Lying down socket organization

[ElliottG]

Hi guys,

I got a new to me Mastercraft box but it has short drawers on the top where I like to put my sockets. It's replacing my Husky box which has a taller first drawer. My impact sockets are 3.5" tall and wont fit in standing up. Anyone have some good ideas for storing sockets laying down without having them move all over the place? I didn't get a case when I got the sockets.

 

[lilredex]

This is my solution.

Tool Box Socket Trays

Tool Box Socket Trays: If your tool box is a mess with loose sockets rolling around, and you do not want to spend $$$$ on those commercially available organizers that waste sooo much space, this DIY idea may be just for you. And no welding is involved........th…

www.instructables.com

 

[kbeefy]

socket rail laying down.

 

[VolvoRyan]

socket rail laying down.

Exactly this! I have several Erst/Tekton and VIM rails on their sizes to get the more specialty sockets to be happy on their sides in an old Snap-On roll cab.

-Ryan

 

[ER70S-2]

3D printed trays sized specifically for your socket sets.

 

[Firebrick43]

I don't know why your sockets are not telling you the truth?

 

[LXCam]

Lisle makes some lay downs. I tried that route for a bit, didn’t much care for it much out of necessity would do it again.

 

[WWheeler]

This is my solution.

Tool Box Socket Trays

Tool Box Socket Trays: If your tool box is a mess with loose sockets rolling around, and you do not want to spend $$$$ on those commercially available organizers that waste sooo much space, this DIY idea may be just for you. And no welding is involved........th…

www.instructables.com

From the looks of it it would be frustratingly hard to grab the socket I needed out of one of those laying down holders. What do you have to do? Dump them all out on the table?

 

[Specracer]

I use metal socket trees. Makes it also easy to take the whole tree to where your working. They will also never fall out of a tray either.

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPUJQC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[WWheeler]

Interesting that I've never heard rails called socket trees before.

For my 'on-the-go' sets of sockets like the ones I keep in our vehicles I'm partial to flexible urethane socket holders. They hold sockets really well and they don't cost much compared to a lot if other options. Toss them in a bucket or a bag, drag them around under the truck, they just work really well. Sockets won't fall off them but are easily removed and put back on by giving the socket a twist as you pull/push. They easily could be kept laid down on their side or standing up in a drawer as well.

AFAICT they are indestructible and last forever. I've been using them for decades ever since the first set I bought at Northern in the mid 90s. When I wanted to buy more of them a few years back this is the only place I was able to find them..

Socket Holders – weldtab.com

 

[mike93lx]

How about swapping that bottom drawer to the top?

 

[lilredex]

From the looks of it it would be frustratingly hard to grab the socket I needed out of one of those laying down holders. What do you have to do? Dump them all out on the table?

No, there is enough room to pick out the one you want. Although, the sides could have been lower as in the picture below. The thing I like most about them is, no wasted space and no empty spaces that never get filled.

 

[richfinn]

Hi guys,

I got a new to me Mastercraft box but it has short drawers on the top where I like to put my sockets. It's replacing my Husky box which has a taller first drawer. My impact sockets are 3.5" tall and wont fit in standing up. Anyone have some good ideas for storing sockets laying down without having them move all over the place? I didn't get a case when I got the sockets.

Is it possible to move the deep bottom drawer to the top of the cabinet and a couple of shallows down to the bottom?

Some roll cabs have bolt on slide rails (not familiar with that brand)

 

[mrjaw14]

Interesting that I've never heard rails called socket trees before.

For my 'on-the-go' sets of sockets like the ones I keep in our vehicles I'm partial to flexible urethane socket holders. They hold sockets really well and they don't cost much compared to a lot if other options. Toss them in a bucket or a bag, drag them around under the truck, they just work really well. Sockets won't fall off them but are easily removed and put back on by giving the socket a twist as you pull/push. They easily could be kept laid down on their side or standing up in a drawer as well.

AFAICT they are indestructible and last forever. I've been using them for decades ever since the first set I bought at Northern in the mid 90s. When I wanted to buy more of them a few years back this is the only place I was able to find them..

Socket Holders – weldtab.com

When I was doing my mobile truck tools I REALLY wanted a set of these flexible socket holders. I wasn't sure about that website, and had SK socket sets in cases so I never pursued it. I see that Snap On now has something similar

 

[CS454]

Metal socket rails are your best bet.

 

[WWheeler]

When I was doing my mobile truck tools I REALLY wanted a set of these flexible socket holders. I wasn't sure about that website, and had SK socket sets in cases so I never pursued it. I see that Snap On now has something similar

Those Snap-On ones look similar but with magnets they're definitely different. I'd love to give them a try but they're just too rich for the girls I go out with.

As far as the weldtab site goes, I was leery too at first, but they were the only place I was able to google that advertises anything like it these days and they take paypal so I knew worse come to worse I'd be able to get my money back. I've ordered twice from them so far. One small order followed by a much larger one with 26 rails in all for ~$175 shipped. They're basically the same thing I had originally bought at Northern more than 25 years ago except the originals I got were only available in orange and Weldtab has them only in black and red.

They really do hold sockets quite well. There used to be a YT video of a guy who was demonstrating how much he likes them by swinging a 1/2" set of sockets over his head like a lasso right in front of a large window. I'd posted it here in these forums in the past but now seems the video no longer exists. I've never ran across any other sort of socket organizer so handy to take with you in the field. I only wish they made a set for 3/4 drive sockets because they'd be perfect for it and I'd buy a few sets right now if I could.

The orange ones are ~25 yrs old now and the black and red ones are a couple years ...

 

[LXCam]

The rubber kobalt rat is an extra special touch....nice going Wheeler

 

[WWheeler]

The rubber kobalt rat is an extra special touch....nice going Wheeler

Yeah I'd posted that pic of that Kobalt ratchet and sockets a week or two back in a thread discussing back when Kobalt tools were made in USA by Williams/Snap-on. Too bad that didn't last.

 

[kbeefy]

For my 'on-the-go' sets of sockets like the ones I keep in our vehicles I'm partial to flexible urethane socket holders.

Socket Holders – weldtab.com

Never seen those before. Now I have to go spend more money.....

 

[JRC3]

I use those free/inexpensive HF magnets for some sockets.

 

[m6z]

Interesting that I've never heard rails called socket trees before.

For my 'on-the-go' sets of sockets like the ones I keep in our vehicles I'm partial to flexible urethane socket holders. They hold sockets really well and they don't cost much compared to a lot if other options. Toss them in a bucket or a bag, drag them around under the truck, they just work really well. Sockets won't fall off them but are easily removed and put back on by giving the socket a twist as you pull/push. They easily could be kept laid down on their side or standing up in a drawer as well.

AFAICT they are indestructible and last forever. I've been using them for decades ever since the first set I bought at Northern in the mid 90s. When I wanted to buy more of them a few years back this is the only place I was able to find them..

Socket Holders – weldtab.com

Thanks.

I've been looking for a USA source for these for awhile now. Everything I had found previously was in Europe.