Modular socket organizers (Toolbox Widget and...)

[2ndGearRubber]

I've been chasing organization and "densifying" my tools in my roll cart. The top of the cart holds 3/8 and 1/2 sockets, no plans to change my 1/4 drive setup which is westling machine trays. The westling machine trays have too many sizes I don't need, and I don't feel are a great use of space above 1/4 driver.

I bought some toolbox widget 3/8, about $100 worth, and like them after 1 day of use. If I convert the rest of 3/8 to these holders, it's another $100, if I also do 1/2 it's another $100. Not sure I'd save much room on the 1/2 socket rails I use but they sure would look good. I would save space with the 3/8 sockets.

So before I go and blow more money, who is using modular socket holders? I'm too poor for VIM magrails. I looked at tool grid but it seemed to eat some vertical space as well as likely needing me to cut down the bases to fit the exact size area I want. Let's say 60 3/8 sockets, and possibly another 60 1/2 sockets need a home - what modular options are you looking at?


I would be replacing two of the generic "80 socket holder trays", which are basically 4 metal rails riveted to a backing plate.

https://www.amazon.com/ABN-Large-Standard-Socket-Holder/dp/B075QNQ7CG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I'm too poor for VIM magrails.

I would save up for them. They're cheaper than retail price at Summit Racing. I dont have anywhere near as much experience as you, but the Vim magrails are really nice and I appreciate them quite a bit.

I'm surprised Harbor Freight hasn't knocked off the design yet. I understand they are patented by Vim and one of our forum members here stated he was the inventor who brought the idea to Vim. So not wishing him to be stolen from, just expressing that I'm surprised HF hasn't made them yet, they are copying everything else.

Have you mapped out exactly how many magrails you'd need? Maybe they won't be as expensive as you think?

 

[Snapped-off]

I like the Olsa aluminum rails. I'm sure you can get copies. They're probably copies themselves. You can get really dense.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I would save up for them. They're cheaper than retail price at Summit Racing. I dont have anywhere near as much experience as you, but the Vim magrails are really nice and I appreciate them quite a bit.

I'm surprised Harbor Freight hasn't knocked off the design yet. I understand they are patented by Vim and one of our forum members here stated he was the inventor who brought the idea to Vim. So not wishing him to be stolen from, just expressing that I'm surprised HF hasn't made them yet, they are copying everything else.

Have you mapped out exactly how many magrails you'd need? Maybe they won't be as expensive as you think?

Too poor, AND too cheap. Just doing some basic math for the magrails I figured each set of sockets would need one 12" rail. I don't like the double rails because when I have two 3/8 socket sets with sizes like 22 and 24mm next to one another, I'm concerned about fitment. A 12" rail is $25 on summit, and thanks for providing that because that's a good price. Issue being I still need pegs, 100 pegs is 27 bucks, cheaper than paying $5 for 10. So to fill out 4 more sets for sockets, I'd need $100 worth of rails plus 27 for the pegs. Toolbox widget can store those for $100 and I have a 10% off code from following Enrightauto. Forgot to use it last time, whoops.

That's not as bad of a spread as I thought initially. But it's ~25% more for Magrails.

I have ~70 more 3/8 sockets to store. I have ~ 20 tool box widget "units" left, so for net 50 sockets I need to buy 60 total widgets (12 per pack X 5 packs) for a cost of $100. For magrails I'd have to break down by set. The nice thing about the widgets is they stack, going on and on and on. So when I'm done with a set of sockets I can immediately start the next row, or bit sockets, or chose to terminate at that point. If I have extra room on a magrail I need to either find something that fits in the remaining room, **** it up against another magrail, or accept the space as unusable. I think for the ~50 sockets I'd need 5-6 magrails, four 12s and two 8s, plus the pegs.

EDIT: For 1/2 I'd need 16" rails, four of them, and ~50 pegs. I may consider that since magrails are just so amazing.

I like the Olsa aluminum rails. I'm sure you can get copies. They're probably copies themselves. You can get really dense.

I'm looking specifically for something that can be secured magnetically, or by mass alone, to the box. I have a few rails like the Osla, and our floors are so rough they bounce around a bit. Really nice rails though.

