Most secure boxed socket set

[vintagefan]

I'm trying to find a nice socket set for my service kit.

Right now I have an SK set, and I really love it but as nice as the blow-molded case is, it really doesn't hold the sockets in place in any direction but facing up. If you turn it sideways, even when latched shut, you end up with sockets all over the place.

Who makes a boxed socket set that holds the sockets tightly in place regardless of orientation? I don't really need to worry about upside down, but I definitely could use the ability to go sideways.

I guess I could just mount everything on rails and strap them on to my tool pallets in my briefcase.

 

[Sh1thead]

Try cutting a 1/4" peice of foam the size of the case and insert it ontop of the sockets when you close the case.

 

[toolmaker1]

Try cutting a 1/4" peice of foam the size of the case and insert it ontop of the sockets when you close the case.

+1 I don't think I have seen any blow mold cases that hold sockets well without a little modification.

 

[kartracer55]

I carry my 1/4 SK super set sideways a lot without problems, but the foam may be a good idea. That being said, it is pretty hard to beat the craftsman kits with the handles on them. I have 2 of them, (one lives in a karting trailer, and a smaller one lives in my cars spare tire well) and neither ever lose sockets and both are stored on end. I DID stuff foam into the one in my car to prevent any noise, but a replacement craftsman case might be the ticket for you.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Can you use something like this ? Put the sockets on rails, cut the rails down to size and store them in here ?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00965284000P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

 

[MoToys]

My snap-on 1/4 drive in Blow mold is ok. If I store it on edge in the truck a few sockets/extensions will move around.
Believe it or not but I have tossed my craftsman 100 or so piece 1/4&3/8 set around like garbage and the only things that pop out are the two open end wrenches that sit in the back. The set is about 12 years old. My fathers newer set looks like a mess inside if it isn't kept on it's back.

 

[Robbie UK]

Britool boxed sets are over engineered and would fit the bill. They even have the metal hinge pins held in by springs so that the lids can be removed (or reinstalled) for rollcab use as trays.

 

[wmartin]

The European companies seem to make really good foam/case setups. Wurth, Wera, Felo, etc. all use a kind of tight fitting, denser foam in those black metal cases. Anything that I own that is 100% blow molded seems to rattle around and have a few wandering pieces in the box over time.

 

[Ign]

I've got one of the Craftsman 204pc? sets in a blow molded case. No problems when closed, and it bumps along in my truck cab full time.

There have been several threads here about it 'cause it used to pop up at $99 from time to time.

When it's open the sockets aren't a problem but the open end wrenches fall out if you look at them wrong. But the wrench sizes are limited and you'd be better to just carry your own selection in a separate tool bag anyhow.

 

[MechManiac]

Britool boxed sets are over engineered and would fit the bill. They even have the metal hinge pins held in by springs so that the lids can be removed (or reinstalled) for rollcab use as trays.

This is very true. My tq wrench from them has a really well made case. Hope this pic can illustrate the "engineering" a bit...

 

[hdpusher]

I lay out a couple of the red shop rags and close the case. Keeps stuff from moving around and you always have shop rags handy to wipe down your tools when your done.

 

[junk4dummies]

I hate sliding sockets and a mess. I am not as bad as Monk but close. LOL

I buy every small metal box I can find at the swap meet, yard sale or thrift store.

I then determine what will fit in it for storage.

I am lucky that I have a full wood, machine, sheet metal and welling facility.
In my younger days before I had all the machines I would rip thin strips on the table saw and make dividers and just make pieces to putthem on the ends to hold the sockets etc in place. I would put a little glue on the ends of the strips and wedge them into the box. when the glue dried I would take the wedges out. I made a slot for everything. I even did that for my Erector set as a child. I still have it and it is perfect to this day. When I got better skilled I kerfed, datoed and rabbited them together. When I got my break, sheer and rollers I cut aluminum sheeting up and and bent it to fit my needs. Then I got to the place I glued the piece or pop rivited them into place. Now if I need a box I make it up, weld it together gind it smoth then make the inners to fit my needs. I even made myself a nice sewing box out of Aluminum back in the 70's.

I have 4 or 5 sets of all the hand tools because I have shops in to states. I keep all my extra's in those boxes and when I need to grab tools I just grab the box with the size tools I need.

I even have all my battery pullers cleaners, pliers and spreaders in a box. When Install a new battery in a tractor or truck I just grab the box and it is all there with the different size wrenches and all.

I have a service cart but I seldom use it. On the farm I just pull in to the bay and my tool boxes and benches are right there. My home shop is so full of tools and machinery I can't get a moter cycle in. I have my boxes up front so when I pull up I have my tools right by the roll up door.

The only blow mold box I have is Craftsman. It is one of there larger sets. Its the crappy blow mold 4 drawer box. I take that when I go out sailing or skying with the family. The plastic does not hurt the fiber glass boat and is easy to stoe away. If I loose a Craftsman tool I can always pick up a socket for 50 cents at the swapmeet or in a thirft shop to replace the one I fed to the fish.

