HF Socket Organizers :(

[duct tape]

My new Montezuma 72" chest recently arrived from Strictly tool boxes and I needed to reorganize (or perhaps organize) my socket drawer. I have a mixture of Hansens and some magnetic strip socket organzers, but needed some new ones for my hex and torx socket drivers and for some new 1/2" impacts. So I found a thread here about the ones from Harbor Freight which met the major requirement - numbers big enough on each spot so I can see the size since the same number on the SO sockets is hopelessly unreadable.

Metric sets in 1/2", 3/8", and 1/4" size - all are missing numbers. For example, the 3/8" organizer has around 20 or so pegs (I'm at work w/o my pics so this is a rough guess but you get the point) starting at 8mm and ending at 24mm but no peg for the 12mm, 15mm, 18 and 21 IIRC. Same thing for the other two organizers, but different missing numbers.

I don't know about you but I have been known to use most of these sizes on my KTM dirt and adv bikes and on other BMW and Ducati rides. So it was off to Office Depot for some stick on labels and handwritten numbers. Not a big deal but not quite as pretty as hoped for in my new tool chest.

Then it was on to the SAE organizers. All sizes were there but when I tried to load the impact (or later the regular and deep) 1/2" set of sockets there wasn't enough room between the pegs for most of the larger ones.

Been there before with HF and their QA and should have known better. I'm posting this so others might learn.

 

[bmrisko]

I experienced the same issue and returned them the same day. I ended up going with a set of Hansens (for 3 times the price).

No issues yet and everything fits well in the Hansens except for one of the very small 1/4" drive sockets...maybe the 4mm?

 

[fr0mastaj]

Thanks for the post... i also use those sizes pretty often on my car. I was thinking about getting the HF ones over the Hansens due to the price difference too. I guess i'll pay the little extra and get the Hansens now!
________
******* HIDDEN

 

[lipadj46]

What I do with the HF trays is just put tape over the numbers and write my own numbers. Also as said abovr HF trays don't work well for impact sockets as they are just not big enough. Not sure how this compares to the hansen trays. For $8 for 3 trays I can work with it though.

 

[Cameronl]

I agree. For the price, I just put stickers over the numbers.

 

[Danglerb]

I think mine came with stickers, but I am really sold on the Mechanic Timesaver magnetic things, and convert to them as I find them cheap enough via swapmeets etc.

 

[duct tape]

In reply to the above posts, I also just put tiny labels over the numbers and wrote my own numbers. Still not my first choice as stated above.

The socket sets did very conveniently come with their own black stickers, also missing the same numbers as for each of the three sizes of metrics. So no 12, 15 etc...

Finally, not only did the largest 1/2 impact sockets not fit, neither did the largest regular shallow and deep S/O ones. Not really sure what I'll do with these since I'm kind of attached to the big sockets as well as the small ones.

IMHO it doesn't matter if it was $8 or $80 it's still a crappy product. Hoping to let other GJ members let this know so they can make their own decision if the price is right.

 

[duct tape]

What I do with the HF trays is just put tape over the numbers and write my own numbers. Also as said abovr HF trays don't work well for impact sockets as they are just not big enough. Not sure how this compares to the hansen trays. For $8 for 3 trays I can work with it though.

I also use the Hansen trays and like them. But I couldn't use them for the hex and torx drivers b/c the peg is too long and there's no through hole in those sockets.

 

[brian90505]

I probably wouldn't buy harbor freight but thanks for that info. I won't for sure now. Been using Lisle magnetic lay-down-style socket organizers but lately I'm working off of my cart rather than near my big toolbox so I may change to something upright.

 

[Hiball]

Yep... Bought and Returned the HF socket rails (Hansen style) all in the Same day. I have been using the Hansen trays for over a year and the only thing that bugs me is transporting them to and from jobs.

 

[jeepnut24]

Ive got one of the cheap office lablers from Office Depot that I use to label my wiring projects that would easily relabel the HF trays.... They even make a water resistant label and clear label tape.

I use the $.88 cent HF clip rails though... I like to pick up the whole set and move it around too much for the Hansen style trays.

 

[duct tape]

jeepnut,

thx for the idea. I was actually looking at a label maker at the office with white background tape. I don't think clear will cover up the old number well enough. It does sound pretty **** but i'd like to make it look nice for the new box, plus my writing *****.

