organizing sockets

[mattgood65]

So Guys and Gals, Who has found a good way to organize sockets in a tool box? every once in a while I do a road call so portability is a must, I like things neat and organized but need to make the most of my room in my tool box, Ideas?

 

[MEngineer]

this is what I use:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-pc-metric-socket-trayorganizer-68102.html

 

[Tim37]

Check out the "mechanics time saver" organizer they are magnetic and fairly compact. So they do a decent job of holding the sockets stick to the bottom of your tool box and can be easily taken to the work site. I prefer them over racks and Hanson trays.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

VIM are some of the best but also expensive. Ernst and MTS are also good options

 

[gungatim]

as much as I hate them, I usually use the metal clip rails. sometimes the plastic ones that HF and other sockets come on but you have to saw off the big handle to take up less room.

 

[Locker537]

I just bought an Ernst 3 rail off of Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CHJHA8W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They look great.

 

[winlinmac]

These trays are good, but only good for regular sockets, otherwise I have myself using masking tape to write the sizes for other specialty sockets like Torx, Hex, and Triple square

Its still a good deal, make sure to have a Dremel on standby if you plan to go for the HF socket tray organizer

this is what I use:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-pc-metric-socket-trayorganizer-68102.html

 

[Super Sport]

I dislike the store-bought trays because you never have all the sizes to fill them, and I'm too OCD for blank spaces.

Personally, I like plastic rails. Ernst are great, but I went a little cheaper and went with Craftsman ones (with a few Wright-branded ones mixed in since Wright offers different lengths). You can buy pegs from either Sears or HJE.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Ernst Socket Boss. Works like a tray, but rails can be unlocked and taken with. Sockets also twist lock to rail, so they're perfect for a road box or throwing in a bag.

http://www.ernstmfg.com/Socket-Organizers.aspx

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I like good old socket rails, I have one of the mechanics time saver racks for 1/4 and really don't care for it.

 

[ijroorda]

In my big box I use the HF trays, but for my portable boxes I haven't found anything better than metal rails for density.

I don't buy much Snap-on stuff, but their metal rails are by far the best and very reasonably priced: https://store.snapon.com/Socket-Rails-and-Clips-C675977.aspx

 

[Infinia]

So Guys and Gals, Who has found a good way to organize sockets in a tool box? every once in a while I do a road call so portability is a must, I like things neat and organized but need to make the most of my room in my tool box, Ideas?

for best advice
describe what you got going so far, tool box and sockets?

I perhaps wouldn't let 'portability' drive your final tool set up, IMO back-up tool sets in individual cases can be utilized better here.

 

[Pho20]

I really like those plastic rails from hf if I'm working on something that's going to need 1/4" metric stuff I can grab the whole set and toss it in my cart(or tool bag)

http://m.harborfreight.com/3-pc-socket-rail-set-68101.html

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Just metal rails for most, 1/4 in the case with the lid removed.




3/4 and 1 inch drive are just loose.

 

[WWheeler]

In my ~20 yr old box that stays in the garage and the tools don't ever need to travel I made my own socket storage rails from 1/4" plywood and some dowels. That way I could make each exactly the shape I needed to hold just the sockets I had & fit my drawer with no wasted space. They have served me well for decades now.

For my rolling cart which I use more for tools I sometimes need to grab and travel with I use flexible urethane socket holders. They are very affordable, can be cut to fit the socket sets you have and that, just like with my homemade holders there's no wasted drawer space, and once you get used to them the sockets just twist on and off very easily (but not so easy when new and until you get used to them) but I like them mostly because I can just grab a set and walk with it and the sockets don't typically fall off. Sometimes the largest 1/2" drive sockets (~ 1" / 26mm or larger) will drop off if I'm just swinging it around, but in general they stay put out to the job and back.

Only place I know of that still sells flexible socket strips is WeldTab.com where they have 1/4" to 1/2" for around $3 to $4 ea.

Here's a link to a video I saw a while back from someone else happy with their flexible socket holders & he gives a little demonstration showing both how much trust he has in how well they hold his sockets and how little he cares about the window behind him (lol):

 

[thool]

For sockets, I just took the lids off of the gear wrench blow molded cases like Sam's third pic.

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[Derek420]

For my vehicle bag I use vipper pouches like Klein's but I get mine at Walmart for like 3 bucks near the craft ilse they say they are for tools and show a picture of them. They come in all colors and are super tough nylon on outside and rubber like coated on inside I use one color for metric and one for sae. They work great and you can write with a sharpee on them. I even use them for drill bits and screwdrivers also my pliers they are great for everything and hold a lot of tools. I highly recommend them.

 

[Derek420]

He does want something portable some of you must not have read that.