 

[Jgaz]

Look at the LH side of my top drawer. I’m using old Craftsman rails that I screwed to a plate of about 5/32” aluminum. I lost very little depth and with the plate fitting the entire drawer bottom it never moves.
You can space the rails how ever you want.
This drawer was used professionally, daily, for about 15 years and I never broke a socket holder.

I can tell you who makes these rails now if your interested.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I have ~70 more 3/8 sockets to store. I have ~ 20 tool box widget "units" left, so for net 50 sockets I need to buy 60 total widgets (12 per pack X 5 packs) for a cost of $100. For magrails I'd have to break down by set. The nice thing about the widgets is they stack, going on and on and on. So when I'm done with a set of sockets I can immediately start the next row, or bit sockets, or chose to terminate at that point. If I have extra room on a magrail I need to either find something that fits in the remaining room, **** it up against another magrail, or accept the space as unusable. I think for the ~50 sockets I'd need 5-6 magrails, four 12s and two 8s, plus the pegs.

EDIT: For 1/2 I'd need 16" rails, four of them, and ~50 pegs. I may consider that since magrails are just so amazing.

You're looking at around $2 per inch for Magrails at the moment.

You can also use magrails underneath the lid of a toolbox and even on the outside side, which is something you can't do with other organizers.

I did some rough math on 3/8" sockets and estimated that you'd need around 50" for 60, and around 85" for 60 1/2 drive. I would measure the actual length you'll need, assuming they're already lined up in your box, should be easy to measure.

I think you should pick up one of them, to play with, and maybe you'll fall in love like I did. And if you dont, use that one for some specific sockets, and then get something else for the rest.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Look at the LH side of my top drawer. I’m using old Craftsman rails that I screwed to a plate of about 5/32” aluminum. I lost very little depth and with the plate fitting the entire drawer bottom it never moves.
You can space the rails how ever you want.
This drawer was used professionally, daily, for about 15 years and I never broke a socket holder.

I can tell you who makes these rails now if your interested.

This is pretty similar to my current setup. I do like the idea of mounting them to a larger panel.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

You're looking at around $2 per inch for Magrails at the moment.

You can also use magrails underneath the lid of a toolbox and even on the outside side, which is something you can't do with other organizers.

I did some rough math on 3/8" sockets and estimated that you'd need around 50" for 60, and around 85" for 60 1/2 drive. I would measure the actual length you'll need, assuming they're already lined up in your box, should be easy to measure.

I think you should pick up one of them, to play with, and maybe you'll fall in love like I did. And if you dont, use that one for some specific sockets, and then get something else for the rest.

Oh, I have some magrails. LOL My heart wants everything magrail, but my wallet resists. I'm looking specifically for drawer bound storage, my new cart with have a solid top and I plan on using most of the side space for glove holder, hammers, prybars, etc. Unless I find the cart roomier than expected, because I'd like the prybars inside, and frankly the gloves too.

This is the cart, ahem Mobile Workcenter, I'm buying. In the first minute you can see the beauty of the modular setup. Is toolbox widget the king of this currently?

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Oh, I have some magrails. LOL My heart wants everything magrail, but my wallet resists. I'm looking specifically for drawer bound storage, my new cart with have a solid top and I plan on using most of the side space for glove holder, hammers, prybars, etc. Unless I find the cart roomier than expected, because I'd like the prybars inside, and frankly the gloves too.

What if you sold a few tools that you dont use, like that rotating head Snap On ratchet, you can probably net $70 for that after shipping/fees. Get rid of a few tools and then spurge on the magrails for nothing out of pocket and enjoy life.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

What if you sold a few tools that you dont use, like that rotating head Snap On ratchet, you can probably net $70 for that after shipping/fees. Get rid of a few tools and then spurge on the magrails for nothing out of pocket and enjoy life.

In this process I moved what I'm trying to convince myself is a redundant set of 3/8 low profile sockets out of the cart this morning. I got the boxes to store all the stuff I hardly use. I haven't seen a 2.4L timing job in months.....

