Finally got my Hansen socket trays filled!

[waterboy12]

After a few months and an substantial amount of money I finally got these bad boys filled. Filled with Snap-on, Blue Point, Craftsman, Kobalt, SK, Armstrong, Northern Tool. Took a few pics....yea I'm proud.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

What did you source for the 5/8 quarter inch drive?

Looks good

 

[waterboy12]

What did you source for the 5/8 quarter inch drive?

Looks good

Blue point. $3-$4 each for 5/8 standard and deep

 

[TwoInch]

i wont buy them, simply because i will be on a mission from hell to fill those damn things.

 

[dsmnickk90]

i wont buy them, simply because i will be on a mission from hell to fill those damn things.

I wont by them because i have alot of sizes not on there

 

[TwoInch]

I wont by them because i have alot of sizes not on there

that may be an issue too. i dont even look hard at them. i may already have most or all of the needed sockets in each drive size.

i like old school metal rails. even though they are a pain in thee *** sometimes.... old habits.

not to mention i would need three or four or more, in each drive size... thats some serious dough for non portable storage. if i worked out of my box all the time, or had them in a cart, i bet they would be killer though. my box is usually a fair distance from what im working on though, so i carry what i need.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

 

[Rico.]

I wont by them because i have alot of sizes not on there

I must say though, it does look good all filled up.

I can't believe no one has ever made lego style clip together Hanson type trays,
so you can have as many sockets as you need, in all the sizes that you need.
How hard can it be....?

Maybe I should get designing....

 

[willhollin]

I must say though, it does look good all filled up.

I can't believe no one has ever made lego style clip together Hanson type trays,
so you can have as many sockets as you need, in all the sizes that you need.
How hard can it be....?

Maybe I should get designing....

Like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/One-box-e...t=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item43b1ddbdf7

I recently got some similar socket racks to the Hansen ones, and now I have a load of sockets knocking around that have to live aprt from the others.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/One-box-e...t=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item43b1ddbdf7

I recently got some similar socket racks to the Hansen ones, and now I have a load of sockets knocking around that have to live aprt from the others.

Nice idea but its missing the size on the post that make it soo much easier to find the socket you need. That on the $20 postage to get them are a few down falls

 

[jjjrmx5]

I think filling up "Hansen trays" should be an official Summer Olympic sport in 2016.

... yea, the Special Olympics.

Go Team OCD!!!!

 

[Rickster]

That's pretty cool! Now only if they made them in 3/4 dr......

 

[osborn.ozzy]

what about the impacts?

 

[OEXL16B]

It would be so much easier if Hansen would just match the sizes of the Snap-on sets. For example, the 3/8'' drive metric tray should be 8-19mm in my opinion.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=680886&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[littletoes]

Hey!

They look Great!

I'm like some others, I think I'd have quite a few "extra" sockets that wouldn't have a place to "sit"!

 

[Bull]

I love my Hansens, which are far from being filled up. I have full sets for all three drive sizes 6 and 12 point, and an extra 1/2 SAE tray for impacts. I intend to get more sets for impacts at a later time.

For the sizes not on the trays (which seem to be larger sizes) I look at it this way: anything not on the tray is going to be a less-used item. So, I won't mind having a few trimmed socket rails for those items.

On a related note, I just the other day saw the Lowes version of these on their website. They look like an exact copy. Is anyone using them? I think they were $25 for a set of three IIRC.

 

['04 Cummins]

On a related note, I just the other day saw the Lowes version of these on their website. They look like an exact copy. Is anyone using them? I think they were $25 for a set of three IIRC.

Cheaper yet: $8 a set

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-sae-socket-trayorganizer-68100.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-metric-socket-trayorganizer-68102.html


Lowes' and HF varieties are Chinese...

 

[NC-Fordguy]

On a related note, I just the other day saw the Lowes version of these on their website. They look like an exact copy. Is anyone using them? I think they were $25 for a set of three IIRC.

Yea I have a few--no complaints

What I like about the lowes version is the socket is stored upright versus upside down as the case for the hansons

I have impacts on my hansons

 

[Bull]

Cheaper yet: $8 a set

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-sae-socket-trayorganizer-68100.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-metric-socket-trayorganizer-68102.html


Lowes' and HF varieties are Chinese...

I have never seen a HF version in person, but I don't like the way they look in the pics with those big arches. I also read on here of weird size choices and some fitment issues with certain sockets; however, these posts are now years old and the situation might have changed.

Yea I have a few--no complaints

What I like about the lowes version is the socket is stored upright versus upside down as the case for the hansons

I have impacts on my hansons

Are the Lowes versions essentially identical in terms of material, layout, etc.? Any perceived quality differences?

 

['04 Cummins]

I have never seen a HF version in person, but I don't like the way they look in the pics with those big arches. I also read on here of weird size choices and some fitment issues with certain sockets; however, these posts are now years old and the situation might have changed.



Are the Lowes versions essentially identical in terms of material, layout, etc.? Any perceived quality differences?

The footprints are identical, the socket sizes are identical (same as Hanson also). Can't speak for sure on the quality of the Lowes' trays, but the HF trays are plenty sturdy, a fully loaded 1/2" drive tray doesn't flex at all when picked up by both ends.

