Impact socket storage ideas needed

[gatorgrabber]

Let me say up front that I've searched...for days, for a solution to this issue and I'm still stumped. Help please!

I just added 3 master sets of Sunex impact sockets (1/4, 3/8, 1/2) in both metric and SAE. I have shallow, deep and universal flavors of each, just to keep things exciting.

I've already got a healthy collection of chrome sockets in Rural King holders but that approach isn't getting me far with the thicker-walled impacts. Socket trays from HF, Lowe's, HD and Rural King all seem to have clearance issues with the thicker impacts, especially in the smaller sizes where spacing between the pegs is tight. Also, the universal sockets universally fit nothing since the bases are all almost the same diameter.

I'm currently thinking about using the Sunex boxes themselves but that's a big loss of real estate in the drawers. Plan B involves me having someone CNC out a plate that has all the holes in the correct positions. This sounds like overkill. I'm sure there's something reasonable out there but I've just not stumbled across it yet. The individual rails with sockets stuck to clips hasn't worked for me in the past but I could be missing a better design.

If anyone has a suggestion, I'd certainly appreciate the help!

 

[plinker]

Hansen trays work for my 1/2 drive impact sockets up to 27mm, bigger ones go on Gearwrench rails and stay in the drawer.

Gearwrench rails (and other brands) use plastic square drive pegs to hold the socket in place. They are great for 1/4 drive, 3/8 drive & 1/2 drive shallows, 1/2 drive deep sockets are too heavy unless left in a drawer. They do not like being dropped in general, but the more weight on them the less they like it.
https://www.amazon.com/Apex-Tool-Group-83103-GearWrench/dp/B000NIAK7M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1547407052&sr=8-2&keywords=gearwrench+rail
^shop around for the best price.

Another option would be taking anyone's rails and attaching them to a board or similar to make a tray.

Edit to add:
Napa/Carlyle rails are similar to Gearwrench except the clips are external instead of internal. So when you drop them the clip breaks instead of the rail. The rails are cheap from Napa, around 4$ each, the clips were around 8$ for 25 clips IIRC.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/search?text=carlyle%2Brail&referer=search_form-allprod
https://www.napaonline.com/en/search?text=socket%2Bclip&q=N%3D1000003800%26Nty%3D1%26Ntk%3DKeyword%26Ntt%3Dsocket%2Bclip&isProduct=true&indices=PIA

 

[gatorgrabber]

I'll take a look at the "Gearwrench rails attached to a plate option"...sound reasonable enough. My OC engineering nature kicks in when my tools aren't properly organized!

 

[warren.albert.77]

I mounted the Harbor Freight magnet strips on wood. They hold great.


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[lowside67]

I also use Hansen trays and then an Ernst Socket Boss for my overflow of each size.

-Mark

 

[gatorgrabber]

I'll swing by NAPA and take a look shortly. Regarding the Ernst Socket Boss, how well do they hold up?

 

[bobcatdan]

Get some angle iron and flat stock and make your own to fit the sets.

 

[Tallpilot]

Expensive but worth it.

http://www.westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

I use these to organize the odd balls.

https://olsatools.com/collections/best-sellers/products/socket-organizer

 

[bobcatdan]

Expensive but worth it.

http://www.westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

I use these to organize the odd balls.

https://olsatools.com/collections/best-sellers/products/socket-organizer

I was looking at those on the tool truck and it seems pretty easy to make the basic idea.

 

[Tallpilot]

I'll swing by NAPA and take a look shortly. Regarding the Ernst Socket Boss, how well do they hold up?

Ernst is good stuff. I personally don't like them because I prefer a ball detent to twist to lock. Non locking like Hansen or Wesling is my preferred method though.

 

[SRX]

What is holding your wrenches on end like that? A foam cut-out? Just curious.

 

[pstemari]

The VIM mag rails are great. Magnets are strong enough to grip through drawer liners, pegs can be positioned anywhere, and you can mix and match peg sizes as needed.

