HF Plastic Socket Rails

[Exceller8]

Are not the same as the Craftsman. I am frustrated and I wanted to save others my same frustration.

I was looking for plastic socket rails awhile back and I bought the Craftsman and I was very happy with them. Someone posted that the HF socket rails are the same quality at 1/3 the price. Hmm... I decided to give them a try. Overall the HF do work, but they are not the same quality as the Craftsman. The have much more slop on the individual socket holders which causes some sizes of sockets to lean and look like ****!! I compared them to my Craftsman and the Craftsman are much tighter and straight as an arrow.

Anyway, I didn't start this thread to bash HF or anything, I just wanted to let you guys know that the plastic socket rails from HF are not the same as the Craftsman. I sure wasted a lot of $$$ on this little lesson. Hopefully It will save someone else from making the same mistake.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-14-38-and-12-socket-rail-set-68101.html

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-3-pc-socket-holder/p-00941829000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

[86k10]

I bought a set to put some sockets on for some field repair and broke about 6 pegs bouncing around in my tool bag. They are not that great but do not cost too much. This is one where quality reflects the price.

 

[Exceller8]

I bought a set to put some sockets on for some field repair and broke about 6 pegs bouncing around in my tool bag. They are not that great but do not cost too much. This is one where quality reflects the price.

I totally agree! I was trying to save a little $$$ and it bit me.

 

[John316]

Gearwrench rails are the solution ;-)

 

[Fireball027]

I use lots of the harbor freight rails. The rails have held up great, however the pegs ****. They constanly break.

I also have a bunch of the Matco plastic rails so I bought a couple bags of the pegs off my Matco dealer and use them on the harbor freight rails. They hold up 100 times better.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

Husky rails at Home Depot appear to be like the Craftsman rails. They are sold individually and offer different lengths. They may not be any cheaper though. I like the Craftsman rails but I do not like the length in some cases.

 

[Exceller8]

Husky rails at Home Depot appear to be like the Craftsman rails. They are sold individually and offer different lengths. They may not be any cheaper though. I like the Craftsman rails but I do not like the length in some cases.

The reason I like plastic is because I cut them to the size I need. I just put a small screw in the end of the rail to keep the pegs from slipping off.

 

[cheechi]

There is a lot of overlap with Husky tools and Cman. I wouldn't doubt if they're the exact same though I haven't looked at either close enough to care.

The HF ones are good enough for me. They sit in the drawer and hold sockets. I don't ask more of them, so they don't fail by not providing more. If you need more of some, you may want to pay more to get that.

 

[CaisedoA]

I actually like these rails, I broke a couple pegs but it was my fault, I think the sockets fit on them pretty good and are easy to pull off and put back on, I used the HF metal rails before that though and those are ****.... so it may just be that I was used to the metal ones, also the magnetic trays that come with snap on socket sets are awesome, by far the best I ever used, they do take up quite a bit of room in the box though...

 

[skiingman]

I really like the Ernst ones. I swapped all my sockets onto them last year and I'm very happy with the ~50 bucks it cost me.

 

[Scout Driver]

The Craftsman have held up well for me. I have a set of deep-well impacts that are on a Craftsman rail in my road-box. The sockets are always where they should be, yet they are easy to remove.

Scott

 

[thesilverone]

Wright rails

 

[70C-10]

I totally agree! I was trying to save a little $$$ and it bit me.

Return them to HF as defective

 

[Super Sport]

Wright rails

They're the same as the Cman, only different colors. The nice thing is, Wright offers different lengths!

And +1 to the OP, I tried the HF rails and hated them! The plastic is too hard and breaks too easily, and the rails bend much easier than Cman.

 

[Exceller8]

Return them to HF as defective

There isn't really anything wrong with them so I wouldn't feel right about doing that.

I may have to try the Gearwrench and Wright.

 

[bobemmerich]

I have them, and the rails are fine, the pegs ****. I bought the C-Man pegs and put them on the HF rails. They are a little tight at first, but once they're on, they're golden. I saw the Husky ones, but I haven't seen them for sale individually.

 

[70C-10]

There isn't really anything wrong with them so I wouldn't feel right about doing that.

I may have to try the Gearwrench and Wright.

Understood. When I bought a HF motorcycle lift table I asked if I could return it because I thought it was cheaply made. They said absolutely, if your not satisfied bring it back for a refund.

 

[Exceller8]

I have them, and the rails are fine, the pegs ****. I bought the C-Man pegs and put them on the HF rails. They are a little tight at first, but once they're on, they're golden. I saw the Husky ones, but I haven't seen them for sale individually.

That is a great idea, I'll give it a try.

 

[Super Sport]

Just so you guys know, the Cman pegs are pretty pricey by themselves. HJE has some under the Wright brand, but they're not much cheaper either.

It's actually cheaper to buy the rails with the pegs...

 

[wafrederick]

Matco uses the same rails,the metric rails are metric sockets and the reddish color rails are sae sockets.I only had to replace one stud on one Matco rail so far,the ball stuck holding the socket in place driving it out with a screwdriver and hammer.

 

[Monte]

these are good:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XMU7K6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[elronin]

I have them, they are great, placed them on a 1/4 finish grade plywood. They work great, now if you don't screw them on something then I can understand how they might break.

Here is my picture on them, TheToolReviewGuy
scroll down and see the pic

 

[captain14]

Craftsman 2 pack of socket rails half price until tonight I am on my phone and do not know how to create link on phone.

Can someone post the link if they can find it? One of the super Saturday deals now.

I think 7.99. To $3.99. 1/4 , 3/8. Or 1/2. Inch This is the all metal set with plastic handles Not the 3 piece set that has one of each size and all black for $12.99

 

[zkling]

I think 7.99. To $3.99.

Yep, I was cruising Sears this afternoon looking for hammer handles. I'm not really a fan of socket rails so I didn't purchase, but for the price, if you need them. USA made .....for now.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-2-pc-socket-rack/p-00941325000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[Catamount]

Hmmm, I have had a great experience with the HF rails so far. Then again, I don't take full rails out and am usually just pulling the sockets I need. I haven't had anything break on me yet. For the price difference between the two (Craftsman/HF) I'm really pleased with them.

 

[loranger]

I have a couple of the aluminum rails from Lowes in my truck tool bag and they are really nice. Pretty pricey though.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_338546-2232...currentURL=?Ntt=kobalt+socket+rail&facetInfo=