How do you guys organize your sockets?

[zkling]

I just stand them on end in the top compartment of my tool box, maximizes space. Then again I hardly ever move my box and I don't have every socket out there. They trays with pegs are slick, especially in a drawer, but take up valuable space IMHO. Standard socket rails are more space efficient, but a pain for daily use, keep having to pull them off and then snap back on. I've made up some fences out of sheet metal to keep them straight, but otherwise they just stand there.

I've thought about shadowing with foam, but not sure if I could handle the stress when it comes to add another socket.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The impact sockets live on a rail system system I made.


The chrome sockets reside on Cman socket rails.

 

[Applesauce]

I have a box I don't really care about, so I had no qualms about riveting cheap steel rails to the bottom and all four sides of one drawer. I would do that to most GJer's $6k Snap-On boxes, but it's a damn fine solution for my situation!


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[Farmall450]

HF trays for me, for 6 & 12 point SAE/metric.

I bought like four sets, takes up my top drawer on my 44" box. And one of the smaller ones on the rift side for 1/4"

 

[NC-Shaun]

Cheap HF Socket Rails Cut Down as needed.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Hansen for the most part. I did make some holders for the pass through sockets and have a few like drag links on some rail that I riveted together.

The 3/4" drive are big enough that they just sit and stay in place.

 

[dledinger]

Except the largest sockets; metal rails. Its convenient to grab a rail and take it to the project.

 

[92GreenYJ]

hey 92GREENYJ.....what/where did u get those red socket driver trays at on the right side of ur drawer?


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They are made by Hansen like my socket trays. Stumbled across them on Amazon. They are sold as a hex/torx tray. They were pretty inexpensive, but I wish they made one solely for Torx bits. Those don't come in fractional sizes. Gonna have to break out the Dymo one of these days and relabel the torx tray. But it's perfect for the hex sockets.

 

[rice rocket]

I've avoided the Hansen sets because I don't feel like play the "collect-a-socket" game to fill empty spaces in the tray.

But the metal-clip ones are kinda frustrating sometimes.

I might have to try the Ernst socket ones w/ the plastic clips.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I've avoided the Hansen sets because I don't feel like play the "collect-a-socket" game to fill empty spaces in the tray.

But the metal-clip ones are kinda frustrating sometimes.

I might have to try the Ernst socket ones w/ the plastic clips.

You can put tape over some of the numbers so it doesn't bother you.

 

[ATC]

Hansen trays

 

[azhatchback]

I've got the same organizers from Westling Machine

Very nice. Do these work with deep sockets? Looks like all the pegs are short.

 

[sixleaker]

Got mine at lowes. 4 plastic rails in a metal backing with a handle. Seem to work well for me as you can grab the entire thing and take it with you with out lugging around a cart or worrying about the sockets falling off

Need 1 more to finish off organizing my metric ones


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[chipper]

Hansen for the most part. I did make some holders for the pass through sockets and have a few like drag links on some rail that I riveted together.

The 3/4" drive are big enough that they just sit and stay in place.

What did you use for the pass thru...I have been thinking of making something for mine

 

[90zcar]

They are made by Hansen like my socket trays. Stumbled across them on Amazon. They are sold as a hex/torx tray. They were pretty inexpensive, but I wish they made one solely for Torx bits. Those don't come in fractional sizes. Gonna have to break out the Dymo one of these days and relabel the torx tray. But it's perfect for the hex sockets.

Ok thanks I'll look for them!
What do you mean by fractional torx ? Or do u just mean spots for say security torx drivers & tamper plus torx?


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[Cryptic1911]

We're using the HF trays with the stubs that show the sizes on them. I did have a whole pile of the metal rails, but decided I wanted to be able to just see the size, rather than looking at each one to find what I need

 

[byoungblood]

I have some clip rails riveted to some galvenized sheet metal. It works OK for the amount of space I have in my toolbox.

I may go to some kind of peg system in the future if/when I get a larger box. Probably not Hansens only because they waste space if you don't feel the compulsion to fill the pegs with rarely used sizes.

 

[90zcar]

The Hansen trays only really have the couple oddball sizes in the 1/2" metric rail.
Plus I'd rather have 2-3 open spots and be able to fill it then not have it listed on the rail and actually have the socket and be like "great where the hell am I gonna put this"


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[SILVERPLATE]

 

[Applesauce]

Here's my riveted-down cheap-o rails. Modular as it needs to be, damned inexpensive, convenient, and durable.

