Filling my Hansons socket trays

[3 at 8]

May I first say thank you to everyone; for everyone on this board has inspired me to re/start many tool organazational tasks or rebuilding projects, relevent to creating a nicer more user freindly and organized garage enviroment to be in. In the last several previous years I've found myself working on the garage more than actually working in the garage on a project; as it seems the garage itself has morfed into some sort of endless project of its own. (lights,water, roof, plumbing,etc)This is the winter I want to take back control of my space and be organized enough as to even make Mary Poppins proud. All tools are moving into a 41" stainless box from Costco (the one they sold right after the Hammerhead, same look and style under the name of knight.) I purchased a few years back. I finnally am getting around to filling it with my goal; to be able to see the bottom of each drawer through the tools as opposed to filling silver up high enough on each on that the drawers dont shut. So far its going okay; a 17 year old freind of the family from down the street has been inheriting my extras, to create more room in my box. Just got around to my Hansons socket trays which I have had for about a year. I have all six. I loaded them and realized I was about only half complete. This was quite a buzzkill because I thought I could just go into sears and pick up a few of what I was missing; Two problems with that: cost is not efficient for that many individule sockets and also now with the laser etched sockets; having everything matching will never happen. I know its not the end of the world but just kinda bums me as I was looking forward to this for so long. My thoughts of practicalicy are now scrap existing sockets to spares or travel boxes or whatever, and just start over trying to obtain a matching set for the Hansens trays. I am not crazzy about the c-man lasers but will go that route unless anyone has any other sugestions. I looked a little at SK sets but they seemed less compleate for my intentions. So, if you were to fill your six handsen trays from scratch (with all 6pt.) what sets/manufactures would you be looking at.As to make it most effecient? I know I am going to have to buy a few indiviuales as no set is perfect to match that tray layout, I just dont want to buy half of them individually. I am not brand partial but realistically S-O isint going to happen. Looking for more of the crafstman ballpark of quality or slight upgrade.

Thanks. P.S. My Permatex 81950 is on its way from amazon.

 

[terabyte]

HA looks like we are on the same boat. Amazon lost my Permatex and I finally found it locally. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25798&highlight=permatex

AND... I finally got my Hanson trays tonight

I'm going to just fill them in individually with Toptul.

 

[billymade]

If you are concerned about price;(sears rips you if you buy anything individually!), then buying used is the way to go! You might even post your "need" list in the "garage sale" section; many members have extras they would be happy to "unload" on you! Also, do not overlook the local used market; pawn shops and flea markets are my best sources... YMMV! Good Luck!

 

[Merkava_4]

- GearWrench
- Armstrong
- Williams
- Proto

Those are all good choices for sockets.

 

[Frank Elson]

Iwas wondering, after reading this forum for a few months if you could buy individual sockets in the US as all I ever seem to see is stories about sets.
I like to put together bobbery packs of individuals I buy used - but just had to buy a new socket the other day, cos I needed it in a hurry.
It was a CK, and it looks all nice and shiny

 

[eschoendorff]

- GearWrench
- Armstrong
- Williams
- Proto

Those are all good choices for sockets.

Roger that. GearWrench are especially shiny.

 

[Jokeman]

Mine are almost full. I only use them for the Chrome sockets. For impacts I use regular rails. One of these days I will try to order the rest of the sockets to complete them.

 

[Frank Elson]

I just bought some socket rails at lunchtime.
Brought them into the office and asked "Who wants to see my new socket rails?"
deathly silence.
Then a small, female, voice, "What's a socket?"

 

[bushhawg73]

My trays make it so much easier to find a socket and to know if one is missing. They are so much easier that metal socket rails.

<a href="http://s450.photobucket.com/albums/qq225/bushhawg73/?action=view&current=IMG_2031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq225/bushhawg73/IMG_2031.jpg" border="0" alt="Sockets"></a>

 

[dps]

If you are concerned about price;(sears rips you if you buy anything individually!)

Hey, is there any time of the year that Sears individual sockets go on sale? Seems like I once missed an "any socket for $x" sale once.

 

[wrenchr]

How are the HF hanson knock offs?

 

[Merkava_4]

How are the HF hanson knock offs?

cheesy!

 

[wrenchr]

cheesy!

