Catamount
Well-known member
That stinks! I'm surprised though, I bought a few packs about a month ago. I bought more about 2 weeks ago. They are all interchangeable.
Craftsman vs. Harbor Freight Plastic Socket Rail
- Thread starter carder69
- Start date
Lately my HF junk is breaking all over the place, rails and clips. I really like the MTS LOCK A SOCKET rails that are also sold as Craftsman for a better price. They are really expensive but the rail is anodized aluminum, the sockets easily twist lock on and off, the magnet will hold anything up to 1/2" regular impacts to the side of the box. You can get spare posts and mix sizes on a rail. There is a friction strip in the channel so empty posts stay in place. On the down side, there are no rail markers, like Ernst and they are 20 bucks a rail. Right now the 3/8 is on sale for $17. It only hurts once. Thee cheap ones keep coming back to bite you. I don't see the Sears version of the HF rail as being much better.
rsanter
Well-known member
There is a dollar store that sells the same rails for guess how much...$1
They are individual rails but they are the same thing. I have been using them for a while with no trouble at all. Every once in a while I break one of the clips but I have a bunch I have bought of them
Bob
They are individual rails but they are the same thing. I have been using them for a while with no trouble at all. Every once in a while I break one of the clips but I have a bunch I have bought of them
Bob
The plastic rails from HF are absolute trash. Had to return them within less than 24 hours as the clips which prevent the sockets from sliding off broke (very fragile item). The number of socket holders is more than adequate though. If you intend to use these solely for storage and not for walking to and fro, these "may" work out. Otherwise, best are the metal rails with clips, they hold well and coincidentally still Made in the USA.
Update: I was using the MTS rails for 1/2" impacts. When I bought the 3/8" rails, I found they don't work with all brands of sockets. They're great if they fit. I have gone to the Gearwrench rails. The are made of glass filled nylon, have little flex and won't break. The posts ride in the rail, not around it, so they don't break and you can buy extra posts and they come in red blue or green (for torx).
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
That's my current favorite. I wish I didn't have to go on line to get them.Gotta' like the Gearwrench Socket Rails
For any poor soul with a brain who wound up here. The rails spoken of here are USA made by VIM. They are the best plastic rails in most opinions. VIM makes them for Craftsman, Wright, NAPA, one of the tool trucks, and several others. They are very stiff and likely have fibers. The only downside is getting extra clips. Have not tried the HF clips yet and I know I'll never use the HF rails. I have my own way to get clips cheap. The VIM rails are available in many colors depending on whose name is on it. Hopefully you can figure out the rest.
kythri
Well-known member
NAPA? You mean, the Carlyle plastic rails? They are, most assuredly, not made in the USA.
lilcraigford
Well-known member
To elaborate on what Tom said, VIM makes the plastic socket rails for the following:
Armstrong
Craftsman
Kobalt *Formerly; can still be found NOS through places like Cripe Distributing.
Matco
McMaster Carr *I believe these are Wright branded.
SK *Called "Suregrip" Rails; I have only seen these included in socket sets.
Wright
Here is a an older post with a little more information.
Armstrong
Craftsman
Kobalt *Formerly; can still be found NOS through places like Cripe Distributing.
Matco
McMaster Carr *I believe these are Wright branded.
SK *Called "Suregrip" Rails; I have only seen these included in socket sets.
Wright
Here is a an older post with a little more information.
bwringer
Well-known member
I use the Ernst (also sold under a couple of other names, like Tekton) quarter-twist locking rails for my most-used sets of sockets, but I have a BUNCH of "secondary" sockets on these HF plastic rails.
They hold just fine for stuff that mostly sits in a drawer, and they're about 1000% more convenient than those goddamn metal spring clip rails. I've tossed all my junky old metal rails.
They're so cheap that you can play mix-and-match to set up the rails you need and toss the leftovers without guilt.
Definitely a big winner in my book.
They hold just fine for stuff that mostly sits in a drawer, and they're about 1000% more convenient than those goddamn metal spring clip rails. I've tossed all my junky old metal rails.
They're so cheap that you can play mix-and-match to set up the rails you need and toss the leftovers without guilt.
Definitely a big winner in my book.
SAK335
Member
I bought these aluminum socket holders from a place called Westerling Machine and love them. Obviously you need a larger box since they stand upright, but I think for the most part they are great. Revisiting the website lately I see they are incorporating customer feedback on a couple items, which is good to see.
