Best socket holder for portable tool bag?

[cliftonbros89]

I also use the twist lock rails and they work just fine, well for 1/2" anyhow. I also found them too long also and just cut them in half, SAE 1/2 and metric other.
I'm in need of a solution for my 3/4 drive stuff. Wish they made some for that size.

Ernst makes 3/4” rails

 

[monkeyspanners]

Find these good for use in my veto tool bag, flexibility lets it sit across the bottom at the front then bend up one side.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Centiped...m=302601915977&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

 

[MJK]

Anybody found a long and skinny plastic box that works for this? (like a fishing tackle box)

I want to be able to put 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive in separate boxes and stack them.

 

[WinMod21]

Anybody found a long and skinny plastic box that works for this? (like a fishing tackle box)
I want to be able to put 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive in separate boxes and stack them.

I found on sale a single box (not stackable) after realizing that my socket rails weren't gonna fit in the bottom of my big plastic travel toolbox--what with all the various wrench rolls &c.
It's a 'long and skinny' Dewalt toolbox that all 6 of my ModBox socket rails fit nicely into the bottom of, (2- 1/2" rails, 2- 3/8" rails, 2- 1/4" rails), with room for ratchets & T-speed handles.
It holds a lot, but has a very big swing handle that swings up from the front or back of box, and it's one of those boxes that the top compartment separates from the lower, by a big plastic push button of which who knows how long that will last ---so you can carry it separately if you want---which still seems somewhat awkward to me at times.
I almost took it back before using it, but now I guess I'm glad I didn't as the separateable/shallower top box actually came in rather handy whilst carrying it in&out of locations, and when I was repairing our A/C exterior condenser unit for a few days &c. Anyways, can take pics, but hope you find what you're looking for.

Btw, I noticed that S-K makes some nice looking magnetic socket rails.

 

[jgromada]

another vote for Ernst! i had something else but when i returned from Salvage yard last time i had lost 2 impact sockets so i ordered Ernst right away

 

[MJK]

I found on sale a single box (not stackable) after realizing that my socket rails weren't gonna fit in the bottom of my big plastic travel toolbox--what with all the various wrench rolls &c.
It's a 'long and skinny' Dewalt toolbox that all 6 of my ModBox socket rails fit nicely into the bottom of, (2- 1/2" rails, 2- 3/8" rails, 2- 1/4" rails), with room for ratchets & T-speed handles. ...

Anyways, can take pics, but hope you find what you're looking for.

Thanks for the reply! I can't seem to find what you mean - do you remember where you got it?

I have 12 ball/detent Ares/Olsa rails in the 'go bag' now. Shallow/Deep, Sae/Metric and 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. It works, but they won't lay across the bottom neatly so they get jostled around and sockets get knocked loose. PITA.

So, I was thinking of making a system with some Plano fishing lure boxes to stack in the bottom of my bag. There are also some URREA / Proto J5299R metal boxes on Amazon that look interesting.

 

[mc4life27]

There was also a company that made a roll for a set of sockets and a ratchet


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[WinMod21]

Thanks for the reply! I can't seem to find what you mean - do you remember where you got it?

I have 12 ball/detent Ares/Olsa rails in the 'go bag' now. Shallow/Deep, Sae/Metric and 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. It works, but they won't lay across the bottom neatly so they get jostled around and sockets get knocked loose. PITA.

So, I was thinking of making a system with some Plano fishing lure boxes to stack in the bottom of my bag. There are also some URREA / Proto J5299R metal boxes on Amazon that look interesting.

I got it at an Ace Hardware; had a $10 off Ace Rewards card- so I think I got it for $17; but again, I'm not sure I like it that much, as it is rather big. :~\ But if you've got the room in your truck or van, it holds 6 rails in the bottom nicely; I put that black rubber perforated no-slip/drawer liner (you can buy real cheap at e.g. Dollar Tree) in the bottom.

 

[WinMod21]

. . .that's 6 side-by-side. But maybe only 5 side-by-side if lots of big sockets, as it's pretty snug with 6, and I just have a mixture of standard & deep chromes.
However there is room to double stack socket rails, w/ at least 5 rails at bottom...w/5 more on top.

Then again, it's a big toolbox, and probably not very close to what you're looking for.
And not waterproof !
Hence, therefore, a user/reviewer suggests going "with Dewalt's ToughSystem boxes instead".

So forgid-aboud-idt

 

[BMack37]

I like the Wera twist-lock nylon straps with velcro on the back. I have one slid and velcroed into my Veto Tech-MBT, it takes very little space and barely weighs anything.

 

[schuter]

Just purchased the Ernst. A++++

 

[username2]

A little metal box.

Heck, those TRUSCO boxes are only $22.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002A5RO6Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Stick the ratchet and extension in there too.

 

[WWheeler]

Urethane flexible socket rails are my portable toolbox/toolbag go to. They don't cost much at all, are indestructible AFAICT, and they hold sockets really well. Kinda weird to get used to at first, especially when new as they hold sockets really tight. You have to learn how to twist sockets as you push or pull them on and off and then it becomes super easy to do. You just give them a 90deg twisting motion and come off and go on easy peasy. If you try to just pull or push without the twist well, you're going to hate them because they are going to fight you.

