Best socket rails EVER! Vim Magrail TL

[Strouty]

I have definitely made more room. Of course I am moving the impact sockets to another drawer, but the drawers was a mess before, all the ratchets were just stacked. Once I have the rest of the rails I can finish the job and update the pictures. All of my Westling's are unloaded and ready for the classified section.

 

[Strouty]

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

Here is a link to the ad:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326231

 

[K-Dog]

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.

Well **** man. You ruined my day.

I just spent a LOT of money on a **** ton of Westling rails. If I recall I have nearly 400 +/- sockets to stack. I LIKE the Westlings, but my complaints would be solved with the rails you are showing us.
1) would be the Westlings are not magnetized and a few sockets tip over from time to time.
2) not being able to put 1/4 and 3/8 on the same rail
3) insufficient spacing. I have to put my 3/8 and 1/2 inch swivel sockets every other peg since they won't fit right next to each other.

****.
I don't know why I visit these boards. They kill my budget.

 

[K-Dog]

My Westlings MIGHT be up for sale as well.

 

[shockwave]

For me thr adjustability of the vim magrails are a organization key that wrestling cannot match

Just my opinion thou

 

[Hammer1963]

I agree, these are fantastic! I'm amazed at how strong the magnets are

 

[charger0926]

best socket rails period!!!



not for the faint of heart price wise

Don't ask me how I know

 

[tjpavlov]

I was going to get a set of westlings...

Anyone want to work on a group buy of these?

 

[Karl_B]

So the VIM rails let you lock the posts for the sockets in place?

If this had square posts with ball detents and no magnets, it would be just about my ideal socket rack. I've been using the red plastic rails that Home Depot sells to replace my Hansen trays. They are really great for my purposes and the price, but I would prefer something stouter and with the ability to lock the posts in place when I set the rail up.

It just hit me that these may be the perfect rails to hold my ratchets and extensions in place. I have the extension lined up with old spring clip rails to space them out, but a magnetic rail that doesn't magnetize them would be even better. Great. Another thing I'll have to buy and try. And then I'll have to try that for my screwdrivers.

 

[gdocktor3]

Are the magnets fixed in position or do they slide along the rails? Are the bottoms of the rails flat? I hate 2 things about regular socket rails 1) they don't stand straight up because of the v shaped design 2) the holders slide down the rail making it hard to put the socket back on sometimes. Are these annoyances fixed by these rails?

 

[north]

Rails have a flat bottom. See pic in first post. Magnets (Edit: meant pegs) can be positioned wherever you want them on the rail and then tightened to stay in that position.

Check out this video from 0.49.

 

[Strouty]

The magnets are not movable in the normal sense, you can take them out if you wanted to. The pegs are not magnetized at all and can be adjusted to any position on the rail.

I am going to try and make up some that are not magnetized, they should be as good as the Westlings but more adjustable.

Basically the rails have the magnets embedded into slots, a small dimple holds them in, so you can push them out. If you remove all the pegs you can use the rails as nice tool holders for anything that will stick to a magnet.

 

[shockwave]

My tool cart with the magrails

 

[charger0926]

These are flat on both sides with the magnets running the whole length in two parallel channeled grooves on the top. On the top there is also a channel down the whole length in the center that holds a "t" stud. The "t" stud has threads that you screw on the desired diameter plastic socket "stud" either 1/4, 3/8, 1/2. Then you tighten them in any location you would likeon the rail.

Hope this helps.

By the way. The "lifters" as they call them are a must as these are nearly impossible to pull up off your drawer with out them. And just a note. Be careful when you "snap" them together so you don't get your skin pinched in between them... They WILL draw blood.

 

[Strouty]

Good point, I have pinched my finger at least a few times all ready.

 

[Fedwrench]

Are the magnets fixed in position or do they slide along the rails? Are the bottoms of the rails flat?

The rail is the magnetic part. Think of the peg as a solid rubber valve cap that screws on to the t stud pictured above. The peg can moved along the rail to allow you to tailor the spacing between sockets or whatever. You can tighten the peg once it's where you want it. Yes, the bottom of the rails are flat.

The rail and t stud are a standard size allowing you to mix drive sizes as you wish on a single rail.

Hey, is that a Snap on display tool box? Everything looks new

 

[charger0926]

The rail is the magnetic part. Think of the peg as a solid rubber valve cap that screws on to the t stud pictured above. The peg can moved along the rail to allow you to tailor the spacing between sockets or whatever. You can tighten the peg once it's where you want it. Yes, the bottom of the rails are flat.



The rail and t stud are a standard size allowing you to mix drive sizes as you wish on a single rail.



Hey, is that a Snap on display tool box? Everything looks new

No this place has just made me more **** than before about keeping my tools clean and organized. But thanks for noticing [emoji1303]

 

[walrus]

Hard to get it off post. Magnets are great

 

[Strouty]

I wish they made longer ones, my old MAC rails are a touch longer and held more sockets, but they would tip over too easily when loaded up. I can't wait until next week, I think I ordered enough to complete my existing sockets, if not I will place one last order and keep some extras around for future expansion.

