't look as clean to me.

There's nothing wrong with them...I am moving mine to my roll cart that is rarely used, and replacing them with Hansen's in my main box

Be careful with the center divider that has the numbers printed on it. It is pretty easy to break it off where it mounts to the tray


Oh, and take a hacksaw/dremel and cut off the tabs on the left in your picture so they fit better.

 

[Farmall450]

I have them, and I really like them. However my OCD doesn't like the open end of the sockets facing up. Doesn't look as clean to me.

There's nothing wrong with them...I am moving mine to my roll cart that is rarely used, and replacing them with Hansen's in my main box

Be careful with the center divider that has the numbers printed on it. It is pretty easy to break it off where it mounts to the tray


Oh, and take a hacksaw/dremel and cut off the tabs on the left in your picture so they fit better.

That's a great idea!

I actually like the concept of seeing open ends...so I can see what size I'm guessing at lol.

 

[Jsf721]

I have them and gave them the tab cut so everything would fit. WIll post a picture later. I have been wondering if the sleeker ones I saw a sears would free up speace in the drawer?

 

[Farmall450]

I have them and gave them the tab cut so everything would fit. WIll post a picture later. I have been wondering if the sleeker ones I saw a sears would free up speace in the drawer?

The only ones I see at sears are Hansen & the big cman full panel/slab type, which are nice (my dad has them) but eat alot of space.

 

[loranger]

I thought I had all the sockets I needed until I bought the trays. I picked them up on sale then used a 20% coupon on top of that. Now my ocd keeps me on the hunt for the empty spaces! I love the Westling ones and will more than likely pick them up in the future. Im a sucker for billet!

 

[ijroorda]

I have a couple of sets and they work great for me. As others have mentioned, I cut the tabs off the ends to gain back a little real estate. I'm not sure why they have the tabs in the first place; they don't hang on a rack in the store and the design isn't conducive to wall-hanging when loaded.

 

[fourtythree]

Kobalts are on sale right now for 9.99 for the 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 set, if you want another cheap option.

 

[Farmall450]

I thought I had all the sockets I needed until I bought the trays. I picked them up on sale then used a 20% coupon on top of that. Now my ocd keeps me on the hunt for the empty spaces! I love the Westling ones and will more than likely pick them up in the future. Im a sucker for billet!

Doesn't the coupon only apply to one item/set? Or the entire purchase. I'd grab those ratchets you all rave about then too!

btw, nice prybars!

I use the "normal" version all the time, surprisingly.

 

[Farmall450]

Kobalts are on sale right now for 9.99 for the 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 set, if you want another cheap option.

No local HD or Lowes, whichever it is. HD I think. Thankfully they built a semi-local HF!

I will keep them in mind though.

 

[Farmall450]

I might not be able to get it all to fit...getting crowded.

Pic soon, I promise!

 

[keithh2oskier]

I bought them and ended up giving them to a buddy since they didnt fit in the drawer of my work bench.

 

[Farmall450]

I bought them and ended up giving them to a buddy since they didnt fit in the drawer of my work bench.

Too tall or?

 

[ssentt]

I have'em use'em....tough to beat for the money. In the smaller sizes I had a couple socket posts that had to be made a little thinner to fit the drive end of the sockets. Maybe 2 or 3...out of 4 sets, IIRC. My sons set didn't require any trimming. Had mine for a couple yrs now and have held up great. Cut the piece off the end. Cheap...they work....durable. Whats not to like.

I saw the ones at lowes the other day and thought they looked decent too. Costs a couple bucks more and didn't really see any added benefits for the other $2.

 

[Farmall450]

I have'em use'em....tough to beat for the money. In the smaller sizes I had a couple socket posts that had to be made a little thinner to fit the drive end of the sockets. Maybe 2 or 3...out of 4 sets, IIRC. My sons set didn't require any trimming. Had mine for a couple yrs now and have held up great. Cut the piece off the end. Cheap...they work....durable. Whats not to like.

