Best socket rails EVER! Vim Magrail TL

[Strouty]

VIM Tools Magrail TL

I wish I had found these earlier, I saw another member posted some info on them and there are a few older threads discussing them, but nothing really detailed with pictures. These are not cheap, but they appear to be worth the money and can be used for sockets, extensions, wrenches, just about anything that is magnetic.

Some of you guys know about me, I am really hard to impress and these are impressive. I will say that the magnets are almost too strong, so I am playing around with removing one side and it appears to be the perfect happy medium for regular box storage. I will post more pictures as I play around with them. I had to order more of them so I could fit all my sockets, but it looks like I will end up with more room than I ever thought possible.

 

[Rewind97]

They look nice!!!! What brand?

 

[Strouty]

To clarify, those are 1/2" drive sockets.

Here are a few more pictures of some of my space saving and the magnet removal. You can mix and match peg sizes and they are adjustable or you can remove them and just use them as a magnetic rail.




I found a piece of steel that felt like a good size to use for the spacing of the sockets.

 

[one9gt]

Those are the exact ones my Matco guy has... Super strong magnet. Glad I know who makes them now



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[woody 73]

Would you happen to have a link for them? what would be a cheaper (key word) place to buy them?

 

[Strouty]

I don't think there is a cheap place to buy them, the jobber packs from tooltopia were about the best deal.

Tooltopia search

 

[bcradio]

Do they slide after you space them?

Do they magnetize your tools? I don't want that

Do you cut them to size? Always my biggest problem with rails is not being sized right and having to cut

 

[Strouty]

The pegs are on a slide rail, like a t slot. You tighten them once you figure out where you want them and they stay. They do not seem to magnetize my sockets, but I dig find that a wrench would be slightly magnetized. I will have to play with them some more. As for cutting to length, you could, but it would be based on the length of the magnets. You could remove them, then cut the aluminum.

I did find that after removing one side of the magnets, is really had issues when you tried to take sockets off, the rail would lift off the drawer bottom.

They are TL rails, tilt and lift and it does work, but you feel the force of the magnet still. The are very thin and very strong. I love the fact that I can have any sized peg in any location on the same rail.

 

[1950mercury]

They seem nice, but I've come to realize I do to much metal fab work to have magnetic socket rails. Within a couple months they will have metal shavings/dust on them.

 

[Strouty]

I could see that being an issue, but this box is my automotive box, it is rarely open when I am doing metal work. They definitely do not magnetize the sockets, the only reason I had a wrench that got magnetized appears that I put it across several magnets at once. I have since tried to replicate it and can't get another wrench to show any magnetization. I do have to admit I have not tried sine metal pieces, so I may try that next.

 

[pcmeiners]

Have the mechanics Time Savers, really like them, but these look one step better. Getting another 2 Vidmars cabinets (44") to use as tool chests. The Time Savers socket organizers are about twice the height of the Magrails. The height, plus the deep socket height has caused an issue with my present tool chest and it will need an extra draw height in the Vidmars, instead of 4-5/8 drawers, I will need 5-3/8 drawers; no big deal but why deal with a drawer height issue, another plus mark for the Magrails.
As far as cost, I spent a couple days trying to find a practical socket organizer which will fit 400 plus sockets. Once I found the Time Savers, with all the aggravation of making the socket fit the chest with other organizers, I changed my mind as to their expense, same would go for the Magrails . Thankfully I am not disappointed with the Time Savers, as they are pretty expensive also; I can live with second best.

Big issue with any rail type is the length as compared to your chest's width or depth, you can loose space efficiency. Next step in socket rails evolution would be custom lengths .

 

[firworks]

Can you post a link to the Tooltopia jobber pack? I'm not seeing them searching around on there.

 

[Strouty]

I had tried a lot of different types, most recent ones were the Westling's, those are nice, but I had some issues with them because they were not the same size and the pegs are designed for Craftsman sockets so they do not work well for me.

 

[Strouty]

Can you post a link to the Tooltopia jobber pack? I'm not seeing them searching around on there.

http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-mr16jp.aspx

 

[Richard Cranium]

So did you mention how much the jobber kit sells for?

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

So did you mention how much the jobber kit sells for?

$166.99 + free shipping in the continental US

2 - MAGRAIL TL 16" long, BLUE, 16-1/2" studs
1 - MAGRAIL TL 16" long, RED, 16-1/2" studs
2 - MAGRAIL TL 16" long, BLUE, 20-3/8" studs
1 - MAGRAIL TL 16" long, RED, 20-3/8" studs
1 - MAGRIAL Bit Base holds 38 - 1/4" hex bits
1 - 10 pack 3/8" Studs
1 - 10 pack 1/2" Studs
1 - 10 pack MAGRAIL Rail Lifter

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

I had tried a lot of different types, most recent ones were the Westling's, those are nice, but I had some issues with them because they were not the same size and the pegs are designed for Craftsman sockets so they do not work well for me.

Thanks for the info and the pics. Have you tried the socket organizers from Ernst Mfg.? If so how do these compare?

 

[WhiffySpark]

I have the Ernst. They're all plastic they're okay. Wish I brought the mag rails the first time though

 

[firworks]

Pshewwww that's a tall ask! I think that's more than all my sockets cost combined. I'm sure they are very nice though. If I can find a good deal on a smaller sampling I'll give them a try. So far my favorite are actually the plastic rails that a lot of sockets come with that are like the HF ones but with ball detents that don't just fly out. I've tried to buy the actual HF ones and I couldn't find a single rail that had all its detents still in. The boxes are full of loose ball bearings.

 

[anndel]

Thanks for the info and the pics. Have you tried the socket organizers from Ernst Mfg.? If so how do these compare?

