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How do you store 3/4" drive sockets

Zebu Fellenz

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Aug 3, 2010
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1,687
Location
Phelps, NY
Hi,

I have 3/4" drive impact sockets from 3/4" to 2" and chrome sockets from 7/8" to 1-7/8"

I use socket rails for all my smaller sockets and was wondering if something similar is available for 3/4" drive?

I'm also curious how else you store your larger sockets. Right now I just have all mine sitting loose in the socket drawer and would like to figure out something better.

We have a machine shop so it would be easy enough to build a nice looking rack that would hold the sockets on pegs, but if I go this route it would be difficult to seamlessly add on to the sets without building a new rack.

Ideas?

Thanks
 
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hammergodthor

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Oct 10, 2009
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475
I store mine in a metal craftsman tool box (the kind with a handle on top) in my bottom drawer. The more frequently used sockets go in my top drawer.
 

1969

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Jan 8, 2010
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East Coast
My entire 3/4 drive has their own box; ratchet, sockets, extensions. Probably because I rarely use them.
 

scott37300

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May 5, 2010
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Wisconsin
Could you take a piece of 1/4" thick plate and drill some holes in it and then make some little pegs you could move around as needed?
 

Ford12508

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Jul 7, 2010
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Middletown NJ
I just have them sitting next to my Hansen trays(the one for my 12 point stuff) in the top drawer of my tool box(the one under the lid). It is the only place I have that really fits them, besides my other socket drawer, but that is filled with my Hansen trays that hold 6 point 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" stuff. My tool box has a few too many sockets and I still need a decent amount sadly.
 

caper

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Feb 12, 2006
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cape breton
Mine are in the bottom drawer of my box because I need a whole drawer for them and I don't want that much weight on the smaller slides of the upper drawers.The bottom drawer has bigger slides than the rest of the drawers.I used to work at a shop that had a piece of plate steel made like an a frame on wheels.They had pegs welded to the plate for all the big sockets,ratchets,extensions and wrenches.You could roll the whole board close to whatever you were working on to save trips.Similar to the rolling puller boards Snap on used to have.
 

Stick

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Dec 12, 2007
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Alaska
3060066541_381bea885b.jpg


Mine get stored on magnetic rails. Easy on/off, easy to re-organize if you need to. Adds about 1/2" to overall height of the socket.
 

rsanter

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Dec 22, 2007
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Location
visalia ca
top bin of the top box lined up nice and neat

I think I still have a couple of the snap on 3/4 dr socket rails if your interested

bob
 

Jared

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Apr 26, 2005
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911
Location
Victoria B.C
I took a scrap piece of hardwood flooring and drilled a bunch of holes and used
dowel for pegs, Its pretty much a home made hansen tray.
 

dieseltech

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Mar 25, 2010
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canada
I have some rails I made using 1/4 by 1 '' flat bar and welded 3/4'' square stock in 1'' tall peices they work well enough to hold my sockets in place in a service truck
 
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TheGrooveking

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Dec 30, 2007
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An alternate reality in a parallel universe.
I use Proto socket rails, bought them from McMaster Carr, just like the 3/8" & 1/2" except the clips are for 3/4". Use for both my chrome and impact sockets.

I have separate drawers for chrome and impact sockets and cut .080 aluminum sheets to fit inside the drawers and then used 10/32x1/2 button head cap screws from the bottom along with nylok nuts on top to hold the rails to the aluminum sheet. Works great, no problem with sockets moving around when I roll my box across the plant.

TheGrooveking
 

JSBriggs

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Auburn CA
3060066541_381bea885b.jpg


Mine get stored on magnetic rails. Easy on/off, easy to re-organize if you need to. Adds about 1/2" to overall height of the socket.


I store mine loose in the drawer, drive side down. Looks like ^^^ but without the magnet rail. They are heavy enough that they dont move around, and wide enough that they dont fall over.

-Jeff
 

JASTECH

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Oct 21, 2009
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Location
Gering, NE
I have 2 sets, one set "Astro" in plastic case. My Williams 3/4" socket set is on a rail too but sockets so heavy they fall off. I think I will make the metal flat steel with 3/4" solid for the sockets and use Ernst lables for them and magitize the steel.

Thanks, JASTECH
 

mkdive

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Oct 11, 2008
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NPB (Socal)
I only have a few (7-8). They get stored in the metal box they came in. The reside in a drawer with my larger screwdrivers, wrenches, 3/4" breaker bar and ratchet.

IMG_2100.JPG
 

mrholeshot

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Jun 22, 2010
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I keep mine in the bottom drawer of my box, I keep some oddball stuff in a cardboard box

beside it. I like to keep that stuff low in the box. If I used it often I would have it at the back of the top drawer

IMG_0973.jpg
 

Sterff

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PA
Mine get stored on magnetic rails. Easy on/off, easy to re-organize if you need to. Adds about 1/2" to overall height of the socket.

Where did you buy your magnetic rails? Also do your sockets become magnetized by storing them on the rails?
 

lilredex

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Apr 29, 2006
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Toronto
Have a complete set of "Mastercraft" sockets that were on clearance at $2 ea. then found an empty (long) box at Princess Auto for something like $3 to house them. They are stored in the top section of my tool box, ready to go. Don't see much use, but when you need them...you need them!
 

lilredex

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3060066541_381bea885b.jpg


Mine get stored on magnetic rails. Easy on/off, easy to re-organize if you need to. Adds about 1/2" to overall height of the socket.

Hey Stick........what's holding those combos all up straight and erect, in that pic.........care to share the details?? Looking good.......
 

Stick

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Dec 12, 2007
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Alaska
I store mine loose in the drawer, drive side down. Looks like ^^^ but without the magnet rail. They are heavy enough that they dont move around, and wide enough that they dont fall over.

-Jeff

The problem that I have is that the "big tools drawer" is heavy enough, that if I just store the sockets in the drawer, the drawer bows enough that it rubs on the one below it. The magnetic rails keep some of the bow out of the drawer in addition to keeping the sockets organized.

Where did you buy your magnetic rails? Also do your sockets become magnetized by storing them on the rails?

I got those from a co-worker who used to be a Mac tools dealer. He had a ton of them from the shelves on his truck. They are expensive off the trucks, something like $25-30 each, but I think places like Ikea or Bed Bath and Beyond sell similar magnetic strips for holding knives in the kitchen. Sockets don't become magnetic unless you drag them along the magnetic rail. Pull them straight up and it's not a problem.

3060898528_816944e7aa.jpg


Also handy for storing crowfoot wrenches, check out the left side of the drawer.

Hey Stick........what's holding those combos all up straight and erect, in that pic.........care to share the details?? Looking good.......
3060067599_03eed629e7.jpg

I use a spring that I heated up a bit and stretched out to fit the wrenches. If you look at the first photo I posted, you can see a couple of other springs that I keep around for the same purpose. I can't remember what they came out of, tractor trailer pogo stick maybe?
 
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Charles (in GA)

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Jan 11, 2006
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50 mi south of Atlanta
I store mine in a metal craftsman tool box (the kind with a handle on top) in my bottom drawer. The more frequently used sockets go in my top drawer.

I have done this with a couple of sets of infrequently used tools (aircraft riveting bucking bars, sets and rivet guns....... and aircraft sheet metal tools such as hole finders, countersinks, cleco pliers, etc) and I intend to pick up more hand tool boxes for things such as this.

Charles
 

crewchief888

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Dec 3, 2009
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NW indiana
i always kept mine loose, drive side down in a drawer. right now the ones i need i keep in a couple of acro-bins in my service truck.

:beer:
 
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