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[doan]

Pegboard and filed-off roofing nails.

View media item 37150

Based on your idea, I did the same thing but used 1/4"-20, 1/2" long bolts. It's really fast vs. custom solutions. The 1/2" drive sockets over about 1" take up 2 spaces, but other than that I'm really happy with it.

Mine are in the top tray, for a drawer one might want to use longer bolts, 1/2" long was the cheapest size. $6 for a box of 100 at Lowe's. I ordered another 400 from McMaster Carr for about $12 total. I will post pics when I'm done.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

What did you use for the pass thru...I have been thinking of making something for mine

They started out as these.


Then I cut the rail part off and attached them to some hunks of plastic.

 

[Tech89]

I've been using Hansen tray and metal socket rails cut in half for the last 9 or ten years. Still on my first set of Hansen trays.

-Pat

sent from somewhere in Minnesota...

 

[92GreenYJ]

Ok thanks I'll look for them!
What do you mean by fractional torx ? Or do u just mean spots for say security torx drivers & tamper plus torx?


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It's hard to see in the pic, but like the regular Hansen socket trays, these are labeled for various sizes, both in SAE and metric for Allen keys. Torx bits are only in solid number sizes. T-10, t-15, etc. so the tray I have just my torx bits on has a bunch of empty holes in 1/2", 1/4", etc for the Allen sizes in SAE.

 

[mark5767]

craftsman and harbor freight plastic rails

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[spacedoutbob]

Mine are all mounted on Snap On rails.

Bob

 

[90zcar]

It's hard to see in the pic, but like the regular Hansen socket trays, these are labeled for various sizes, both in SAE and metric for Allen keys. Torx bits are only in solid number sizes. T-10, t-15, etc. so the tray I have just my torx bits on has a bunch of empty holes in 1/2", 1/4", etc for the Allen sizes in SAE.

Is this one any different? It is made by snap on. It starts at t27 and goes up without skipping




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[Mr Ratchet]

Is this one any different? It is made by snap on. It starts at t27 and goes up without skipping




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It looks the same as my two Hansen trays

 

[canuckian]

I use a mix of Ernst and Westling machine. Tried switching over 100% to the Westling Machine aluminum organizers but their sets don't accommodate larger sized sockets in 1/2 and 3/8 drive very well. It's too bad as they're top notch units.

 

[mygarageone]

Where did you get these.

I just bought a set at lowes

 

[GreenLBZ]

What do the guys who work out in the field use?

I have mine on rails in a soft bag in the truck, but they keep coming off the rails. I'm afraid I'm going to have to get a hard box just to keep the sockets organized.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

What do the guys who work out in the field use?

I have mine on rails in a soft bag in the truck, but they keep coming off the rails. I'm afraid I'm going to have to get a hard box just to keep the sockets organized.

I've had nothing but good experiences with the Gearwrench/Matco plastic rails I keep my smaller impact sockets on. They hold better than all the metal rails I have my hex/torx/etc sockets on. I want to swap all my sockets over eventually. Debating between going all GW or trying the Ernst rails that can be installed on their socket rack system.

 

[DynoDale]

 

[Givl Reggin]

Then I cut the rail part off and attached them to some hunks of plastic.

I cut the handle off and attached magnets on the back so that I could; 1) make use of the space on the top chest lid and 2) make them transportable.

 

[ez-duzit]

I cut the handle off...

Me too. The handle wastes space.

What do the guys who work out in the field use?

I have mine on rails in a soft bag in the truck, but they keep coming off the rails. I'm afraid I'm going to have to get a hard box just to keep the sockets organized.

The Craftsman rails/clips don't fall off. Though it takes a bit of force, on/off. I also use a soft bag. These loaded rails (sans handles) fit in any of my bags.

 

[Jeeper]

craftsman and harbor freight plastic rails

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Mark - Where did you get those socket identification labels from?

 

[Flivver250]

Just wondering how you guys organize all your sockets?

From the smallest to the biggest.

 

[sberry]

I do it by how often I use it.

 

[mark5767]

Jeeper, this should link to a thread on the labels...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232262

 

[jeffmoss26]

Nothing fancy here: