Labeling Sockets in Organizer? OCD is killing me

[oldschoolcraft]

Currently running the magnetic VIM socket organizers. Love them but I never figured out how to label them. I like how the Ernst socket organizers have the extension in the middle that pops out from the center of the socket and shows the printed size.

I thought about labeling the area below the socket rail with a label maker but it's going to look like ****, I won't be able to apply it square and my OCD will make me hate it. Similarly, maybe I perfectly measure how apart each socket is, and use a graphic designs program to create the exact label that is one piece and super long, and pay a local print shop to make it as a professional quality decal.

I thought about finding some 3D printer dude to pay him to make something like those Ernst posts with the numbers on them, and then I carefully drill out the middle of my Vim magnetic pieces and glue these in. But it's going to be massive effort, I probably won't drill them all square and center, and I think 3D printing looks kind of sloppy to have it print numbers from some of the products I've seen put out by hobbyists for sale.

I just came across Toolgrid which looks interesting and they have labels, but they don't make labels for the full set of SAE. Some x/32's sizes are missing from their pre-printed labels of sockets which I actually do own. Seems like a lot of money and effort to still just half-*** the final outcome. And I sunk a lot of money into the VIM magrail system, though I heard they raised the prices significantly so I could potentially recoup what I paid from a few years back.

I have them setup so that in a vertical line, I have several different sockets all of the same size. So I have 5/16" 1/4-drive shallow 6-point, 5/16" 1/4-drive deep 6 point, 5/16" 1/4-drive shallow 12-point, and 5/16" 1/4-drive universal socket, all four of them are in the same vertical line. Different sized sockets go left to right. Same sized sockets of different type form a left-to-right line just above them. So ideally a single label would look cleanest, versus seeing 1/4" listed four times next to each other.

What ideas does the group have to help an OCD person who wants the perfect labeled sockets?

 

[milky2k]

I have these socket organizers and I have thought about making labels that are easier to read from above. I too thought about making a measured drawing for labels. Originally I thought about printing on paper and sticking it on with scotch tape but then I found out about vinyl sticker paper for laser printers. You can print labels and then stick directly to your socket tray or whatever needs printing. If you have a Cricut cutter, you can cut out custom shapes as well. I haven't tried this but I may get to it in a few weeks.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0732232KB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JNCDXSF/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JNCDXSF/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[LWB]

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BKK43WLJ/?tag=atomicindus04-20

Lots of different companies put their name on these. Seems like it would work for you. I use them and like them. Being magnetic, you can pull the whole thing out of the drawer and take it to where you're working, like Vim rails. They eat up some space though.

 

[ecotec]

If you are willing to buy different organizers, the three row Hansen trays are very well labeled and they age pretty well. If you break one, you can stop at a Menards on the way home and grab a new one.

Wrestling Machine has fully labeled trays (make sure you choose the labeling option). They are probably as nice as socket trays get.

I started with metal socket rails bolted to a board. I have had rails, HF socket trays, Hansen trays, Mechanics Time Savers, blow molded trays, and a few other storage methods…

I found the lock together plastic strips to be my favorite. They are not labeled. It is the most dense and ergonomic socket storage that I have found. The 1/4”, because one strip covers the whole range (4mm-15mm) is almost perfect from day one. Almost no learning curve. Anything bigger than 1/4”, because a set takes more than one strip, takes more getting used to.

 

[Wyoming09]

I use the Ernst socket rails. My socket drawer is about knee height so I took the sticky labels the came with the rails and put them on the top of the socket posts. I can look down at the sockets and see the size right inside the socket. For the 1/4" i had to put the labels on the rail due to the size.

 

[KnurledNut]

Tekton sells a label sheet individually:
https://www.tekton.com/socket-rail-...BGtSn9eSpc6jsOo21TufVpOddBVq8WGfwUcp-bGznVLcU

 

[Madjik Man]

I’ve found that in any vertical organization setting that has proper density, it’s near impossible to see the size labels in interior rows.

 

[ZRX61]

Tekton sells a label sheet individually:
https://www.tekton.com/socket-rail-...BGtSn9eSpc6jsOo21TufVpOddBVq8WGfwUcp-bGznVLcU

$3 for the labels & almost $6 shipping..

 

[KnurledNut]

$3 for the labels & almost $6 shipping..

Free shipping by creating an account.

 

[Kurt4440]

I will help with the OCD.
The nuts and bolts that you are attempting to loosen or tighten are not labeled.
Therefore, your sockets and wrenches really don't need to be labeled.
You just need to work on calibrating your eyes.

 

[ZRX61]

Free shipping by creating an account.

