Hey guys I've been doing way to much work outside of the shop, tired of grabbing my sockets from work in Hansen trays and throwing them in my tool bag only to have them completely scattered by the time I need them. So I'm putting together my to go kit with the cheep sockets and spares I have wondering what a good cheep solution could be as far as socket rails to hold the damn things ! Thanks
Cheep but effective socket rails
- Thread starter 92integra
- Start date
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I have the Craftsman plastic rails. They work. There are knock offs that are cheaper.
AdamRos19
Well-known member
If your tossing them around some of the gimmicky twist lock rails work well. I found some Ernst for a good price on mobile distributor supply. Was also able to find cheap on Amazon. There are other brands like Tekton that make these as well if you shop around might find a good price
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Anyone else screwed or pop riveted the cheapo Harbor Freight metal socket rails side-by-side to a piece of thin plywood in their box? I keep thinking it'll organize my entire socket collection. I've been meaning to do it, just haven't gotten around to it yet.
lilcraigford
Well-known member
I do like the ball-detent style plastic rails by VIM (rebranded by Craftsman, Wright, etc). The sockets are secure without being difficult to remove.
The twist-lock style plastic rails by Ernst (rebranded by Snap On, Tekton, etc) are also very popular, although I don't have any experience with them.
The twist-lock style plastic rails by Ernst (rebranded by Snap On, Tekton, etc) are also very popular, although I don't have any experience with them.
bwringer
Well-known member
KM223
Well-known member
Gearwrench makes great rails as well. Check them out.
Finky198
Well-known member
+1 on the craftsman rails same as rebranded VIM and matco....
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
Tractor Supply Co has a really cheap 3pack, metal, seems to work fine.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Is $2.90 cheap enough for you?
https://store.snapon.com/SearchResults.aspx?q=A265&IsPartsSearch=0&departmentName=Tool Catalog
https://store.snapon.com/SearchResults.aspx?q=A265&IsPartsSearch=0&departmentName=Tool Catalog
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Check out HJE - Wright Socket Rails - 13" $2.83 , 10" $2.68 or 8" $2.54, your choice red or blue.
1/4", 3/8" or 1/2" clips $.42 ea.
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
LB-1911, you would've had a perfect double post if I hadn't got in the way.
gdocktor3
Well-known member
I have a bunch of metal craftsman rails that I bought when on sale. You can usually buy the pair for $6 or something when on sale. I also have a few from Tekton I bought at flea market that work just as well. To be honest though, one of the best things I did was buy the 47 piece 3/8" SK set and the 51 piece 1/4" Gearwrench set. They both come in sturdy, plastic cases that snap closed, but the lids are also removable. So, I set them in my tool box without the lids on and grab as needed. Or, sometimes I grab the entire set and bring them under the hood/car or I can snap the lids back on and take them on the road with me. Plus they have all sockets (metric, sae, deep, shallow) extensions, ratchet and universal. That's way easier then grabbing different rails and ratchets, extensions, etc, but understand you already have sockets and what not so the rails are probably your best bet.
Below is pic of his I keep my 1/4" set in my chest.
Below is pic of his I keep my 1/4" set in my chest.
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B_Bimmer
Well-known member
If you do that i would highly recommend a more reputable brand. The harbor fright ones are thinly chromed and very thin, with actual use the get loose FAR sooner than proto or snap on ones. None of them are all that expensive, so if you are putting the time in do it right. Just my two cents from experience.
freddyford
Active member
- Joined
- May 15, 2016
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http://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Socket-Storage-Tray-SAE-MM/50296517
These are my favorite socket organizers, and they have some nice portable metal ones as well. With these I can print a label with my label maker and easily assign any socket I want and the plastic is much higher quality than the HF cheapos. Plus they are much less likely to break because the post is not overly tall. Harder to read than other designs because the writing is on the bottom, but worth the trade off. I believe this is a newer design compared to older Kobalt organizers they replaced.
These are my favorite socket organizers, and they have some nice portable metal ones as well. With these I can print a label with my label maker and easily assign any socket I want and the plastic is much higher quality than the HF cheapos. Plus they are much less likely to break because the post is not overly tall. Harder to read than other designs because the writing is on the bottom, but worth the trade off. I believe this is a newer design compared to older Kobalt organizers they replaced.
cliftonbros89
Well-known member
I've tried several different kinds. I even started a thread basically the same as this awhile back. But I really like Ernst. They work really well. You can get them from Summit, Amazon or the Ernst site. I just ordered several 8" rails in black. The Ernst site was the cheapest for those.
I like them cuz they have so many options and they work great. Plus they're made in USA and they have a lifetime warranty. If I recall correctly they have rebranded rails through several other companies.
They hold up well and they outlast the metal clips on the metal rails. Plus they aren't as bulky nor take up as much space as trays such as the Hansons.
I like them cuz they have so many options and they work great. Plus they're made in USA and they have a lifetime warranty. If I recall correctly they have rebranded rails through several other companies.
