Guys the OP is talking about magna caddies.
To tell the truth, I have both the 3/8 and the 1/4 models from Bluepoint and I'm not 100% crazy about them.
Description:
For those who don't know, these are hunks of plastic, machined or molded with holes for individual sockets. The bottom is a large heavy magnetic with just the right amount of pull to lightly hold the sockets in place and the caddy to whatever surface. It is strong enough to hold the sockets when the caddy is turned upside down.
There are ton of different models available in different colors. Some models are designed for swivels or bit sockets. Others hold impacts. They have magna caddys for hex bits as well in a variety of sizes.
What I like about them:
If you ask me, they are nearly perfect for the pro mechanic who routinely works out of a service cart and needs to grab the metric 3/8 set out of his big box, drop them in his service cart and go to bay number 11 (or whataver). Likewise, amateurs who work in different places away from their boxes could benefit similarly. The sockets never fall off, but there's absolutely no fuss removing or returning and they never seem to become magnetized (don't understand that, but that has been my experience with these).
View media item 43035What I don't like:
1) The sockets are ordered big to small on top, and small to big on the bottom row. This makes any form of labeling nearly impossible. I think I would have machined a small chamfer where a label could be affixed. I don't technically need every socket size labelled, but I prefer it when I can. Helps me grab the right tool faster.
View media item 43036
2) The hole sizes on the 1/4" model perfectly fit the sockets. But the 3/8" model's holes start out too large and become gargantuan. The 8mm socket fits sloppily. But the 19mm fits in a hole designed for something like a 26mm. This makes all the holes sloppy, which I don't like. It makes the product larger than it needs to be. Also, the depth of the holes for the deep sockets is the exact depth of Snap On semi deeps, making this unusable for shallow and semi deep. (those are SO 1/4" dr semi-deeps in the top pic. The 3/8" are full deep and shallow).
View media item 43037 (one size fits all means one size fits none)
I bought mine in the UK where the price was nothing short of staggering- I think I paid close to $50 each for these. Even in the US, these are pretty much the most expensive option for socket storage. So I was disappointed to see they were made in China.
I think this style of storage is a really good idea. These new double row models are new for Mechanics Time Savers. Perhaps only these are China made???? The company is in Texas. Perhaps I'd like the other sets better for 3/8". What I would have liked to see is the 3/8" rack fitting like the 1/4" rack does.
