Hansen Trays

[TimDaToolMan]

Anyone use them?

 

[toolstools]

Umm, this is garage journal... safe bet ya. ...

Tip, don't get them if your ocd.

 

[Quijote]

I heard great things about them here. They are nice. I bought two sets of all of them after getting the 299-piece craftsman socket set, but (other than returning a set of 1/4" metrics because there are no 12-point metric sockets in that set) I also returned one each (SAE & Metric) of the 1/2" trays because the craftsman 12-point sets have MANY more sockets than the tray can handle, including in-between sizes. But they do seem nice. Pricey when you get a bunch, but nice.

You are still bound to have empty spots and a few left-over sockets.

 

[TimDaToolMan]

I really like the craftsman socket organizer where the socket sits flush in the tray.

But they are far both 6 AND 12 point.

 

[Fastbird]

75% of this place does.

 

[Dusty61]

I'm not really impressed with them, I prefer having my sockets locked in place, I bought a bunch of the Matco branded socket rails and screwed them directly to the bottom of my 44" us general's long top drawer (bottom chest).

 

[TimDaToolMan]

Not a big fan of locked. I'm leaning toward the hansen trays. Just lift them out and set them on a service cart, no need to walk back and forth taking sockets off trays.

 

[rusty65]

I have them and really like using them although I only have them in sae since that's all I use in my workshop and I also keep them on a shelf so they work well. And I cut off the sizes I don't use and put a screw and a nut on so I can put extensions and adapters or even swivels on the tray and I also file the nut to get a tighter fit. I used a 7/16 nut on them.

 

[purplezr2]

Love mine I have 11 of them, and wish I could get them for my swivel sets.

 

[toolstools]

Go to Lowes , and quick and get all 6 for $20. Or harbor freight. But like I said don't get them if your ocd. I kinda regret buying mine.

 

[GTA Matt]

I have 15 of them. Would never go back to anything else.

 

[TimDaToolMan]

Lowes has ALL SIX for $20??!

 

[ilovevocs]

Another vote for the Hansen trays. I just need to fill in the open spots... Working in that slowly but surely.

 

[mds5951]

They work great but honestly I hate mine like tools tools said. I'm constantly on the look for sockets to fill the voids.... This brand, that brand, 6pt, 12pt, std length, mid, deep, impact, non impact... All must match. (For me) Grrr. Damn you garage journal!

 

[I van putski]

Buy real Hansen trays. They are made in the USA.

 

[TimDaToolMan]

What's the next best socket trays that are portable?

 

[toolstools]

What's the next best socket trays that are portable?

They're all plastic. All the same. Buying Hansen is a waste of time for the price point. I remember them buying pricey. Run to Lowes, $20 for all 6. Don't get them if your ocd. Waste a lot of money..

 

[TimDaToolMan]

What do you mean by OCD?

 

[kurtk75s]

What he means is that, if you are obsessive/compulsive, you will not be able to live with empty posts in the tray - so you will find yourself searching for 20mm deep 12 point sockets which you may never use (damhik)

 

[toolstools]

What do you mean by OCD?

Empty spaces. From memory the trays are:
1/4 drive metric 4-15 standard 1/8-5/8
3/8 drive metric 6-22 standard 1/4-1"
1/2 drive metric 10-27 standard 3/8-1 1/4

That's a lit of sockets to cover In deep and shallow. If your ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder) you will have to buy singles to fill the gaps. Sizes as a home user you'll probably never use. I'm down to 6 blanks that ive basically given up on.

 

[toolstools]

Oh, double that if you want 12 point sets too. Or so bad that the trays all have to be 6 point. Mine are a mix, but it don't bother me, much.

 

[kurtk75s]

BTW, I've used the CMAN rails for years and like them - I always wanted to try the Hansen style but they are a bit expensive. I grabbed the Kobalt ones at for 10 bux and found that I mostly like them - particularly if I know exactly what size I need. They aren't really portable, though. I still keep a rail of 1/4 & 3/8 in shallow on the rails to drag over to the job (usually bikes).

I have spent a bunch of money trying to fill out the trays - and I still have empty slots (the small deep 1/2" for example). The problem with empty slots, for me, is that I have put sockets back on the wrong post and then I get REALLY messed up.

 

[TimDaToolMan]

12 point dont get used much

 

[toolstools]

There is however a lot of pros for them.

Portable to project from box. Watch picking up the 1/2, long and heavy equals bow if not carried properly.
No messing with socket rails like the cmans type. No offence to those who use them.
Don't wear out like metal rails.
Easy to spot a size missing after a project. So long as you remember your blanks.
Quick and easy to spot a size in the drive you need.
Blue are metric red are standard for kobalt anyways.
Easier for helper to get a size for you.

But cons include but not limited

Gaps if your ocd
Proper drawer height for the deepwells to stand up.

 

[Skin]

They're all plastic. All the same. Buying Hansen is a waste of time for the price point.