I also have the Ernst and as WhiffySpark says they're plastic, they're ok. You have to twist the socket about 1/4 turn to lock it. Each rail slides into a tray then locks.

 

[Strouty]

I have tried the twist lock plastic ones, the non twist lock, the magnetic twist lock, and these are hands down the best, they are also the most expensive. I do feel in this instance, you get what you pay for. The little ring grabs are awesome, very easy to grab if you want to take them out. I have some more on order, so I am not 100% done yet, I am also waiting for another set of sockets to arrive, but at this point it looks like I will have all my sockets and even be able to add all my 3/8" 12 point sockets that used to be stored elsewhere.

 

[Wes J]

I wonder if these would be for air travel? I know the TSA is weird about magnets...

 

[Strouty]

The magnets are really strong, not sure what TSA would say.

 

[firworks]

I really don't like the Ernst twist lock socket rails. I've heard they loosen up a bit but the ones I have are very difficult to get the sockets on and off of even after using them for a while. If you were at all oily you'd have no chance of freeing sockets from the rail.

I also kinda regret getting a full set of Hansen socket trays. They do take up a lot of room and a lot of my smaller sockets don't fit on the smallest pegs.

I'm gonna start hunting around eBay and Amazon to see if I can find any deals on the Vims. They do look very nice.

 

[Strouty]

Looking at these, it would be neat if you could get some kind of cutter or router bit that would make the t-slot so you could make your own bases, then use the accessories. That would allow something similar to the Westling's, yet give you the adjustability that these offer and they would be cheaper because you would not need the magnets.

 

[Strouty]

I really don't like the Ernst twist lock socket rails. I've heard they loosen up a bit but the ones I have are very difficult to get the sockets on and off of even after using them for a while. If you were at all oily you'd have no chance of freeing sockets from the rail.

I also kinda regret getting a full set of Hansen socket trays. They do take up a lot of room and a lot of my smaller sockets don't fit on the smallest pegs.

I'm gonna start hunting around eBay and Amazon to see if I can find any deals on the Vims. They do look very nice.

I had the Hanson trays, but between my OCD and the fact that the sockets were upside down, I had to get rid of them.

 

[shockwave]

I have been using these for years and by far my favorite rails I bought all mine individual thou and have most of my 3/8 and 1/4 bit sockets on them I will take a pic at the shop

These are the most versatile with the studs being able to place where you want them too I need a few odd ball sizes of these for smaller sets like the ones that come with there universal triple square sets

 

[Strouty]

I am going to take one to the local machine shop and see if they can replicate the t slot. I am having no luck finding one that small.

The lower slot is 6 mm wide, but only about 1 1/2 mm deep, the upper slot is about 4 mm wide. I could see using a mill to make a couple passes, but still not sure where to get the tiny tooling.

 

[Strouty]

I think I found a cutter, it is called a keyseat cutter. It is about $50, but would open up some serious possibilities to custom make these.

http://www.harveytool.com/ToolTechInfo.aspx?ToolNumber=970362

 

[shockwave]

I am going to take one to the local machine shop and see if they can replicate the t slot. I am having no luck finding one that small.

The lower slot is 6 mm wide, but only about 1 1/2 mm deep, the upper slot is about 4 mm wide. I could see using a mill to make a couple passes, but still not sure where to get the tiny tooling.

I was just going to buy a 16 inch and cut into 4 pieces and use punch to secure magnets in rail

 

[ike]

I have looked at these many times, but they are too expensive for my needs. I wish I had them though; they look awesome. I do think there is a better socket organization system that has not been created yet though..

 

[Strouty]

I would like to make some that are non magnetic. I don't think I could even come close to the price if I had to buy the magnets.

What you are trying to do should be relatively easy, the magnets are brittle, so be careful with them. I could not get them off the side of my drawer so I used pliers and I chipped one of the magnets. I just squeezed the end, because I was afraid to hit it with a punch.

 

[Strouty]

I have looked at these many times, but they are too expensive for my needs. I wish I had them though; they look awesome. I do think there is a better socket organization system that has not been created yet though..

I agree that there is absolutely a better way, but I have not figured it out yet either.

 

[firworks]

Maybe I'll barcode all my sockets and build a little flying gantry tool so I can just order one up at the front of my box. "Let's see, 19mm deep well 3/8" drive... Ah, E-3". *beep beep* "Score! I got the 18mm right behind it" Just like a vending machine.

Then I can imagine rocking the tool box back and forth to free the 34mm impact that jammed in the chute.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Well I'm waiting on my laser cutter. X carve Soon. About to purchase a 3d printer. What you got in mind? Lol

 

[canuckian]

Well damn....here I am almost all converted back to Ernst rails and now I see this.....

am almost glad that there doesn't seem to be any Canadian distributors online with decent prices on these or I'd be tempted.

 

[Strouty]

Well now I get to take a bath on my Westling racks. Hopefully someone on the forum will want them.

 

[logikal]

Actually if your looking to sell them I was in the market for a whole bunch of them.

 

[walrus]

I bought some of these easily the best rails I've used . Kind of expensive though

 

[Fedwrench]

I bought the vim magrails when they first came out more than a few years ago directly from vim. I have never regretted the purchase. There is no comparison to any other rail on the market. I've had a magrail holding a 3/8 drive 7-24mm socket set on the lid of my tool cart for more than a few years. It doesn't slide and no socket has ever fallen. These rails aren't for everyone as they aren't cheap and they are great for holding sockets and other drive tools but, they're best suited in a cart or other box/chest and not so much for portability. The magnets are really strong but, they don't magnetize the tools.