Ratchet/Socket Storage?

[karoc]

Guys I’m not up to date on what the Latest & Greatest is when it comes to storage of these items. Guessing the individual metal boxes is in past and plastic is taking over. Being somewhat I guess old school shopping at Sears in 70’s I would buy socket set which be metal containers. Now days seems all plastic, which looking at pic here, that set is maybe 10 yrs old. Well it’s coming apart, the plastic hinge is almost separated. I just now started buying roll around tool cabinets 44” for storage. But what’s out there that hold sockets both metric and standard. I’m no mechanic but at least I try be organized.

 

[jblnut]

Hansen socket trays are a steller way to store sockets.


Ratchets get stored on a pile next to the neatly organized sockets lol

 

[Crazyjake8493]

The Hansen socket trays (or a comparable knockoff) are the best way to go. Compact and easy to see what you have or what's missing. My socket drawer has the HF versions for 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive in both SAE and metric. Larger sockets stand up on their own next to the trays, and oddball socket sets like 8-point, tap sockets, oil wrench sockets, and bolt extractors are on their own $0.99 socket rails. My ratchets are in a smaller drawer right above the socket drawer. Wrenches are in another drawer on the tooth-shaped wrench holders.

 

[iagsxr]

I have the Hansens for my 1/2" drive stuff that doesn't get used much and is in the top of my top box. Otherwise I sort of hate them.

I have Olsa for everything else. In my case red for standard, blue for metric.

https://www.amazon.com/Olsa-Tools-Magnetic-Organizer-Sockets/dp/B07R54K28H/?tag=atomicindus08-20

My Snap On ratchets are in the blow molded tray they came with. The rest of my ratchets sort of lay on top of that. 1/2" drive ratchets just lay in the top of the top box.

 

[Freeborn John]

The Hansen trays are good, though unfortunately for anybody with heaps of 3/8 of whatever, the different sizes aren't available separately.

 

[3baygarage]

Guys I’m not up to date on what the Latest & Greatest is when it comes to storage of these items. Guessing the individual metal boxes is in past and plastic is taking over. Being somewhat I guess old school shopping at Sears in 70’s I would buy socket set which be metal containers. Now days seems all plastic, which looking at pic here, that set is maybe 10 yrs old. Well it’s coming apart, the plastic hinge is almost separated. I just now started buying roll around tool cabinets 44” for storage. But what’s out there that hold sockets both metric and standard. I’m no mechanic but at least I try be organized.

No idea about that specific cased set, but those ratchets were out 40 yrs ago.

 

[Etchase]

If you ever want to pick up the tray and move it, Hansen’s probably aren’t the best route. Hard to know what to do with your hex, torx, stubby, 1/8, 4.5, double or more square and other oddball sockets. Traditional rails are very easy to modify, and flexible in arrangement and accommodate everything. Kobalt makes a $8 magnetic tray without set locations for the sockets or whatever which is useful. If you don’t have to lock your box, sticking the various magnetic options to the outside of your box, sure frees up drawer space and eases access. I think rails still win for packing density.

Rubber-coated, Magnetic Steel Magnetic Accessory One Medium Socket Organizer 12-inch https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Medium-Socket-Organizer-Tray-12-in/5001994735

 

[Monza Harry]

Do you have much success with wooden projects? You could build your own that look like @iagsxr posted, make them in sizes that fit your sets/needs, cut the 1½"/side longer to add handles for portability. Spade bits will do this, but Fostner bits will likely be prettier but not absolutely necessary. Those plastic blow moulded cases are great for portability, need to work in the driveway, NP, grab and go! Longevity is not so great though. Harry

 

[Joe Reed]

Thingiverse has some listed that you can 3D print if that's an option for you....

 

[ybnormal]

Guys I’m not up to date on what the Latest & Greatest is when it comes to storage of these items. Guessing the individual metal boxes is in past and plastic is taking over. Being somewhat I guess old school shopping at Sears in 70’s I would buy socket set which be metal containers. Now days seems all plastic, which looking at pic here, that set is maybe 10 yrs old. Well it’s coming apart, the plastic hinge is almost separated. I just now started buying roll around tool cabinets 44” for storage. But what’s out there that hold sockets both metric and standard. I’m no mechanic but at least I try be organized.

easy fix for the hinge, did this about 15 yrs ago. I went to HD, bought some piano hinge, cut it to length and then pop-riveted it on the case. when the snaps started not holding a few years later, I made the decision to put sockets on the plastic HF rails, with the rail painted blue or red for SAE or Metric. then I shoved them into canvas tool bags. sockets go in a larger bag, wrenches, in another bag, screwdrivers in a third bag, etc. I did that since I take my tools to the junkyard when pulling parts. makes it easy to find the tool I need in the right bag.

 

[nadogail]

Color Coded Socket Rails are a great idea.

 

[jsaw]

Those blow molded cases are designed to take up lots of space so that You have to buy a bigger tool box.