They hold up well and they outlast the metal clips on the metal rails. Plus they aren't as bulky nor take up as much space as trays such as the Hansons.
...and freight is free!!
The SO rails are far superior to the flimsy ones sold in B&M stores.
There is a difference. In this case SO is cheaper and better!!
Finky198
Well-known member
I was going to do that with my 1/4 and 3/8 chrome on CM (vim) Rails
but there is one big issue with it. When you want to grab a whole rail of sockets you CAN'T
So I used the rails but no rivets... In progress
Finished product
.
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aka Larry
Well-known member
I pop-riveted the HF plastic rails into the actual drawer and they work fine.
Rocket1
Well-known member
I'm using SO rails in my portable box. They hold sockets well and are cheap
Al Borland
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- Joined
- Jan 20, 2016
- Messages
- 1,598
If you are throwing them in a toolbag or moving them box-to-box a lot, the Lisle magnetic holders work well. Better than the vertical peg holders and they stay on better than the chrome rails. Twist-loc rails are all fine and dandy until your fingers are oily/greasy...
That's where the swearing and throwing starts...
That's where the swearing and throwing starts...
Also have the Cman ones, the HF ones are ok but flimsy and dont hold the sockets as well.
justme-
Well-known member
I have the above mentioned Lowe's holder...does a poor job of holding sockets compared to a Hansen on my rolling cart or the occasional drop into the tool bag because of the short pegs.
Plus. That's not why the op wants.
I have some magnetic ball lock rails from lowea I use for my 1/2 drive impacts so I can stick them nearby...may be something to look at.
As to metal rails...don't waist money on HF...heap rails from any company are just a frustrating experience. They ruined me on rails for a lotta years, and I'm still hesitant to use good ones...but the us Craftsman and SK rails I have in the box currently are far better than the junk ones I grew up with.
Plus. That's not why the op wants.
I have some magnetic ball lock rails from lowea I use for my 1/2 drive impacts so I can stick them nearby...may be something to look at.
As to metal rails...don't waist money on HF...heap rails from any company are just a frustrating experience. They ruined me on rails for a lotta years, and I'm still hesitant to use good ones...but the us Craftsman and SK rails I have in the box currently are far better than the junk ones I grew up with.
mrborohachi
Well-known member
I really like the Kobalt-Lowes rack. 1 row for 1/2. 2 rows for 3/8 and 1 row for 1/4
http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/i...f269_Proto®-Socket-Bar-Sets---1|4"-Thru-3|4"/
I don't have any but I thought it was interesting the Proto rails went all the way up to 3/4" drive. Seem priced right too.
I don't have any but I thought it was interesting the Proto rails went all the way up to 3/4" drive. Seem priced right too.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I have some, they came with a socket set. I do not recommend them if you think you can pick up a rail of 3/4 sockets and move them around. They are simply too heavy. They do work great to keep things in their spot in the drawer. How often does anyone need to take a rail of 3/4" drive sockets anywhere anyway? They are the same rails for all drive sizes, only the clips are different. For that matter a 17" rail of 1/2" drive deep sockets would be a little ridiculous.
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TK-421
Well-known member
Either one of those really old style metal rails with the clip things that go into the drive hole, or one of those plastic twist-lock style rails.
decableguy2000
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2012
- Messages
- 650
I like the aluminum rails from Performance Tool. They are just like the Kobalt's from Lowes but a little longer and clips are interchangeable.
Al Borland
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2016
- Messages
- 1,598
Another option would be to get a set of sockets in a blow-molded case for the toolbag.
This also eliminates the constant back-and-forth, now-where-the-hell-did-I-leave-those-damn-sockets???
This also eliminates the constant back-and-forth, now-where-the-hell-did-I-leave-those-damn-sockets???
Dingleburry
Well-known member
i like these no problems yet been 2 years. except i believe i bought single rails and added a few clips. http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/80-socket-organizer-tray/A-p8002252e
Yes but I used the plastic rails, not the metal ones.
I cut two rails apart and reassembled them to get one the exact width of the top tray of this box. They are screwed to a thin piece of plywood.
I also punched out the ball retainers on each peg so sockets are held in place by just gravity. I wasn't going to be carrying them around and this makes them more easily retrieved/replaced with one hand - sort of like the Westling Machine organizers.
It worked great and was cheap. If I did it again, my light OCD compels me to get the Napa rails that look identical save they are available in colors.
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dede2897234
Well-known member
92integra,
I own a few of these Husky plastic socket rails in 3/8" and 1/2" drive sizes: LINK. They're strong and firmly grip the sockets when flipped upside down.
I purchased a few years back the Harbor Freight 3 piece metal rail set when it was made in Taiwan. This set was great. The metal clips firmly gripped the sockets and the socket rail. However, when HF switched the manufacturing to China, the socket rail clips were made to inconsistent tolerances for optimal socket grip. I had to open quite a few packages to find the metal rails with the firmest clips.
Dave
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