I'm considering doing a ratchet purge on here. Got way too many I don't use and that aren't special enough to keep.

 

[Steve_P]

I'm an Ernst fan. I don't think there's a perfect solution to this; like everything else there's typically no perfect solution and you need to find the best based on your list of requirements.

I have some Vim mag rails that I'll send you if you want them. I hate magnetic rails.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

In this process I moved what I'm trying to convince myself is a redundant set of 3/8 low profile sockets out of the cart this morning. I got the boxes to store all the stuff I hardly use. I haven't seen a 2.4L timing job in months.....

I'm considering doing a ratchet purge on here. Got way too many I don't use and that aren't special enough to keep.

One thing that minimalist coaches suggest that might work for you is to put everything you think you can get rid of into a box. Or maybe if you already have a tool cart with extra room, put it in a different drawer. Tape the drawer closed. If you go 6 months without needing it, then you know you can sell it. But in the short-term you know it's still there in case you do need it and are making a mistake in what you selected to pare down.

They have something called a "box party" where you put EVERYTHING you own in boxes, and then as you need to use it, you take it out of a box and then put it in your home somewhere. At the end of some time frame, you get rid of anything still in the boxes.

 

[d.mcfarland]

3D printer and go full custom?

@4 FN 27 organization with sheet metal:

And some that are 3D printed:

 

[Fedwrench]

Dude, you're buying a new Epic cart and Magrails are too expensive
Look on Etsy, there are all kind of folk 3D printing tool organizers these days.
Just break down and get the magrails.

 

[Kirbot]

Toolgrid is worth considering too. Not the cheapest option around, but I can't recommend it enough.
The magnetic harbor freight rails are really nice too. I still use them for all my impact stuff

 

[MJK]

I like this style for 1/4" and 3/8" imperial and metric normal sockets (shallow & deep)


I use magrails for 1/2" and all the specialty hex/torx/triple square etc

 

[Jweebothee]

I love my vim magrails, my Indy tool truck dealer gives me free socket pins, holders, whenever I buy a new rail

 

[scooby074]

Oh, I have some magrails. LOL My heart wants everything magrail, but my wallet resists. I'm looking specifically for drawer bound storage, my new cart with have a solid top and I plan on using most of the side space for glove holder, hammers, prybars, etc. Unless I find the cart roomier than expected, because I'd like the prybars inside, and frankly the gloves too.

This is the cart, ahem Mobile Workcenter, I'm buying. In the first minute you can see the beauty of the modular setup. Is toolbox widget the king of this currently?

Hard to beat Toolbox Widget for single layer density and flexibility.

I worked with a guy who had the Lisle magnetic trays like Jgaz above (right side). He liked them. Great to take to a machine. They can be stacked to use up vertical space. I wanted them (this was before Vims were available) just couldnt spend the cash on them over my Hansens. Hansens waste a lot of space though.

 

[Jgaz]

I worked with a guy who had the Lisle magnetic trays like Jgaz above (right side). He liked them. Great to take to a machine. They can be stacked to use up vertical space.

This is exactly why I used the Lisle trays for my impact sockets.
A nitrogen bottle, my 1/2 IR gun, and the standard socket tray was all I needed to change the brushes on the broom truck. Well that a a BFH.

 

[Caa311]

I like the Olsa aluminum rails. I'm sure you can get copies. They're probably copies themselves. You can get really dense.

I have the olsa and ko-ken zeal rails and the pegs are identical.

 

[N8sToolz]

I've tried a lot of things over the years but personally I think I've settled on the earnst twist lock rails.

I don't have a monster roll cart so it's pretty often that I just grab the rails for what I need for a particular job and toss them in my small roll cart.

Had the vim mag rails and they are very nice but not great for moving around, and I've ways fought with everything sticking to the magnets too, plus the socket holders broke off pretty regularly.

Had the hansen trays and metal socket rails, they would wear down and break off.

