Ernst wrench holders vs snap on, help me make my decision.

[Strouty]

I have been looking at wrench holders/racks and I have searched through a bunch of threads. The info was great, but I am now at a standstill because of a few questions.

I am not sure which style I want, then I am trying to figure out Snap On or Ernst. Here are the two styles. The prices are not enough of a difference for me to care, I am looking at quality and opinions on what way to go.

 

[Strouty]

My box is a KRL 1023 and I am using the 3" tall 2/3 width drawer for my wrenches.

I have thin drawer liner, not sure if it is snap on or another brand, I am assuming it is original to the box.

I have a few sets that would be nice to grab and go, but for the most part, they will stay in the drawer and be taken out a few at a time.

I have seen some pictures of GJ member's drawers with both styles and I am thinking about a mix of the two. For those of you that have either the ernst or snap on versions, what do you like and dislike about them?

 

[IFMJohn]

I use the second design pictured. I've never seen anyone actually using the first design.

 

[Jwych]

I have the top set and like them. Depends if you like to take your wrenches to you task or leave them in the box and take only the ones you think you will need

 

[Strouty]

I have been looking at different drawers from other threads. I could see doing this, but portability suffers.

For compact mobile tool boxes, I too did similar things as the coiled wire and even shadowing a bundle of a specific type of wrenches together. But those are not easy ways to grab one wrench from a set without messing around with the others in some form.
Now working out of a bigger box every day, I like the SO rails - fairly compact while able to grab any single wrench:

 

[Strouty]

This is another layout that I like. I am leaning towards this, but I can see the other style rail fitting more wrenches.

I also like the Ernst Grippers, and they are available in different sizes and in both directions. I keep the large wrenches on pegboard.
View media item 45046

 

[rockwithjason]

harbor freight!

i kid! i kid!

 

[arz71]

I have been looking at different drawers from other threads. I could see doing this, but portability suffers.

NICE looking box and tools!

 

[Strouty]

NICE looking box and tools!

Not mine, I quoted them from other threads. I am looking to do something similar, just not sure what yet.

 

[GTA Matt]

These are all Ernst, same as the snap on style ones (other then the ones for the stubbies). No complaints.

 

[Strouty]

GTA Matt are those stuck to your drawer liner or did you just set them there?

 

[Wamsutta]

Neither one. I've always liked Protoco the best.

http://www.protoco.com/Products/Products-Wrench-Racks.htm

 

[GTA Matt]

They're just sitting on top. They do not move unless you REALLY slam the drawer. I know they make some magnetic ones, but from what I understand from reviews, they don't work well thru drawer liner.

 

[Palmer812]

I have the Ernst in the first picture. They are very stable just sitting on top of the drawer liner and they save space.

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[arz71]

These are all Ernst, same as the snap on style ones (other then the ones for the stubbies). No complaints.

What type of box is that?

 

[GTA Matt]

Snap On Epiq

 

[Strouty]

It does seem that the red style (I know they come in black too) has the ability to fill all the gaps in the drawer. The black style seems that you can get them packed fairly tight as long as the wrenches are similar dimensions.

 

[afazz]

I use the Ernst wrench organizers from the first picture, no magnets, no tape. They are better if you want to achieve a higher density and get more wrenches into a drawer, but they are not portable. I never take the whole set anywhere, so this works for me.

 

[arz71]

Snap On Epiq

That is NICE!!!!

 

[Fedwrench]

Buy the snap on kra15a wrench rails. The Ernst ones are too tall and the notches don't go all of the way down. The snap ons come in a 24 inch pair that are easily cut to fit most drawers. They are no longer red though, only black.

 

[Strouty]

I was just looking at them on Snap On's site, they showed black ones for "smaller" wrenches and red ones for "larger" wrenches. Are you saying they are both black now? I would rather have everything the same color and black will stay cleaner looking in my opinion.

KRA22A Red wrench organizer

 

[Fedwrench]

I was just looking at them on Snap On's site, they showed black ones for "smaller" wrenches and red ones for "larger" wrenches. Are you saying they are both black now? I would rather have everything the same color and black will stay cleaner looking in my opinion.

never bought the larger sized rails and I have sizes up to 1 1/4 and 30mm in the smaller rails. all of the KRA15A I've purchased recently have arrived black.