Sorted

 

[ZRX61]

I will help with the OCD.
The nuts and bolts that you are attempting to loosen or tighten are not labeled.
Therefore, your sockets and wrenches really don't need to be labeled.
You just need to work on calibrating your eyes.

When you can see the difference between a 7/16 & a 3/8 bolt from 20ft away...

 

[Komet]

When you can see the difference between a 7/16 & a 3/8 bolt from 20ft away...

And if it's a little bit funny sized, it's probably a metric.

 

[alinc100]

Tekton sells a label sheet individually:
https://www.tekton.com/socket-rail-...BGtSn9eSpc6jsOo21TufVpOddBVq8WGfwUcp-bGznVLcU

Thanks for this ordered $12 worth, now lets hope I don't lose them before I get to organize and use them.

 

[ecotec]

Thanks for this ordered $12 worth, now lets hope I don't lose them before I get to organize and use them.

If you lose them, you will have to buy more to find them. That’s just science…

 

[kbeefy]

I really like the VIM magrails. I'd buy more if they hadn't got so expensive.

My method of identifying the relies on knowing the sizes of the smallest and largest socket, and marking a significant one mid-way. Then I can count from one of the 3 reference points and get the right socket.

My 1/4 mm sockets, for example. I know they go from 4.5mm to 15mm. I mark the 10mm to be obvious, and can quickly grab a socket 2 or 3 sizes larger or smaller without reading the print. My 3/8 goes from 10mm - 19mm or 24mm, and I have the 13mm marked. 1/2 is 14mm to 27mm, I have the 19mm marked.

 

[ecotec]

I really like the VIM magrails. I'd buy more if they hadn't got so expensive.

My method of identifying the relies on knowing the sizes of the smallest and largest socket, and marking a significant one mid-way. Then I can count from one of the 3 reference points and get the right socket.

My 1/4 mm sockets, for example. I know they go from 4.5mm to 15mm. I mark the 10mm to be obvious, and can quickly grab a socket 2 or 3 sizes larger or smaller without reading the print. My 3/8 goes from 10mm - 19mm or 24mm, and I have the 13mm marked. 1/2 is 14mm to 27mm, I have the 19mm marked.

I really like this idea. I am considering using a white paint marker to draw a line across my 1/4” socket strips at the 10mm.

 

[KnurledNut]

I really like this idea. I am considering using a white paint marker to draw a line across my 1/4” socket strips at the 10mm.

I dont know if you’ve ever used ScotchCode Wire Markers in your line of work, but they might work for this idea instead of paint.

 

[ecotec]

I dont know if you’ve ever used ScotchCode Wire Markers in your line of work, but they might work for this idea instead of paint.

I don’t see how it would work with my socket strips.

And I do have them… I have been an electrician since 1994.

 

[rob1200]

...
I have them setup so that in a vertical line, I have several different sockets all of the same size. So I have 5/16" 1/4-drive shallow 6-point, 5/16" 1/4-drive deep 6 point, 5/16" 1/4-drive shallow 12-point, and 5/16" 1/4-drive universal socket, all four of them are in the same vertical line. Different sized sockets go left to right. Same sized sockets of different type form a left-to-right line just above them. So ideally a single label would look cleanest, versus seeing 1/4" listed four times next to each other.
...

I've thought about doing the same thing, lining up different sets of sockets so that for example all the 10mm sockets are aligned front to back. Do you have any pictures of your setup?

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I've thought about doing the same thing, lining up different sets of sockets so that for example all the 10mm sockets are aligned front to back. Do you have any pictures of your setup?

I’ll take some pics soon. It’s going to bother people here, I’m unconventional. I mix metric and SAE from smallest to biggest because I don’t usually Know if the fastener is metric or standard in advanced because I’m not a car mechanic and the stuff I work on is varied, and not always factory fasteners.

This let’s me skip overlap some sizes to save space.
8mm = 5/16"
11mm = 7/16"
19mm = 3/4"
27mm = 1 1/16"
30mm = 1 3/16"
38mm = 1 1/2"

I also skip 3/8” drive which will upset people here. I go straight from 1/4” drive to 1/2” drive. I run 1/4 drive shallow 6 point, 1/4 drive shallow 12 point, 1/4 drive deep 6 point, 1/4 drive universals, and 1/2 drive 12 point shallow, all of these in chrome. And then 1/2 drive deep 6 point impact.

I run a few horizontal lines of vim mag rails, smallest to biggest with the same sizes in a line. And once I run out of space in that row, I start again above it, with the next sizes.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I will help with the OCD.
The nuts and bolts that you are attempting to loosen or tighten are not labeled.
Therefore, your sockets and wrenches really don't need to be labeled.
You just need to work on calibrating your eyes.

