Socket organization - custom solution ?

WR250F · Aug 29, 2011

I've looked thru every socket organizer I can find on line, trays, rails, twist lock, cheapo metal strips etc and none will accommodate what I need perfectly (no surprise).

I have a roll of magnetic rubber, similar to the stuff you see on the back of a business card magnet, except thicker, with a stronger magnetic force.

I'm thinking I might just line my tool chest drawers with the stuff with the hope it will offer enough holding power to keep sockets and wrenches (laid out flat) in place.

Have any of you used or tried something similar ?

Does this hold potential or is it in reality a poor solution ?

Outlawmws · Aug 29, 2011

Sockets can be fairly heavy, but I do use magnets for my most of my commonly used sockets. Most all the 1/2 and 3/8 drive sockets sit on rows of 1 X 2 x 5/16 magnets. They stay securely, even when the drawer is slammed. I have two spaced rows of the same magnets holding the spring clipped rails in place for specialty sets I don't use as much and for the 1/4" drive sets.

I got the bulk of these 35 years ago while working at a conveyor factory. I picked up some more a couple of years ago at a yard sale, and I've seen them elsewhere.

adcrawfo · Aug 29, 2011

Been there, tried it, gave up on it. The ones I used just didn't have enough strength to hold up the sockets, every time I bumped the box they'd come tumbling down.

jjjrmx5 · Aug 29, 2011

For big sockets, they stand up fine on thier own without the sheeting.

For smaller sockets, it gets a little cramped, and heck, even teh rails can get cramped unless you pop rivet them to an alum. sheet in 3's or 4's of rails.

I'm not a big fan of the magnet sheets due to working around alot of metal shavings and grinding wheel and die burr throw off.

It's hard enough to vac those shavings out regularly or blow them out with the air gun and not take the shavings home imbedded in your fingers or skin. Last thing I want is something to attract them, or really any metal bits for that matter.

Best of luck with ur solution.

Outlawmws · Aug 29, 2011

adcrawfo said:
Been there, tried it, gave up on it. The ones I used just didn't have enough strength to hold up the sockets, every time I bumped the box they'd come tumbling down.

Mine work fine. - That is s 1-1/2" socket, and the second pic is a couple of deep impacts. they are on the side of my Big Kennedy box, and aren't going anywhere.

The magnets are (were?) commonly used in conveyors for canned goods. for heavier cans (1 gal. and full of product) they would as much as triple layer them and lift vertically, one gallon cans. The belting ran over the magnets and the cans went wherever we damn well wanted them to go...

So a socket is not difficult with the right magnets.

(Sorry for the poor pics - bad lighting and the flash decided it was "resting"

bobcatdan · Aug 29, 2011

I have the flat magnet panels, four 12 x12 plates. They where spendy but work great. The sockets don't move except the 1/4 deepwell, those don't stand well. i ended up buying the matco rail and pegs their sets come on for 1/4".

adcrawfo · Aug 29, 2011

Outlawmws said:
Mine work fine. - That is s 1-1/2" socket, and the second pic is a couple of deep impacts. they are on the side of my Big Kennedy box, and aren't going anywhere.

The magnets are (were?) commonly used in conveyors for canned goods. for heavier cans (1 gal. and full of product) they would as much as triple layer them and lift vertically, one gallon cans. The belting ran over the magnets and the cans went wherever we damn well wanted them to go...

So a socket is not difficult with the right magnets.

(Sorry for the poor pics - bad lighting and the flash decided it was "resting"

I was using the magnet strips about the same thickness of a fridge magnet. I found them at Menards when I was working there in high school and it came in a roll for that purpose but it never worked well for me. Bigger magnets would have been better but by that time I had already started popping rails into the top of the box and didn't look back.

csargents1546 · Sep 4, 2011

Like everyone else, I had a bunch of different socket rails and cases. My socket drawer was a mess. Little or no room for expansion. As you can see in the first two pictures. So this is what I came up with. Had a couple of pieces of 1x1 angle aluminuim, drilled and tapped holes every 3/4 of an inch for versilty. Bought some cheap socket rails at the local hardware store, trimmed them to length, drilled new holes in the trimmed end. I only have the metric side of the drawer finished, but I am very happy with the outcome and I did not have to drill holes in the drawer to mount the rails. With all the holes, It should be easy to add on as I need to. :beer: