blackhawk socket set-help

bobbyjean · Nov 18, 2017

hey GJ- I have a great older socket set by blackhawk....got it from grainger about ten years ago...it's 1/4 and 3/8 drive....the problem i have is i need a new case to hold them...i work from a service van and it gets knocked around pretty good ...the plastic insert that held everything is shot and the case has one broken latch-does anyone make a case that i can buy to replace this with,or any ideas to store and at least look decent ?? thanks

four.cycle · Nov 18, 2017

crasher98 · Nov 19, 2017

I was in the same boat with loose sockes and no boxes, so I got some metal boxes, lined the bottom with pieces of a blue walmart yoga mat, and cut out foam for the sockets. For the 1/4" and 3/8" sets I also cut in a space for a ratchet and put some extensions under the lid; for the lid it's yoga mat + drawer liner, and the pieces are held to the lid with ceramic magnets.

Cutting tool foam is a PITA but these weren't too bad because it's all straight lines (except for the two small 1/2" sockets that had to stand upright to fit in the box). If you cut the foam a little undersize it will hold the sockets etc. just fine; you won't be able to turn the box upside down, but it will definitely travel in a truck w/out getting loose and jumbled.

For the boxes I figured out what sizes I needed from https://www.snaponindustrialbrands.com/cat-20-1-59/tool-box.htm and then searched on line by part numbers for the best price. My recollection is that they cost between $20-30 each, so I would try four.cycle's suggestion to look at ebay first (wish I'd thought of that at the time). I used craftsman tool foam but I don't think they sell it any more; floor mat material like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DBECEY6/?tag=atomicindus08-20
will work tho. I got the ceramic magnets for the lids from here: https://www.apexmagnets.com/

The sets below are 3/8", 3/8" metric, 1/4" std and metric, and 1/2".

crasher98 · Nov 19, 2017

And some people are probably wondering, "why would you fool with all that box-buying and foam cutting and all that ****?" The answer is: I don't have a garage, just a car port and a driveway, so if I have to work on my car or lawn mower or something, the tools go to the project rather than the other way around. So, it's easier if I can just grab a box of sockets and go. Same goes for my main combo wrenches, which are all in a std roll or metric roll. If I need something fancy like an offset wrench or a flex socket or something I have to go back into the house, but at least at that point I know what size I need.

four.cycle · Nov 19, 2017

Sorry, don't know why I didn't think of these earlier. I ordered one each of the no-name red boxes and they're a great deal for the money.
If you're looking for something larger you can get new empty PROTO boxes online. I think I bought mine from ToolTopia.com (not sure) for about $25.00 each. Be sure to look at the construction on low-end boxes - all socket boxes are not created equal.

Herbrand 16-1/2" x 4" x 1-5/8" socket box with latch
new
$25.00 incl. shipping "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-He...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

==

RED 12" x 4-5/8" x 2" socket box with latch
new
$18.00 incl. shipping "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-Red-...713709?hash=item3d4f04b56d:g:QUQAAOSw3ZRY~KSV
( * nice box - well made, good latch *)

==

RED 10" x 3" x 1-1/2" socket box with latch
new
$15.00 incl. shipping "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-Red-...713528?hash=item3d4f04b4b8:g:A30AAOSwHHFY~KC0
( * nice box - well made, good latch *)

blackhawk socket set-help

bobbyjean

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four.cycle

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crasher98

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crasher98

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four.cycle

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