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Socket Driver Organization

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nissan_crawler

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2008
Messages
9,638
Location
Wichita, KS
I'm with wilbilt on this one. I don't look at the socket size anyway, it makes no difference to me. I can remove a socket from a rail one-handed, reaching up while laying on a creeper. If I need several sizes, i can take the entire rail under the vehicle with me and have them all. If it tips over, no biggie. Tip a hansen tray over, and you're playing find-the-sockets.

Like he said, if you only have enough clips on the rail for the sockets you have, you can tell easily if one is gone. I also dislike the waste of space. The lisle magnetic holders are nice, too. I have them at work.
 
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S

Stanger

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
1,298
Location
Alton, IL
Why not? Do you rely on the labels to determine the size?
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Well, since mine are on Hansen trays and the sockets are upside down, yes I do rely on labels. I could pick out my sizes if they were face up as they are on a clip rail, but not everyone that uses my box could. I try to make it user friendly for people that don't know all the sizes and don't know where stuff is located. It is easier for them to determine which section is which drive size, and it is easy to differentiate between SAE and metric since the trays are different colors. Nothing serious but it all helps. I don't want to lay under the car for 30 mins waiting for them to retrieve a tool.:lol_hitti
No difference with rails...if there is an empty clip, something is missing.
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True if you have the same number of clips as you have sockets. If not, someone could move the socket down a couple clips and you wouldn't immediately know which was missing. 3/8 sockets can fit on any 3/8 clip. With Hansen trays each socket has its specific storage space. Again, not a big deal, but it might save 10 seconds looking for a socket. It is easier for me, but probably not all.
I can remove a socket from a rail one-handed, reaching up while laying on a creeper.
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Your clips are probably worn in some. The ones I used in other shops were new and tough(considering the task) to remove from the clips.
If I need several sizes, i can take the entire rail under the vehicle with me and have them all. If it tips over, no biggie. Tip a hansen tray over, and you're playing find-the-sockets.
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I just bring the sizes I need to my workspace. This could be different in a shop environment if you're box isn't near your work. I'm no more than 15 feet from my box most of the time. Even then I just grab the sizes I need and bring them to the job. No need for 15 different sizes when I just need 5. I never remove my Hansen tray from my box so tipping it over isn't a concern.
 
B

bchee

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2007
Messages
6,148
Location
Texas
wantedabiggergarage said:
I am SERIOUSLY giving thought to getting some of those Socket Lockit's.
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I think I would use those for all of my sockets if they were cheaper, AND if you were able to add more clips. I'm thinking about getting them at least for heavy 1/2 and impacts.
 

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W

wilbilt

Banned
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
5,602
Location
NorCal
Stanger said:
Well, since mine are on Hansen trays and the sockets are upside down, yes I do rely on labels. I could pick out my sizes if they were face up as they are on a clip rail, but not everyone that uses my box could. I try to make it user friendly for people that don't know all the sizes and don't know where stuff is located. It is easier for them to determine which section is which drive size, and it is easy to differentiate between SAE and metric since the trays are different colors. Nothing serious but it all helps. I don't want to lay under the car for 30 mins waiting for them to retrieve a tool.
Click to expand...

I guess that makes a difference. Nobody uses my box but me, and I know my sockets by sight, feel and location.

If it was a community box, I could see how labeled and color-coded storage would make sense.
 
N

nissan_crawler

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2008
Messages
9,638
Location
Wichita, KS
Stanger said:
Well, since mine are on Hansen trays and the sockets are upside down, yes I do rely on labels. I could pick out my sizes if they were face up as they are on a clip rail, but not everyone that uses my box could. I try to make it user friendly for people that don't know all the sizes and don't know where stuff is located. It is easier for them to determine which section is which drive size, and it is easy to differentiate between SAE and metric since the trays are different colors. Nothing serious but it all helps. I don't want to lay under the car for 30 mins waiting for them to retrieve a tool.:lol_hitti

True if you have the same number of clips as you have sockets. If not, someone could move the socket down a couple clips and you wouldn't immediately know which was missing. 3/8 sockets can fit on any 3/8 clip. With Hansen trays each socket has its specific storage space. Again, not a big deal, but it might save 10 seconds looking for a socket. It is easier for me, but probably not all.

Your clips are probably worn in some. The ones I used in other shops were new and tough(considering the task) to remove from the clips.

I just bring the sizes I need to my workspace. This could be different in a shop environment if you're box isn't near your work. I'm no more than 15 feet from my box most of the time. Even then I just grab the sizes I need and bring them to the job. No need for 15 different sizes when I just need 5. I never remove my Hansen tray from my box so tipping it over isn't a concern.
Click to expand...

Ummm...my sae and metric are different colors, and the sizes are easy to distinguish.

Why leave spare clips on the rail? remove them, and you won't have empty spaces. try removing or adding to a hansen tray, good luck with that. If you don't have that socket size, you have an empty space. If you have a socket for a size not listed, you have a socket floating around. These clips are brand new, and not tough to remove at all.

Each to their own, but I fail to see what the hansen ones do any better. I also don't see how somebody that can't tell a socket size by looking at it, CAN tell a bolt size by looking at it and know what they need:confused: Edit: N/m, I see you have people helping you, not working on their own thing.

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T

Titus

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 1, 2008
Messages
393
Location
Nevada, TX
I started out with the gray craftsman trays and hated them. I then went to rails, but was still unhappy. I finally bit the bullet and bought the Hansen trays and I am VERY happy with them. For now I keep the oddball stuff in a pile in the corner, but I plan on building a peg board for them.

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The only down side to the hansen trays that I have found is the addiction to fill every peg. I just started a new tradition that every time I order something from sears, I include 2 needed sockets in the order.
 

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J

john w

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
225
Location
Damascus, MD
I carry my 3/8 sockets back and forth to school once a week and have just switched to a Lisle holder because of the arthritis in my left wrist and my shop partners and i like the new setup a lot better than the rack and clips. I've also bought 3 quick-release ratchets recently and they too help Arthur. My wife has promised to show me how to post pictures this weekend of all my new goodies.This board has been a god-send to me.
 
O

OpOrange

Active member
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
28
i just bought a new MAC tool carts and i am trying to figure out the best way to keep my sockets in it...i am leaning towards rails...
 
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