I have all the good brands of tools but I still have my 50's and 60's Craftsman tools and boxes. It is amasing How I rebuilt lawn morwers, tractors, engines and work in construction and machine shops with those tools. They did just as good of job as my Snap-on's I have today. Yes the high polished chrome wrenches are smooth on the hands but this old farm boy has hands like leather. I made my fortune with Craftsman tools and I did not spend 5 minuets a day longer doing the job because I had cheap tools.

It is a wonder how that works. Some how the job does not know if it is done with an expensive shinny tool or a service grade tool. If every one would buy used tools and not spend all that money on new they might have a good retirement fund when they get ready to retire. The only new ones I have are my first Craftsman tools that still have all the chrome. I know you need special tools and they is always chaning. You sometimes have no choice but to buy new. I get it, I really get it.

As for all the complaints on bad chorme etc. I have had the chrome peal on all brands. Craftsman the least. It is how they are cleaned and prepped before they go to plating that makes the difference. It is not where the tools are made but by what standard. If you want good tools buy German or Swiss.

An old time ranch and orange gove boss that I know grew up in Mexico. He is a US citizen and is very nice. He sells at the swap meet. I have known him for 20 years and I know the owner of company he worked for. He was telling me that in Mexico back in the 40's that they hated American made tools. They though they were junk. Back then they wanted German made tools.

There are a lot of Europeans in South and Cental America and they make great tools. My 24 inch wood planer is made in Brizil. There is a huge world market and the US is just one small fraction of it. We are lucky the world makes good tools at a price one can afford. We have taxed ourselves right out of the tool making business and the last of them are leaving. It is sad but true. All the companies are world traders. Most of the materials in all brands come form around the world. Macro Econ 101 teaches you that as a country you can only gain welth if you trade with other countries. You hit a brick wall if you don't. My bet is that many of the machines that make tools here in the US come for another counry. There is no such thing as American made when you get to the bottom of it.

I have had a Honda generator for 35 years and it is still going strong. I took it back to my farm to use. I had it in the back of my turck when I went to the dinner for coffee with the gang. I took hell for having a Honda. They no longer laugh. I have Honda out board moters that are 30 years old and still start on the first pull. When Mr Honda started making cars and tools during WII he used only the best steel he could find. Old tools made in Japan are very good quality for the most part. All the car companies will fill in a bad spot in the engine block. Studebaker was the only company to melt it down and make the engine block over. How do I know? One of my fathers good frinds was in charge of seting up asembly lines all over the wrold and 2 of his other good friends were VP's of GM and Ford. Studebaker made buck board and wagons before they made cars in South Bend Indiana.

All American is not gold. I don't care where it is made. I care about the quality and value for my dollar. Not all must be shinny and bright. Just because one pays a high price does it mean that it is better. I buy American tools but they are all used and for 10 to 20 cents on the dollar. If you wonder how many tools I have. I have over 1000 socket here in my shop in California. I have more in Indiana. I buy snap-on Sockets all the time for as low as $1. I picked up a 1/2" drive 55 torx last week for $1 and 2 -3/4" dirve sockest by Snap-on for $3 and $4. I buy all vintages of Craftsman for 50 to 75 cents each. The last 2 set of impact 1/2" dirve sockets were Craftsman and Mac. I got them for a wopping 75 cents each. I pass up several hundred socket a week at those prices. The swap meets and thrift shops here in Californa are flooded with them and the great thing is they are not full of rust becasue it is so dry here.

Go turn a wrench and have a life. Stop worring about if you have the right color handle or a left handed money wrench. If you are worried about that you are obsessed and need help. LOL

Jut my 3 cents worth. An extra penny for Oboma's inflation that has not happened. RIGHT

 

[davesnothere]

Whoa.

 

[DEMAYO]

Double whoa.

 

[Txchevy18]

I've got this set. Never had a socket move from traveling. Just don't open it upside down and your good.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=682194&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I've carried it on my service truck for over 2 years with out any issues. I love it. It has just about everything I'll need 3/8" wise to preform w/e job I'm doing. It gets thrown up on the deck and beat up pretty good moving around heavy equipment.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Double whoa.

whoa whoa whoa

 

[PBCampbell]

I have a fairly comprehensive 3/8" NAPA set that has a well fitted plastic case that also doesn't appear to waste much space. Cripes distributing had those as well as 1/4" sets for short dollars. It came with a nice 60 tooth ratchet and knurled extensions as well.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Can you use something like this ? Put the sockets on rails, cut the rails down to size and store them in here ?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00965284000P?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

Good call. I had an extra one of those small boxes and managed to get all of the craftsman 1/4 and 3/8 kit from the blow-mold case in there. Nice thing about those small boxes is they fit under seat in the truck, whereas that blow-mold case will not and needs its own storage area.

 

[bert.]

the insert in my wurth 1/4" set is made out of some silicon stuff and holds the sockets really well

 

[bobemmerich]

I have this set and as long as you don't open it upside down, the sockets stay where they are....