Some sockets came with rails, and some are homemade

 

[Mike65]

I have my sockets in one drawer on rails, extensions in another drawer, & the rachets in another drawer.

 

[Homewrecker]

I still use the Snap-on moveable peg socket rails I got years ago. I've got a bunch mounted to my top box for 1/4, 3/8 etc. Not sure if they're still available but if they are I'm sure you'll need a second mortgage nowadays lol.

 

[GarageHobbyist]

I just printed these for my new Tekton set.

I already had a 3D printer because I enjoy messing with it, but I am going to guess I will have saved more than what the printer cost by printing organization stuff for my new tool box. Plus being able to design and customize things to my specific tools and needs is pretty nice.

 

[ZRX61]

Free Zone racks & clips from Amazon. (The red, blue & yellow racks )
The longer ones are Tekton.
Freezone make bigger racks than these ones.

 

[tjpavlov]

Wrestling trays are expensive but also pretty much indestructible.

 

[AJHD]

.

 

[milkovich]

If you're a mechanic, I don't think you can beat the VIM magrails but they're expensive. For home, take a look at Ernst. I use a red socket boss for SAE, and a blue socket boss for metric. You can take the whole tray to the car or put it on a cart, if you remember to lock the sockets in, they're not going anywhere. Plus Ernst is made in Oregon and they're great folks. The only complaint I have is that on my old box, the drawers were only 3" tall or so and the extra 1/2" or height wouldn't let me stand the deep sockets up. I have a deep drawer now and there's no issues.

 

[Wyoming09]

I like the Ernst socket rails.

 

[rust in the eye]

You're in Texas and no duct tape?
Depends if you need it portable or not. I like the Hansen style organizers already mentioned for the shop. For mobile any of the clip on socket rails will do.

 

[Nutria]

I think that my setup sets the floor for available options: a pile of ratchets and sockets on annoying metal rails and clips.

 

[Robinson1]

Heres what I did for my impact sockets. This is the SAE set. I’ve got a similar setup for metric. Used 1x1 aluminum angle pop riveted to the bottom for dividers. There’s a couple extensions a universal and a ratchet in there too. Set goes all the way from 3/8 to 1-1/2 in shallow and 7/16 to 1-1/4 in deep. Makes it really nice to just grab the whole box and take to the project. The box is just a tractor supply Job Smart brand was cheap but has held up well. I’d imagine you could do some very similar for 3/8 and 1/4 drive sockets as well

 

[CJM8515]

i just use plastic socket rails for everything. if it doesnt fit on the rail it goes in a sep area. this way i can grab the entire rail and go. think i got them at sears years ago. but everywhere else like lowes, home depot, amazon sell them.

i like the magnetic socket trays, but feel they take up to much space and the way my box is setup i lay down most of my longer socket sets.

 

[charbar]

If you are wanting something that is easily portable I like a twist lock style rail.

If you are just looking to organize in a tool box or on a workbench then the peg style Hansen socket holders are hard to beat if you don't have a boatload of sockets. Harbor Freight sells their own version of the Hansens for a fraction of the price. For extensions, wobbles, reducers etc a 3 dollar bar magnet from HF works pretty well also.

 

[AEAdam]

Aren't mechanics time savers made in Texas?

Mechanic's Time Savers | Mastering The Art Of Tool Control

Mechanic's Time Savers, Inc. is the leading manufacturer in magnetic tool control systems, components and accessories in the USA. All products are user friendly and ergonomically designed for mechanics by mechanics. Mechanic's Time Savers, Inc. products feature a non-transferable magnetic base...

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[Al Borland]

Heres what I did for my impact sockets. This is the SAE set. I’ve got a similar setup for metric. Used 1x1 aluminum angle pop riveted to the bottom for dividers. There’s a couple extensions a universal and a ratchet in there too. Set goes all the way from 3/8 to 1-1/2 in shallow and 7/16 to 1-1/4 in deep. Makes it really nice to just grab the whole box and take to the project. The box is just a tractor supply Job Smart brand was cheap but has held up well. I’d imagine you could do some very similar for 3/8 and 1/4 drive sockets as well

Did Similar, 1/2 drive metric and SAE, Shallow and Deep on HF rails in one box (4 rails) shallows on the outsides, deeps in the center, Small and large reverse row to row to help balance. Ratchets and Extensions on top of the shallows. Box weighs a bunch, but holds up fine. 17 inch or so Tractor Supply jobsmart box.

 

[jgump]

I have that set. Got it for Xmas in 1989 or 1990. My hinge and locks broke as well. I purchased metal hinges and locks from Amazon and pop riveted them in.

 

[jgump]

Here is what I used:

4pcs Latch (2 front and 1 on each side): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HR69P92/?tag=atomicindus08-20

2pcs small sus hinge. Could not find my amazon order, but they took up the sale of the existing hinges,