Assembling proto socket rails, metal

[Ohio Andy]

I purchased proto sockets sets that came with rails. The rails were not assembled. And I have to say I spent time trying to figure out how I should assemble them. I spent way more time than I should have, before I realized what tool would spread those socket holders so I could stick them onto the rails



So here's what it looks like with some of them installed. See above. And look below to see how I did it



I spread them out I'm from there. It was easy sailing.

Yes, snap ring pliers. Use your safety glasses.

You won't believe the things I've used to try to get those on.

 

[ohhimark]

So long as it works. This works too: https://www.harryepstein.com/products/craftsman-12x6-center-punch Usually put a bit of oil on the rail, slow down rust/attract saw dust

 

[Meursault74]

They didn't slide on from the end?

The metal rails I have, I just used my fingers to slide them on from the end. Maybe the one I have don't fit as tightly as yours.

 

[Stelzer]

I've assembled hundreds of sockets on metal rails by sliding each of the metal tabs on the rail, then snapping the socket on the tab. The only special tools required are possibly the occasional pliers to close up loose tabs. Maybe I just don't understand what you got going on there.

 

[W&K AUTOMOTIVE]

For all the things made out of nylon or plastic now that used to be metal, socket rails/clips are one of the things that is actually a stark improvement. Gradually swapping out all my metal ones for the plastic ones I bought from Cripe.

 

[Ohio Andy]

They didn't slide on from the end?

The metal rails I have, I just used my fingers to slide them on from the end. Maybe the one I have don't fit as tightly as yours.

Sadly no. They are really tight and I wasn't able with my fingers to get them to spread.

Then there was also the question of which way do they face. There were no instructions. Unexpectedly, at least me, the rail is shaped in a way that there is a groove down the center which is the part that faces up. Which means the part that faces down protrudes out. I hadn't expected that since it will be slightly less stable when you set it on the ground.

But the clips themselves need to be spread out before they'll go on and I couldn't do it with just my fingers. My first attempt I was bending them out with pliers.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I've assembled hundreds of sockets on metal rails by sliding each of the metal tabs on the rail, then snapping the socket on the tab. The only special tools required are possibly the occasional pliers to close up loose tabs. Maybe I just don't understand what you got going on there.

All tabs were so tight, I could not spread them with my finger strength.

A metal rail itself is slightly tapered, but it's also rough so even if I manage to get it just over the taper I couldn't just push it down while I'm spreading them. If I put them on upside down I was able to use pliers to spread them out but it was finicky.

When I finally did think of using method I used, it went pretty fast. I just couldn't get them over the initial end

 

[Ohio Andy]

For all the things made out of nylon or plastic now that used to be metal, socket rails/clips are one of the things that is actually a stark improvement. Gradually swapping out all my metal ones for the plastic ones I bought from Cripe.

My wright tools holders are plastic and seem to work well. Although a bunch of the wright sockets didn't come with anywhere else.

All of my proto sets did come with rails

Based on where I put them, I have a mixture of green pro

https://a.co/d/6I1u1B8

And work pro

https://a.co/d/3QEH2Kd

I bought some rails from Tekton but I really don't like him that much. And it turns out the ones I bought are too long for where I want to use them. So they'll just sit around my shop until they find someone else who wants them.

3/8 Inch Drive 3-Rail Socket Organizer Set, 60-Tool (Red) | TEKTON | USA

Set includes 3/8 inch drive clips on 18 inch red socket rails in 3-rail tray. Place sockets onto clips to store them loosely, or twist them onto the clips to lock them in place. Made in USA. OST17160.

www.tekton.com

 

[roofdweller49]

For all the things made out of nylon or plastic now that used to be metal, socket rails/clips are one of the things that is actually a stark improvement. Gradually swapping out all my metal ones for the plastic ones I bought from Cripe.

Yeah, I remember getting my first set of Williams sockets which came with these rails. They're either too right and you gotta fight the sockets on and off, or they're loose and sockets fly off. I had to pry my 1/4 sockets off their rails. Immediately gave them away to someone who didn't hate them as much as I did

 

[Outlier]

I ran into the same issue with a Proto drive reducer/adapter set.

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Proto-J52006-Socket-Adaptor/dp/B001HW8Z84?tag=atomicindus08-20

I ended up just throwing the socket rail in the trash and used a VIM Tools magnet rail.

 

[rust in the eye]

For all the things made out of nylon or plastic now that used to be metal, socket rails/clips are one of the things that is actually a stark improvement. Gradually swapping out all my metal ones for the plastic ones I bought from Cripe.

Same here. Some of the metal rails are better then others, most of mine were cheapies from you know where. All of them can be made to work well with some "tuning". The cheapies are finding their way to the recycle bin and the better ones(that came with quality sets)used to store extras.
Ernst rails work well for me. I posted about them yesterday(?).

 

[Ohio Andy]

Same here. Some of the metal rails are better then others, most of mine were cheapies from you know where. All of them can be made to work well with some "tuning". The cheapies are finding their way to the recycle bin and the better ones(that came with quality sets)used to store extras.
Ernst rails work well for me. I posted about them yesterday(?).

The Ernst look like the Tekton, which means made by Ernst.

I bought the 60 (3 rails of 20) . I did not measure first and they're too long for where I want to use them. So now I have the 3/8 and the 1/4 versions and I need to decide if I'm just going to let him sit or figure out some other way to dispose of them

 

[Wamsutta]

I don't spread them out. What I do is hook one side on the rail and then pull the other side over with nose pliers until they snap in place.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I don't spread them out. What I do is hook one side on the rail and then pull the other side over with nose pliers until they snap in place.

I considered that but did not do it

 

[Wamsutta]

I considered that but did not do it

You have to spread the nose pliers out quite a bit to the width of the clip, but the nose pliers teeth hook onto the edge of the clip just fine.

Slip joint pliers would probably work too.

 

[dcoleman88]

Cripes Distributing has the plastic Kobalt rails and clips for very little $$$. They aren't Magrails but they are decent. I bought several and ditched all of my old metal rails. $10 for three rails with clips is cheap enough to not deal with metal rails that always have issues with being too tight/loose.