 

[crewchief888]

FYI

sears had Hansen brand socket trays on sale last weekend.

 

[MarcSeattle]

I'm sold on the Ernst rails. They have a new version that is a twist-lock rather than a friction peg.

Also, Facom has little plastic inserts that go at the bottom of the inside of each socket so you can just look inside to see the size. They remove for cleaning. Those don't work with the long Hanson-type pegs, but work great with rails. Pic:

 

[csp]

I couldn't use them for the hex and torx drivers b/c the peg is too long and there's no through hole in those sockets.

Cut the peg length.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Reviving this thread just to thank the OP for the post. Wish I had seen it before purchasing the HF one's today...they are likely going back. I may experiment with my label maker, not sure yet.

Regardless...massive PRODUCT FAIL that the larger SAE's won't fit on the rail and that sizes are missing. I'm guessing the missing sizes somehow jives with socket sets that HF sells.

Small tweaks would make this a very high value product.

 

[Indy_500]

Reviving this thread just to thank the OP for the post. Wish I had seen it before purchasing the HF one's today...they are likely going back. I may experiment with my label maker, not sure yet.

Regardless...massive PRODUCT FAIL that the larger SAE's won't fit on the rail and that sizes are missing. I'm guessing the missing sizes somehow jives with socket sets that HF sells.

Small tweaks would make this a very high value product.

i took my angle grinder to stuff to make stuff it, and relabeled with white strip labels and wrote the numbers on, good enough for me

 

[Walterchang]

I tried the other HF organizer the one like the craftsman trays. Totally sucked hardly any sockets fit. Also bought the Hansen style rip offs, better, but still sucked the missing sizes and not being able to fit some sockets in them are a total bone job. Also bought the wrench organizer, which also sucked. I also bought the rails which slightly **** less, some sockets are very loose on the clips.

If they could just number those trays right they would be awesome. I have been to lazy to make my own labels. I can't find my pt touch.

 

[KenS]

Does anyone know if Hansen has a patent on its socket holders? I'm wondering why no other company has stepped up and produced a more competitive product.

I can understand why the HF holders don't work right. Looking at many of their gimmicky products, you can see that they just don't get it. Then again, I guess they have a lot of "As Seen on TV" customers walking through the doors with money burning a hole in their pockets.

 

[mtkst19]

i dont see how you guys complain so damn much over the hf socket trays when you get 3 of them for 10 bucks. one Hansen costs like 15 off a tool truck. for $3.33 a piece,i can relabel ****.

this is not geared toward any individual, rather every thread on socket organizing that has ever been posted on this board mentions the hf and the missing sizes.

 

[Rickster]

In addition to not having all the sizes, the larger sockets will not fit side by side on the pegs of a HF tray. Not to mention having to always wrestle them off those square pegs.

 

[supertooljunkie]

True, there are problems with the HF trays, but they are CHEAP! I can work with cheap. I relabeled all the numbers, with the ones I wanted. They take up more room then the Hansens, but you can stick duplicates behind the pegs.
As to the pegs on the Hansen's, get a pair of dykes, or a wizz wheel and cut them to length, then label the sizes as needed. I feel better cutting up a $3 tray, than a $15 tray.
Good luck.

 

[Soon2AdjustYou]

I'm on board with these types of organizers, but I have yet to pull the trigger on some.

BTW-

Dr. B

 

[Displaced Hokie]

FYI, after much thought I decided to stick with the HF organizers. While watching the tube I sat down with my Dymo label maker and corrected the numbering. As you can tell, a few sockets didn't fit, so I just labeled those individual sockets. I'd almost do the SAE just because I like how the yellow tags look!

I didn't use the 1/4 racks, as they were going to cram the area. So, I used some magnetic holders from Lowe's. You can catch the corner of one of those in the upper LH corner. It's stuck to the lid (and they hold when closed!).

 

[jpoe]

I have the HF set, and I also will not only COMPLAIN, but I will *****, gripe, whine, nit pick, nag, and grumble.

Perhaps it is not so much complaining as it is voicing irritation over missing the commonly used sockets.

It irks the shitake out of me.

 

[SMKS]

I ended up going with Hansens for my metric sets, because they don't skip sizes. But, because of that, they are larger. It's a tight squeeze in my HF box.

I do think the HF organizers are great for SAE sockets. I haven't had any problem fitting sockets onto them.