There's nothing better or even close IMHO for a travel toolbox as you can grab a whole strip and take it with you and swing it around and toss it under a vehicle then drag it around with you then toss it back in your box, bag or bucket are whatever you're storing them in. and they don't let go of sockets until you want them to and you can't hurt them. If you drive over them with a truck you might hurt your sockets but you sure won't hurt these holders.

I bought my first sets (orange) in the 90s at Northern and I'm still using them. When I wanted more I found that Northern doesn't carry them any more so I had to keep looking and the only other place I was more recently able to find them was online though this welding supply company. WeldTab. where I bought several strips of theirs in red & black. Same thing just different colors.

Socket Holders – weldtab.com

 

[ecotec]

I like using rails. I keep all of my sockets and extensions et al inside a Klein zipper bag.

 

[KnurledNut]

Urethane flexible socket rails are my portable toolbox/toolbag go to. They don't cost much at all, are indestructible AFAICT, and they hold sockets really well. Kinda weird to get used to at first, especially when new as they hold sockets really tight. You have to learn how to twist sockets as you push or pull them on and off and then it becomes super easy to do. You just give them a 90deg twisting motion and come off and go on easy peasy. If you try to just pull or push without the twist well, you're going to hate them because they are going to fight you.

There's nothing better or even close IMHO for a travel toolbox as you can grab a whole strip and take it with you and swing it around and toss it under a vehicle then drag it around with you then toss it back in your box, bag or bucket are whatever you're storing them in. and they don't let go of sockets until you want them to and you can't hurt them. If you drive over them with a truck you might hurt your sockets but you sure won't hurt these holders.

I bought my first sets (orange) in the 90s at Northern and I'm still using them. When I wanted more I found that Northern doesn't carry them any more so I had to keep looking and the only other place I was more recently able to find them was online though this welding supply company. WeldTab. where I bought several strips of theirs in red & black. Same thing just different colors.

Socket Holders – weldtab.com

Awful fancy Kobalt ratchet you got there... ;-)

 

[NUTTSGT]

I like using rails. I keep all of my sockets and extensions et al inside a Klein zipper bag.

About the same thing but not Klein bags. I have a few different zipper bags for different sized drive sockets.



Albeit an older thread but still relevant when it got revived.

 

[Grokew]

Urethane flexible socket rails are my portable toolbox/toolbag go to. They don't cost much at all, are indestructible AFAICT, and they hold sockets really well. Kinda weird to get used to at first, especially when new as they hold sockets really tight. You have to learn how to twist sockets as you push or pull them on and off and then it becomes super easy to do. You just give them a 90deg twisting motion and come off and go on easy peasy. If you try to just pull or push without the twist well, you're going to hate them because they are going to fight you.

There's nothing better or even close IMHO for a travel toolbox as you can grab a whole strip and take it with you and swing it around and toss it under a vehicle then drag it around with you then toss it back in your box, bag or bucket are whatever you're storing them in. and they don't let go of sockets until you want them to and you can't hurt them. If you drive over them with a truck you might hurt your sockets but you sure won't hurt these holders.

I bought my first sets (orange) in the 90s at Northern and I'm still using them. When I wanted more I found that Northern doesn't carry them any more so I had to keep looking and the only other place I was more recently able to find them was online though this welding supply company. WeldTab. where I bought several strips of theirs in red & black. Same thing just different colors.

Socket Holders – weldtab.com

I was thinking of sewing them directly to a zippered case, but then thought that it might be best to hold them in place with multiple small straps, so that they don't break.

 

[assassin10000]

Urethane flexible socket rails are my portable toolbox/toolbag go to. They don't cost much at all, are indestructible AFAICT, and they hold sockets really well. Kinda weird to get used to at first, especially when new as they hold sockets really tight. You have to learn how to twist sockets as you push or pull them on and off and then it becomes super easy to do. You just give them a 90deg twisting motion and come off and go on easy peasy. If you try to just pull or push without the twist well, you're going to hate them because they are going to fight you.

There's nothing better or even close IMHO for a travel toolbox as you can grab a whole strip and take it with you and swing it around and toss it under a vehicle then drag it around with you then toss it back in your box, bag or bucket are whatever you're storing them in. and they don't let go of sockets until you want them to and you can't hurt them. If you drive over them with a truck you might hurt your sockets but you sure won't hurt these holders.

I bought my first sets (orange) in the 90s at Northern and I'm still using them. When I wanted more I found that Northern doesn't carry them any more so I had to keep looking and the only other place I was more recently able to find them was online though this welding supply company. WeldTab. where I bought several strips of theirs in red & black. Same thing just different colors.

Socket Holders – weldtab.com

Those are neat.



I've had a few rothco bags that have 8 sewn in pockets/slots that hold deep sockets. That and some Ernst rails have been working for me. Ymmv.

If I had any sewing skills, I would try and add more.