This is actually how I use my sockets 90% of the time. I even mix my metric in with standard smallest to biggest since I generally don’t know the type of fastener. And I use them like sizing gauges Until I hit the right one.

But it becomes a problem 10% of the time when I’m working on my car and I watch a YouTube video and take notes and learn I need a 10mm to take the first fastener off and then a 19mm deep socket for something else. And so I have to pull very specific sockets from the toolbox. Also I don’t have a garage, I’m in a condo and my toolbox is on my patio, nearly a 1/4 mile from my car parking spot. So if I don’t grab the right sockets, I have a 6 minute round trip walk back to get the other socket.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Might be nuts but a new idea came to me. I source some thin strips of metal that are the same length as the VIM magrails, and I pay someone with a laser engraver to laser in the sizes exactly in the spot so that if I line up the label “strip” below the VIM rails, it lines up.

Maybe like 1/2” by 24” long piece of steel to line up with 24” VIM magrails, ideally with a way to magnetize it.

Question would be how to get it done in a contrasting color that will still be the same after a few decades.

Actually what I’d really love but don’t think it’s possible to make, is my own blow molded case with laser in size labels in the plastic. Like the old school Craftsman ones, except for my sockets in the same arrangement I want them, custom to me. I know kaizen foam is a thing but it won’t last as long as blow molded plastic and unless I get a laser to cut it, it will look sloppy. I know perfection doesn’t exist but it’s what I want!

 

[VolvoRyan]

Some sockets get too much use. Some, not so much. Hence, dirty and not-so dirty sockets. I've kinda learned the pattern. For example, the 9mm is the "shiny" one between the 8mm and 10mm... which always have some muck in them from use.

The Tekton organizer labels don't work well on their socket rails (made by Ernst, IIRC?). The labels fall right off, and you hope they just stick to the floor. Worst is when they fall off into a tool bag. Then you wind up with random labels everywhere.... and for months. Reach your hand in, and now you hand is an "8mm hand".

-Ryan

 

[VolvoRyan]

Might be nuts but a new idea came to me. I source some thin strips of metal that are the same length as the VIM magrails, and I pay someone with a laser engraver to laser in the sizes exactly in the spot so that if I line up the label “strip” below the VIM rails, it lines up.

Maybe like 1/2” by 24” long piece of steel to line up with 24” VIM magrails, ideally with a way to magnetize it.

Question would be how to get it done in a contrasting color that will still be the same after a few decades.

Actually what I’d really love but don’t think it’s possible to make, is my own blow molded case with laser in size labels in the plastic. Like the old school Craftsman ones, except for my sockets in the same arrangement I want them, custom to me. I know kaizen foam is a thing but it won’t last as long as blow molded plastic and unless I get a laser to cut it, it will look sloppy. I know perfection doesn’t exist but it’s what I want!

I'd get a bag or a packout set up that you can get the whole ballpark of needed tools into. Going back and forth is not easy. I did that in my former life. I've been trying to come up with a good system for the salvage yard.

Could you try colored electrical tape on sockets?

-Ryan

 

[ecotec]

I've thought about doing the same thing, lining up different sets of sockets so that for example all the 10mm sockets are aligned front to back. Do you have any pictures of your setup?

My 1/4” are lined up front to back. I do not foresee being able to do that with 3/8” any time soon, unless I can source a pile of 3/8” socket strips. I do not think that they have been manufactured in about 20 years.

The tie-wraps are on the 10mm row. Your brain can index it easily, because of the gap between the Torx and E-Torx.

Bit sockets and non-hex sockets (E-Torx, double-D…) are on the black socket strips. The Wright tray in the way back is 3/8” 10mm spares, and the row in front of that is 1/4” 10mm spares.

 

[MarcSeattle]

Facom has great little tags that slip inside the sockets. They're made of thin plastic and are made a little oversized so they tuck down inside the socket and stay put. If they get dirty just poke them out of the sockets from the other side and clean them. They're a little hard to find but I see that Ultimate Garage has them.

This is such a great idea that I'm surprised they aren't available under dozens of brands.

Now if someone would please make little rings to go around my Allen and Torx bit sockets. Something like a rubber band with a number on it.

Ultimate Garage

 

[mritchie77]

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BKK43WLJ/?tag=atomicindus04-20

Lots of different companies put their name on these. Seems like it would work for you. I use them and like them. Being magnetic, you can pull the whole thing out of the drawer and take it to where you're working, like Vim rails. They eat up some space though.

I used these for several years in my USG 44" box. I recently sold them on eBay and bought the Hansen style socket tray from Harbor freight. They worked good, but ate up all the top drawer. The Hansen tray saved me some room.

