Best socket organizing system?

[pstemari]

I've currently got a set of six Hanson trays, but they seem to use a lot of space for the number of sockets they hold.

I have sets of flex, hex, Torx, and TorxPlus sockets on the stupid tin rails, which I hate.

What do people like? I'm looking for dense storage that won't fall over, and a socket retention system that doesn't get in the way.

I find those tin rails to be super-annoying. They seem to combine hard to get on and off with falling off unprovoked. They also tend to sound like fingernails on a blackboard.

Ernst socket boss and Gearwrench appear to be decent, Westling or Olsa seem to be premium alternatives.

Thoughts?

 

[WWheeler]

The 'best' is probably the VIM Mag Rail TL.
http://www.vimtools.com/store/page30.html

I don't have it, but have drooled over seeing the used in other's boxes posted here more than a few times. They're just too costly of an option for me for how many sockets I have, but man do they ever make for a nice socket drawer. The work to hold most other tools too.

 

[Fedwrench]

VIM magrail TL, expensive but, the best rail available.

 

[FigureItOut]

Those look like a nice improvement on the basic design of the Ernst Socket Boss rails. I tried both the popular twist-lock style, the Ernst and the MTS lock-a-socket, and found the Ernst far better. I'm about to be short on rails, I'll have to give those VIM a try.

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[bcradio]

The trays are very space efficient if you actually have enough sockets to fill them up. If you have small patchy sets with lots of missing sockets then they will waste space. The one downside the trays have is they aren't very portable. They are my favorite option right now.

 

[Rmracing]

Vim magrail . Pricey but the best out there in my opinion.

 

[astroracer]

I like the Hansen trays. I use red for SAE...

And black for Metric...

Every socket in it's place, easily accessible, and no magnetized sockets to pick up grinder dust and mill swarf. (I do a lot of grinding and milling...) Magnets pick up ALL of that stuff...
Mark

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I stick to the Hansen stand up racks for regular sockets and all specialties are single rail / racks / trays that match that set. Mostly the mechanics time saver plastic one with the magnetic bottom strip (now called Magna Caddy). The latest few specialty sets from SO came in nice magnetic trays, which are nice and the magnet is strong, but the base is wide / eats up floor space in the drawer.
I did recently pick up one those SO locking / slider type trays with all 3 drive sizes, but haven't been able to organize it to be usable. Having all 3 sizes, but only so many in each row, is either too little of this or too much of that - might be better if the whole tray where one drive size....but maybe just too much hassle.....

 

[R_einan]

Another vote for Magrail TLs, since I order one I can't go back. Need another set and a few misc to finish up.

 

[Wyoming09]

I recently reorganized the socket drawer using the Ernst Socket Boss. Summit had them for a pretty good price. I like them. I replaced some Hansen tray type holders. These seem a better use of the space.

 

[WWheeler]

I like the Hansen trays. I use red for SAE...

And black for Metric...

Every socket in it's place, easily accessible, and no magnetized sockets to pick up grinder dust and mill swarf. (I do a lot of grinding and milling...) Magnets pick up ALL of that stuff...
Mark

FYI: VIM Mag Rail TL does not magnetize tools. i'll let the designer of the Magrail explain it:

This is a snap-on box. No holes drilled. Every tool held in place with Magrail TL's.

For those who use magnetic holders do you ever think it's a pain in the **** to have your sockets etc magnetized? For instance trying to get the tool on a fastener only to have it keep getting stuck on the frame of what your working on.

The Magrail TL does not magnetize your sockets. Its design allows each socket to contact two magnets. One magnet north up one magnet south up allowing the flux lines to flow through the socket from one magnet to the other. This arrangement reverses every two inches the length of the Magrail TL. This should be keep in mind if you remove the magnets from your Magrail TL so they can be reinstalled properly.

And my opinion of Hansen trays is that they take up too much space and the empty spots look really bad when you don't have every size socket it has a space for. It makes it look like you have lost/missing sockets. It's even worse when like me you have many sets with more sizes smaller and larger than they have places for.

 

[gnxtc2]

I have a few of the MTS Magna Caddy organizers

https://www.mechanicstimesavers.com/Magna-Caddy.html

Billy T.
[email protected]

 

[LXCam]

Ernst here

Are they the best, nope. But they're reasonably priced and work fairly decently.

 

[DSLTRK]

What about Westling Machine? Those are excellent holders for the cost.

I like the Vim Mag rail due to sliding pegs, but the magnets attract debris, especially if you do metal work. Also, ridiculously expensive, IMO.

