Homemade socket organizers

[Mittys]

Hello!! I am wondering if anybody can shed some light on What a person who only needs a few sockets can use as/ fabricate as opposed to buying a full size socket rack/organizer.

Thanks!

 

[ecotec]

How many is a few, and what space do they have to fit in?

 

[lilredex]

A few ideas here... You can make them any size you need.

Tool Box Socket Trays

Tool Box Socket Trays: If your tool box is a mess with loose sockets rolling around, and you do not want to spend $$$$ on those commercially available organizers that waste sooo much space, this DIY idea may be just for you. And no welding is involved........th…

www.instructables.com

 

[Kscardsfan]

What are your design parameters and capacity requirements? Socket organizers are fairly cheap honestly.

 

[bscman]

How few?
You can buy socket rails that only hold a few sockets, all the way up to an entire set. You can mix and match different drive sizes on the same rail as well.

The right style can be hung on a wall or stood in a drawer for storage.

These Ares rails come in a variety of lengths and colors .

 

[Mittys]

How few?
You can buy socket rails that only hold a few sockets, all the way up to an entire set. You can mix and match different drive sizes on the same rail as well.

The right style can be hung on a wall or stood in a drawer for storage.

These Ares rails come in a variety of lengths and colors .

This is what I was looking for, thank you sir!!
And thank you to everybody else who replied!!

 

[bscman]

This is what I was looking for, thank you sir!!
And thank you to everybody else who replied!!

FYI
Ares, Olsa, Mod-Box, ABN, and probably a couple more all made the same style of rail, and from what I've seen they all interchange parts.
The only real difference is the name ether on the rail, and some brands short change you a few socket clips.
The short and medium rails are an excellent fit inside a tool roll as well.

Good luck!

 

[rick carpenter]

For a bolt-based DIY solution you could drill holes through a base material and countersink for the bolt heads on one side and nuts on the other, and then epoxy lengths of copper tubing with peined-over ends over the threads. Depending on how much height you have to spare, you could stack a deep and a shallow socket on each bolt.

I'm going to buy the single rail Tekton organizers myself.

 

[Iridium rand]

Honestly this is one of the few projects I really don’t think is worth doing DIY, would be pretty difficult to build anything that makes insertion and removal as easy and hold them as securely as the plastic squares with ball detents or even the metal clips, really the type of thing best done by a calibrated machine spitting out 1000 of them an hour, and since they’re cheap as is It would probably cost more as well as be aggravating and time consuming to get right

 

[JradM]

This probably isn't what I would spend my time making. Worst-case I'd just buy the metal rails and clips. The rails can be cut to the desired length and screwed or riveted to something if you want them to stand up. You can usually find a three pack with clips for well under $10.

However, were I to try, I have a few ideas...

• perhaps cut a piece of 1/4" or 3/8" plywood to the desired dimensions, then drill and insert a piece of dowel where you want the socket to sit,
• drill holes sized for the sockets in a piece of 1/2" or thicker material (could even use a cutting board if you don't want to use wood),
• similarly, but easier, lay out your sockets side-by-side in order, trace them and cut out the shape.

 

[FMB4]

Lots of good info here. Meanwhile, I tried to fab a socket tray out of thin sheet aluminum many years ago. It did not work out (well, it worked, but it looked bad). Lately I've been thinking about using silicone or double sided tape to secure strips of magnetic 'sign or HVAC blocking' sheets to some of my boxes so as to keep sockets somewhat in place. Not if I'd want said sockets to become magnetized to any degree tho.

 

[PMD1966]

Many of my sockets were made by Grey Pneumatic. They come in a plastic case. each socket has it's own place. I remove the lid and place the bottom part in my tool box. Instant organization.

 

[JradM]

I've been strongly considering making a set like this one from Felo:



Not for any economy-related reasons, just because this looks awesome to me. Very classy.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Simple as the rails and clips or go one better and pick up a Hansen socket organizer. The Hansen will give you room to grow.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/tool-storage/socket-organizers-small-parts-bins/hansen-trade-sae-socket-tray/1401/p-1444432042070-c-9189.htm?tid=5845816333583514565&ipos=3

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Tekton also has most of the Ernst lineup

Tool Organization | TEKTON | Made in USA

Shop tool organization and storage options including tool cabinets, socket rails, wrench holders and pouches, screwdriver trays, and pliers racks.

www.tekton.com

 

[scooby074]

I have botha full set of Hansen and Princess Auto rails and honestly prefer the PA rails. They are more durable, plus Im always breaking the pegs of the Hansens. The stubby square pegs of the PA work just as well plus the warranty is better. I think the PA are the same as the Harbour Freight. Price is right too.

 

[CS454]

Cheap metal rails cut to length are what I've relied on for years.