I saw the ones at lowes the other day and thought they looked decent too. Costs a couple bucks more and didn't really see any added benefits for the other $2.

I like your logic. Only problem is I don't think my drawer will fit them all lol. 6 & 12 point...3 Drives...SAE & Metric...

 

[thinmac]

I like mine. Cutting off the tabs is a must. Personally, I like the open ends up. If I've got a fastener and I don't know the size off the top of my head I can put it into the sockets until I find one that fits. Sometimes when you're tired 13/16" looks a lot like 3/4". The only problem I have is that it's hard to see the numbers if you're not at eye level. My sockets are in the top drawer of my bottom chest, and when I'm looking for something I often have to bend down to see the numbers. It would help a lot if they were angled up.

It might just be me, but the open spaces are really not a problem. I buy sockets I use, and I don't worry much about how my organizers look.

 

[jmm]

I have one in 1/4" for SAE. Didn't get it at HF. Picked mine up at a local outlet store, which is basically a Harbor Freight with different brands printed on everything, plus cigarettes. I'm about 95% sure my 1/4" tray is exactly the same as the HF model. I wasn't impressed at first sight, but for free with a 20 dollar purchase I didn't pass it up. I think they're normally less than 2 bucks. Anyhow, it's sturdy enough and compact enough, but some of the studs aren't very well formed. Most were perfect, but a few needed cleaning up with a file to get my sockets to fit. Cut off the end with 5/8" studs, and it's held steady ever since.

If you can get em cheap enough -- 7.99 for three trays seems fair to me -- I'd say go for it. They're not the best in the world, but they do the job.

 

[G_P]

No issues with them. But yeah, cut off those stupid peghook hangers.

Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2

 

[OxJaw]

I like mine. I've had them probably close to a year now and don't have any complaints. I also like that the open end faces up instead of the drive end. My half inch drive deep sockets wouldn't fit in my drawers so I put them in the top of my box and put both six and twelve point on the half inch drive ones in my drawers.

 

[RAYJAY]

I have them at the home shop and at work they work great this is how i labeled them for quick id, i see now there doing different colors for sae and metric

also the cheap grey HF socket rails with the black peg work great !

I needed a quick set for my work allens and the 3/8 rail is doing great after 8 months of getting banged around no sockets fell off yet either.

it would be this set of grey rails

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-14-38-and-12-socket-rail-set-68101.html

 

[Farmall450]

I like mine. I've had them probably close to a year now and don't have any complaints. I also like that the open end faces up instead of the drive end. My half inch drive deep sockets wouldn't fit in my drawers so I put them in the top of my box and put both six and twelve point on the half inch drive ones in my drawers.

Yeah I can see a potential space issue as well.

 

[Farmall450]

I have them at the home shop and at work they work great this is how i labeled them for quick id, i see now there doing different colors for sae and metric

also the cheap grey HF socket rails with the black peg work great !

I needed a quick set for my work allens and the 3/8 rail is doing great after 8 months of getting banged around no sockets fell off yet either.

it would be this set of grey rails

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-14-38-and-12-socket-rail-set-68101.html

I have alot of Sears or whoevers that I use currently...just not as nice as trays I think though!

 

[loranger]

Doesn't the coupon only apply to one item/set? Or the entire purchase. I'd grab those ratchets you all rave about then too!

btw, nice prybars!

I use the "normal" version all the time, surprisingly.

Yeah the coupon only applies to 1 item at a time, but if you buy one, take it out to the car and come back in you are a new customer! I would definitely buy them again especially now they have a 25% off coupon.

I love those pry bars (thanks to the hot deal thread). I had the non striking bars before I picked these up and they were almost as nice.

 

[Farmall450]

Yeah the coupon only applies to 1 item at a time, but if you buy one, take it out to the car and come back in you are a new customer! I would definitely buy them again especially now they have a 25% off coupon.

I love those pry bars (thanks to the hot deal thread). I had the non striking bars before I picked these up and they were almost as nice.

