Ratchet Organization

[Hendersonfan]

What is the best way to organize/display your ratchets? I have quite a few 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" that I'm not sure how to store them. By drive size in separate drawers? All in same drawer but by size? How do I keep them from rolling around? Does anyone make an organization tray or anything for them?

 

[JradM]

Ernst makes trays and clips. There's a mix of methods in my drawer here. Some of my socket sets have a ratchet in the same drive size attached - then there's a tray of just ratchets too.

 

[JradM]

I also like those skinny rectangular magnetic trays (so long as your ratchet fits of course).



Faster to get your ratchet in and out, easily repositioned, cheap.

 

[JradM]

This is my plier drawer - but the same concept could be applied to ratchets.



Foam is popular too. I like foam a lot - but it has distinct disadvantages too. Namely it takes a long time to do and you can't change it once you're done.




BTW, in terms of organizational "strategies", I prefer to keep my ratchets next to the sockets. You need a big drawer to do it though (unless you have few tools). Otherwise I would group them - e.g. all 1/4", then all 3/8" etc, or maybe all flex options together, etc.

 

[Hendersonfan]

I did find these from Apex. 3D printed and magnetic.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I have most of mine in the "Socket Drawer". I just lay them out according to available space. I don't move my bigger box around much. I have a cart at work with a similar layout and they don't move around. My cart has been pushed around for a few miles already in the two months I've had it.

 

[f121]

I have different drive sizes in different drawers, so the ratchet is next to the sockets I use it with and it's obvious which drive size is which. One day I'll foam them, maybe, but right now they are just laid out in the drawers.

Here's my 3/8" and 1/2", normally there are more extensions in the 1/2" drawer but they're on the floor of the barn atm and there's an extra fr80 in the 3/8 drawer that doesn't belong there...but you get the idea:

 

[tyyost]

I’ll have to grab a picture, I keep mine in the narrow drawer of my hf 42” side cab, 1/4 & 3/8 in one with extensions and 1/2 ratchets and extensions in the next. I do keep my most used ones in my tool cart with the sockets in Hansen trays.

 

[cjarvis]

 

[mbdslpwr]

Combination of HF peg-style socket trays and Schaller boxes. Similar to an earlier reply, these tools are primarily stationary. Quarter inch drive on left, 3/8" drive middle / right. Nothing too special.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I have a dedicated drawer for my ratchets, and it started off organized, but has began to overflow (thanks Garage Journal) and it is becoming a mess.

This is just the ratchets that dont belong to sets.

I am obviously not brand loyal.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Most stored in the same drawer

 

[VolvoRyan]

I just have 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive tools, respectively, in three drawers across in my old-school Snap-On box. The longer handles and extensions (15-24") live in the top.

I've pruned my collection of ratchets and extensions so that I have the front line tools without unnecessary duplicates. This minimizes fumbling through a pile for what i want. It's also easier to "see" what's missing. The extra ratchets and extensions live in another tool box for emergencies. I don't like clutter.

-Ryan

 

[sparky 1971]

Separate drawers for each size ratchet. Sockets in the big drawer.

 

[qqzj]

I did find these from Apex. 3D printed and magnetic.

Hi this looks interesting. Can you offer more details? Where is the web link and how come it is magnetic? I have a 3D printer and I can try this too. Thanks!!!!

 

[Snapped-off]

Needs to get reorganized because I want to put all of my extensions in this drawer.

They're all easily accessible for their bi-weekly polishing.

 

[Greg5OH]

Spent hours reorganizing my main drawer and thinning out /upgrading my ratchets. Set it up so everything is as quick as possible to access (with mechanix gloves on). Work flow efficiency is up >9000%

still waiting on some socket sets to show up before you judge my naked posts.

 

[Snapped-off]

Ratchet organizers from Apex Organizers. First time seeing them.

 

[Fly YX]

I use Ernst in my small cart at work

 

[buddha2364]

I have a dedicated drawer for my ratchets, and it started off organized, but has began to overflow (thanks Garage Journal) and it is becoming a mess.

This is just the ratchets that dont belong to sets.

I am obviously not brand loyal.

Can never have enough rachets............lol!

 

[emeraldcoupe]

organization? what's that?

 

[Vwpower]

I don’t know.

 

[Fatboy148]

Ratchet organizers from Apex Organizers. First time seeing them.

There's some guy on Youtube that made a video about them.

 

[Sneezer]

I am still trying to organize. Right now I have 2 26" stacks to hold my tools. Two of the thin drawers are dedicated to ratchets - one for normal ones and the 2nd for all the specialty ratchets - roto heads, stubbies, flex, breaker bars, etc.

I have 2 double height drawers that get the sockets. I have some of the Kobalt 4 rail organizers with my sockets on there, but I still have some loose stuff and rando bits. Pile of impacts that I also need to organize. I like the Kobalt trays as I can grab the whole thing and put it over by the car in the driveway when I am working on something. However, if I had single rails instead I could probably get a another rail in there instead of using the quad ones.

 

[Greg5OH]

I am still trying to organize. Right now I have 2 26" stacks to hold my tools. Two of the thin drawers are dedicated to ratchets - one for normal ones and the 2nd for all the specialty ratchets - roto heads, stubbies, flex, breaker bars, etc.

I have 2 double height drawers that get the sockets. I have some of the Kobalt 4 rail organizers with my sockets on there, but I still have some loose stuff and rando bits. Pile of impacts that I also need to organize. I like the Kobalt trays as I can grab the whole thing and put it over by the car in the driveway when I am working on something. However, if I had single rails instead I could probably get a another rail in there instead of using the quad ones.

What you want, are VIM magrails. Come in single, double and triple wide. Endless configurations.