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[CJM8515]

I have the cman plastic rails. No issues with any of my sockets and they are all on them.

 

[Wamsutta]

GearWrench rails are awesome. You can set the sockets up however you want. All you have to do is come up with some material to screw the rails to. I would suggest some 1/4" (maybe 3/8") aluminum plate with machine threads tapped into it.

 

[gatorgrabber]

Gotta love those Westling trays! For the time being I'm going with Ernst units but will begin building my own unique drawer inserts, borrowing ideas from the above responses. Once I get a layout I like, I'll fab it in metal and powder coat it. Thanks for all of the helpful and quick responses!

 

[Tallpilot]

What is holding your wrenches on end like that? A foam cut-out? Just curious.

They are just resting there. The long extension at the end keeps everything from moving. I can take 2-3 out at a time without disturbing anything unless they are all in a row.

One day when I get a bigger box I'll get all the wrenches in one drawer. That is working for now though.

 

[Tallpilot]

I was looking at those on the tool truck and it seems pretty easy to make the basic idea.

Gotta love those Westling trays! For the time being I'm going with Ernst units but will begin building my own unique drawer inserts, borrowing ideas from the above responses. Once I get a layout I like, I'll fab it in metal and powder coat it. Thanks for all of the helpful and quick responses!

Sounds like a great plan. Let us see it when you get done please.

 

[gatorgrabber]

Will do, that's what makes this place so very helpful!

 

[kngelv]

Another vote for Westling

James

 

[Jeeper]

I have the cman plastic rails. No issues with any of my sockets and they are all on them.

This is what I have too. Just received an order for a couple more rails as I just got impact swivel sockets. Could be my last order from sears...or anyone's for that matter. Not sure where to get them if I need any more. Don't think they are at Lowes.

 

[CJM8515]

This is what I have too. Just received an order for a couple more rails as I just got impact swivel sockets. Could be my last order from sears...or anyone's for that matter. Not sure where to get them if I need any more. Don't think they are at Lowes.

It’s on the tip of my tongue. I know someone else makes them for sears

 

[Alpine4x4]

Ernst Socket Boss. Just about done switching all my trays over to these. Great investment.

 

[DGersic]

+1 vote for Earnst. I’m not a fan of their twist lock clips. If you call them, they’ll sell you the rails with the Durapro HD clips instead. I guess most people like the twist locks.


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[gatorgrabber]

I've got a half dozen of the Socket Bosses on the way, arriving tomorrow. I imagine "Socket Sorting 101" is in my immediate future. If you REALLY want to make a biblical mess of your garage, take everything out of your monster toolbox in the misguided attempt to "make things better".

 

[Jeeper]

It’s on the tip of my tongue. I know someone else makes them for sears

Actually I think it's VIM. They also make Matco's. Both of those are what I researched before buying the latest craftsman rails. The Sears offerings were still the best prices. And the VIM and Matco's come in different colors than the Craftsman. If that matters. It kind of does to me just for consistency sake.

 

[johninct]

I wish Mechanics time savers made more options to cover all Snap-On sizes. I really like mine!!!

 

[Newell33]

I recently picked up four of these Grip-On Tools holders from my local Theisens store when I upgraded tool boxes. I needed something that day, and this was the only product available locally that held more than one row sockets. The backing plate is steel, and the socket holders are plastic. There's a little tab on the end of each row that keep the socket holders from coming off the end. They're pretty weak, and I broke a couple of them when moving the different sized holders on and off the rails. It didn't bother me since I won't be removing the whole rack from the tool box. The socket holders themselves feel decent. I filled all four of them with my 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive 6 and 12 point set of Craftsman sockets that I've had for years. They worked great for me considering the price.

https://www.theisens.com/products/80-piece-socket-rack/20631666/

 

[tarmy]

SAE on the left ...Metric on the right...get whatever rails you like...