Organize sockets

[rvr6000]

How do you guys organize your sockets? I picked up some of those red and gray plastic trays today that I think will work okay but wanted to see what y'all do. I can always return these if I don't like 'em.

Pictures would be awesome if you have them. Thanks.

 

[pj_rage]

Not long ago I picked up some of these based on recommendations for them in another thread around here. I think they are pretty great at a great price. It makes finding (and keeping track of) sockets so much easier.

 

[NUTTSGT]

My chrome sockets, for the ratchet are on the socket rails from Sears. The deep well impact sockets are on some socket rails that I made out some bolts and flat steel. Once I get the 3/8" drive impact sockets bought, i'm going to make some more socket rails and reorganize the drawer.


edit
I thought I had some pictures, I'll have to look for them.

 

[alecmcmahon]

Check out this thread, hundreds of pictures to check out:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47412

Here's mine

 

[rvr6000]

Thanks....this is what I picked up today. I think they will work out fine but now that I'm really organizing these things I'm finding there are some sizes I don't have and many duplicates of others.

 

[crewchief888]

at home i use a mishmash of organizers, some hansen trays, some metal clips/rails, some OEM metal trays, and some sockets just standing up by themselves. 1/4" dr is in it's blow molded box
in my service truck, toolbox space is a premium, 3'8" & 1/2" dr sets are on SO metal rails, some in SO metal trays, and some in MTS magnetic socket holders.
1/4" dr are in a seperate storage box, sets of deep/shallow are on a flat lisle socket holder
3/4" dr are in acrobins, with ratchet & breaker bar heads

1st pic is from my service truck, 2nd is one of many organizations of garage stuff.

 

[brownbagg]

thing i hate about the plastic trays for socket, if you take the whole tray out to the car, you drop them and they go everywhere. the drawer tray has too much wasted space. I usually use the socket rail and then those are not really fail safe. I proberly have 40 sets of sockets, thats a couple hundred pieces so no way the drawer tray would work

 

[Lkdelta]

About the same as #4, I use 2X8 or 2X10 (or glue/dowel some wood together to get wider widths of 2" thick)

Cut the long grooves with a router, each groove is custom sized to hold the 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" sockets in a line of either SAE or metric

Each socket gets its own finishing nail to hold it in place.

 

[allinon72]

I use Hansen trays and magnetic holders for travel

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

About the same as #4, I use 2X8 or 2X10 (or glue/dowel some wood together to get wider widths of 2" thick)

Cut the long grooves with a router, each groove is custom sized to hold the 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" sockets in a line of either SAE or metric

Each socket gets its own finishing nail to hold it in place.

Got any pics?

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I use metal socket rails with metal clips pop riveted to a piece of sheet metal to which I have popriveted a sheetmetal fabricated handle to each end. The sheet metal is designed to fit into the top of my top chest. It holds a lot of sockets and can be rearranged when I acquire additional sockets.

 

[rvr6000]

So let me expand on this topic.....what sockets to you keep on hand? Besides shallow and deep well do you also keep a complete set of 6-pt and 12-pt?

How about impact? Standard and metric. I just have a set of standard deeps and for as often as I use them I doubt I'll be buying anymore for a long time.

I have to admit that sockets are probably some of the least used tools in my chest. Basically my whole attempt to better organize them is to make them look pretty when the lid is open.

 

[meissen]

I have the Hansen trays but I just bought the HF ones because I like those better. The thing I don't like about the Hansen trays is the sockets have to go in with the bolt head side face down with the drive side face up. I like being able to see the opening of each socket because I haven't mastered looking at a bolt and knowing the socket size.

 

[pj_rage]

I have the Hansen trays but I just bought the HF ones because I like those better. The thing I don't like about the Hansen trays is the sockets have to go in with the bolt head side face down with the drive side face up. I like being able to see the opening of each socket because I haven't mastered looking at a bolt and knowing the socket size.

Yeah they are also nice that way because you can see if it's a 12pt or 6pt, assuming you don't have the trays marked, and you've moved them from your box to cart/table. I really like the HF ones, and you can't beat the price.