I knew your opinion before you posted it!!!

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

The HF hanson knock offs don't look like anywhere near the quality of the actual Hanson trays. The quality of the plastic also feels different, in a bad way. I would just buy the actual Hansons. Besides, the Hansons are made here, we need the economic support.

And why waste money on something cheesy?

 

[Frank Elson]

I don't think we can buy the Hansons in the UK - least I've never seen them in any catalogue or shop. But I'm happy enough with my rails.

The new socket I bought the other day cost £2.70. I usually pay 50p to £1 for a used socket at a car boot sale.

Looking at some of the beautiful displays pictured here I can sort of understand why some of you would want to keep the symmetry by staying with all the same, but I'll stick with my way, my tools are for using not for looking at.

 

[Titus]

I make a point of ordering a few sockets needed to fill out my trays every time I order something from Sears. I just got an order in yesterday, and I realized that I screwed up. I needed a 3/8 in drive 12 point 9mm deep socket, but ordered the 6pt version by mistake (which I already had). What really ***** is that the order came to $100.12, filled in by several socket singles in order to qualify for free shipping. If I return this $3 socket in store, I get charged for the $15 shipping that had been waved on the online order.

 

[terabyte]

I make a point of ordering a few sockets needed to fill out my trays every time I order something from Sears. I just got an order in yesterday, and I realized that I screwed up. I needed a 3/8 in drive 12 point 9mm deep socket, but ordered the 6pt version by mistake (which I already had). What really ***** is that the order came to $100.12, filled in by several socket singles in order to qualify for free shipping. If I return this $3 socket in store, I get charged for the $15 shipping that had been waved on the online order.

how about an exchange?

 

[rlb1953]

I also recommend buying used. My local pawn shop has a bin of loose sockets that sell for $1 each for regular sockets. ($2 for snappy, proto, gray etc) It takes a while to sort though, but if you are looking for discontinued stock, it is the only way to go.

Roger

 

[burger]

How are the HF hanson knock offs?

Do not buy them expecting the same quality and feel of the Hansons.

That being said, I have them and they work fine after several minor "reworks".


Ed

 

[nismomans13]

How are the HF hanson knock offs?

I bought them and was putting sockets on them when I noticed a trend on the Metric racks, it would go 5, 5.5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15....etc there was just so many sizes missing or mis printed, same for the SAE ones. I ended up putting labels on it, and a week later, I ponied up and bought hansen trays.

 

[Silver Bullet]

I went through the same thing trying to fill my Hansons. I hated the empty spaces. I went with Craftsman sockets since that was what I already had . I ended up doing pretty well by hawking fleabay. I found sellers that had sets and combinations that they don't offer at Sears.

 

[terabyte]

I went through the same thing trying to fill my Hansons. I hated the empty spaces. I went with Craftsman sockets since that was what I already had . I ended up doing pretty well by hawking fleabay. I found sellers that had sets and combinations that they don't offer at Sears.

man I wish I had the patience to do that

 

[Titus]

how about an exchange?

I'm pretty sure they do a return and then new purchase, which will trigger the shipping charge from the last order to kick in. I may try it next time I am out that way, but it is not worth the 50 miles round trip to get to my local sears just for a $3 socket.

 

[musgofasta]

Have the HF knockoffs, put my own labels on them to for all of the sizes

All 6 trays from $10 with coupons a while back. More money for sockets to put on the trays.

 

[coffeebean]

HF socket trays

HF is usually okay as long as you dont have to plug in what you buy there. the socket trays are one of the exceptions.

to start with i cant fit all my sockets in the trays because the ones i bought are designed for sockts with thin walls. the sockets i have are thick cause theyre quality. they also dont fit. glad i only bought the SAE set.

the makers are so worried about quality control that instead of stamping the size into the top of the pin they provide a sheet of round stickers. this part works but it is fairly cheesey.

anyway i dont recommend the trays from HF but they are having dollar days this week and I'll be there to check out whats available.

dave

 

[charlie_nj]

I have the HF ones. No brainer for me, $52 or so plus shipping for six Hansens or $10 for the six HF ones. I had to relabel the metric ones with my P-Touch and the 1 1/4 half inch drive won't fit on the holder, but I'm not that **** when it comes to socket trays.