Yeah, if only I won the Lotto lol!
I have some decent cmam ones, they are handy.

 

[Loscaldazar]

I had them and switched for Ernst socket rails. They take up too much room IMHO. Otherwise they are good.

 

[pfbz]

I really don't like the HF socket trays... I bought them because they were less than the Hansons, but they really just don't work for me.

The Hansons, on the other hand, work great and I've replaced all the HF trays with either Hansons that stay in the tool chest and Lisle magnetic holders for an entire set i can grab and take with me for a project. I did label the Lisle's with socket sizes to make them more convenient. Used a sharpie, though a label maker would probably be a bit nicer.

 

[Farmall450]

You don't mind them being upside down at all?

 

[toolstools]

I got all 6 off Fry me here for $20 shipped. Gave them to my dad since I had kobalts. I personally like them better then what I have. Especially since the HF ones have the square leg vs hex with kobalt. Plus, the HFs have the size on top instead of kobalt being along the base. kobalt you have to space them apart a tad to see the sizes. HF you can put touching each other.

 

[toolstools]

Oh, the HFs are thicker and less flimsy then kobalt, and Hansen.

 

[Farmall450]

Does he advertise in Classifieds / selling forum?

That's good then!

 

[toolstools]

Does he advertise in Classifieds / selling forum?

That's good then!

Use. Dk if he still does or not.

 

[Midman914]

I got them and love them, also picked up the composite ratchet while I was there and love that too. You can't complain about the price either. I guess I'm due to go out and buy some USA stuff to off put my sins.

 

[tjmonsen5]

You can't beat the hf trays. Hex side faces up, they are sturdy, and cheapest trays on the market. Not worth paying more for anything else.

 

[unslow1]

I have 4 different brands. Hansen being my favorite. Nothing wrong with the HF ones. I have several. Sometimes you can catch the Hansen trays a little cheaper at the Menard's sales.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I have several sets for my SAE sockets and I use Hansen for my metric sockets. I like the HF better. The HF ones I've had for quite a number of years and they are red, so I don't know if they are the same as the ones they are selling now.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Old pic, but yea, I've been using them for awhile... still prefer hansons, but...

 

[Farmall450]

I got them and love them, also picked up the composite ratchet while I was there and love that too. You can't complain about the price either. I guess I'm due to go out and buy some USA stuff to off put my sins.

I was going to grab one of those too!
Seeing as everyone raves about them.

 

[Farmall450]

I have 4 different brands. Hansen being my favorite. Nothing wrong with the HF ones. I have several. Sometimes you can catch the Hansen trays a little cheaper at the Menard's sales.

I've never seem then at Menards.
Looks like they still can't beat HF lol.

 

[Farmall450]

I have several sets for my SAE sockets and I use Hansen for my metric sockets. I like the HF better. The HF ones I've had for quite a number of years and they are red, so I don't know if they are the same as the ones they are selling now.

That's good! Black & Grey now.

Old pic, but yea, I've been using them for awhile... still prefer hansons, but...

There's a major price difference though.

 

[cheechi]

I got them and love them, also picked up the composite ratchet while I was there and love that too. You can't complain about the price either. I guess I'm due to go out and buy some USA stuff to off put my sins.

I love that ratchet, i have 1/2 and 3/8. I opened up and oiled all my ratchets the other day. The only one with any grease or oil between about 8 stanley, kobalt & hf was that 3/8 composite. That's being generous, there was a tiny bit of red grease on part of it, definitely not enough.

As far as the socket holders, I have both the HF & Westling, had the lowes at one point but sold them. I like the HF the best. when you first get them, get some clear nail polish and the numbers wont rub off.

I like the HF better than the kobalts or westling because i can see 6pt or 12pt easily, can see the sizes easily (I almost never work with SAE) and my sockets the etching/marking isn't that deep that its obvious from across the floor or when i just glance into the drawer.

The westlings make great holders for hex/torx bits, but otherwise I would have just got the HF and been done with it.