Does anyone else HATE socket holder strips/rails?

[Jacobson]

Had to do some work at someone else's house. They had these. What a total PITA. Can't rotate the socket in place, so you can't read the size. Gotta yank like heck to get them off. Wanted to toss these in the garbage and put the sockets in a little bag or box.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Yeah I'm not a big fan of those at all.

Some of the better socket rails that aren't nearly as much of a pain in the ***

http://www.ernstmfg.com/tool-organizers/socket-organizers.html

 

[kythri]

For as cheap as they are, they're useful, and better than loose sockets all over the place.

There's a lot of variation in quality of those rails - there's super-cheap stuff (>$1/rail) that's really weak, up to significantly thicker stuff like the Craftsman-branded ones (that look similar to what you picture).

There's a LOT of other stuff out there, though, besides those rails.

Myself, I use the Kobalt-branded (Lowe's) 3-piece plastic peg trays (similar to Hansen trays) for everything that fits on those, and then I use the Carlyle (NAPA) plastic rails for the rest of the stuff.

Works out pretty well for me.

I used to use the Craftsman metal ones before I re-organized, and I still keep a couple of them around to use for transport/keeping stuff together outside the tool box (like, on the floor of the shop while I'm working under something).

I dunno that any rails have a feature allowing the socket to rotate while affixed to it's peg, though.

 

[PowerGenGuy]

I hate the socket rails.

 

[ddawg16]

Yeah I'm not a big fan of those at all.

Some of the better socket rails that aren't nearly as much of a pain in the ***

http://www.ernstmfg.com/tool-organizers/socket-organizers.html

Thanks for that link....those look like some good options.

 

[bobcatdan]

I use magnetic plates to hold my sockets.

 

[kiatech]

They are good for keeping extensions together, but thats about it.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I'm still changing over to Hansen Trays and have progressively (as replaced) S***'canned my old socket rails. in the day, they were OK, but there's so much better out there than those PITAs. Money well spent, and I can look down and know what I'm grabbing.

 

[neonnblack]

Just gonna leave this here.

http://www.westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Socket rails are pretty handy when you need to get underneath a car and figure out which socket you need.

 

[franzdom]

Just gonna leave this here.

http://www.westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

 

[Fedwrench]

Yeah the old style spring clips **** but, I also think Hansen trays **** because they take up too much room and have sizes like 20mm that you'll never use.

I like Vim magrail TL, westling tray, the wright/matco/vim plastic rails, Ernst are ok, and Carlyle has some nice rails. Gearwrench's are ok too.

There are many options that are better than the old spring clips but, probably none as cheap

 

[yowzer]

I like the Lisle magnetic trays best, but rails aren't bad.

 

[Dust Devil]

I love my Snap on magnetic trays,but a full custom set of Westling's is what the doctor ordered.

 

[lilredex]

My solution to loose sockets rolling around is here:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tool-Box-Socket-Organizating/

 

[zkling]

Yes. Not a huge fan of hansen socket trays either. To each their own.

 

[Elvenhome21]

Yes. Not a huge fan of hansen socket trays either. To each their own.

Yet I swear by them. No they arent perfect but they are by far the easiest to read and fit my box pretty darn good. I bought a huge case of them years ago and Ive yet to break a single one in my box or my dads.

 

[Jacobson]

So glad it's not just me

 

[youngridge]

Hansen trays, then I just keep my 1/4 inch stuff in the carrying case. Use the nesco rails or the magnetic ones from lowes for everything else and hang those on the inside of my big top drawer. Works slick.

 

[southalabama]

Gearwrench or kd are best rails I've found.

 

[CJM8515]

I use the plastic rails from sears. No issues at all cause they are of course on there by size

 

[snowpro90]

Just gonna leave this here.

http://www.westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

I love my Westling trays.



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[slickgt1]

The best rails that I have ever had, that are worth their price, are the craftsman black plastic with the spring ball in them. It gets pricey to add all the little holders to fill up a full rail, but they stay in place. I'm no pro mechanic, but wrench on all my stuff, and some for my family. Don't have any issues with them. The worst sockets are the Allen set. I have some long 6" ones, heavy, used to always fall off the metal rails. Used to drive me nuts. Throw a rail in my bag, and then go fishing them out. Even carrying the rail, a slight rap, and the long ones are on the floor. The craftsman ones hold it really well.

 

[espyking83]

Better than nothing I suppose.

 

[ike]

The problem with most storage for sockets is that they dictate how many sockets to put on them. I don't want empty spots and i don't want excess sockets rolling around. I want a solution specific to the sockets I have.

 

[splicer64]

I hate em too...narrowed it down to Westling or Vim. They seem pretty versatile for someone who's on the move and has to put there stuff in a mobile box. The only question is will the Westling and Vim hold sockets on when inverted? Thx

 

[chiz1180]

I have lived with the harbor freight metal rails for while now. I have found that they work ok, far from perfect but for me they work. The major benefit of them for me is they allow me to store my sockets in a shallow drawer. For me this is due to the fact that I have very limited space.

I this is an older pic and I have crammed a few more things in that drawer but that should give a bit of a visual.
while far from ideal im living with them until I find something that is clearly superior and allows me to store the sockets in the shallow drawer.

chiz1180

 

[KAOTIK Motorsports]

Here's the socket boss from Ernst manufacturing.....
Set it up anyway you want to....

