Filling in Socket Sets

[2Rocky]

So in my Shop organization project, I bought a set of magnetic Socket holders. My sockets consist of what was in my Grandfather's shop when I bought the house, and a Craftsman set I got in the 90's. 1/4. 3/8 and 1/2 drives.

I ended up with a lot of duplicates in the smaller drive sizes. I found a 1/4 inch drive set that was my grandfather and gave it to my daughter for her truck tool box. Now this is what my socket drawer looks like. i wantto fil it in as efficiently as possible...

Do you think i can fill in with individual sockets cost effectively?

 

[Marvin Berry]

I would search socket "lots" on ebay to fill them in more efficiently. I've done that exact thing myself with sockets and with wrenches.

 

[drtyler]

First, I would separate the 8 point sockets from the 6/12 points.

In addition to the socket lots suggestion above, you could try pawn shops or yard sales.

 

[Wolley]

You should get all new. You're missing alot

 

[m6z]

First, get rid of those socket organizers. They take up a ton of space and it's pretty much impossible to fill in all the holes with one brand.

Second, buy a new master set from somewhere like Tekton or Capri. It'll be cheaper in the the long run.

 

[ThePostman]

Look at pawn shops, if you're in the DC area, I would check out the tool truck store in Manassas, VA to fill in your gaps with new and used. Shout out to Charles.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Toptul from https://cryertool.com/ has been the most cost effective and time efficient place I’ve found to buy a whole bunch of single sockets. There’s a a flat $10 shipping fee but many of the sizes are less than a dollar a socket. I’ve had mine about a year with no complaints often using them on crusty old machinery.

I can understand what others are saying about just buying a master set. There’s lots of deals to be had if you shop around but it becomes a tradeoff where you can either save money or time but not both. I think cryer is a good balance of the two.

 

[RTM]

Efficiency in Time, or Money? Time, buy a set. Money, haunt garage sales etc.

 

[alinc100]

This is a tough call. Do you have access and free time to flea markets and estate sales? Do you want them to match/brand specific? Sentimental value? Made in USA?I see about 50 empty holes +/- things that don't match 6,8 12 point. Budget? In today's world you are gonna pay about $1 - $3 per socket versus the suggestions above of master sets, or even being budget-wise long term buy one set to fill a rack, more later as time/money provides. Do you have tool OCD like myself and many here? Some of those voids are costly 15mm,9/16" in 1/4" dr,etc. Where are you located? Are you partial to brands? Heres another place to start: https://www.cripedistributing.com/s...t&options[unavailable_products]=hide&q=socket

 

[JRC3]

Look for an idiot like me to get some from.

Bottom drawers of my cabinet full of extra stuff. This was also legacy tools given by my stepfather...He is still around and was/is a hoarder.

Went through them one day and found these.

LOLOL

 

[JRC3]

I see you also have some 8pt sockets, those will need replaced too. As said earlier pawn shops are a great place to look. Sometimes they'll have buckets or boxes of them to dig through.

Do you know where those socket trays came from? I like them.

 

[mepstein]

I’m not ocd but having different brands in one tray or even the same brand that didn’t look all the same, would annoy me.

I would give them away and start fresh.

 

[abachman]

Swap Meets that are car related are your friend for misc tools/sockets.

 

[DAustin]

Look for an idiot like me to get some from.

Bottom drawers of my cabinet full of extra stuff. This was also legacy tools given by my stepfather...He is still around and was/is a hoarder.

Went through them one day and found these.

LOLOL

Hey! get out of my garage and stop taking photos of my stuff.

 

[2Rocky]

Do you know where those socket trays came from? I like them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095L12B23/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They were a gift.

 

[JRC3]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095L12B23/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They were a gift.

Well, shoot, I aint spending that much. lol

Thanks.

 

[rooster59]

There's a local pawn shop with about 50 lbs of sockets in 3 bins. $1 each. Most are not high quality, but I've filled out sets with a bit o' diggin. All high quality sockets.

 

[ronr80]

OK I see an old watch there , it looks the same as my grandfather had .

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

Somehow, I envision the OCD faction on this forum squirming in their seats while reading this thread.

 

[77thor]

Habitat ReStore is a great place to get individual sockets for filling in your set...
our local store prices them at 25 cents each.

 

[Robs94Bronco]

Keeping those legacy sets seem important to you, then spend the money on scouring the internet to find the missing pieces instead of those magnetic organizers which do skip sizes (in my case 11/32 on 3/8 dr.). You can get cheap socket rails at Harbor Freight for a dollar.

 

[alinc100]

Keeping those legacy sets seem important to you, then spend the money on scouring the internet to find the missing pieces instead of those magnetic organizers which do skip sizes (in my case 11/32 on 3/8 dr.). You can get cheap socket rails at Harbor Freight for a dollar.