 

[Strouty]

That is good to know about fitting wrenches up to 1 1/4" I keep up 1 5/16" in my drawer, after that they are in Knaack box with the big sockets.

 

[Skin]

They aren't in your consideration but I like the Ernst low profiles myself. They waste a little bit more space but the wrenches are displayed nearly flat so you can read the sizes easily. The only negative I've found is the tiny sizes, like 1/4 or 6-8mm, tend to like to move up a space when the drawer is closed.

 

[Palmer812]

Mine are the taller Ernst and they are in a 2 5/8" deep drawer in my Mac Tech1000. I have 32mm in there and it has at least 1/4" clearance.

 

[Strouty]

I am going to buy some of the Snap On rail pieces and try them out. The truck is here tomorrow, hopefully he will have some on board, otherwise I will have to report back later. I was going to order some of the ernst rails from amazon as well, just so I can see the difference.

I saw the low profile, but I have a lot of wrenches and I need to consolidate better. I also have a 3" tall drawer, so height is not an issue.

 

[efb16acrx]

another +1 for the kra15a strips.

 

[NE-TEX]

If the top set in the first post are Snap on they look identical to the Kobalts I just got at Lowes. I like them, not sure how to post pics or I would. Think I gave $20 for 4 sets.

 

[Strouty]

If the top set in the first post are Snap on they look identical to the Kobalts I just got at Lowes. I like them, not sure how to post pics or I would. Think I gave $20 for 4 sets.

Those in the pictures are all Ernst. I just ordered some from Amazon, Tomorrow I will either get some or order some from Snap On as well. Just so people know the snap on sets are not very expensive. The are $16.05, Snap On KRA15A, with free shipping for two rails. They appear to hold more wrenches and are easier to cut for whatever application you need.

 

[Adam.C]

Check out protoco
They make the snap on wrenchracks. They are nicer than Ernst in my opinion, thick, heavy duty, no goofy locking. They sell forward and reverse models so you nest multiple sets.

 

[Strouty]

I looked at the protoco racks and I think I would have bought them, except I am using the other style rails. I decided portability is not my major concern, I want to maximize the space in the drawer. I am hoping to keep all my wrenches in the one drawer, except larger ones and maybe a few specialty wrenches.

 

[Jay66]

Where do you buy the protoco stuff at??

 

[Strouty]

There are a few Protoco items on amazon, but I did not look really hard.

Wagzilla told me to look at the EZ Red magnetic ones. They look neat, I can also see them being portable. Trying to figure out what works and what I want are two totally different things. I think this may get expensive!

Here are some pictures from another member:

I'm a big fan of EZ Red magnetic wrench racks. At $25 a pop, they're not cheap, but I'll never use anything else. The magnets are strong and the racks are adjustable.

Here's a picture of the rack holding wrenches in the vertical just so you get an idea of how strong the magnets are.

 

[efb16acrx]

The ezred magnetic ones are nice, I've got one in my service truck, but be prepared to shell out some serious bucks if you have several sets of wrenches.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I've got the Ernst gripper rails for my wrenches. They fit thick beam Williams wrenches great. I like them because I can grab a rail and carry it up on top of a machine.

If I was working exclusively out of a cart or box, I'd go for the first type pictured.

 

[merbie]

I went for the snap on rails and love them

Merb

 

[mmelton005]

i purchased a few of these

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NPPAGG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

only complaint i have is that for the smaller wrenches (9mm and below) it wasn't to hang under the clip that holds the wrench body...if that makes any sense? I would go with the ernst sense it holds 15

 

[Strouty]

The ezred magnetic ones are nice, I've got one in my service truck, but be prepared to shell out some serious bucks if you have several sets of wrenches.

It looks like they are available from Advance Auto. They were like $36 for 15 wrenches, there were blue and red available. If you find a good coupon code, you could save some money on them.

 

[toddacimer]

I have the Snap-on KRA15a racks as well as the Lowe's Kobalt racks

You can see the Lowes racks on the right and left side of my box for my full wrench sets 8mm-27 and 1/4 to 1-1/4. The rest are Snapon

http://www.lowes.com/pd_516039-2232...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

 

[senlow]

I use the Snap-on KRA15A for most of my wrenches. I do have a few sets of wrenches in Protoco racks. I like them better than the Ernst.