Socket organization?

[nissan_crawler]

Alright, I need socket organization that:
1. lays flat,
2. can be easily taken to work area.

I have the lisle magnetic holders at work, and they would work fine for the house, I'm just seeing if there's any better options somebody knows of.

Keep the cost in mind, since I have to buy 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 drives in standard/metric, regular/deepwell, and some in 6pt/12pt, I have a LOT of holders to buy.

Does anybody know of anything other than the lisle holders in that price range?

I'm trying to get my new International box organized.

 

[katit]

I used http://www.ernstmfg.com/ but it get's pretty expensive

 

[wrenchr]

HF has some that will work and fit the budget.

 

[goodfellow]

For thirty years I've been trying to find a suitable solution. Tried rails, drawer organizers, clips, magnetic bases, etc. I've spent a small fortune on various solutions and they all turned out to be sub-optimal.

Then I discovered the Hanson knock-offs from HF. I've been using them for a year now and am pleased as punch with these things. I can remove individual trays into my service cart and get to work. Everything fits. I've dedicated the top of my tool chest to chrome and specialty sockets, and am using the full length top roller cab drawer for my impact sockets.

I've pretty much solved the problem -- when the sets are on sale for $6.00 at HF, these things are a true bargain

 

[dxdexter]

Try these socket trays. They can be easily removed from the drawer and can hold 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2". They are very reasonably priced at around $12 here in Canada at Princess Auto. I am unsure of a US source but I believe MAC Tools once sold them, but for a much larger price. Some times they can be found on Ebay when you search "socket tray".

 

[kvom]

I bought one of the Craftsman socket sets from Sears that come in a plastic box with 4 drawers. There's a separate organizer drawer for each of 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 sockets. I keep the plastic drawers as trays in my regular toolbox and carry them to the worksite when I need them.

A lot of guys sell the empty trays on eBay or Craigs.

 

[NOMAD]

I know you want them to lay flat but when i did that I ran out of room really fast. Maybe you have a bunch of 2" drawers though so I can see where laying flat is needed.

I got the C-man socket rails with handles and kept my HF socket rails. I made a channel by gluing three pieces of 3/16"thick wood together and the end of the socket rails slide into the slot and they stay upright. I painted it black and put a bumper sticker on the bottom panel to create a smooth surface for the rails to slide in on.

I can grab any rail I want and take it with me to lay flat while I'm working. Cheap solution to a common problem.
Here's a pic.

 

[JRGSPE73]

Lots of good ideas in this thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11126&highlight=socket+organization

 

[eschoendorff]

Lots of good ideas in this thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11126&highlight=socket+organization

Especially since this thread comes up about once a month. Popcorn, anyone?????

 

[Merkava_4]

How 'bout a freaking cardboard box?!? Is that cheap enough for you?

 

[eschoendorff]

How 'bout a freaking cardboard box?!? Is that cheap enough for you?

Well, that's probably just about what's left after buying all those expensive uber-shiny sockets...

 

[nissan_crawler]

I used http://www.ernstmfg.com/ but it get's pretty expensive

That's the best bet so far, but I was hoping for better.

Then I discovered the Hanson knock-offs from HF.

Apparently you missed the part about sockets having to lay flat. I also hate hansen trays with a passion.

Try these socket trays.

Once again, those stand up, I need ones that lay down.

I bought one of the Craftsman socket sets from Sears that come in a plastic box with 4 drawers. There's a separate organizer drawer for each of 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 sockets. I keep the plastic drawers as trays in my regular toolbox and carry them to the worksite when I need them.

A lot of guys sell the empty trays on eBay or Craigs.

I will be selling mine too, as soon as I get my sockets out of them and onto good organizers. They're the reason for this thread.

Maybe you have a bunch of 2" drawers though so I can see where laying flat is needed.

Bingo.

Lots of good ideas in this thread:

read it, not much applies to a good solution for laying them down.

So far the ernst ones seem the best. I love the twist lock type that snap-on has, but when I need 10+ rails, I'm not paying $20 each.

 

[russlaferrera]

[QUOTE=Merkava_
How 'bout a freaking cardboard box?!? Is that cheap enough for you?

You should put some plastic wrap over them. This will cut down on dusting. They all look brandy new. Have they ever seen a bolt/nut? LOL

 

[Merkava_4]

Have they ever seen a bolt/nut?

Yes some of them have, but not all of them.

 

[annoyingrob]

Why not just use some tool foam, and cut out indents for each socket?

Wouldn't be all that space effective, but they would lay flat, and hold in there decently.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Why not just use some tool foam, and cut out indents for each socket?

Wouldn't be all that space effective, but they would lay flat, and hold in there decently.

Alright, I need socket organization that:
1. lays flat,
2. can be easily taken to work area.

 

[Rickster]

In my tool cart I keep the sockets in metal socket boxes, like the SK ones. They lay flat and I have the deep and short together. Easy to grab from the box. If you put them in a tool box drawer you'd chew up space with the lids open unless you removed the lids.

 

[Fedwrench]

http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_detail.cfm?detail=712

Ok, these Lisle holders lay flat, come in two different colors, and are available in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drives. They even have a handle to carry them. I know you have them at work but, they're the only dedicated flat laying holder I know of.

If you're looking at the Ernst rails, I would also consider the 3 piece plastic rail sets that Sears sells. At a little over $3 each when bought in the set, they're a better bargain and the spring loaded ball holds the sockets better than the plastic Ernst tab.

Another option would be those shallow desk drawer organizing trays you can get at Walmart. You could place sockets into the trays by drive and type. The only drawback is that they would be loose within the tray but, they would fit in a shallow drawer and be portable.

You could always buy a bigger tool box with deeper drawers or a till to hold all of your sockets standing up.

 

[MarkH]

Laying flat is a pain.

Lisle works well, does waste some space.

Were we need to we put the shallows on the Ernst type of rail upright and left the deeps in the vendor metal box. So we do pay the premium for the sets in boxes.

Does not look uniform or very neat but helps if space is tight with shallow drawers.

 

[NOMAD]

Won't work out here. I don't think they sell sue bee honey by the case. Oh well.

How 'bout a freaking cardboard box?!?

 

[Merkava_4]

I don't think they sell sue bee honey by the case. Oh well.

I get those cardboard trays at Costco; they have all kinds of different sizes. The one in the picture was a little tall to fit in the drawer so I shorted it with a box cutter. I measure the exact height I want and then draw a line all the way around the box to guide the box cutter.