 

[regguy1]

I fitted a piece of 1/2" MDF to bottom of the drawer. painted it gray for a finished look and screwed HF ($1.00 ea.) socket rails to it. With the rails screwed to the MDF they are solid and work fine. I used a piece of aluminum angle to create a space for extensions. Low cost and you can make any layout to exactly suit your needs.
Here is a video of it:

 

[bcradio]

I fitted a piece of 1/2" MDF to bottom of the drawer. painted it gray for a finished look and screwed HF ($1.00 ea.) socket rails to it. With the rails screwed to the MDF they are solid and work fine. I used a piece of aluminum angle to create a space for extensions. Low cost and you can make any layout to exactly suit your needs.
Here is a video of it:

Looks beautiful

 

[Wamsutta]

This guy here - WOW!

Originally posted by MWEric

 

[charger0926]

VIM magrail TL, expensive but, the best rail available.

the best by far!!!

 

[Jaysreal]

I actually can't believe anyone likes the Vim ones. I have the smallest one the 8" long 1/4" version. Boy does it **** so to call it the best... No way. MTS is way better.

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[fos373]

I actually can't believe anyone likes the Vim ones. I have the smallest one the 8" long 1/4" version. Boy does it **** so to call it the best... No way. MTS is way better.

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You want to sell em...... let me know what you have

 

[Jaysreal]

I only bought the one to try

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[Tenex]

+1 for the Ernst Socket Boss. Unless you're a mechanic, most situations require that the tools be taken to the job.

 

[mbshop]

back in my day we basically had the small rails. the holders can be bent to what you like.
but once i saw the msc magnetic holders i was ecstatic. now most of my sockets and misc bits and fittings are on those. ones that i didn't use often remained on the small metal rails. today the cost of all those holders makes me choke.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Switching over to Ernst rails and socket boss here. Had the Kobalt "Hansen Style" trays for years, which were great but useless for grab and go (especially if you needed multiple unknown sockets under a vehicle for a job). Don't have the room to roll my entire box around, and out on service calls more and more, easier to unlock and grab rails to go.

 

[TonyCH]

What about Westling Machine? Those are excellent holders for the cost.

I used to have the Northern Toolbox socket organizer at garage but then bought bunch of Westling trays. Very nice. Pic 2 years ago:

Also have the Blue Point Lock-a-socket -tray at house.

 

[michelin]

A combination of Hansen and Lock-A-Socket trays for me.

 

[6PTsocket]

A combination of Hansen and Lock-A-Socket trays for me.

I started out as a big fan of lock a socket. The magnet is strong, the aluminunum rail is nice, the friction strips keep the posts in place. I have my 1/2" impact sockets on them. They are easy to lock or unlock and never fall off. When I bought more for my chrome sockets, many would not lock. Unlike a spring loaded ball, the lock a socket ball is backed by a cam.On some sockets the detent is not deep enough to allow the cam to rotate all the way and cannot rotate the socket the 90 degrees needed to lock it. This was the problem on many of my SK and old USA Williams. The ads even state "works on most sockets". If they work with your sockets, I highly reccomend them but they may not. I settled on the Gearwrench rails. The posts are spring loaded ball. The rails are reenforced nylon. Not as nice as the alumininum, flex a little but do not break and unfortunately, no magnet. In the plus side, they come in a few colors, unlike LOS just red. The are also less expensive. The LOS are also sold under the Craftsman label. The 1/2" is shorter with a few less posts but fit better in my drawer. The 3/8 and 1/4 are the same.

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[Tim37]

I have a few of the MTS Magna Caddy organizers

https://www.mechanicstimesavers.com/Magna-Caddy.html

Billy T.
[email protected]

Mts for the win
Compact and portable like a rack, easy to use and better made than a tray.

 

[michelin]

I started out as a big fan of lock a socket. The magnet is strong, the aluminunum rail is nice, the friction strips keep the posts in place. I have my 1/2" impact sockets on them. They are easy to lock or unlock and never fall off. When I bought more for my chrome sockets, many would not lock. Unlike a spring loaded ball, the lock a socket ball is backed by a cam.On some sockets the detent is not deep enough to allow the cam to rotate all the way and cannot rotate the socket the 90 degrees needed to lock it. This was the problem on many of my SK and old USA Williams. The ads even state "works on most sockets". If they work with your sockets, I highly reccomend them but they may not. I settled on the Gearwrench rails. The posts are spring loaded ball. The rails are reenforced nylon. Not as nice as the alumininum, flex a little but do not break and unfortunately, no magnet. In the plus side, they come in a few colors, unlike LOS just red. The are also less expensive. The LOS are also sold under the Craftsman label. The 1/2" is shorter with a few less posts but fit better in my drawer. The 3/8 and 1/4 are the same.

