Reccommend socket holders, wrench racks

[walrus]

Looking to buy some holders to organize my boxes. I'm using rails for sockets and they're ok but... What are you guys using and wheres the best place to buy?

 

[Merkava_4]

I like the authentic WrenchRack brand myself. They come in 12 slot and 15 slot - forward and reverse. You can get them from all four of the truck brands as well as a few online vendors.

 

[Deer Run]

I like Hansen trays for my sockets. They are not great for taking with you to your work, but if your tray stays in your toolbox they are great. I have lots of them.

 

[Fedwrench]

I use wrench rails from Snap on or any of the other trucks. The great thing about wrench rails is that there is no wasted space. There's no need to buy reverse wrench racks and you can trim them to fit almost any drawer.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...d=3225&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

As for socket holders, I prefer the Craftsman, Matco, or Vim plastic rails. They don't take up a lot of space and unlike the Hansen trays, you can tailor the rail to almost any size set or type of socket.

 

[Taylor J.]

Hansen socket trays work for me...but they do take up quiet a bit of space and must be placed in a deep drawer. Just my $.02

 

[Cryptic1911]

the foam wrench racks from sears (craftsman) are pretty cool, and I bought a shitload of the .89c metal rails from harbor freight for sockets.. going to rivet them to some sheetmetal

 

[walrus]

I use wrench rails from Snap on or any of the other trucks. The great thing about wrench rails is that there is no wasted space. There's no need to buy reverse wrench racks and you can trim them to fit almost any drawer.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...d=3225&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all.

What holds those rails in the drawer? Cut them to fit and then friction holds them in? what keeps them spaced apart?

 

[J.P.]

Ernst Manufacturing makes the best wrench racks/screwdriver racks/organizers in my opinion. US made, lifetime warranty, very reasonably priced.

www.ernstmfg.com

I think socket storage is strictly preference. I've got some hansen, some c-man rails and some lisle magnetic socket trays. I think the lisle's are the best if you're packing your sockets around a lot.

 

[BWright]

the foam wrench racks from sears (craftsman) are pretty cool, and I bought a shitload of the .89c metal rails from harbor freight for sockets.. going to rivet them to some sheetmetal

The 1/4 inch harbor freight rails ****. Just to be warned. Its a pain in the **** to get sockets on and off them.

 

[GTO]

I like the Hansen Trays,plus they are "Made in USA"

 

[porschedude996TT]

What holds those rails in the drawer? Cut them to fit and then friction holds them in? what keeps them spaced apart?

They have a double stick tape on the bottom.

I had these in a box that I am handing down to my youngest son. I had these installed in the box for 30 years and they were still stuck down very well. Basially I layed them out and marked the location around with a sharpie with the wrenches in place and then unloaded the wrenches and pulled the tape.

 

[Major Ramifications]

I use these from Sears. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941849000P?keyword=craftsman+socket+rack
Made in USA and the spring loaded detent ball is just like removing/installing them on a ratchet. They sell extra holders for the rails, if you need them.

 

[Davefr]

The 1/4 inch harbor freight rails ****. Just to be warned. Its a pain in the **** to get sockets on and off them.

I agree. All of the HF socket rails ****. They're made of such thin steel that the spring clips actually start bowing the rails. When that happens the clips/sockets start falling off.

By contrast, SO's socket rails are made with a much heavier guage steel.

I thought HF could figure out how to make something as simple as a socket rail but I was wrong!!

 

[mossyboy6]

I agree. All of the HF socket rails ****. They're made of such thin steel that the spring clips actually start bowing the rails. When that happens the clips/sockets start falling off.

By contrast, SO's socket rails are made with a much heavier guage steel.

I thought HF could figure out how to make something as simple as a socket rail but I was wrong!!

Well I guess you're wrong again, because the spring clip rails are not the only ones that they sell...

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I like the rails, skip the hansons, they will not fit torx, so I like rails

 

[speed bump]

I use Cman rails although the Snap-ons are slightly cheaper. For wrenches I use the Ernst racks.

 

[jeepnut24]

I agree. All of the HF socket rails ****. They're made of such thin steel that the spring clips actually start bowing the rails. When that happens the clips/sockets start falling off.

By contrast, SO's socket rails are made with a much heavier guage steel.

I thought HF could figure out how to make something as simple as a socket rail but I was wrong!!

Been using the HF versions for a few years now, they have held their shape better than the CMAN equivalents. No problems here and less than 1/4 of the price. No bowing or clips falling off either. My CMAN rails always loose sockets.

 

[chrislehr]

Those Ernst wrench rails - is the magnetic tape strong enough to stick ok through a thin (3-4mm) drawer liner?

 

[Snap50]

Ernst Manufacturing makes the best wrench racks/screwdriver racks/organizers in my opinion. US made, lifetime warranty, very reasonably priced.

www.ernstmfg.com

I think socket storage is strictly preference. I've got some hansen, some c-man rails and some lisle magnetic socket trays. I think the lisle's are the best if you're packing your sockets around a lot.

JP

What do you think of their socket rails?

 

[Zrexxer]

Those Ernst wrench rails - is the magnetic tape strong enough to stick ok through a thin (3-4mm) drawer liner?