 

[LWB]

I used these for several years in my USG 44" box. I recently sold them on eBay and bought the Hansen style socket tray from Harbor freight. They worked good, but ate up all the top drawer. The Hansen tray saved me some room.

Agreed, that's what I was saying in my post. They're good but chunky.

 

[vwtrey]

These are all 3/8. Mostly.

If you need more organization tips, just ask!

 

[PelicanPines]

I’ll take some pics soon. It’s going to bother people here, I’m unconventional. I mix metric and SAE from smallest to biggest because I don’t usually Know if the fastener is metric or standard in advanced because I’m not a car mechanic and the stuff I work on is varied, and not always factory fasteners.

This let’s me skip overlap some sizes to save space.
8mm = 5/16"
11mm = 7/16"
19mm = 3/4"
27mm = 1 1/16"
30mm = 1 3/16"
38mm = 1 1/2"

I also skip 3/8” drive which will upset people here. I go straight from 1/4” drive to 1/2” drive. I run 1/4 drive shallow 6 point, 1/4 drive shallow 12 point, 1/4 drive deep 6 point, 1/4 drive universals, and 1/2 drive 12 point shallow, all of these in chrome. And then 1/2 drive deep 6 point impact.

I run a few horizontal lines of vim mag rails, smallest to biggest with the same sizes in a line. And once I run out of space in that row, I start again above it, with the next sizes.

The highlighted RED text is proof. You have no OCD... you just think you do. Any true OCD victim would never have a toolbox with "skipped" sizes.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

The highlighted RED text is proof. You have no OCD... you just think you do. Any true OCD victim would never have a toolbox with "skipped" sizes.

Hah! They aren't skipped sizes! The manufacturers make a single socket and laser two different sizes on them, whether it's metric or SAE, but it's the same socket. They're so close, the tolerances of the machines that make the sockets couldn't make them different even if they wanted to.

OCD won't let me waste toolbox space with two identical sockets, just because they have a different measuring unit on the side!

 

[KnurledNut]

These are all 3/8. Mostly.

If you need more organization tips, just ask!

No drawer liner?

 

[PelicanPines]

Hah! They aren't skipped sizes! The manufacturers make a single socket and laser two different sizes on them, whether it's metric or SAE, but it's the same socket. They're so close, the tolerances of the machines that make the sockets couldn't make them different even if they wanted to.

OCD won't let me waste space with two identical sockets, just because they have a different measuring unit on the side!

Agree to disagree. I've measured my 11mm, 16mm and their "banana equivalents" they don't match. My OCD won't allow me to agree with you. Sorry... we can still be friends.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Agree to disagree. I've measured my 11mm, 16mm and their "banana equivalents" they don't match. My OCD won't allow me to agree with you. Sorry... we can still be friends.

How different were they? I wonder if you measured two different 11mm sockets, would you notice the same slight difference just due to tolerances of the sockets themselves.


8mm = 0.3150 inches
5/16" = 0.3125 inches

2.5 thousandths of an inch different

11mm = 0.4331 inches
7/16" = 0.4375 inches

4.4 thousandths of an inch different

19mm = 0.7480 inches
3/4" = 0.7500 inches

2 thousandths of an inch different

I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing a few thousandths of an inch is within acceptable tolerance of a socket. I'd be really curious to know if anyone knows for sure. But I'd bet if you took 5 different 11mm sockets, you'd get them all 2 to 4 thousandths of an inch apart in size.

I'm not saying there's a ton of overlap between metric and standard, but in a handful of cases, they're very likely identical sockets with different laser etching.

 

[Skellyii]

I've been trying to come up with a good system for the salvage yard.

Geez...you and me both. Back when I went with my son or a friend, I'd take a huge box, since there was always someone else to carry it, and they both had better eyesight to hand me the needed tool.

Now that I'm semi-retired, I always go during the week by myself, so I need a better system.

We should start our own thread about that.

 

[PelicanPines]

@oldschoolcraft My OCD requires I have "NO SKIP" socket rails, wrench racks. A simple reason your solution would not work for me. My Metric tools are not in the same drawers as Imperial.

Besides... If I had a 10mm socket in my hand and it was just a smidge too small... I would grab an 11 an 12 socket to test fit them. I your world... I would have to change my clothes to pull open a totally different drawer to get the size equivalent of 11mm.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Geez...you and me both. Back when I went with my son or a friend, I'd take a huge box, since there was always someone else to carry it, and they both had better eyesight to hand me the needed tool.

Now that I'm semi-retired, I always go during the week by myself, so I need a better system.

We should start our own thread about that.

That could be an interesting thread. It's a challenge. I've got several tool bags ready to go for when the email alert from one of the yards shows up. I'm still trying to get the weight down, and the contents optimized.

-Ryan