Bit Socket Storage

[jrp458]

How do you store your bit sockets? Torx, hex (allen), etc.?

I prefer the Hanson style socket trays for regular sockets, but have never found a good solution for storing bit sockets.

 

[Jeff3347]

Socket rails

 

[Matt XYZ]

I'm interested in hearing ideas on this also. I left most of mine in the plastic and metal cases. They take up more room but stay organized and easy to grab. I have a few socket rails with the long ones or ones that didn't come with a case and don't really think they are organized well.
I have a mix of German and Taiwan- Capri, Texton, etc. I have quite a few sets with all of the different European fasteners- torx, Etorx, XZN etc and will have a dedicated drawer once I reorganize my boxes. Any pics or ideas would be great.

 

[dutchgray]

I have one set (King Tony) of torx and metric hex that came in a plastic tray and all my others are on socket rails apart from an old set of Bonney imperial hex that are loose in a little metal box.

 

[Tallpilot]

The blow molded cases are the best organization but it can take time to dig out the right case and find what you need. I put the more commonly used stuff on the universal or special bit socket trays. They are faster than rails.

http://westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

My order of preference is probably:
1) Westling
2) VIM magrails
3) Olsa, etc aluminum rails

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

I use Kobalt magnetic rails for my standard sockets, and the 4 rail Kobalt socket trays for 1/4" and special sockets.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

VIM Magrail TL

Most efficient way I've found and I love them. Can mix from 1/4 to 3/4 on same rail.

My next big purchase will be to do all my wrenches in Magrail TL with their new longer pins.

 

[2oolhound]

I got tired of knocking 20 of them over every time I grabbed one so I made these trays out of tin and migged the corners but you don't even have to mig them. I made them to fit snugly in the partitions of one of my top boxes where I keep most of them.

At the other end of the shop I used the same thing along an edge of a drawer then built some hangers so I could hang them off the edge of a drawer.

 

[Fedwrench]

I just use rails. magrail TLs specifically but, I've also used the VIM made nylon rails branded Craftsman, SK, Matco, Wright, and others with great success.

I despise Hansen trays because you're locked into their notion of needed sizes and they take up too much space.

Hansen does make a 3/8 drive bit tray.
https://hansenglobalinc.com/our-products/hex-torx-tray/

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

Westling billet aluminum socket trays.

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

I use Kobalt magnetic rails for my standard sockets, and the 4 rail Kobalt socket trays for 1/4" and special sockets.

5-13-2020 update: When visiting my local Harbor Freight today (out of sheer boredom, I can assure you), I spotted black anodized aluminum magnetic socket rails with plastic ball-bearing dent clips that are the exact clone of my old and discontinued KOBALT rails pictured in my previous post. They even have the red metal base 4-rail carry trays as well. All of the clips for each drive size interchange between the trays and rails so you can mix and match. These are the most versatile socket storage units I have found to date. Must be the same Taiwanese manufacturer that made them for Lowe's in the past.

 

[mrjaw14]

I got tired of knocking 20 of them over every time I grabbed one so I made these trays out of tin and migged the corners but you don't even have to mig them. I made them to fit snugly in the partitions of one of my top boxes where I keep most of them.

How did you bend those? I've been wanting to make something similar but don't have anything to make good clean 90 degree bends like that. Also, where did you get your stock material?

 

[lilredex]

My solution was similar to 2oolhound's. I took the easy route and capped/riveted the ends.

You can do a decent job of bending using a vise (and angle irons), for those short walls if that is all you have.

Everybody laughs/pooh poohs this when I post it, but I have used the sides/backs out of washers and dryers when nothing else was readily available.

 

[Vrod-Mike]

I looked into this for years without ever finding a solution that really worked for me, so I made my own. It was tedious and time consuming, but it fits my needs perfectly.

I started with a sheet of 1/2 MDF and cut it to fit my drawer. Then I layed out the sockets how I wanted them. Once I had the layout I then marked up the holes. This is what took the longest because one hole out of alignment can mess an entire section up. Once the holes were drilled I cut a piece of 1/8 ABS plastic the same size as the MDF and clamped them together. Then I just drilled through the holes in the MDF and through the ABS.

Next I needed something for the sockets to sit on. I found plastic dowels at Grainger. They come in a variety of diameters, so I ordered 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. They came in 3ft lengths, so I cut them down to the size I needed and rounded all of the edges so the sockets slide on and off easily. Then I just tapped them into each hole. If you drill the holes properly you won't need anything to hold them in place as they will fit nice and snug.

Then I just put the completed sheet in my toolbox and put the sockets on it. It's not that bad to add to either. I bought a few spark plug sockets and added them with it still in the drawer. It's holds them really well too. I had to move the box on a truck and after a 45 minute drive and only two sockets were out of place. It was time consuming. I think I have 2-3 weekends worth of time into this, but for me it was worth it. And the best part is that it was pretty inexpensive as far as materials.....

 

[gearhead1]

My solution was similar to 2oolhound's. I took the easy route and capped/riveted the ends.

You can do a decent job of bending using a vise (and angle irons), for those short walls if that is all you have.

Everybody laughs/pooh poohs this when I post it, but I have used the sides/backs out of washers and dryers when nothing else was readily available.

Yours and 2oolhound’s look great to me. I push the easy button and get clip rails, but if I had more time, this is exactly what I’d do. You guys did a good job. Reminds me of the old Mac metal holders.

 

[2oolhound]

How did you bend those? I've been wanting to make something similar but don't have anything to make good clean 90 degree bends like that. Also, where did you get your stock material?

I do it like lilredex demonstrated, (I even use the same vise as his). By clamping the tin between 2 straight edges of tough steel I'd put another chunk of steel (say a short piece of 3/4" x 2" x 6" steel) placed tight against the tin where it comes out of the vise or the sandwiched metal and hammer on the piece of steel. This way the hammer blow gets spread against the whole length at once and keeps the bends in your tin nice and straight.

I also have this 11"x 11" x2" piece of steel which is my anvil. It has perfectly square edges and is real handy for bending metal on.

I'm a pack rat so I save all metal, old vcr shrouds, washer, dryer too, anything metal gets sorted and stored and used for all kinds of stuff. If I'm desperate I'll even go buy some from the scrap yards or metal supermarket type places.