Depends on your priorities. I'd prefer to help a small US company than to support the Chinese knock offs. Sure the HF/Lowes sets will do largely the same thing for 1/3 the price but that's not the point.

I've got a ton of Hansen trays, 3 or 4 full sets I think. They're great and no issues.

For what its worth I actually bought my Hansen tray sets from sears.com as they ran weekend sales+ the trays themselves were discounted a few dollars. I think it worked out to about $45 for the 6 (2 of each drive size). Not sure if that pricing is still being done.

edit: looks like sears has deleted the 2pc sets I use to get off their website. Makes sense given their stance on deleting as much USA product from their shelves as possible.

 

[kurtk75s]

I almost never use 12 pt. But I have a tray (almost) full of 1/2" metric in 12pt simply because I can't mix 6 & 12. OCD. The Kobalt trays mess with me because there isn't a post for 26mm. I have a 26mm 12pt socket. I have no idea why I own it. I might have to buy the Hansen set if there is a post for 26 . Then I'll have to buy the deep one to match. It never ends.

 

[toolstools]

BTW, I've used the CMAN rails for years and like them - I always wanted to try the Hansen style but they are a bit expensive. I grabbed the Kobalt ones at for 10 bux and found that I mostly like them - particularly if I know exactly what size I need. They aren't really portable, though. I still keep a rail of 1/4 & 3/8 in shallow on the rails to drag over to the job (usually bikes).

I have spent a bunch of money trying to fill out the trays - and I still have empty slots (the small deep 1/2" for example). The problem with empty slots, for me, is that I have put sockets back on the wrong post and then I get REALLY messed up.

They're totally portable. Especially the 1/4 trays when working on interiors of cars.

 

[TimDaToolMan]

How good are the craftsman trays? Anyone use them?

 

[kurtk75s]

They're totally portable. Especially the 1/4 trays when working on interiors of cars.

Maybe the Hansen are different than the Kobalt? If I moved those 1/4 trays around with what I do, I would be picking a lot of sockets off the floor. My sockets are pretty loose in the trays. I guess the Hansen have taller posts - that may be another advantage of them over the cheaper versions like the Kobalt/HF.

 

[toolstools]

How good are the craftsman trays? Anyone use them?

I think for most they take up too much real estate. Not portable in any sense.

 

[turbodave]

How good are the craftsman trays? Anyone use them?

I used them for years, recently pulled them out of my box in favor of the Hansen trays. The Craftsman trays just used up too much space for the amount of sockets stored.

 

[toolstools]

Maybe the Hansen are different than the Kobalt? If I moved those 1/4 trays around with what I do, I would be picking a lot of sockets off the floor. My sockets are pretty loose in the trays. I guess the Hansen have taller posts - that may be another advantage of them over the cheaper versions like the Kobalt/HF.

I have the kobalt ones, not Hansen. I find mine portable for DIY.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I use mine and I think there great.

I have them full at home. at work I just have 1/2 sae but I notice its missing1-3/16 which bothers me.

 

[B-Well]

I like the way they work. I do wish they were user customizable so there wouldn't be any empty spots, but ill live with it. Being able to very quickly identify the size is worth it

 

[Givl Reggin]

I thought the Hansen trays were the ultimate organization solution, but after getting them I found they waste too much space and went to socket rails. The rails are efficient, sturdy and do a great job of keeping things organized. Now, if I had one of those 84" boxes, instead of a standard 26" wide one, I might have a very different opinion of them.

 

[toolstools]

organized chaos! No offence that would drive me insane! But if your happy, that's all that matters. to you.

Wait, is that a gator grip I see?

 

[Givl Reggin]

Wait, is that a gator grip I see?

Laugh if you must, but the GatorGrip comes in handy for eyelets and hooks. Also I live on what was an old diary farm, all the panel boards in the out buildings have pentagon bolts - never found the right socket for them, but the GatorGrip works just fine!

 

[toolstools]

Laugh if you must, but the GatorGrip comes in handy for eyelets and hooks. Also I live on what was an old diary farm, all the panel boards in the out buildings have pentagon bolts - never found the right socket for them, but the GatorGrip works just fine!

I never knew that thing was actually good for something.

 

[CWP1616L]

I like the idea of Hansen trays; I just don't like the sizes they have. You guys remember playing with Legos when you were a kid? Combine the concept of Legos with Hansen socket trays and you'd have a winning combination.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I love my Kobalt trays, but have been debating whether to switch over to just rails, or the Ernst style rails/holders. I work in a bigger diesel shop, and there are times when a tanker truck/trailer setup stops us from rolling the tool cart right up to the work, so I end up grabbing a bunch of sockets that seem close to the size I need, and sometimes I don't get the right ones (damn you Metric!). I have some of my impacts on rails, and will probably switch them all over just for the ease of going right to the work with all the sockets I need in one trip...