Socket holder/rails

[STREETFIGHTER50]

I just dug out a huge set of Craftsman sockets that I purchased as a bundle over a decade ago. All are loose in sealed plastic bags. I’d like to get them all organized.
Aside from Harbor Freight’s rails, what are the next cheapest socket rails out there that are still fairly decent?

 

[paulsomlo]

You might look at Wright socket rails - plastic with ball detents, fairly rugged. Also, the Ernst twist lock.

 

[nicks78camaro]

Tekton, you can customize what rails you get and add a tray for them if you'd like

 

[carmantl]

I really like the Hansen style pegs with the sizes on them. Rural King has a knockoff set Crimson brand that are less expensive and have been holding up fine in our crane repair shop.

 

[AC-WC]

If you're just looking for organization that's want you want. You won't get any cheaper than the HF rails. When they go on sale they're .99cents I have some but only use them on small sets like torx sockets or allen head sockets. I don't use the cheap rails for sockets I use even semi frequently because they always seem to work loose with useage. If you want something better they're 10x the price of the rails. IF you want to be able to take them from the box to the project you're working on than you need something different. I've found the magnetic stuff is great but expensive. The post styles are semi inexpensive but no 'locking feature' to prevent losing them from project to project.

Sometimes you get lucky like this HF clearance item-https://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-socket-drawer-organizers-99717.html

 

[jayemm]

You might try Cripe Distributing on their ebay store. I've purchased Craftsman (USA made) socket rails from them last year. Shipping could be cheaper but was made up by the cheap rail costs. Check their web store for different sizes and brands available.

Kobalt 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" Drive Socket Storage Rails USA 22971 22970 22969 Bulk | eBay

Jig Saw Blades. Tool Storage. Conveniently hangs by hang hole or lays flat in toolbox. Made in the USA. Knives & Blades. Chisels & Punches. 11 1/4" in length. Bungee Cords & Tie Downs.

www.ebay.com

 

[STREETFIGHTER50]

You might look at Wright socket rails - plastic with ball detents, fairly rugged. Also, the Ernst twist lock.

These Wright rails do look like the ones my Matco sockets came with years ago. They are pretty solid for plastic pieces. Think I will go with them! Where’s the best place to order these online?

 

[jayemm]

These Wright rails do look like the ones my Matco sockets came with years ago. They are pretty solid for plastic pieces. Think I will go with them! Where’s the best place to order these online?

Try HJE. Harry J Epstein

Search results for: 'wright socket rail'

www.harryepstein.com

 

[Wamsutta]

Extravagant socket rails.

 

[bwringer]

Ernst twist-lock, hands-down. Well worth the minor added cost over that gawdawful metal spring garbage because the goddurn sockets won't come off and scatter all over the goddurn place every time you look at it crosseyed... Plus, you can mix-n-match the clips on the rails, which can come in very handy. They make a very nice variety of lengths, colors, etc. Poke around on the Brazilian River.

Tekton sells some Ernst stuff, and nice trays and such depending on your level of OCD, space available, etc.

Socket Organization Rails and Trays | TEKTON

Use Tekton's modular system of twist-to-lock socket rails and trays to organize your tools and save space in tool cabinet drawers.

www.tekton.com

If you need to go cheapo for stuff you're not moving around all that much or you're planning to sell or whatever, this ball detent set from Harbor Freight actually works extremely well, and $4 for three rails with mix-n-match clips is a screaming bargain. They're not twist lock, but the spring-loaded detent balls really do hang on to sockets fairly well without making them too tough to remove.

Socket Rail Set, 3 Piece

Amazing deals on this 3Pc Socket Rail Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[RTM]

Try HJE. Harry J Epstein

Search results for: 'wright socket rail'

www.harryepstein.com

That’s where mine came from. Had to wait for one size connector to come back in stock mid 2022. I think.

 

[bonneyman]

I've tried lots of different methods. In the end I went back to two designs. For sockets on the move I use the old fashioned metal clip rails. For tool box storage I went to the plastic tray and pole style with the sizes on it.

 

[Qualitytools]

I like the ARES magnetic rails and similar the KOKEN magnetic rails.

 

[Scooterfish]

Several options on Amazon.

 

[Steve_P]

Ernst twist-lock, hands-down. Well worth the minor added cost over that gawdawful metal spring garbage because the goddurn sockets won't come off and scatter all over the goddurn place every time you look at it crosseyed... Plus, you can mix-n-match the clips on the rails, which can come in very handy. They make a very nice variety of lengths, colors, etc. Poke around on the Brazilian River.

Tekton sells some Ernst stuff, and nice trays and such depending on your level of OCD, space available, etc.

