Custom Socket Trays

[jsharpphoto]

I was going to make custom socket trays, but realized my design had a flaw, and given my current tool collection and skill-set, I was unable to overcome. So I shifted directions.

My desire for custom trays, was that the available ones made it appear like I was missing sockets. I own every 6pt socket craftsman makes. I have no use for 12pt. My socket trays still had 20% empty pegs, and that drove me nuts. No one has 15mm sockets in 1/4 inch drive. And there was a few spots where I had homeless sockets.

So in the end was just to modify existing socket trays to solve these issues. I went with the harbor freight sets because they were the cheapest. I ignored the markings that were on the trays, because the leg layouts weren't efficient enough. My SAE's fit better in the metric layouts for several drive sizes, and I was going to relabel them anyways, so it didn't matter to me what they were INTENDED for.

Then I set everything out, and eliminated empty spaces. If I didn't have the shallow OR deep in that size, I hacksawed them off. If I was only missing the dee, I drilled out the peg from the underside.

For my 3/8, I had to use a tray and a half, so I will epoxy the two pieces to a 1/8 inch thick sheet of steel. I will probably do that to all of them, for rigidity.

I'm left with something that takes up 20 % less drawer space, looks 100x better, and has no empty pegs.

I'm sure this is way to OCD for most, and yes I could have just used rails and attached them to something to make the trays, but this was still cheaper, and I think the finished outcome looks great.



I will answer any questions if anyone wants to know anything.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I was going to make custom socket trays, but realized my design had a flaw, and given my current tool collection and skill-set, I was unable to overcome. So I shifted directions.

My desire for custom trays, was that the available ones made it appear like I was missing sockets. I own every 6pt socket craftsman makes. I have no use for 12pt. My socket trays still had 20% empty pegs, and that drove me nuts. No one has 15mm sockets in 1/4 inch drive. And there was a few spots where I had homeless sockets.

So in the end was just to modify existing socket trays to solve these issues. I went with the harbor freight sets because they were the cheapest. I ignored the markings that were on the trays, because the leg layouts weren't efficient enough. My SAE's fit better in the metric layouts for several drive sizes, and I was going to relabel them anyways, so it didn't matter to me what they were INTENDED for.

Then I set everything out, and eliminated empty spaces. If I didn't have the shallow OR deep in that size, I hacksawed them off. If I was only missing the dee, I drilled out the peg from the underside.

For my 3/8, I had to use a tray and a half, so I will epoxy the two pieces to a 1/8 inch thick sheet of steel. I will probably do that to all of them, for rigidity.

I'm left with something that takes up 20 % less drawer space, looks 100x better, and has no empty pegs.

I'm sure this is way to OCD for most, and yes I could have just used rails and attached them to something to make the trays, but this was still cheaper, and I think the finished outcome looks great.



I will answer any questions if anyone wants to know anything.

Wrong on the 1/4 15mm....

 

[jsharpphoto]

Who makes a 15 in that drive size?

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Really no use for 12 pt? I find id rather use a 12, but I have both of course.

Edit: didn't realize most people use 6 pts now. Again have both but seems I always grab a 12.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Who makes a 15 in that drive size?

My 6pt deep and shallow is SK, my 12pt deep and shallow is Carlyle

 

[jsharpphoto]

I guess some people do make a 15 in 1/4 drive, but I have it in 3/8 and 1/2.

Yup, no 12pt. I work exclusively on 60's Japanese and Italian bikes and scooters. I've never even seen a 12pt in person, I don't

 

[jsharpphoto]

I'm sure different people use different tools depending on what their working on.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Regardless I like your creativeness of customizing them to fit your needs. Now only if we could get tool companies to realize a few of their customers are OCD with empty slots.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Regardless I like your creativeness of customizing them to fit your needs. Now only if we could get tool companies to realize a few of their customers are OCD with empty slots.

Then where would all the fun be?

 

[aka Larry]

I was removing the head bolts on an Honda H22 engine this past weekend and had to buy a 14mm 12-point socket because all mine were 6-points. I prefer 6-point sockets, but some bolts require a 12-point.

 

[jsaw]

Who makes a 15 in that drive size?

Mine is made by MAC. Snap on makes it also

 

[Dr.phil]

sk did.