 

[R_einan]

Really like the VIM magrail TL, magnets are super strong and will hold an entire 1/2 deeps set on the rail upside down while being shook... Also lets me stand up socket sets in a drawer without them shifting or tipping. Due to my drawer depth, I went with the VIM over the MTS lock a socket rails because they are lower profile; 3/16" vs 1/2" means deeps up to 1 1/4 will stand in my drawer.

 

[gdocktor3]

This is how I organize mine. Then, when I go on the road, I grab that big green box and I'm all set. You can see I customized it a bit and added a few items. For 1/4" it's the Gearwrench set in the corner (I remove the lid while in the drawer) and for 1/2" I just take my Sunex impact sets that are in cases and grab a ratchet. Life is sooo much easier this way.


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[ihateminimumwage]

This is how I organize mine. Then, when I go on the road, I grab that big green box and I'm all set. You can see I customized it a bit and added a few items. For 1/4" it's the Gearwrench set in the corner (I remove the lid while in the drawer) and for 1/2" I just take my Sunex impact sets that are in cases and grab a ratchet. Life is sooo much easier this way.

Any chance you've posted some more drawer shots somewhere on the forum? About to move into my road box full time, and interested to see how others have crammed everything in.

 

[Rmracing]

I really like the vim magrail. I think they are by far the best socket rails out there.

 

[Infinia]

My Socket Drawer organization.
hardly any movement b/c the rails fit tightly with handles wedged in there.
Impacts are in black metal cases
color coded handles > grey is metric, black is SAE,
red is combined metric & SAE or leftover metrics

my 'portable metrics are in 3 cases by drive size.

 

[555]

I found these rails at WalMart under their Hyper Tough label. So far they have worked very well. Cheap at $5.90 each and seem to be pretty durable. They fit well in my tool box and work well when carried to a job.

 

[stuk4x4]

I use the HF socket rails and then cut them to size, according to my needs. I have used them for many years and when the clips get loose one the rail, I squeeze them together and they tighten back up. I like the fact that I can grab one rail and take it over to what ever I am working on and when the job is complete I have full tool accountability. If I were setting up another road box, I would go with a Montezuma. I know they are a bit pricey but you don't have to spend the extra time and money to organize them when its all said and done.
Good Luck
Walt

 

[chrisnazzy]

I use a combination of many of the ideas / solutions mentioned here. I don't need to be portable too often but I use Blue Point (Mechanics Time Savers) for all my chrome sockets. Bit sockets and impact sockets I have utilized the blow molded trays with lids removed.

When necessary I can pull out say the full set of 3/8 metric shallow easily. I also have a small cart I utilize when working on a bigger project in the garage. I can load it up with common used tools and utilize it sort of as a teardown workstation also. Plus any tools i use stay in the cart until I clean em up and put them away.

After 3 years of reading threads on socket organization here on GJ, I'm pretty sure if I ever switched it would only be for Westling Trays or the Ernst Socket Boss system.



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[gdocktor3]

Any chance you've posted some more drawer shots somewhere on the forum? About to move into my road box full time, and interested to see how others have crammed everything in.

I'm sorry that's not my road box. I do have a small 3 drawer box I keep in my truck, but no pics at the moment. Basically, I use a few cheap socket rails from Sears that are $5.99 for the small chrome sockets and then roll up vinyl wrench pouches for combo wrenches. I try to keep things as compact as possible. Adjustable wrenches, channel locks, and pliers are your friend. Screwdrivers with striking caps. Claw hammer. Crow bars vs pry bars. Tools that have multiple uses in other words. Here are the rails https://m.sears.com/craftsman-2-pc-socket-rack/p-00941324000P


Alternatively, general mechanic sets are hard to beat if you don't need impact sockets. I still to this day keep a black chrome Husky Pro mechanics socket set behind the seat of all 3 of my trucks. Yes the ratchets ****, but they have everything you need in a box 2" thick and 18" long. Here's a quick one I pulled up from BluePoint with 155 pieces. Torx, all drive sockets, extensions, ratchets, etc. Then you throw a flex head dual 80 in the truck to use with these sockets and you'll never have a problem getting the job done.
https://store.snapon.com/General-Se...eral-Service-Set-Blue-Point-reg--P645026.aspx

 

[Al Bundy]

So Guys and Gals, Who has found a good way to organize sockets in a tool box? every once in a while I do a road call so portability is a must, I like things neat and organized but need to make the most of my room in my tool box, Ideas?

No one has found a good way. You have to pick which drawback annoys you the least.