 

[Snapped-off]

There's some guy on Youtube that made a video about them.

They look pretty cool, but they seem expensive. Wonder what the cost to 3d print them is.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

They look pretty cool, but they seem expensive. Wonder what the cost to 3d print them is.

Pennies. The files are free, they just put their own logo on them.

Ratchet Holders by SamBossert

Holders to keep your ratchets organized on their side to maximizer space. The Magnet ones fit a 2mmx12mm magnet and will need a small bit of glue to keep them in. The 1/4" holder fits 1 magnet, 3/8 & 1/2 take 2 each and keep the holders from moving around when there's no ratchet in them. They...

www.thingiverse.com

 

[Snapped-off]

Pennies. The files are free, they just put their own logo on them.

Ratchet Holders by SamBossert

Holders to keep your ratchets organized on their side to maximizer space. The Magnet ones fit a 2mmx12mm magnet and will need a small bit of glue to keep them in. The 1/4" holder fits 1 magnet, 3/8 & 1/2 take 2 each and keep the holders from moving around when there's no ratchet in them. They...

www.thingiverse.com

I wonder if that's the original or someone copied AO?

 

[will335i]

Hopefully someone copied AO because that is bad form if AO got the file from thingiverse and then monetized it. I know what is next it line for my printer now.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I wonder if that's the original or someone copied AO?

Looks like the Apex site is 2022, as are the designs on Thingiverse.

Either way, I'll be printing them up.

Quick math for material cost is at $0.45 (+ magnets) to print one 3/8". $30 for 1kg of Petg ($0.03 a gram), printing at 100% infill (overkill) shows it will use 15g.

 

[Snapped-off]

Looks like the Apex site is 2022, as are the designs on Thingiverse.

Either way, I'll be printing them up.

Quick math for material cost is at $0.45 (+ magnets) to print one 3/8". $30 for 1kg of Petg ($0.03 a gram), printing at 100% infill (overkill) shows it will use 15g.

Good reason to get into 3d printers.

 

[will335i]

Yea if you can handle the tinkering it takes to get a good print they are definitely worth the investment.

 

[Tools4Me]

I have a small metal tray that holds my 1/4" drive ratchets (8 of them). The tray resides in my 1/4" drive socket drawer.

3/8" drive drawer space is tight, so my 3/8" ratchets hang from a magnetic strip that's bolted to the side of my tool chest.

My long handled flex head 1/2" drive ratchet hangs on the magnetic strip along with my 3/8" ratchets, but my other two 1/2" ratchets sit in my 1/2" drive socket drawer.

My 3/4" and 1" drive ratchets (1 in each drive size) sit on a shelf in the shop next to their corresponding socket cases.

 

[swsman]

Nothing special, I try to keep them in the same spot. Sockets nearby as well.

Keep other seldom used ratchets elsewhere in the garage.

 

[M635_Guy]

This is about as good as it gets for me:

A big pile would annoy me. A bunch of holders or a rail would feel slower - I need to see them for some reason.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Good reason to get into 3d printers.

My wife spotted the Ender 3 with all the upgrades on Amazon last night for like $280. Think I paid $300 and installed the upgrades myself a year or so ago. Excellent starter printer.

2 hours later.

 

[will335i]

Creality makes some good printers, specially if you are the type of person that can't leave anything stock. I got my Ender 5 on a sale for less than $200. I easily have more than that in upgrades.

If you want a printer that you don't need to upgrade look at a Prusa.

 

[Grimpala]

Does anyone have an efficient double decker system for ratchets/extensions/etc? My socket drawer is ~4.5" deep I currently have a silverware tray that is 1.75" deep utilizing 40% of the drawer, my socket trays take up the remaining 60%. I feel like I could better use the 40% by having two layers of ratchets/extensions/etc. I'm in the process of designing/3D modeling a double decker tray setup that would hinge up and out similar to a tackle box or tool box, but thought I'd ask here too.

 

[JradM]

Does anyone have an efficient double decker system for ratchets/extensions/etc? My socket drawer is ~4.5" deep I currently have a silverware tray that is 1.75" deep utilizing 40% of the drawer, my socket trays take up the remaining 60%. I feel like I could better use the 40% by having two layers of ratchets/extensions/etc. I'm in the process of designing/3D modeling a double decker tray setup that would hinge up and out similar to a tackle box or tool box, but thought I'd ask here too.

I've never seen anything like that as a retail product. However, I toyed with the idea of installing drawer slides INSIDE one of my deep toolbox drawers and putting a half-width shelf there. The idea being that it could slide back and forth so you could reach anything to either side below it, but also use it to stack another layer.

I don't use the full height in my deep drawers (nothing that big to store) and I don't want to unstack tools to reach things at the bottom.

That might be simpler to make than a multi-hinge tackle-box style fold out tray.

 

[Grimpala]

I've never seen anything like that as a retail product. However, I toyed with the idea of installing drawer slides INSIDE one of my deep toolbox drawers and putting a half-width shelf there. The idea being that it could slide back and forth so you could reach anything to either side below it, but also use it to stack another layer.

I don't use the full height in my deep drawers (nothing that big to store) and I don't want to unstack tools to reach things at the bottom.

That might be simpler to make than a multi-hinge tackle-box style fold out tray.

It would be simpler, you are correct, but my socket organization takes up the full height.

The main reason I bought this new box was so that I could have all my sockets and ratchets in one drawer. I was tired of having to open two drawers to swap sockets and grab an extension.

I would use the lower portion of the tray for seldom used ratchets and extensions, the upper for my 3/8" stuff.

Plus, my frugal/OCD side does not like having empty/unused space in a $1600 tool box.