Ernst wrench rails?

[Andy Griffith]

I've used a variety of wrench racks, and I am currently using the foam deals from craftsman, which I don't particularly care for. These would be for wrenches in my main roll-around that will not be carried or moved anywhere as a set. I would like something that holds the wrenches loosely (can be grabbed one handed), utilizes drawer space efficiently, and orients the wrenches such that the sizes are easily read. Further, I'd like to be able and use these in a 1.5" deep drawer that is 16.25" wide (front to back).

Toward that end I'm wondering if the ernst low profile rails would be a good option?

I can't find any measurements of the product on the site, will they fit in a 1.5" drawer?

How are they held in place?

It says the set holds 30 wrenches. I assume this means 15 per side with one side inverted from the other direction wise?

I'm wondering what the largest size open/box end wrench will fit on the rails assuming they fit in a 1.5" drawer? I can't make out the size on the wrenches in the picture but it looks like 1" and change?

Are these only available directly from Ernst or are there other places to purchase them?

Thanks

http://www.ernstmfg.com/products_lowpro_wrenches.php

 

[zsuperbee]

http://www.summitracing.com

 

[Zrexxer]

I've got them and yes they're 15/15 reversed. I've got up to 1-1/8" SAE combinations in them, but they're in a deeper drawer so I can't tell you if they'd clear a 1-1/2" drawer. I do know that the 1-1/8" combos hit the bottom of the drawer with the low profile racks.

 

[petty4243]

i use the ernst grippers in my shallow craftsman box drawers with no problems... believe they are at or about 1 1/2 inches deep(no tape on hand right now to measure for certainty)

 

[Andy Griffith]

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate people taking the time to provide the information. I think I will order a set and try them out.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I don't see the low profile models on summit racing, at least just referencing the product description, so I guess I'll order direct from Ernst.

Near as I can tell from the Ernst site it does not specify whether the rails use a mag stripe or tape to hold them in place? I'm assuming that neither the mag strip or tape would work properly on top of a drawer liner?

On the other hand the rails look like they may be wide enough, and coupled with the other wrenches in the rail would provide enough stability that the rails don't need to be fastened down?

Thanks

 

[jdcompman]

Call Ernst! I had these exact questions and couldn't find any information so I just called Ernst. They gentleman that helped me was extremely patient and event went to find all the products I asked about so he could personally measure them for me. I don't know where I wrote it all down otherwise I would post it up.

 

[Zrexxer]

On the other hand the rails look like they may be wide enough, and coupled with the other wrenches in the rail would provide enough stability that the rails don't need to be fastened down?

They don't need to be fastened down.

 

[FastKat]

I called Ernst and they were able to give me the dimensions. I think everything up to the 9 piece gripper was 1.25" tall, and then the 10 and 11 piece gripper were 1.75" tall. That is for the regular grippers, not the "short" grippers for the stubby wrenches.

 

[Snap50]

Ernst told me that the largest gripper, 15 wrench was 1 7/8" tall, so it's definately not going to fit a 1 1/2" drawer.

 

[Fedwrench]

I don't really care for the Ernst rails. The low profile rails are like laying your wrenchs flat in the drawer. Their other rails aren't long enough. I prefer these from snap on and other dealers. They can be trimmed to fit almost any size drawer. You don't have to worry about reversing sets. there's no wated space, and they hold a lot of wrenches.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=3225&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[CamarosRus]

Fedwrench, Does the weight of the wrenches just hold those (Snap On) racks in place.

Who/where might have same Chinese pcs for less money than Snap-On ???

Are not the regular ERNST Wrench Rails similar to those Snap On's you linked

(http://www.ernstmfg.com/products_wrenches_rail.php)

If Snap On racks only allow wrenches to face one direction how does that maximize drawer space ???

Thanks as always, Chuck

 

[Fedwrench]

Fedwrench, Does the weight of the wrenches just hold those (Snap On) racks in place.

Who/where might have same Chinese pcs for less money than Snap-On ???

Are not the regular ERNST Wrench Rails similar to those Snap On's you linked

(http://www.ernstmfg.com/products_wrenches_rail.php)

If Snap On racks only allow wrenches to face one direction how does that maximize drawer space ???

Thanks as always, Chuck

The wrench weight does hold them in place. there is also double sided tape on the back of the rails. I don't use the tape though.
Ernst rails are similiar but, they are shorter in length probably made for a Craftsman top chest drawer. The Ernst ones also change spacing towards the back.
You can face the rails either way or change wrench position to save space. Here's my cart metric wrench drawer for an idea. It's messy but, it works.
The current ones Snap on sell are Chinese made and are black in color. I don't know who actually makes them and sadly, I've never found them any cheaper.

 

[Vinko]

Fedwrench, Does the weight of the wrenches just hold those (Snap On) racks in place.

Who/where might have same Chinese pcs for less money than Snap-On ???

Are not the regular ERNST Wrench Rails similar to those Snap On's you linked

(http://www.ernstmfg.com/products_wrenches_rail.php)

If Snap On racks only allow wrenches to face one direction how does that maximize drawer space ???

Thanks as always, Chuck

Just an FYI: American-made Blue Point fixed rails are still available -- in both forward and reverse and in two colors, red and black. Don't know who the OEM is, but they're about $10 each. They aren't the long ones that can be adjusted with double sided tape, however.