Socket Organization Rails and Trays | TEKTON

Use Tekton's modular system of twist-to-lock socket rails and trays to organize your tools and save space in tool cabinet drawers.

www.tekton.com

Ha! You sound like you hate those metal spring clip rails even more than I do. I don't want to say that any of that style are good, but the cheapest of them, like what you get with a small set of no name specialty type sockets, are just absolutely terrible. This reminds me that I have a box of them that I need to take to Habitat, or somewhere, and get rid of them .

I'm also a fan of the Ernst rails, and wrench racks... but the cost adds up quickly when you have a lot of tools. I jumped on the Ernst wagon when they first came out because there really wasn't anything else with that modular design at the time. Now that there are dozens of similar options, I'm not sure I'd go with Ernst if I was starting off today, but probably.

 

[jayemm]

This thread got me thinking last night.
Ordered these from Amazon:

Amazon.com

Thinking about these:

Amazon.com

 

[Skellyii]

Ha! You sound like you hate those metal spring clip rails even more than I do. I don't want to say that any of that style are good, but the cheapest of them, like what you get with a small set of no name specialty type sockets, are just absolutely terrible. This reminds me that I have a box of them that I need to take to Habitat, or somewhere, and get rid of them .

Ha-Ha!! I think I hate those @#$%! metal spring clip rails more than either of you! I banished those things from my shop back in the 80s.

Surprisingly, Walmart has some clearance prices on various solutions at the moment. I use a combination of Hansen and HF rails for my socket storage.

 

[Vvmvbb]

…nothing wrong with this style. Mine are the black and grey rails that I used to buy at sears (jayemm showed black above). I use black for sae, grey for metric. One of these days I might pick up some colors for specials like torx and triple squares, etc.
I like to cut the rails to length on my power miter saw to group smaller sets.

 

[Walkers]

I went with VIM Magrails and couldn't be happier.

 

[amolaver]

I've got a bunch of Ernst and mostly like them...but for 2.5 things. 1) the biggest issue i have is they arent stiff enough for 1/2 sockets (deeps/swivels especially). Thats really the biggest reason I've moved away from them. They should be embedding an AL or steel core in the mold IMO. 2) I've moved to using a tilt-lid cart, and the VIM magrails have integral magnets that i can hang on the lid. That said..i keep the 1/2" in the cart rather than on the lid. Rail's magnets are plenty strong for it, but i dont trust the sockets staying on while rolling around 2.5) the VIM magrail's magnets are strong enough to easily stand upright through a drawer liner - no base needed like the earnst. The ernst base+rail height has NOT been an issue for any of my sockets..but it is taller than the VIM and wastes width (between the rails) while the VIM can be butted right up against each other...

 

[Madjik Man]

If you want super cheap why not just flat magnetic bars and just stick the sockets on them?

 

[four.cycle]

The low-end "clip" rails from Harbor Freight are not worth hauling home, even for 99 cents each.

Let me put it this way: I did NOT send any of them out to my "NOT Secret Santa" victims. I don't want to make enemies here.

 

[jayemm]

The low-end "clip" rails from Harbor Freight are not worth hauling home, even for 99 cents each.

Let me put it this way: I did NOT send any of them out to my "NOT Secret Santa" victims. I don't want to make enemies here.

Yes, they are pure garbage. I'll confess that I needed one and lacking a stand alone socket to be found in the store to do a check fit (all were packaged in some form) took a chance. Once home, the socket rail experienced a few sockets in it's short lifetime on the way to the trash can.

 

[Wamsutta]

By the way, socket set 211FY will fit on socket rail A269A. Back in the day, the socket sets used to already come on socket rails with clips like the A269A. But what's different today is the 211FY set includes only 11 sockets, leaving the 11/32" socket out. But back in the day the set included the 11/32" socket making up a total of 12 sockets.

 

[Madjik Man]

I've got a bunch of Ernst and mostly like them...but for 2.5 things. 1) the biggest issue i have is they arent stiff enough for 1/2 sockets (deeps/swivels especially). Thats really the biggest reason I've moved away from them. They should be embedding an AL or steel core in the mold IMO. 2) I've moved to using a tilt-lid cart, and the VIM magrails have integral magnets that i can hang on the lid. That said..i keep the 1/2" in the cart rather than on the lid. Rail's magnets are plenty strong for it, but i dont trust the sockets staying on while rolling around 2.5) the VIM magrail's magnets are strong enough to easily stand upright through a drawer liner - no base needed like the earnst. The ernst base+rail height has NOT been an issue for any of my sockets..but it is taller than the VIM and wastes width (between the rails) while the VIM can be butted right up against each other...

VIM Magrails is my #1 choice if it wasn’t so expensive.

The OP specifically did request the next cheapest option to HF.