Earnst ones seem to be a great balance of pricing, strength and durability. I was hesitant for plastic at first but they hold on great, I only broke a couple holders so far. They work even with 1/2 drive impact sockets, and hold on even in my pack out. They have mounting holes so you could easily pop rivet them to a sheet of metal or something too.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Dude, you're buying a new Epic cart and Magrails are too expensive
Look on Etsy, there are all kind of folk 3D printing tool organizers these days.
Just break down and get the magrails.

Sounds silly, doesn't it? I should measure the 1/2 drive sockets for magrails.

I read some reviews of toolbox widget saying that users had issues with the 1/2 drive sockets leveraging them over. So perhaps 3/8 on widgets, keep my 1/4 on westling machine trays, and the look at magrails for 1/2?

I'm going to continue running the widgets for the next week before I consider buying more. I want to be sure I don't find some obvious thing I hate about them and then be stuck.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I like this style for 1/4" and 3/8" imperial and metric normal sockets (shallow & deep)


I use magrails for 1/2" and all the specialty hex/torx/triple square etc

I looked at buying a bunch of those, issue being I don't want empty pegs, or superfluous sockets. I've cut the 20mm and 6/7 sizes off other trays before, but it looks trashy.

 

[shawhite]

Snap-on/mechanic time save lock a socket rails. I cut all mine to size so no wasted space.

 

[MJK]

I looked at buying a bunch of those, issue being I don't want empty pegs, or superfluous sockets. I've cut the 20mm and 6/7 sizes off other trays before, but it looks trashy.

Good place to put short extensions, swivels, spark plug sockets, etc

 

[bobg03]

Sounds silly, doesn't it? I should measure the 1/2 drive sockets for magrails.

I read some reviews of toolbox widget saying that users had issues with the 1/2 drive sockets leveraging them over. So perhaps 3/8 on widgets, keep my 1/4 on westling machine trays, and the look at magrails for 1/2?

I'm going to continue running the widgets for the next week before I consider buying more. I want to be sure I don't find some obvious thing I hate about them and then be stuck.

Yes it does...Is someone rubbing off?
My gawd, another week of analyzing, get out the calipers and measure each socket and draw a diagram of the layout and study it for another week to avoid overlap. You should be good to go, don't let it keep you up at night...

Just kidding, do whatever makes your work flow better and you happy. It's a lot easier with no paycheck involved.

 

[AEAdam]

I feel like there’s a business opportunity here. I’m just not satisfied with anything I’ve seen.

I like the feel of the mechanics timer savers. A simple recess, slightly magnetized, is what I like. Even the std Snap On packaging is good. But the organizational aspects of both are lacking. I’d like something modular/customizable. I think mechanics time savers are really close. But there’s something funny about every one I own. The double stacked one I have is perfect for SAE sockets, but there’s something not right about how they hold metric. Maybe Olsa or some others are better.

 

[jpaw]

I like my Ernst with magnets. They are strong enough to keep 1/2" impact wobbles upright.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I feel like there’s a business opportunity here. I’m just not satisfied with anything I’ve seen.

What do you dislike about Vim Magrails that misses the mark for you?

My main complaint with them is the inability to have external labels. I think if they offered posts that screwed into the fitting that extend above the socket and display the size, that would solve it. Right now the posts that screw in the fittings are under one inch high. I think it should be possible to make them longer and visible through the socket and have the size printed.

A bit surprised no one has 3-D printed that yet. Maybe too hard to have 3D printers form female plastic threads since they screw over the metal base fitting.

 

[DekNgo]

I feel like Toolgrid comes the closest to being perfect. The main issue I have is that the socket holders are too bulky for 1/4" and 3/8" (1/4" especially) - the 1/2" ones seem to be OK. I don't know why they couldn't have their mounting screw go through the "anvil" which would allow for much more flexibility.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I feel like Toolgrid comes the closest to being perfect. The main issue I have is that the socket holders are too bulky for 1/4" and 3/8" (1/4" especially) - the 1/2" ones seem to be OK. I don't know why they couldn't have their mounting screw go through the "anvil" which would allow for much more flexibility.

Is ToolGrid 3D printed or am I thinking of something else? There's some guy in Florida making some kind of organizers that are 3D printed.