Why you bustin' his balls? If you read the entire thread the socket organizers were a gift. Maybe he is trying to find a way to utilize that gift in a manner that suits him. Maybe he isn't running #8 nuts down all day and doesn't need 11/32" in a 3/8"drive socket? Those Olsa socket organizers stand up really nice in a drawer,where the cheap Harbor Freight ones you suggest flop all over the place and either the clip breaks or comes loose off the rail. I just went and looked I don't have an 11/32" socket in 3/8" dr and I've got well over 1000 sockets in my garage. Westling, Hansen, VIM, OLSA, none of their trays ,in 3/8" dr offer 11/32"

 

[tez929rr]

I’m not ocd but having different brands in one tray or even the same brand that didn’t look all the same, would annoy me.

I would give them away and start fresh.

That’s pretty much exactly OCD. Not that I don’t completely sympathize.

 

[mepstein]

Ok, ocd about my socket sets. It’s not a big collection. I only use metric.

 

[inliner311]

If you keep an eye on Facebook marketplace or eBay for lots of craftsman sockets you will be able to fill them in. If you have extras you can put up an ad on Facebook to trade. I'm in the process of trading with people on Facebook. There are a lot of people who seem to be willing to trade but don't have their stuff organized to do so.

I'm now thinking the best way is to buy up lots and resell them off once you sort to fill in what you need. I'm probably going to hit a wall with what I can get because a lot of the missing stuff for me are going to be the uncommon stuff that came in very selective sets. If you can get a hold of the tool cases or trays for the era of tools you have, it will make for less of a headache. The trays from the big sets that are made by Stanley black and decker have different size ranges than the stuff from the Sears days. There will be skips that you won't know about unless you see the tools sets.

 

[dnschmidt]

Sockets are relatively cheap so why screw around. I second the Cryer Tool recommendation and TOPTUL's sockets can't be beat.

 

[oknope]

I would look for used sets. If they are missing some pieces then you'll have holes to fill. At the moment you just have odds and ends, many of which look like rusty junk.

 

[mepstein]

one of the reasons I really like Tekton is because you can order individual sockets at reasonable prices and you get them in a day or two. I came home from helping a friend, missing one socket. Two days later the socket came from Tekton. $7 including shipping. I’m sure other companies offer the service but buying from Tekton was super easy.
My buddy buys his replacement snap on sockets from eBay. Apparently, it’s very pricey to get them from snap on.

 

[cherokee]

Personally I agree with some of the comments, if you want to "round them out" you need to find someone selling off their stuff, then fill in the holes. IMHO if you go to buy new, no matter what brand after you get about half way there you will find the distance to an entire set not that much more and you just buy a new set. I think that is what a lot of people do, I know I do.

It goes with thing other than sockets. For me it is screwdrivers, I never have long relationships with screw drivers. so after it gets to a point I will move a set into the "junk drawer" buy a new set and put them in prime rotation.

 

[d42jeep]

You might check the GJ classified section. Plenty of extras being passed along there including some of mine.
-Don

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

OMG!!!! You comingled 12 pt and 6pt sockets? You will be crucified here!

 

[2Rocky]

OMG!!!! You comingled 12 pt and 6pt sockets? You will be crucified here!

i like to live dangerously...

I really appreciate all the useful info. I'll look into the Tekton brand.

As for the condition of the tools, I''l do some vinegar soaks to see which ones clean up well. I'm a few miles from the coast and the fog and salt in the air sure do a number on ANYTHING metal. I'm willing to bet there are some 70-80 year old tools in there, many of which I'm sure my GREAT grandfather bought at Farm auctions in the 30's 40's and 50's

Apparently my dear, sweet mother stalks my Amazon lists and bought me a 3 piece 90 tooth Gearwrench ratchet set. I'd put it on my list just as a comparison point, and filled in with a $13 HF ratchet for the time being. ( i know it's not Snap on but that's pretty high class for our operation)

 

[mikedodge]

By the look of what you're using you could get away with a craftsman or husky set then use what you have to fill in the gaps.
I have my mixed sets like that in socket holder trays that I take out if I'm doing something further away from the tool box.

 

[tez929rr]

By the look of what you're using you could get away with a craftsman or husky set then use what you have to fill in the gaps.

Along that line I’ve been buying these Husky sets for $100 at Christmastime to give away as raffle prizes. Plenty of sockets and you can keep the other stuff or give it away. It would go a long way to filling up socket trays.

 

[inliner311]

Along that line I’ve been buying these Husky sets for $100 at Christmastime to give away as raffle prizes. Plenty of sockets and you can keep the other stuff or give it away. It would go a long way to filling up socket trays.

The older sets by pretty much any of the companies are better for sockets than the newer ones. These big sets take away sockets almost every year and add hex key, screwdriver bits, etc to make the sets more pieces but less valuable stuff. It's usually the 1/2" drive sockets set that get smaller. Gearwrench eliminated the 1/2" drive set completely from their big set like this.

It's worth looking for an used set especially if he wants a craftsman set. I see American made sets for sale here and there.