 

[jkesselr]

I am a die hard socket rail guy, because there is no other system as versatile or as compact on the market. That said, I am trying to get away from them. I am trying to switch to the Olsa style holders. They are expensive, take up more room, and force you to buy sockets that you don’t otherwise have. While these drawbacks ****, I can’t argue with the ease of dropping sockets in, and the stability of the sockets in the drawer. Just one more perspective.

 

[Ulrich1able]

Taking a pair of pliers and crimping the edges of the clips on the harbor freight rails helped a lot with keeping the sockets on the rail, especially heavy deep sockets that like to rip the clips off the rail from the weight.

Vim magrails are my favorite since you can just drop the socket onto the rail, but they are way too expensive.

 

[seber]

I like twistlock rails but my favorite is one I made myself. 3/8" dowels with a sub base of strong plastic magnetic strip. Drilled and glued to a thin wood strip.

 

[Scooterfish]

The OLSA, ARES and NEIKO rails all appear the same. Clips can be added or removed as needed and all sizes socket clips can be changed between rails. Lowest cost is usually a 3 pack 1/4,3/8, 1/2,. Rails can be cut down to fit tool box. Prices very depending on color too. If you like the magnetic rails you can order magnetic type for the rail bottoms on Amazon cheaper than magnetic rails.

In typical GJ fashion I ordered a 3 pack of the OLSA`s 17inch rails which I plan to cut down for some hex , torx and bit sockets.

 

[Skellyii]

Check out this thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/shrinkflation-hits-hypertough-socket-holder.526969/

 

[lilcraigford]

I regurgitate this post anytime plastic socket rails come up.

The two major sources for plastic USA-made socket rails are VIM and Ernst.

VIM:
Armstrong
Craftsman
Kobalt *Formerly; can still be found NOS through places like Cripe Distributing.
Matco
McMaster Carr *I believe these are Wright branded.
SK *Called "Suregrip" Rails; I have only seen these included in socket sets.
Wright

Ernst:
Mac
Snap On
Tekton

Here is an older post with part numbers for the VIM-sourced rails.

 

[908Jim]

This thread got me thinking last night.
Ordered these from Amazon:

Amazon.com

Thinking about these:

Amazon.com

I have several of the bottom style (Ares) that have been great for the year I have owned them. Daily stuff is still on Hansen trays but swivels and bits all go on Ares rails. Frequently on sale too

 

[SusKatCas]

I have a bit of everything. Cheap spring clips, nicer plastic detent lock, some magnetic paired shallow and deep well trays.

Recently it occurred to me that the old fashioned mild steel trays are hard to beat.

So I made a few. My fab skills are less than artwork, but improving. The fourth tray was better than the first.

Attached images show the blow molded HF case for a 3/8" impact set and then four trays and loose extensions that I reduced to. I use red for metric and black for imperial.

Cheers, Alan

 

[Wyoming09]

My go to are the Ernst rails. Available either fron Ernst or Summit Racing. I do believe that the Tekton rails are Ernst also.

 

[Steve_P]

VIM Magrails is my #1 choice if it wasn’t so expensive.

The OP specifically did request the next cheapest option to HF.

I had a few sets of the Vim magrails that I used, and made the mistake of getting two of them too close to each other on a wooden bench. I think they were lying on their sides? The magnetism sucked them together, a finger was in between them, and BAM! Talk about a blood blister. And that was the end of the magrails for me. Even if that didn't happen, I found the magnets to just be too strong for something that you'll take out of the drawer- I don't need 10 lbs of magnetic pull for a tiny set of bit sockets so that I need the lifting ring to pry it off the welding table.

Yes, the Vim magrail price is insane and makes the Ernst rails a bargain; plus, I like the size labels on the Ernst. Yes, the Ernst are too flimsy for 1/2" sockets, especially impacts, if you take them out of the box; I almost always just grab the few sizes I'll need and leave the rails in the drawer. I also have a few of the Vim? plastic ones, some of the Ares (which are nice), and some of the Koken aluminum rails; the Koken are similar to the Ares style, but of course fancier. If I wanted to take the 1/2" rails out of the drawer often, I'd probably get the Ares style and then add the Ernst/Tekton labels to them. The only thing I didn't love about the Ares style is that the clips can easily move, unlike the Ernst that have the teeth to hold them to the rail. If I was starting over now, it'd be between the Ares style and the Ernst. Yes, neither are budget priced, and I've/we've drifted way off course .

For a budget choice, the only one I could deal with would be the HF plastic ones posted above, which appear to be a hybrid of the Ernst style rail and the Ares style clips. The only other thing in that price range is the worst of the steel spring clip style, and...

 

[richfinn]

How wide is the VIM magrail?

Is VIM the only retailer that sells it?

Hard/expensive to get in the UK but would like to try one out for my tool bag (currently using a Ko-ken magnetic rail with plastic clips but they tend to slide around on the rail in the back of my van.