 

[mstewart]

My 6pt deep and shallow is SK, my 12pt deep and shallow is Carlyle

Carlye 15 shallow and deep:

Update, GearWrench makes the as well (80209 (shallow), 80150S (mid), 80150 (deep))

 

[Karl_B]

I had thought about doing something similar, but I doubt I would've made mine look as good. I find I like buying sockets so I have at least one of every size and length and shape, but I also never know what vehicle will come in next.

As far as 15mm 1/4" sockets, I have a Matco one and I've seen Cornwell makes them as well. I'm sure Snap -On has them. I'll even bet you can get them from Ko-Ken. I guess the pattern here is it won't be a store brand in most cases.

 

[jsharpphoto]

Ya. It looks like gearwrench makes them too. I wonder why craftsman doesn't?

I don't imagine it gets much use, since that's a bit larger of a bolt than I would want to attack with a 1/4 inch drive. Maybe for a small, roadside toolkit

 

[jsharpphoto]

Some better photos

 

[ChevyEFI]

Looks great.

I may as well jump on the SK 15mm 1/4" drive bandwagon. I've had mine for over 10 years.

 

[AndrewH]

Who makes a 15 in that drive size?

I have 1/4" 15 mm in Gearwrench, short, semi deep and deep plus swivel. So they definitely exist.

 

[stage20]

i think westward makes a shallow and deep 15 as well as a shallow and deep 5/8. i reasd a thead on it somewhere

my atd impact socket kit included a 15mm 6pt. i was about doing cartwheels

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I have the HF trays, I just snapped out the labeled divider and put other sockets and extensions in the middle. OCD problem solved.

FYI; 15mm 1/4 drive shallow sockets do come in handy.

 

[454ragtop]

I ran some of the Kobalt trays thru the bandsaw to condense them, got rid of some of the goofy sizes.
Jim

 

[jsharpphoto]

There you go. I'm glad I'm not the only one

 

[Cobra5150]

On my car I need 12pt sockets for the Wilwood rotors, driveshaft and intake bolts.

 

[enigma-2]

Looks great.
I may as well jump on the SK 15mm 1/4" drive bandwagon. I've had mine for over 10 years.

I just bought a few individual sockets to fill in some empty spaces. Bought cheap, no-name sockets thinking I probably didn't miss them in the last 30 years or so, so why spend big bucks for somehing I may never use. Just got them Monday and was very impressed with the quality.
Thought I'd pass on the URL for these;

15mm, 1/4" drive"
Standard: $2.09
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Socket-Deep-Length-Metric-1-4-Drive-6-Points-Size-15mm-1-31-32-L-CR-V-/331159073530?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item4d1a9e72fa#ht_1939wt_998
Deep: $1.15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Socket-Metric-1-4-Drive-6-Points-Size-15mm-3-L1-32-Chrome-Vanadium-/321354645439?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item4ad23abfbf#ht_1939wt_998
and impact: $2.65
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Impact-Sock..._Hand_Tools&hash=item4ad272c86c#ht_1812wt_998

These are Chrome Vanadium, individually packed, marked "mfd. for Grainger International, Lake Forest, IL, Made in Taiwan".

I am very impressed with the machine finish and chrome plating.
Just thought I'd pass this along in case someone was looking for quality at good prices.

 

[enigma-2]

Very impressive. Got a question fur ya. What did you use to re-label the trays? Really noce job, looks professional.

 

[jsharpphoto]

as stated, i don't work on my cars. I work on my bikes. Like I said, I'm sure there are lots of people that need different tools to perform different tasks. In my garage at home, i don't need 12pt sockets, and i'm sorry for offending all of the 15mm 1/4 inch drive socket fans out there.

If anyone has any questions about the modifications to the socket trays, let me know. It's not rocket science, but there was some trial and error involved.

 

[jsharpphoto]

Very impressive. Got a question fur ya. What did you use to re-label the trays? Really noce job, looks professional.

Thanks. I traced the scalloped (for lack of a better word, i guess) vertical plastic section onto paper and scanned it. Then used that as a template for alignment in adobe illustrator, then printed it out. I had to make a few crappy black and white prints to adjust number placement, prior to going full color. The two colors used, dark red and gray, are the two colors used on my tool box and workbench top. Rustoleum's "Regal Red" (almost a dead match for the current craftsman stuff) and Rustoleum Professional "Smoke Gray". I printed them out, xacto'd them and put them in place. Currently they're just held in place by long strips of double sided scotch tape, but as soon as i'm 100% happy with them, i will use Super77 spray adhesive to mount them, then probably clear coat the whole thing.

