Short version:
GearWrench rails vs VIM Magrail TL rails in a scenario where sockets are either used out of an unmoving/big tool chest, or sometimes also taken from that tool chest and transported to another site at which to work? Is the crazy strong magnet in the Magrail TL a big issue in this usage? Does a plastic rail hold up to the weight of 30+ millimeter sockets on it? Will the impact sockets break the ball detent on the GearWrench rail?
Long version:
Hey all, long time lurker and first time poster. This site has helped me go from almost nothing to a good set of tools and greatly expanded mechanical experience. So thanks for that.
I'm currently stuck at a crossroads with socket organization. I spent countless hours yesterday in front of a spreadsheet trying to figure it out.
Here's my scenario... I just got a 30" US General 5 drawer cart, so I now have a drawer I can organize sockets into instead of using the plastic cases.
I have 37 1/4 sockets, 44 3/8 sockets, 115 1/2 sockets across 16 sets of sockets.
Sometimes I work where my cart is, but sometimes I don't. The cart is too heavy for me to transport easily. I do have a Rigid stacking and rolling modular tool chest which currently fits most of my tools and I toss this in my truck piece by piece when I need to work elsewhere. Sometimes I'll need socket rails out of my US General tool chest into my Rigid tool chest or into a 5 gallon bucket + Bucket Boss.
So I currently have 3x16" VIM Magrail TL to try that out since everyone says it's the best. It's quality, but I have a couple concerns. One, when taking this out of the cart and mixing it into the Rigid tool cart with miscellaneous tools or into a bucket, it'll stick hard to any other tool. Annoying, I'd guess. Also, it'll pick up metal shavings that files and drills leave around over time. Annoying, I'd guess. If I wanted this to work, I'd have to put a piece of sheet metal along the bottom of one of my modular Rigid boxes. I'd also ideally want a portable tray to toss in a bucket, but unfortunately the longest tray VIM makes is 14" and only comes with 3x14" rails. This would leave a 16" rail extending off it I'd imagine... Annoying again?
My thought was to maybe mount a bunch of plastic GearWrench or VIM plastic/Craftsman Plastic/SK Plastic/etc (all the same) or Ernst plastic onto a strip with studs on them. That way they stay put. My concern with these would be impact sockets. I have impact sockets over 30mm in diameter, and these have a hole all the way thru. They get stuck really hard on my drill's ball detent, and I worry if this happened on a cheapo rail, it might pull the ball off or break the stud.
The one other consideration is cost. The VIM rails are very, very expensive. I make enough money, but wrenching needs to be a money saving endeavor for me, not a money spending endeavor, when comparing vs hiring out all work done. I can't justify Snap On and VIM rails very easily, but if it's the best system, I'd be up for it.
Cost comparison:
$385 (ignoring the three rails I already bought) for VIM at the best price I could find. The worst price would probably be closer to $500-600. Insanity, it truly is. This is possibly equal to the cost of my GearWrench, Sunex, and Gray Pneumatic sockets, all of which I consider to be high quality (no issues so far).
$186 (ignoring one rail I already bought) using the best price I could find for the GearWrench rails. Overpriced as well, but less than half the price when considering I already have three 16" Magrails, making the overall Magrail TL price over $400.
Any tips or advice? I love the way the Magrail TL works, but I can't figure out how it's going to make sense in a scenario where I need to sometimes grab sockets and go. It just grips so hard onto the tool box and needs flat metal again wherever you take it.
Sorry for the long post!!
P.S. I tried Hansen organizers in the past and absolutely hated them, but let's not digress...
GearWrench rails vs VIM Magrail TL rails in a scenario where sockets are either used out of an unmoving/big tool chest, or sometimes also taken from that tool chest and transported to another site at which to work? Is the crazy strong magnet in the Magrail TL a big issue in this usage? Does a plastic rail hold up to the weight of 30+ millimeter sockets on it? Will the impact sockets break the ball detent on the GearWrench rail?
Long version:
Hey all, long time lurker and first time poster. This site has helped me go from almost nothing to a good set of tools and greatly expanded mechanical experience. So thanks for that.
I'm currently stuck at a crossroads with socket organization. I spent countless hours yesterday in front of a spreadsheet trying to figure it out.
Here's my scenario... I just got a 30" US General 5 drawer cart, so I now have a drawer I can organize sockets into instead of using the plastic cases.
I have 37 1/4 sockets, 44 3/8 sockets, 115 1/2 sockets across 16 sets of sockets.
Sometimes I work where my cart is, but sometimes I don't. The cart is too heavy for me to transport easily. I do have a Rigid stacking and rolling modular tool chest which currently fits most of my tools and I toss this in my truck piece by piece when I need to work elsewhere. Sometimes I'll need socket rails out of my US General tool chest into my Rigid tool chest or into a 5 gallon bucket + Bucket Boss.
So I currently have 3x16" VIM Magrail TL to try that out since everyone says it's the best. It's quality, but I have a couple concerns. One, when taking this out of the cart and mixing it into the Rigid tool cart with miscellaneous tools or into a bucket, it'll stick hard to any other tool. Annoying, I'd guess. Also, it'll pick up metal shavings that files and drills leave around over time. Annoying, I'd guess. If I wanted this to work, I'd have to put a piece of sheet metal along the bottom of one of my modular Rigid boxes. I'd also ideally want a portable tray to toss in a bucket, but unfortunately the longest tray VIM makes is 14" and only comes with 3x14" rails. This would leave a 16" rail extending off it I'd imagine... Annoying again?
My thought was to maybe mount a bunch of plastic GearWrench or VIM plastic/Craftsman Plastic/SK Plastic/etc (all the same) or Ernst plastic onto a strip with studs on them. That way they stay put. My concern with these would be impact sockets. I have impact sockets over 30mm in diameter, and these have a hole all the way thru. They get stuck really hard on my drill's ball detent, and I worry if this happened on a cheapo rail, it might pull the ball off or break the stud.
The one other consideration is cost. The VIM rails are very, very expensive. I make enough money, but wrenching needs to be a money saving endeavor for me, not a money spending endeavor, when comparing vs hiring out all work done. I can't justify Snap On and VIM rails very easily, but if it's the best system, I'd be up for it.
Cost comparison:
$385 (ignoring the three rails I already bought) for VIM at the best price I could find. The worst price would probably be closer to $500-600. Insanity, it truly is. This is possibly equal to the cost of my GearWrench, Sunex, and Gray Pneumatic sockets, all of which I consider to be high quality (no issues so far).
$186 (ignoring one rail I already bought) using the best price I could find for the GearWrench rails. Overpriced as well, but less than half the price when considering I already have three 16" Magrails, making the overall Magrail TL price over $400.
Any tips or advice? I love the way the Magrail TL works, but I can't figure out how it's going to make sense in a scenario where I need to sometimes grab sockets and go. It just grips so hard onto the tool box and needs flat metal again wherever you take it.
Sorry for the long post!!
P.S. I tried Hansen organizers in the past and absolutely hated them, but let's not digress...
