How do you store long sockets in your tool box?

[impactims]

Long sockets as in torx and allen 3/8 drive sockets that are 6 inches long. One example…


Nothing I try seems to work nicely. They don’t work on the Hansen style organizer. Standing up on a peg they want to tip over. Laying on their side, they take up a ton of space and it is very inconvenient to grab one when you need it.

So, what to do?

 

[KomatsuTech]

Could you use a magnetic strip so they stand upright?

 

[JradM]

Could you angle them? Maybe install them on a strip that's mounted to a base on a 45-degree angle. I assume the angle is needed for your drawer height.

Edit: Kind of like this. Or rather, that's another way to accomplish what I was thinking.

Slightly different, but I have a rail riveted to the side of one of my drawers and I attach extensions to it. I have them organized by length so that I get a sort of triangle shape. Although you say they take up too much space when horizontally-oriented, might that help at least keep them along on edge so you can organize around them? Heck, you could double stack them that way too.

Edit: Imagine these bit sockets on the bottom of the photo, but the rail is attached to the drawer-side and perhaps they're double-stacked for floorspace savings. Then if you need one, you just pull it out and the rail stays.

 

[nicks78camaro]

Laying down on a rail. I agree they take up a lot of space.

 

[scooby074]

Vim magrails are ideal for something like this

 

[bcradio]

Laying down also. They don't take up much space that way, but I do have shallow drawers to hold them

 

[Ohmthis]

I just did a heat pump service and when I was cleaning and checking airflow inside I saw the guy had an amazing 3D printer setup. We got to talking and he printed me some organizers that stack on top of each other. Here they are empty, I’ll have to post a picture when I get them home and filled. He charged me $15 for all three. I think I’m going to have him print other organizers.

 

[lilredex]

My deeps lay down in shop made boxes.

 

[impactims]

Vim magrails are ideal for something like this

This is kinda what I’m leaning towards. I have a hutch and I can put the vim magrail on the side wall on the inside of said hutch. Out of the way, not hogging up space in a drawer. Hopefully it will be stable.

 

[impactims]

I just did a heat pump service and when I was cleaning and checking airflow inside I saw the guy had an amazing 3D printer setup. We got to talking and he printed me some organizers that stack on top of each other. Here they are empty, I’ll have to post a picture when I get them home and filled. He charged me $15 for all three. I think I’m going to have him print other organizers.

That’s pretty cool. Not tooled up for that though.

 

[impactims]

Could you angle them? Maybe install them on a strip that's mounted to a base on a 45-degree angle. I assume the angle is needed for your drawer height.

Edit: Kind of like this. Or rather, that's another way to accomplish what I was thinking.

Slightly different, but I have a rail riveted to the side of one of my drawers and I attach extensions to it. I have them organized by length so that I get a sort of triangle shape. Although you say they take up too much space when horizontally-oriented, might that help at least keep them along on edge so you can organize around them? Heck, you could double stack them that way too.

Edit: Imagine these bit sockets on the bottom of the photo, but the rail is attached to the drawer-side and perhaps they're double-stacked for floorspace savings. Then if you need one, you just pull it out and the rail stays.

What is in the pic is basically what I am doing now. They take up a ton of space that way. It is convenient to access them this way but I don’t use them often enough to justify giving them that much prime real estate. I gotta find a way to get them up and out of the way. Standing up means a deep drawer and they want to tip over all the time. I a an m thinking a vim magrail stuck to the inner side wall of my hutch. Stick them to that. No drawer space consumed, out of the way, accessible enough, won’t tip over (I hope!).

This will be my first step.

 

[kbeefy]

I keep mine laying down on a socket rail. I have alot of shallow drawers.

I have alot of VIM magrails, and they are very secure. I wouldn't hesitate to put those on them and stick it to a metal wall somewhere.

 

[Buster21]

Mine are on Home Depot socket rails and sit on top.

 

[xjfish]

Relatable topic. I also have some specialty long stuff that is just flopped over sideways in my Matco work box, and multiple sets stacked on top of one another. Top drawer is not quite deep enough to stand it all up. Some are in factory trays, others on rails. Looks like **** and makes stuff hard to see.

Does anyone make like a 45* angled rail? I haven't seen, and plan to make if need be.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Seen people make socket holders out of L brackets and two HF magnetic bars. Thinking of that for my deep impacts that are bigger then most socket holders.

That said, you don't have to be set up for 3d printing, look up Makers and your zip code. Some places have a space you can take and make your own stuff, so do some libraries. Then there are also people who will make and sell you some based on your needs.