Not even close.

 

[crewchief888]

i like the wrenchracks, i have some old metal wrench racks that are still serving their purpose.
hansen sockets racks,
snapon socket rails/clips,
old CM rails/clips, they seem be a little better made than the newer ones
and a lot of sockets sets still in the original metal trays
ive seen original socket trays at the flea market...... cheap
i kept the original blow molded boxes that i got my SO 3/8 drive sets in, toss them in a bag for heading to the junkyard, same with an SK 1/4 drive set

guess it all depends on what you like

 

[Griff93]

I've broken several of their rails. They don't hold up to the leverage of deep sockets. Their wrench racks on the other hand are great. I also have one of their low profile screwdriver racks. Both of these I would definitely buy again.

 

[truckdriver]

I bought a bunch of rails from HF and some were great and others would crush the clip trying to get the socket on. Looked them over real good and found all the bad ones were marked china and the good ones were Taiwan. I went back and picked up 3 more Taiwan racks and they were just fine.

 

[jeepnut24]

I bought a bunch of rails from HF and some were great and others would crush the clip trying to get the socket on. Looked them over real good and found all the bad ones were marked china and the good ones were Taiwan. I went back and picked up 3 more Taiwan racks and they were just fine.

Thats my experience as well.

 

[nw2571]

I use the Hansen trays for my go to sockets, 6 pt. I put oddballs on C-man rails, 12 pts, torx, hex, spark plug, and crows feet. Works well for me. The only problem with the Hansen's is you'll find yourself wanting to fill them out, meaning you'll probably end up with sockets you'll never use. Who even makes a 4.5 mm?

For wrenches right now I'm laying them straight in the drawers. I'll probably be buying the Ernst racks soon enough. They also make low profiles if you keep wrenches in a short drawer. These guys carry Ernst's complete line:
http://stores.ebay.com/IN-THE-HANDS-OF-PROFESSIONALS?_rdc=1

 

[Jay H 237]

Ernst Manufacturing makes the best wrench racks/screwdriver racks/organizers in my opinion. US made, lifetime warranty, very reasonably priced.

www.ernstmfg.com

Thanks for the link, I just ordered some stuff from them. Socket organizers and also the divided drawer organizers. I had nothing more to do on a Monday night than to spend some money!

 

[J.P.]

Good choice Jay H. Getting tool organizers in the mail isn't quite as exciting as the actual tools that go in them but probably the next best thing. You should be happy with your purchase.

 

[Merkava_4]

 

[myslow2002gt]

I really like the Ernst socket rails, with easy to see markings for sizing.

I also agree with Merk, I like my wrenchrack brand as well for wrenches

 

[walrus]

Merk

A reverse rack would have the small end at the back of the box(drawer) instead of the wide end?

 

[Merkava_4]

Merk

A reverse rack would have the small end at the back of the box(drawer) instead of the wide end?

Yes - or the wide end would be against the front of the drawer.

 

[Merkava_4]

The WrenchRack on the (front right) and (rear left) are reverse 12 slot racks.

 

[Rickster]

I have the Hanson trays for most of my sockets and a couple of Mag Mats I picked up at HF to hold down the larger sockets.

 

[trythis]

I stumbled on some blue Hanson brand wrench holders at an Oriely's auto store. I have no idea if they still make them, but they were $5.00 and USA made. They have pressure clips or you can cut them out. They didn't have revers style though.

 

[compman25]

I use these from Sears. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941849000P?keyword=craftsman+socket+rack
Made in USA and the spring loaded detent ball is just like removing/installing them on a ratchet. They sell extra holders for the rails, if you need them.

Harbor Freight sells those for $3 for a 3 size set, although they are made in China. But they work just as good as the Craftsman ones for 1/4 of the price.

 

[ProGun3400]

For sockets, I use these: (Matco tools Item # 444)


And they look like this:

 

[radrush]

Those Ernst wrench rails - is the magnetic tape strong enough to stick ok through a thin (3-4mm) drawer liner?

I own several of the Ernst gripper wrench holders; they are not magnetic.

I also own a number of Ernst socket rail mounting kits. All have magnets and none are strong enough to stick through the drawer liner. I have the Craftsman non-skid type drawer liner.

Because at a later date I may decide to trash the drawer liners or reconfigure the setup, I'm not sorry that I got the magnetic mounting kits.

A note on the Ernst socket rail mounting kit: When placed in the horizontal position, the socket rail only engages the middle mount, the socket rail simply rests on the other two, upper and lower, mounts. When placed in the vertical position the socket rail hangs from the upper mount, engages the middle mount, and rest on the lower mount.

I use my socket rails in a tool box and since the magnets do not stick through the liner they can, initially, be a little irritating. If the rails/mounting kit is placed perpendicular to the drawer's slides all is well. If the rails/mounting kit is placed parallel to the drawer's slides, upon closing the drawer the socket rails tend to slide toward the back of the drawer.

This is only an issue for my 13" long 1/4" drive rails which are placed in the drawer longways front-to-back. I resolved the issue by simply sliding the socket rails back so that they touch the back of the drawer. My 3/8" drive and 1/2" drive rails are placed longways side-to-side, perpendicular to the drawer's slides.