one9gt
Well-known member
Also unlike VIMs 24" Matco has the 20" in either color
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Best socket rails EVER! Vim Magrail TL
- Thread starter Strouty
- Start date
sleepy127
Well-known member
My Vim rail MR16R16C came in yesterday and I spent a little time getting the sockets on it. It is a red 16" rail with 16-1/2" studs. The studs are plastic and the sockets maintain connection to the rail magnets as opposed to their being a friction fit to the studs. The studs are there mainly as a place marker. The magnets as some have said are real strong. I held the rail full of 1/2" deepwell sockets upside down and they held even after shaking them (1 1/4" and down). These will be perfect for utilizing the sides of a drawer for storage or lids in a service cart. I think the space saving aspects is going to be the feature that draws most people to them and they do that well. Quality seems to be top notch but only time and use will tell. My one gripe, and it pertains to most rails is easy ID of my socket size but I knew this coming into it so no big deal. I guess the real test will be if I decide to use this with my go to sockets and they remain that way.
I need to pick up a 3/8" drive rail and see how it works out for me because that is what I use the most. For now I would say for me it will be an item I would buy as convenience and money allows without feeling a need to put all of my sockets on them right now. They are very expensive and it remains to be seen if the space they save will be worth the expense. If they last a while and are very durable they may pay for themselves over time. I would not recommend them for someone starting out only because I am sure there are other tools that 25-30$ per rail can be spent on.
I need to pick up a 3/8" drive rail and see how it works out for me because that is what I use the most. For now I would say for me it will be an item I would buy as convenience and money allows without feeling a need to put all of my sockets on them right now. They are very expensive and it remains to be seen if the space they save will be worth the expense. If they last a while and are very durable they may pay for themselves over time. I would not recommend them for someone starting out only because I am sure there are other tools that 25-30$ per rail can be spent on.
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one9gt
Well-known member
one9gt
Well-known member
i have a couple mechanics time savers holders. I love the way they work and feel, but they just aren't laid out well for metric sockets. The 1/4" double row holders are awesome, and fit inch and metric well. 3/8 don't fit metric sockets tightly enough for me. They work, but just not as well as they could.
MTS take up more space than rails, but can be moved easily, and stuck to a fender or lift or cart. This is their best feature, if you ask me.
I also have Ernst I bought from Sears in black (") and gray (mm). These are okay. I really like the size markings. I wish the bases were magnetic, but I could probably add one. These are fine except they don't work for bit sockets. Earnest has a bit socket molded tray which isn't bad at all. But I have 5X that number of bit sockets in a range of drive sizes and styles.
The packaging that comes from snap on is actually pretty useful. The older style are lie flat molded trays with large size numbers painted on. These are just thin plastic, but they are strong enough and could be reinforced. The newer style are a little like the MTS holders. They also have magnetic bases. These are good, but slightly wide at the base. Both styles are available on eBay, as guys discard them.
MTS take up more space than rails, but can be moved easily, and stuck to a fender or lift or cart. This is their best feature, if you ask me.
I also have Ernst I bought from Sears in black (") and gray (mm). These are okay. I really like the size markings. I wish the bases were magnetic, but I could probably add one. These are fine except they don't work for bit sockets. Earnest has a bit socket molded tray which isn't bad at all. But I have 5X that number of bit sockets in a range of drive sizes and styles.
The packaging that comes from snap on is actually pretty useful. The older style are lie flat molded trays with large size numbers painted on. These are just thin plastic, but they are strong enough and could be reinforced. The newer style are a little like the MTS holders. They also have magnetic bases. These are good, but slightly wide at the base. Both styles are available on eBay, as guys discard them.
bsaint
Well-known member
Does it magnetize the sockets?
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
No they don't.
carcajou
Well-known member
I just cut one off to add whatever additional length i needed.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.
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Here, they have all sizes.
I have both red and blue in all drive sizes, 1/4" 380mm 3/8" 480mm and 1/2" 580mm. Only difference on first impression is the Gedores are a lot firmer in the socket rails whereas MTS are loose as hell, they just slide around freely but the Gedores you have to move yourself and they are stiff to move. I think Gedores QC from the chinese oem is probably stricter.
*E: I'm looking for spare posts in all sizes for the MTS twist locks if anyone knows a source that will sell individually or packs of 5 or 10. Everywhere I've found sells them in bags of 25 one-size-only which is ridiculous.
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Duker
Well-known member
I was searching for ideas on how to reduce my socket space as I am redoing my tool box layout and this thread popped up. So first, A big thank you to Strouty as these will work perfectly for my existing drawer bases I built. I ordered the 16" jobber pack from here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/j3qyosu. Looking forward to trying them out.
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I understand the concept, but looking for ratios. Like the distance from socket surface to magnet, magnet size, etc...
Is that shiny strip on both sides of the slot a magnet?
I looked around the web and couldnt find a decent close up pic of them.
Roobaix
Well-known member
If you're going to rip off the idea at least buy one for yourself to get the info you seek.
I get why you would say this, I suppose. But its more for the challenge of building my own, and my fetish for neodymium magnets. I dabble, its not like i am trying to rip off their design for profit. They are not the first to make magnet socket rails.
I see that you own these rails, dont want to share eh
Dr. Jekyll
Active member
Anyone have a good source for buying some of the smaller VIM rails? The $20 shipping direct seems a bit excessive.
edinadad
Member
I am trying all types of socket storage units that are out there that I can afford. I have always liked the Hansen/HF ones as my eyes are getting older and after my traumatic brain injury, my eyes are even worse. So having the sizes on the racks are important.
The one drawback to the Hansen/HF is that the sockets do not stick. I tried magnetic tape with no luck. I am trying a better mag tape to see if that works. I am not concerned that they stick to my tool drawer, just in the rack.
I wonder if rare earth magnets would work?
Also, I am trying to mark the sockets to make them easier to see. I have tried crayons, markers, lumber markers, nail polish, without any luck, anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks, Dan
The one drawback to the Hansen/HF is that the sockets do not stick. I tried magnetic tape with no luck. I am trying a better mag tape to see if that works. I am not concerned that they stick to my tool drawer, just in the rack.
I wonder if rare earth magnets would work?
Also, I am trying to mark the sockets to make them easier to see. I have tried crayons, markers, lumber markers, nail polish, without any luck, anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks, Dan
Dr. Jekyll
Active member
finally used up all the magrails I bought, need moreReally like them, they work great setting on the drawer liner, stick well enough to stay put but come off the liner easily. probably order another batch
Where did you order them from?
Amazon,they came from zoro, oops i meant tooltopia.
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It was a kit, had several 1/2 rails and same in 3/8. Also had handles and a really nice 1/4 bit magrail. I'll go look at box if I can find it
I was wrong, it was tooltopia, should have looked before typing.
Sorry about the nuts part
. not sure why I thought Zoro. I think I'll get another kit when I do it. Like the lifting handles also