I would be happy to share my vector files, but since they were made from the post-chop and graft, they won't align with stock trays unless you just happened to do the same modifications i did.

 

[enigma-2]

!!!!!! Wow. Do I feel like I'm in the wrong forum. I should say I'm impressed, but actually I'm blown away. But it does inspire me to think beyond the box (so to speak). That's really a creative approach, nice going! Lot to think about in your post. (No wonder it looked so good, I was hoping you would say, "Oh I bought the numbers at the hardware and .... you know. I'm a cut-n-paste type. The simpler the better.)

The effort really shows off nicely thought. Worth an "at-a-boy" or two.

 

[jsharpphoto]

I just asked my self….. What would Jack Olsen do?

 

[zcbauer89]

I like what you did with those. Did you just use paper to re label? It sure is easier to see the sizes on yours. Nice work!

 

[jsharpphoto]

That is a semi-gloss ink jet photo paper. Mainly just to confirm exact sizing and whatnot. I'd like to print it on adhesive vinyl.

 

[bareass172]

I doubt you're the only one with socket OCD. Most of the mechanics I've known over the years have some small bit of it, just in varying degrees.
My OCD about this is the reason why I didn't run these trays to begin with also. I wasn't happy with the preset layout, and even with modification I couldn't have fit them all in one drawer. Instead I took a leftover piece of melamine (MDF) and screwed rails to it. It works so far... I have the trays sitting here in case I decide I want to fool with it still.

Nice work all around.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

I bought my 1/4" drive 15mm sockets at Autozone...

 

[jsharpphoto]

I guess my statement about the 1/4 inch 15mm was rhetorical. It was just one example. I'm not in the market for a 15mm.

Thanks for all the help finding them.

I'm also too OCD to mix socket brands, as ridiculous as that sounds. It might be ok if I had a different brand for all my impact sockets than regular, but to have one or two orphan sockets in a tray would drive me bonkers.

I'm sure guys who wrench professionally can't afford to be so neurotic, but for me this is a hobby.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

.....available ones made it appear like I was missing sockets.

It appears like that because in the end, whichever way you want to slice it, you are missing sockets. Just because CMan doesnt make em, doesnt mean they dont exist or arent useful...

Nice work on your setup though...you got my mind racing now...

Yeah, I'm a member of the Hansen 100% club..

 

[jsharpphoto]

"Missing" means I own it, and it walked off. I'm sure all those sizes are useful to a professional mechanic, which I'm not.

And to buy enough Hansen trays for all my sockets would have cost $80, and I still would have had to do all of the same modifications. For instance, the 3/8 metric Hansen trays only go up to 20mm, yet I have shallow and deep sockets in 21 and 22.


This thread was not about whether you guys think I did the right thing, or if you think my socket set is inadequate. It was to show what you can do to customize available products to better suit your needs.

If you don't like it, that's fine. If you love your hansens, that's fine too.

 

[stage20]

after finally getting mine situated, i dont like the kobalt trays. all the numbers on the bottom, i have to lean into my top drawer to grab the right socket. probably going to spend the money all over again and do the HF ones. ive got 4 or 5 sets of each too. $$$. im going to either go crazy or be pissed for buying twice. no win

 

[UhOh_Gecko]

I'm still trying to think up a practical application for a 15mm 1/4" drive socket. Someone please satisfy my curiosity. Why the hell wouldn't you just grab your 3/8" ratchet and put some actual leverage on that fastener? Otherwise it seems to me you're making the task more difficult than it really needs to be.

Sent from my LIFETAB_E7312 using Tapatalk

 

[stage20]

smaller good in a tight spot. 15mm 1/4 drive with adapter and 3/8 ratchet is perfect setup IMO

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I'm still trying to think up a practical application for a 15mm 1/4" drive socket. Someone please satisfy my curiosity. Why the hell wouldn't you just grab your 3/8" ratchet and put some actual leverage on that fastener? Otherwise it seems to me you're making the task more difficult than it really needs to be.

Sent from my LIFETAB_E7312 using Tapatalk

To be completely honest with you...the application for mine is "it looks damn **** to have your organizers 100% full" Cause your right, in the end, I could just slap the 15mm 3/8" on my FCF72 (3/8" Drive in a 1/4" Body). But the way I look at it is someday, some where I may need that 1/4" drive 15mm...and when I do need it, I'll have it.
I didnt buy it because I needed it, I wanted it.