 

[DekNgo]

Is ToolGrid 3D printed or am I thinking of something else? There's some guy in Florida making some kind of organizers that are 3D printed.

No, Toolgrid isn't 3D printed - they appear to be molded. At least the official Toolgrid products aren't 3D printed.

There definitely could be some 3D printed accessories available - I haven't personally seen any, though.

 

[Steve_P]

Dude, you're buying a new Epic cart and Magrails are too expensive
Look on Etsy, there are all kind of folk 3D printing tool organizers these days.
Just break down and get the magrails.

Damnit, he spent all his money on the cart and is now broke for the next few months. Cut a brother some slack

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Damnit, he spent all his money on the cart and is now broke for the next few months. Cut a brother some slack

Wait until Dave Ramsey finds out I'm going to buy it with a credit card and get 1% cash back!

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Wait until Dave Ramsey finds out I'm going to buy it with a credit card and get 1% cash back!

There's a lot of good 2% cash back credit cards out there. Here's one.

You can use that extra 1% towards buying Vim Magrails.

 

[AEAdam]

What do you dislike about Vim Magrails that misses the mark for you?

My main complaint with them is the inability to have external labels. I think if they offered posts that screwed into the fitting that extend above the socket and display the size, that would solve it. Right now the posts that screw in the fittings are under one inch high. I think it should be possible to make them longer and visible through the socket and have the size printed.

A bit surprised no one has 3-D printed that yet. Maybe too hard to have 3D printers form female plastic threads since they screw over the metal base fitting.

Don’t like posts, I prefer sockets.

I like the idea that you can stick your mechanics time savers directly on a body panel, not that i do it often. Also, for someone like @2ndGearRubber, he might like these stuck to a vertical surface inside his tool box.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Don’t like posts, I prefer sockets.

I like the idea that you can stick your mechanics time savers directly on a body panel, not that i do it often. Also, for someone like @2ndGearRubber, he might like these stuck to a vertical surface inside his tool box.

I'm with you, I like the fastener facing end sticking up, no posts. I broke a lot of posts off hanson trays before I accepted I'm just too rough on them. I typically don't label any sockets. For something like 3/8 drive I just put a mark on the holder where 14 and 17mm are.

 

[908Jim]

I have found that modular systems like Tool Grid and Socket Widget waste a lot of space between smaller socket sizes and I'm space constrained in my main box. In addition to my Hansen Trays (which I know you don't like) I use about a dozen Ares Aluminum Rails both singles and in the Socket Vault Tray, which is very similar to the Ernst Socket Boss System. They are surprisingly affordable and they have held up well without wearing out. I settled on buying extra pegs to take full advantage of the rail space to get what I believe is a denser solution that modular storage systems and keeps sockets oriented fastener side up and packed tightly. The only drawback is that you don't get labeled trays but my solution (with trial and error) for my hex/torx sockets was to pack the rails dense then apply labels to the actual socket vault trays for things I can't eyeball. One advantage to this setup over the modular systems is I can still pull a full rail of sockets out of the box if I wanted to, unlike modular systems.

The only way the Areas rails could be better IMHO is to offer more "modular" socket vaults that accommodate 2 rails as well as multiple shorter rails for things like bits rather than forcing me to combine multiple sets onto one rail for space savings.

The Ares Magnetic Socket Organizers are also nice for smaller sizes (I use one oriented on it's side) but I worry they would be unstable with larger impact sockets.

https://www.arestool.com/products/socket-vault™-3-piece-13-inch-red-socket-rail-set-with-organizer-tray

 

[51dueller]

I used Ernst magnetic socket rails for my lesser used sockets as I could fit them tighter together in my drawer.


The commonly used stuff is on the Mastercraft branded mechanic time saver holders.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Anyone ever go in the other direction and make them less tight? I'm using Vim magrails and I put them in a new small metal toolbox kit I'm working on setting up and I realized the sockets are so close to each other, it's taking me a few extra seconds to get them out. Not enough room around them to grab them.

Of course, with the mag rails, it's easy enough to readjust them. Curious if anyone here spreads them out a little bit more, at least maybe the most commonly used ones like 10mm to 19mm