 

[charbar]

Maybe one of those roll up pouches if they don't get used often?

I have some Torin branded magnetic twist lock socket rails that hold sockets on the side of my toolbox. Work great and they are way cheaper than the vim magrails if a guy wanted to save a few bucks.

 

[pfbz]

Another vote for magnetic socket rails.... I recently added a bunch of these type of rails for my sockets that don't really work with the typical peg or hole type socket organizers.

The Workpro brand on Amazon is really quite nicely made. The magnets that hold it to the box are just right. Strong enough to always keep it in place, but they come off without too much of a fight. The socket holders themselves also are removable from the rail, so you can custom-make a single rail with combined 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" socket/bits.






This pic shows one of my metric/other socket drawers before I set up a rail with for my long hex bits, but it works equally well with them. They stay upright perfectly, and will even hang horizontally on the side of the drawer (in layers) if your drawer isn't tall enough for them.

 

[AEAdam]

Agree it's a problem. Some sort of tray makes sense to me. Labels help me a lot.

Note the long Torx kicking around. I could get a lot of space back if I stored my shorter allens vertically

 

[Ohmthis]

Agree it's a problem. Some sort of tray makes sense to me. Labels help me a lot.

Note the long Torx kicking around. I could get a lot of space back if I stored my shorter allens vertically

That is a nice set up. How wide is the drawer? I struggle with space, I think I’m going to have to move my ratchets out of my socket drawer(s). If the stackable organizers I had made fit well, I’ll have more made for other style tools.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

For the really tall stuff, like 6" long bit sockets, I buy hair-ties. They type for putting hair into a pony tail are elastic and cheap so they'll hold your bundle of bit sockets easily. Then store horizontally. I probably have 5 or 6 sets like that, toss the bundles in a pile and sort them out as needed.

Worst part is you spend an extra 15 seconds getting the right one sometimes.

 

[AEAdam]

That is a nice set up. How wide is the drawer? I struggle with space, I think I’m going to have to move my ratchets out of my socket drawer(s). If the stackable organizers I had made fit well, I’ll have more made for other style tools.

It’s an old KRL, 55” wide.

Recommend against moving your ratchets. My drawer stores sockets, ratchets and extension, but 90% metric. Also, no impacts and only one set of 1/2” chrome

 

[Ohmthis]

It’s an old KRL, 55” wide.

Recommend against moving your ratchets. My drawer stores sockets, ratchets and extension, but 90% metric. Also, no impacts and only one set of 1/2” chrome

Maybe that’s a better plan. To keep 1/4 and 3/8 (everything) in the big drawer and 1/2 (everything) in the side box drawer. I have a KR 660 waiting for me to redo the slides and potentially refinish. My plan was to move some drawers around (not an easy job I’m betting) and have a deep drawer on top. Here’s my sockets. Notice I have no impact sockets in this drawer. They are in blow molded cases. I was hoping to one day have them all together.

 

[AEAdam]

Maybe that’s a better plan. To keep 1/4 and 3/8 (everything) in the big drawer and 1/2 (everything) in the side box drawer. I have a KR 660 waiting for me to redo the slides and potentially refinish. My plan was to move some drawers around (not an easy job I’m betting) and have a deep drawer on top. Here’s my sockets. Notice I have no impact sockets in this drawer. They are in blow molded cases. I was hoping to one day have them all together.

Right. For me, 1/2” impacts pretty much only get used when I’m taking wheels off and tearing into suspensions etc. I keep that stuff in a lower drawer that I can easily access from my trusty brake creeper (seat). For engine bay work, interiors, there are tons of space restrictions and specialty fastener heads, so lots of tools to choose from. I walk over to the toolbox, open that big top drawer and see everything.

Thats how I laid it out, And also like a cafeteria. I start at one end and picks up a ratchet, then take a step and grab an extension, the keep walking and get a socket.

And this is my automotive toolbox. There are like 4 sets of SAE tools in there and that’s it. And I don’t have duplicates of duplicates or 12pt and 6 pt sockets just because. It looks like a lot of tools, but it’s really pretty lean.

To the OPs point, you can really see how much space is used up storing bit sockets laying flat.

 

[KnurledNut]

My use is itinerant, so I store my bits in a roll. I keep a few different socket bit adaptors that work with all of them; keeps the weigh down. But I usually use my hex drive options on the smaller stuff.

 

[Bobioz1]

They go in with the oddball bits and spares.