 

[shamrock12]

This thread came at perfect timing cause I was about to start a new one about a customized socket rail that is solidly constructed. I actually contacted Westling about doing custom rails because they looked nice and practical. However, I got turned away when they told me they could not do custom socket rails due to liability reasons

So I began looking at Ernst socket rails which would allow customizing (spacing, peg size, etc); however, I too was concerned about the pegs moving around over time and wasn't sure how strong their magnets would keep the rails from tipping over inside a lined drawer.

I'm very interested in this VIM rails, even though they seems a bit pricey

 

[Strouty]

I'm very interested in this VIM rails, even though they seems a bit pricey

I know, I could have bought three of the infamous HF 44 boxes all ready.

 

[BK13]

Ouch.

 

[Fedwrench]

I wish they made longer ones, my old MAC rails are a touch longer and held more sockets, but they would tip over too easily when loaded up. I can't wait until next week, I think I ordered enough to complete my existing sockets, if not I will place one last order and keep some extras around for future expansion.

Vim makes a longer tool holder part number MRN24N which is basically a 24 inch long magrail without studs or pegs. However, it's black and that would mess up your color scheme.

I'm glad more people have realized just how great these magrails are.

 

[sleepy127]

I just purchased one MR16R16C from Amazon. Hopefully I will find it worth the expense when it comes.

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

I just purchased one MR16R16C from Amazon. Hopefully I will find it worth the expense when it comes.

Agreed! It'll be a pretty penny to get them for all the sockets! Let us know what you think.

 

[Strouty]

Vim makes a longer tool holder part number MRN24N which is basically a 24 inch long magrail without studs or pegs. However, it's black and that would mess up your color scheme.

I'm glad more people have realized just how great these magrails are.

I might be able to find a good use for the black rails. Mixed sets, torx, specialty?

 

[BK13]

I was thinking hex and Torx when I read that....

 

[IPACA9]

I typed in VIM TOOLS in amazon doing a basic search of what they have to offer for tools. When it comes to the actual tools I find myself understanding their pricing "OK, that price is cool, I like that, that one too" but when you look at the socket rails for the price of just one I agree. Pricy for those compared to their actual tools but I don't know anything about the company or quality of their tools.

 

[Strouty]

Vim offers very nice bit sockets, I don't have any real experience with anything else they sell other than the magrails. As for the price, they are not terrible if you buy them over time, all at once and it will make your wallet bleed.

I have paid more for other rails that I like less, then there are a few that come a close second to these, but for totally different reasons.

 

[ADSR]

These look cool, but I think i'll make my own with 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 square stock and a base plate welded and spaced the way I want.

 

[Strouty]

These are easier to adjust if you change your mind.

 

[littleponderosa]

I know, I could have bought three of the infamous HF 44 boxes all ready.

Damn dude, scare me with an estimate. Knowing more will be spent later of course.

Bill

 

[Fedwrench]

Damn dude, scare me with an estimate. Knowing more will be spent later of course.

Bill

The only thing you have to fear is fear itself

Yes, they aren't cheap but, compared to all of the other socket rails, holders, racks, etc. out there, the Vim Magrails are a bargain in the long run and over time. You only have to buy them once, unless you expand of course.

 

[tarbellb]

Could also serve as a friendly (expensive) reminder to limit your socket collection

 

[ADSR]

These are easier to adjust if you change your mind.

Like you said, They're not long enough. They do look like the best there is for store bought. Going to have to take a long look at it.

 

[Strouty]

Honestly, if they were any longer filled with my 1/2" drive it would be cumbersome to move them. Once I know what I need, I will add shorter sections for the larger or smaller sizes. The biggest issue I have now is if I want to run them side to side or front to back. I am moving some of my sockets to my cart, but I still have plenty for my top drawer. I should have the second order in by Wednesday, then I can figure things out a little better.

 

[BK13]

I was in Lowes yesterday, and saw some socket rails that appear to be similar (but only available in silver). Have you ever compared the VIMs to the Kobalt?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

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.

ACTUALLY, the VIM's have the sockets upside down...
One thing I like about the Hanson's (OCD isn't an issue, as I've got them 100% filled)....is the size markings. That's one thing I love.

Vim makes a longer tool holder part number MRN24N which is basically a 24 inch long magrail without studs or pegs. However, it's black and that would mess up your color scheme.

I'm glad more people have realized just how great these magrails are.

Yes, and its 3x more expensive then the Blue or Red ones I'd personally prefer to have all Black ones. I hate blue...Red n Black rails would be my preference... If the black rails were competitively priced or the shorter ones available in Black, I'd definitely get all my driver sockets and misc sockets setup on Magrails...until then, OCD prevents me switching..

 

[one9gt]

Just confirmed with my Matco driver that these are the same but Matco carries different sizes... 6",10" and 20" didn't see anything in between on the truck. Prices are roughly $5-6 more through matco


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Strouty]

Good to know that match has other sizes, I may have to take a look at their website.