 

[csmitty]

I just got some Hansen's yesterday, just two to try out. and like them. They're a bit narrower than the HF black ones I was using. The 1/4 Hansen is longer though and has 1/8 size and something else that will probably never get used. Only issue with Hansen ones is that they go face down. So its hard to tell if its a 12 or 6, granted time will take care of that but I have some that are 12 shallow and 6 deep.

The HF's sometimes tolerances can be off and sockets will not fit great over the square. Price is def. right though. You can get a 3 pack for one hansen. But now that I have nicer sockets I figure I'd have nicer trays.

The hansens while smaller numbers are angled. I've got a mix of the two now so that will help decide which I like better.

For limited room I'd use socket rails.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I picked up Hansen trays for my 1/2" drive impacts yesterday. I had to put about 1/3 of my sockets on the lathe this morning to open the hole a little so they would slide onto the pegs.

Chris

 

[Mross506]

After trying everything under the sun I found these rails that are heads and tails over the metal ones.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941849000P?mv=rr

I've spent years searching for and cussing out every socket organizer I tried. They were either a bear to remove the socket or failed to hold them secure at all. These are easy to use and come at a very affordable price. Good job, C-man.

 

[steve911]

After trying everything under the sun I found these rails that are heads and tails over the metal ones.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941849000P?mv=rr

I've spent years searching for and cussing out every socket organizer I tried. They were either a bear to remove the socket or failed to hold them secure at all. These are easy to use and come at a very affordable price. Good job, C-man.

I couldnt agree more. The socket rails hold the sockets securely without being too hard to get them off when you need them. I have 11 rails in use with all my sockets some SAE some Metric. I have dropped the rail with the sockets and none have ever broken. Sears also makes a grey rail to help identifiy metric from SAE. I have my SAE sockets on the black rail and the Metric on the grey rails.

 

[supertooljunkie]

After trying everything under the sun I found these rails that are heads and tails over the metal ones.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941849000P?mv=rr

I've spent years searching for and cussing out every socket organizer I tried. They were either a bear to remove the socket or failed to hold them secure at all. These are easy to use and come at a very affordable price. Good job, C-man.

I know many on the forum don't like Harbor Freight, but they have the same rails, cheaper. I have several sets on these with no problem. Plus it looks like they are on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-14-38-and-12-socket-rail-set-68101.html

 

[ADaughen]

Check out this thread, hundreds of pictures to check out:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47412

Here's mine

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5834700498_3a09ce1e21_b.jpg

I have those, easy to find which socket you need or which are missing; but they take up a LOT of room.


For the cart, I want to get the KD Tools quick disconnect socket rails.

ETA: I tried to find a photo of them. I'll have to remember to take a photo of the torx rail I have.

 

[HVAC Phil]

I made a tray out of MDF than fits in drawer. Layed out all the socket places, then cut with a jigsaw. Covered the board with speaker box carpet. I have one drawer for metric, one for SAE.

 

[dittle fart around]

Used these at work there great and cost under 15 each. Labeled pegs, made of plastic. View media item 10214

 

[diggerrick]

I'm getting these:

 

[atavuss]

I have 4 of these filled with all my socket sets. everything is neat and easy to find which socket I need quickly.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=91713&group_ID=3164&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[paullie]

I use metal socket rails with metal clips pop riveted to a piece of sheet metal to which I have popriveted a sheetmetal fabricated handle to each end. The sheet metal is designed to fit into the top of my top chest. It holds a lot of sockets and can be rearranged when I acquire additional sockets.

this is my system as well, but i got em off of the "matco" truck

 

[treasureseeker]

After trying everything under the sun I found these rails that are heads and tails over the metal ones.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941849000P?mv=rr

I've spent years searching for and cussing out every socket organizer I tried. They were either a bear to remove the socket or failed to hold them secure at all. These are easy to use and come at a very affordable price. Good job, C-man.

I used these for all my Metrics and the Hansen trays for the SAE which hardly get used. The Craftsman socket rails hold the sockets well not something i can say for the metal rails even Snap On makes.

 

[darkk]

Organizing trays look nice but I have a lot of odd extra sockets and there just isn't space for these so I use the sticks...

 

[Kevin54]

I had the plastic trays like shown above but found they took up too much room, so I bought some Poplar boards in the hardwood section at Lowes and some cheap socket rails and a pack of screws