 

[Ohmthis]

Right. For me, 1/2” impacts pretty much only get used when I’m taking wheels off and tearing into suspensions etc. I keep that stuff in a lower drawer that I can easily access from my trusty brake creeper (seat). For engine bay work, interiors, there are tons of space restrictions and specialty fastener heads, so lots of tools to choose from. I walk over to the toolbox, open that big top drawer and see everything.

Thats how I laid it out, And also like a cafeteria. I start at one end and picks up a ratchet, then take a step and grab an extension, the keep walking and get a socket.

And this is my automotive toolbox. There are like 4 sets of SAE tools in there and that’s it. And I don’t have duplicates of duplicates or 12pt and 6 pt sockets just because. It looks like a lot of tools, but it’s really pretty lean.

To the OPs point, you can really see how much space is used up storing bit sockets laying flat.

My work flow is very similar to yours. My ratchets are all together, extensions next, sockets next to that. I’m convinced about moving the 1/2” stuff out of the main socket drawer and put together. I have metric and standard together. Two reasons, One, I have a lot of things (66 F100, ZTR, two boats, trailers, and older small engine equipment) that are SAE heavy, and Two, my shop is small (17.5’ x 24’). I can’t afford the space for another box. My son has a 26” stack that is taking up space, but I’d never move it.

 

[Badger 13]

I keep my 1/4" and 3/8" on the right, and the 1/2" on the left.

 

[impactims]

I keep my 1/4" and 3/8" on the right, and the 1/2" on the left.

That’s not really what we are talking about. We are talking specifically about long bits. Like the sockets with a 6 inch long torx bit. Or allen. That kind of thing.

 

[Badger 13]

Sorry about that. I missed that part of the question.

 

[KnurledNut]

I keep my 1/4" and 3/8" on the right, and the 1/2" on the left.

Very clean setup, man.

 

[Steve_P]

I have two sets of 6" bit sockets that I almost never use. I store them on Ernsts rails lying on their side in a drawer with 3/4 drive sockets- the orphan drawer that I rarely open. Not the best way, but I have no space in the dedicated bit socket drawer for them.

I like those 3D printed trays as that would allow me to stack two sets on top of each other. I have a friend with a 3D printer, so maybe I'll get him to make me those if he can find the file online.

 

[KnurledNut]

I have a 3/8 drive metric set (3-12mm) that I keep in the blow-molded case it came with. I typically despise them, but every once in a while, they work better than other options.
Remove the lid and it sets nicely in a drawer without having to awkwardly fight socket rails and clips with tooling that is less than ideal for them.

 

[CS454]

on rails in a drawer.

 

[speed bump]

This is what I printed about 4 years ago. Been happy with it.

 

[niget2002]

mine are strewn about the bottom of the drawer with all the socket organizers sitting on them. They don't get used very often, so it doesn't matter to me that they're more accessible.

 

[Ohmthis]

I finally got my 3D trays from one of my customers. He did a great job. I told him that both could be black for simplicity. I will probably paint them , but my other trays are all black too. Who knows. Here they are stacked one then separate.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Torx and Allen have their own drawers. I don't have a ton of the long bits but they live in bins.

 

[BroncoAZ]

My sets of hex, long hex, torx, torq plus, triple square, etc all came in plastic cases. Since these are somewhat rarely used I keep them in the plastic cases in the bottom drawer of my tool cart. I can’t see giving up prime space in the top of the cart where I keep metric sockets.

 

[jetlag]

Today, I was out in my shop, working on a continuing project to get some organization back in my toolbox.

I grabbed what I thought was an empty case for a 1/4" impact socket set, and inside was a nice set of 6 inch long, Bondhus torx bits. I had put them in that case a couple of years ago, closed it up, and forgot all about it.

As soon as I saw those bits, I remember thinking "this metal case will protect them nicely...." when I stuck them at the back of the drawer. sheesh

They don't do you any good if you forget you have them....

 

[swsman]

Today, I was out in my shop, working on a continuing project to get some organization back in my toolbox.

I grabbed what I thought was an empty case for a 1/4" impact socket set, and inside was a nice set of 6 inch long, Bondhus torx bits. I had put them in that case a couple of years ago, closed it up, and forgot all about it.

As soon as I saw those bits, I remember thinking "this metal case will protect them nicely...." when I stuck them at the back of the drawer. sheesh

They don't do you any good if you forget you have them....

Agreed. All of mine go to stuff stays in plain view for that very reason.