 

[wafrederick]

I like the plastic rails Matco and Craftsman use.The studs used hold the sockets in place much better.I don't like the metal rails anymore,the clips wear out and the socket falls off.

 

[crewchief888]

the only metal socket rails i use are snap on. most of them have been around in my boxes for 25-30 years.

"working" 3/8" & 1/2" dr sockets are split between MTS magnetic holders, metal trays ( like sockets came in "back in the day") and a few SO metal rails.
3/4" dr are all loose in a drawer,
1/4" sockets are split between a flat lisle holder, and SO rails, all in a repurposed blow molded box

at home i have a few hansen trays, more metal SO rails, and a few metal trays. a set of 1/4" dr in their blow molded SK case.
misc loose sockets in $1 store silverware trays.


3/8" & 1/2" dr sockets in my service truck

 

[SASORacing]

Those metal ones are the worst! But they are cheap and easy to find...

I like the MTSLAST the lock-asocket-trays! They are 16g steel powdercoated, and just all around a great tray!

 

[shaggymutt1]

I hate them

 

[Hiball]

I don't mind the metal socket rails, pending the clips are quality and don't deform after a couple uses. Its another one of those areas where I buy Snap On rails, they are cheap and hold up very well. I've tried the Hansen trays etc, they wear me out.. Grab the rails and head to the job site.

 

[Cab037]

I don't like them either, but short of a custom organizer solution, there's nothing else out there that can hold my random assortment of sockets.


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[Jacobson]

Usually I just grab a few sockets, figure out the one that fits, and then put the rest back.
Sometimes, I just grab the entire tray.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Usually I just grab a few sockets, figure out the one that fits, and then put the rest back.
Sometimes, I just grab the entire tray.

And a TOTAL waste of space.

I can fit 3 to 4 times that amount of sockets in that case using rails.

Empty rail clip = missing socket.
FOD training.

Blow moulded cases are space hogs in my world and my many tool boxes.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I use 4 rails to hold flare nut and crow foot sockets,

 

[azhatchback]

Those metal ones are the worst! But they are cheap and easy to find...

I like the MTSLAST the lock-asocket-trays! They are 16g steel powdercoated, and just all around a great tray!

This looks very user friendly and portable. Is it easy to grab and go when loaded? Do have a pic of it loaded in your box? I use HF plastic peg version but they do take up a lot of room.

 

[Adam.C]

Here's the socket boss from Ernst manufacturing.....
Set it up anyway you want to....

I don't understand drawers like this. Are their duplicates in here? I'm guessing it is SAE and mm. But it looks like multiple sets of 3/8" shallow, in addition to the 6pt and 12pt.

Gotta tell ya, I have a lot of sockets, and my set looks nothing like this. What I see here is the same socket over and over again like some sort of collection.

I have (excluding impacts)
1/2dr 12pt shallows (for 12 pt fastener on some cars brakes)
3/8"dr 6pt deep, shallow
1/4"dr 6pt semi deep, and shallow

That's it for regular socket sets,

Then I have 3/8" swivels
a 3/8 low pro set
torx, swivel torx
triple square, stubby triple square
several sets of allen, long short, ball ends

That drawer also holds all my extensions, and ratchets

Most if not all of the specialty stuff is stored in the Snap On flat trays it came in. My sockets are in MTS caddies (which I don't love).

My advice for folks looking to organize their sockets is to start by culling the herd. Just because craftsman makes it, doesn't mean you need it. One thing I like (because I feel it makes me a faster and better mechanic) is to have the storage marked with the size. My basic hex sockets don't have that today and I'd like something for that.

I wholeheartedly agree with the OP- the spring clip socket rails are bogus. The plastic stud ones are nicer. But I still don't like rail type. What I would like is for someone like Westling to make a better version of the MTS Magna caddy, sized and labeled for SO sockets, milled out of a hunk of plastic, with sizes either as stuck on labels or CNC'd into the plastic.

 

[SASORacing]

This looks very user friendly and portable. Is it easy to grab and go when loaded? Do have a pic of it loaded in your box? I use HF plastic peg version but they do take up a lot of room.

Yes, they are slightly expensive at around $50 or less depending where/ brand. The great thing about this tray is that the socket require NO FORCE when you put a socket back onto the little clip. Simply turn the socket counter-clockwise 90 degrees and the socket locks, there is a video on Youtube of a guy shaking a this 5 row tray fully loaded for 2 minutes straight and no sockets fell off. 16g red powercoated thick steel, handle works good for carrying it to/ from projects. A lot big too truck companies rebrand these, Matco- Snap-on, Blue point, Mac. Reason is, they know these are good, and they are willing to put thier name on it!

Everytime I post about these trays I feel like i'm potentially doing someone a favor by spreading the word about these high quality socket trays. They are not very popular for some reason, maybe because they are harder to find than most, but they are worth it! I have the 5 row tray and a 3 row 3/8ths tray. They also make tons of other variations and the next one I am looking to get is the 3/8th vertical magnetic rail, pic atttached. It will probably go on my service cart's top lid!