 

[DFB]

Oh man I used to keep a hip roof toolbox for the road the sockets all clipped on rails to keep them somewhat organized along with all those other necessary tools we need

Over time I have picked up specific kits in blow molded cases that can fit in soft sided bags (along with a cordless impact wrench) for those away from the garage repair jobs and for my work. That just makes it so much easier for me and most my "best stuff" sockets ratchets and certain other tools stay right where they belong and where I can find them!

Boy that PM ratchet really ***** though I think maybe I want try a HF composite ratchet or two for my everyday tool bucket.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I've been switching to all Ernst rails. They work great. I really like them. I already had all Ernst wrench racks really liked them. Ernst has a variety of sizes and options. You can usually get them directly from their website for cheaper then anyplace else. Plus they have a free shipping code if you spend over $100. I have them in my shop box and in my road box. They work great. Sockets stay on. You can grab a rail and go. I'd highly recommend them.

There's a bunch of other threads on organizing sockets on here too if you search enough

This is my shop box with most of my current Ernst rails. I don't bother with the trays they have.



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[WWheeler]

So Guys and Gals, Who has found a good way to organize sockets in a tool box? every once in a while I do a road call so portability is a must, I like things neat and organized but need to make the most of my room in my tool box, Ideas?

No one has found a good way. You have to pick which drawback annoys you the least.

I beg to differ. The flexible urethane socket holders from WeldTab that I mentioned before in this thread serve both purposes rather well. They hold your sockets standing straight up in a drawer, maximizing use of space. The strips can be cut to hold just however many are in each set, also maximizing space in a drawer.

When you want a single socket you just grab it and with a twisting motion it comes right off - same twist to put it back on. When you need to take a whole set you can grab it and go, toss it in a toolbag, bucket, or throw the strip over your shoulder. The sockets stay put until you need them. Perhaps best of all at $2.75 for a 1/4, $3.30 for 3/8, and $4 for 1/2, they cost less than most other options I'm aware of.

http://shop.weldtab.com/category.sc?categoryId=12

They are also pretty much indestructible as far as I can figure through normal use. About the only thing I can see hurting them would be if they were in a fire. I've been using them since the 1990s and they still work just like new. Actually, they work better than new because when they are first put to use they hold the sockets just a little too tight / stiff. It gets much easier to twist sockets on / off after you've done each a few times, but after 20 years they still hold on to sockets until I need them. I liked them so much I bought dozens of each size when they were at Northern ~20 yrs ago. Those only came in orange. More recently I needed some more and found them in red and black at WeldTab.

Here's a video of a guy who I guess was selling them on ebay or something giving a demonstration of them. Gives you a pretty good idea how they work:

IMHO they fit the OP's wants to a 'T'.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I'm sorry that's not my road box. I do have a small 3 drawer box I keep in my truck, but no pics at the moment.

Good deal. Thanks for the links, but I have most of the tools I could possibly need, just liked the layout in the pics you put up. Looks closer to my older Snappy road box that has served as my top box in the shop for years now. It's getting moved into the back of the cab in a 4 door pickup with the back seat removed.

Glad to be moving past a couple of overloaded tool bags on random service calls, and getting full time on the road.

 

[magtl]

This is a snap-on box. No holes drilled. Every tool held in place with Magrail TL's.

 

[DFB]

This is a snap-on box. No holes drilled. Every tool held in place with Magrail TL's.

Awesome setup!

 

[mcdye]

This is a snap-on box. No holes drilled. Every tool held in place with Magrail TL's.

That is a work of art.

 

[Cope]

This is a snap-on box. No holes drilled. Every tool held in place with Magrail TL's.

That looks like a specialized tool kit. What kind of work do you do?

 

[Al Bundy]

They hold your sockets standing straight up in a drawer, maximizing use of space.

I'll bet a rail full of deep well sockets won't stay standing unless they're fastened down or packed in against other stuff.

And there are no sizes displayed on these rails.

I'm sure they're a great product. But they're still socket rails.

 

[magtl]

Aircraft Maintenance Technician.
I designed the first Magrail Vim tools sold. Working with several Hundred mechanics at O’Hare Airport It was made very clear to me what they liked and disliked about the original Magrail. I took this feedback and designed the Magrail TL. The objective was to give the technician the best socket rail available. When a technician purchased a Magrail TL he or she would find it far exceeded their expectations.

 

[magtl]

Yes, you can load a 16" Magrail TL with 1/2 drive deep sockets and attach it overhead to a metal surface, remove the sockets one at a time and it will not fall off or over.

Your correct, no sizes. Didn't think it was necessary since the bolt heads don't have sizes.

And yes, it's still just a socket rail.

 

[royce]

Magtl,
I haves good bit of your rails and can say they are most handy, compact, adjustable, quality rails I've used.
You hit the ball out of the park with your design.
Many thanks for a great product.
Royce