 

[Bull]

The footprints are identical, the socket sizes are identical (same as Hanson also). Can't speak for sure on the quality of the Lowes' trays, but the HF trays are plenty sturdy, a fully loaded 1/2" drive tray doesn't flex at all when picked up by both ends.

Well, this is definitely good to know. Having options is always good. I try to buy USA only stuff, but from time to time if funds are low or the moon is full I will stray from the path.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Are the Lowes versions essentially identical in terms of material, layout, etc.? Any perceived quality differences?

Same physical size and layout(at least for sae)

Pegs are thicker on the hansons, but thus far I haven't experienced any issues with the lowes versions.

I did notice when I bought mine at lowes there were some trays(1/4 in drive)in the pile that had broken pegs from being thrown around and what not. I believe that's more of an issue if it's not mine I don't care.


Let's not steal the OP thunder.... Once again looks good

 

[wb2vsj]

...Filled with Snap-on, Blue Point, Craftsman, Kobalt, SK, Armstrong, Northern Tool. Took a few pics....yea I'm proud.

Nope, nope. nope - that just won't do. Go out an get a build a set from ONE manufacture. We can't have all those mixed brands lounging around together. What will the neighbors think?

Seriously - congrats! I'm slowly doing the exact same thing.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

After a few months and an substantial amount of money I finally got these bad boys filled.

Nice! I was glad when I got mine filled too. Love the hansens and how organized my sockets now are. I pull my trays out of my main box all the time. Infact, I pulled the 1/4" std and mm out just tonight to work on the garage door opener. Put the ratchet in the middle of one and a small pair of CM Cobras in the other and a four foot step ladder in the other hand and up the steps I went.

The Hansens seem to be more durable than the Lowes trays. This was discussed in another post here.

 

[DFW-LSX]

I have never seen a HF version in person, but I don't like the way they look in the pics with those big arches. I also read on here of weird size choices and some fitment issues with certain sockets; however, these posts are now years old and the situation might have changed.

I bought the HF ones just the other day and I dont have anything bad to say about the initial quality. They are actually pretty solid and not flimsy.

 

[waterboy12]

Thanks guys.

 

[Squankum]

I did notice when I bought mine at lowes there were some trays(1/4 in drive)in the pile that had broken pegs from being thrown around and what not. I believe that's more of an issue if it's not mine I don't care.

If it's the 1/4" drive trays, the smallest two sockets don't have tall pegs, they have wee little pegs to stand on. Both Hansen and Lowe's copy.

I saw a Hansen for 1/4" dr. today at O'Reilly's, and I noticed they also have a little, deep well of plastic around the socket for those no-tall-stalk pegs. This will stabilize them further when jostled.

It does, however, assume a certain outside diameter of a given socket, so I just don't know how you're going to fit your 4.5mm impact sockets in there!

Hansen OCD lesson learned: after spending too much to load up some of mine, I decided, enough is enough! And I put my 3/8" dr. Lowe's tray that I sue for chrome sockets, into the miter box and sawed the whole thing off at the last two pegs, since those sizes are so well covered by the overlap with the 1/4" tray. Well, guess which tray I put in my little toolbox for a junkyard run? Yeah, I wound up needing an 8mm socket one day. Luckily, my Knipex Cobras bailed me out, once again. Sharp little ******* teeth! Oh yeah.

For those who haven't tried these yet, for years, I used cheap socket rails, because the springs were soft. Sears brand socket rails just fight me to the death. I love these trays because you can remove sockets and put them back so fast, and at a glance, know what size you're looking at. But mostly, the appeal is the speed. I became a convert in about one minute of using them.

 

[elguappo]

Im not trying to piss in the OPs corn flakes, as I own the Hansen rails myself, but Im surprised more guys don't build their own socket rails.

Oak dowels are available in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2". They can be quickly cut down in a miter or band saw.
A drill press can easily do a line of properly sized holes in a strip of MDF, hardwood, plywood...whatever.
Then cut an angle into the top of your posts, glue them into your wooden strips, and use a label maker or sharpie to mark the tops of the posts.
Would take a few hours for certain, but you can make them with EXACTLY the sizes you need.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

If it's the 1/4" drive trays, the smallest two sockets don't have tall pegs, they have wee little pegs to stand on. Both Hansen and Lowe's copy.

.

Yea I know...5/32 and 1/8 I think don't have the pegs...just little nubs.
What I saw at lowes was broken..it was some in the middle or larger sizes depending on the tray. It looked like the trays were pitched from the opposite isle they way they were strewn about

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Im not trying to piss in the OPs corn flakes, as I own the Hansen rails myself, but Im surprised more guys don't build their own socket rails.

Oak dowels are available in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2". They can be quickly cut down in a miter or band saw.
A drill press can easily do a line of properly sized holes in a strip of MDF, hardwood, plywood...whatever.
Then cut an angle into the top of your posts, glue them into your wooden strips, and use a label maker or sharpie to mark the tops of the posts.
Would take a few hours for certain, but you can make them with EXACTLY the sizes you need.

I've done this as well as using a luan board with a border underneath and drilling a buttload of holes.

Not sure which set-up I prefer. I just know I have way too many sockets

 

[ianguilly]

Wait till you lose one.

 

[kippieland]

i wont buy them, simply because i will be on a mission from hell to fill those damn things.

Yeah that is a problem....I found out the hard way!

 

[Squankum]

Yeah that is a problem....I found out the hard way!

So how many 20mm sockets did you buy?