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I hear you and can confirm that some sockets are harder to lock than others. That said, I rarely lock them at all - just slide over the post and that's that. They are not the most efficient storage as you probably know, the 'rails' are too wide apart but I still prefer them to anything else as it's easy to get the whole tray out and to the work place, that I'm happy oversee the manufacturing blemishes. I have 3 5-rail LOS trays and all are Bluepoint branded stainless steel looking things.

 

[jlipsky14]

I like my hansen tray, will get a picture later.
If it takes up to much space cut some of the extra base off. Dont like the vim cause I like to see what size I am grabbing as well as knowing exactly what goes back where.
If you dont like having empty spaces use all the extra money that you saved on buying the hansens over the vims and fill it in.
I have the full lineup plus double of some for a 12pt tray, wouldnt use anything else if even if I got it for free.

 

[fos373]

I use Hansen's for the main box, VIM mag rails in the race tool cart and MTS' in both.

 

[AntonLargiader]

I have the Blue-Point BPTRYLAS which is a rebadged 5-row Mechanic's Time Saver Lock-a-socket LASTRAY. I don't bother with the locking feature and I removed the clips for holding ratchets or extensions. Super portable with the handle at each end.

Reasonably efficient space-wise, although some rows could be a bit closer together. Very flexible: the first row only accepts the 1/4" posts but the other four rows let you mix 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 which, for instance, lets me keep my 3/8-to-1/2 adapter with the 1/2" sockets or lets me keep my Torx bits together regardless of drive size.

I also still use a Hansen tray in my other box. Great for standard sockets but of course not much use for Allens, Torx, etc. A bit fragile... after a while all of the posts started breaking off my first one. Maybe it got some sort of fluid on it that embrittled the plastic.

 

[ryan20021982]

Combination of Hansen Trays for sockets and cheap Rails from the auto parts stores for everything else

View media item 65428

 

[lilredex]

My socket drawers. The boxes fit the sockets.

 

[pstemari]

I like my hansen tray, ...
If you dont like having empty spaces use all the extra money that you saved on buying the hansens over the vims and fill it in.....

Chuckle. Been there, done that, bought the sockets. The empty spots drove me nuts. There's one peg, though, the 5/8" deep 1/4" IIRC, for which the socket simply doesn't exist, at least not in chrome.

The six Hansen trays filled up my drawer, but the space between the rows is just too big. I've wound up piling my extensions and extra rails between the pegs. The real answer is probably a bigger box, but no where to put it right now.

 

[ryan20021982]

Chuckle. Been there, done that, bought the sockets. The empty spots drove me nuts. There's one peg, though, the 5/8" deep 1/4" IIRC, for which the socket simply doesn't exist, at least not in chrome.

View media item 65431
Westward - 10E864
https://www.grainger.com/product/WESTWARD-5-8-Alloy-Steel-Socket-with-10E864

Blue Point - BLPLS1458
https://store.snapon.com/Deep-inches-chrome-Blue-Point-174--Socket-Deep-5-8-6-pt-Blue-Point--P646492.aspx

 

[Ainsley]

Ernst for me. more has been added and the layout has changed since this pic but you get the idea

 

[6PTsocket]

I hear you and can confirm that some sockets are harder to lock than others. That said, I rarely lock them at all - just slide over the post and that's that. They are not the most efficient storage as you probably know, the 'rails' are too wide apart but I still prefer them to anything else as it's easy to get the whole tray out and to the work place, that I'm happy oversee the manufacturing blemishes. I have 3 5-rail LOS trays and all are Bluepoint branded stainless steel looking things.

Some of mine would not lock at all. There is a limit to the sane amount of force you want to exert. You are trying to force a ball into a space between a socket detent and and an eccentric internal post that it does not fit into. The post assembly is plastic. There is no doubt what will break. I pull the rail out of the box so I want one that locks. If you don't lock them why spend the money, when a simple Hansen post will do? The Gearwrench rails are less expensive and use a simple spring loaded detent ball that is strong enough for my non inpact sockets. When I buy more impacts I will buy more lock a socket rails.

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[nikh]

I hate to say it, but for the $3 the HF grey plastic rails are just fine, the clips are a bit brittle if you drop them when they are full, but for the money, I won't complain.

 

[Greg85mcss]

I use hansen style trays for all my chrome sockets and 1/2 impacts. I got a kobalt tray for my 3/8 impacts and some misc. regularly used stuff and sockets that don't have a place in the trays. It was pretty cheap and works well except you can't take rails off like the ernst ones. Rails for stuff like hex, torx and triple squares.


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