 

[FastKat]

For what it's worth, the 12-piece Ernst Gripper wrench rails do fit in a Snap-On KRA 1.5" deep (or shallow) drawers.

I called Ernst one day and got the same info about the 10-wrench rack. It is 1.75". However, the 12-wrench rack must put the wrenches at a lower angle, because it fits in the Snap-On KRA 1.5" drawer. Barely, but it fits.

If you want a 10-wrench gripper that fits, order the 12-wrench gripper and trim the two smallest slots off - they're really small and not very useful anyway. IMO, the gripper racks are the best. I don't think I'll ever use anything else.

FWIW, I think they are the same as the 12- and 15-wrench soft racks that Snap-On sells.

 

[TripleE]

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate people taking the time to provide the information. I think I will order a set and try them out.

What was the verdict?

 

[Andy Griffith]

What was the verdict?

They work well, I particularly like how they are wide enough and heavy enough that they can be used without needing to secure them with either tape or magnets. They sit nicely right on top of the drawer liner and can be easily re-configure as desired without a lot of drama.

They will hold 15 wrenches, which in my case means 1/4 - 1 1/8 in the 1.5" (w/liner) X 16" drawers. They will hold up to 1 1/4 before the wrenches start hitting on the drawer above.

 

[Zrexxer]

They work well, I particularly like how they are wide enough and heavy enough that they can be used without needing to secure them with either tape or magnets. They sit nicely right on top of the drawer liner and can be easily re-configure as desired without a lot of drama.

They will hold 15 wrenches, which in my case means 1/4 - 1 1/8 in the 1.5" (w/liner) X 16" drawers. They will hold up to 1 1/4 before the wrenches start hitting on the drawer above.

You do realize you've got yours backwards, right? The big wrenches go in the wide slots, and the little wrenches go in the little slots... Like in Post #4.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

LOL @ the user error.

 

[Andy Griffith]

You do realize you've got yours backwards, right? The big wrenches go in the wide slots, and the little wrenches go in the little slots... Like in Post #4.

Nope, I didn't pay much attention when I threw them in the box last night before heading out. I'll get them straightened around when I get time.

There ya go, fixed it at lunch.

 

[Zrexxer]

Actually - and I swear, I'm not saying this to be critical, I'm trying to help you get them set up so the work the best - they're still in wrong. You've got the wide wrenches in the wide slots now, but in order for them to be "low profile" as designed, the flat beam of the wrench is supposed to lay on the wide part of the notch. You've got them standing up. See my crude Paint sketch:

 

[Andy Griffith]

Ok thanks, I'll get them changed around tomorrow if I'm in the shop.

I definitely got it going on now...

Ok fine...

 

[Zrexxer]

I definitely got it going on now...

 

[TripleE]

I got the 40 set by Ernst - holds 20 forward and 20 reverse, non-low profile. I put them in a 2.5" deep Craftsman drawer (actually has about 3" clearance to the next drawer above). This is the ~10.5" front to back drawer, so not the larger base drawers. I had to cut (easy) 4 slots off - perfect since my Cman wrech sets are in 16, so they would fit in the 10.5" space. The largest wrench I have is 1-1/8 and it has plenty of room to spare.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I got the 40 set by Ernst - holds 20 forward and 20 reverse, non-low profile. I put them in a 2.5" deep Craftsman drawer (actually has about 3" clearance to the next drawer above). This is the ~10.5" front to back drawer, so not the larger base drawers. I had to cut (easy) 4 slots off - perfect since my Cman wrech sets are in 16, so they would fit in the 10.5" space. The largest wrench I have is 1-1/8 and it has plenty of room to spare.

What is the width of this drawer?

 

[Toolhorder]

I don't really care for the Ernst rails. The low profile rails are like laying your wrenchs flat in the drawer. Their other rails aren't long enough. I prefer these from snap on and other dealers. They can be trimmed to fit almost any size drawer. You don't have to worry about reversing sets. there's no wated space, and they hold a lot of wrenches.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=3225&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I prefer the truck brand rails too but if you have a Snappy box with the shallow drawers the regular wrench racks work find until you get to 15/16" or 1" wrenches and then the wrench hits the drawer above it when you close the drawer. Putting wrenches in the deeper drawers is a waste of space.

 

[MountaineerTom]

The Snap On rails list one for smaller wrenches and one for larger wrenches. What kind of range in sizes are we taliking about here?

I have combinations from 6mm and 1/4 inch up to 32mm and 1 5/16, 20 stubbys from 10mm and 3/8 up to 20mm and 15/16, 10 line wrenches in mm and inch, 12 offsets in mm and inch and 10 Craftsman double ended ratcheting wrenches in mm and inch (we called those dog bones in the Air Force way before that thing Craftsmans makes now).

I'm concidering ordering 2 of each.

 

[garfunkle24]

The Snap On rails list one for smaller wrenches and one for larger wrenches. What kind of range in sizes are we taliking about here?

I have combinations from 6mm and 1/4 inch up to 32mm and 1 5/16, 20 stubbys from 10mm and 3/8 up to 20mm and 15/16, 10 line wrenches in mm and inch, 12 offsets in mm and inch and 10 Craftsman double ended ratcheting wrenches in mm and inch (we called those dog bones in the Air Force way before that thing Craftsmans makes now).

I'm concidering ordering 2 of each.

I use the smaller ones for 19mm (3/4) and under, big ones for everything else.