I've recently been outfitting a vintage, sort of condensed, tool box at my office. In doing so, I've been thinking a lot about socket organization. Typically, I've always...
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- Thread starter Ryan
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I've recently been outfitting a vintage, sort of condensed, tool box at my office. In doing so, I've been thinking a lot about socket organization. Typically, I've always...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
94legaleagle
Well-known member
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- May 7, 2009
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- 294
Craftsman from Sears seems to work well for me - I prefer Snap On tools, BUT, the Craftsman socket holders work well to HOLD Snap On Sockets!!
speed bump
Well-known member
The Craftsman ones seem to be the best rails.
viper86
Well-known member
Craftsman has worked well for me.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Of all things, I have a metal tool tray in the socket drawer that keeps a bunch of 1/2 and 3/8 stuff organized and in the front of the drawer. I have some deeps on a cheap steel (HF brand) snap holder, works OK. I'll have to try a Craftsman item.
Call me the Breeze
Well-known member
I like the magnetic ones the best I have both the stand up peg style and the red lay down style. For vintage look the tray style is probably what your looking for. I have a vintage set that the ratchet is attached to the trray and actually holds the sockets in place
Flathead Red
Well-known member
I have both the craftsman rails and the Harbor Freight rails and the only differences are C-man has a rubber/plasic handle and Harbor Freights are cheaper.
Flathead Red
Flathead Red
FastEddieG
Well-known member
I just bought 6 sets of the 1/4",3/8",1/2" rail combos from HF, they were under $3 for each set IIRC and work great for all of my Craftsman sockets. The handle would be nice, but I like having the extra space and just pick them up by the sockets. (That doesn't sound right)
-Ed
rcm296
Well-known member
I am actually thinking about making some socket holders out of scrap cherry and maple I saw at my uncles today, you can do them upside down in the holder which is lot less work, trace the socket, then use straight router bit, or can go upside right and , same process but also removing all the wood in the interior of it. I like this option, cheap and looks classy, but some might not like the wood appearance
What if you were to make you own trays? Like the blue one posted, or just use it. I made something similar to it when I was living over seas. Except I J-B welded nuts to the tray (and bolts for deepwells), and put the appropriate socket on the nut/bolt. It held in place well. And looked pretty good too.
rjohnson
Well-known member
+1 for the C-Mans
Stick Figure
Well-known member
i'll vote for the metal trays for a true vintage look. But if you want some metal rails, i have some craftsman ones from the 70's that i would probably part with. If you're interested send me a PM, and i'll snap some pics of them.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If you want to maintain the vintage look of the older tools, you need to use beat up metal trays. Shiney rails won't cut it. You need something weathered and as vintage as the tools themselves. No bright colors either.
G1GRANDEUR
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- Aug 22, 2009
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i can never find socket holder i like....... so sad...
Griff93
Well-known member
I was looking at VIM tools Magrail on the truck today. They seem to work very well. They were kinda expensive was the big downside. Unfortunately I've heard they are foreign made. There's a video on their site if you want to see what I'm talking about. http://www.vimtools.com/home.asp
TudorWagon
Active member
I've always just laid my sockets on their side in a drawer and use metal dividers between the various socket types. I guess I've just never been so far away from the car to need to drag all the sockets over and plop them down somewhere.
I've looked at those plastic stand-up holders at Sears, but would have to use a tall drawer for these -- which seems like a lot of space wasted (though I agree they look nice). And even they are not that cheap for all the sockets I have.
If you have a lot of tall drawers and these work for you, but they look too new, perhaps take the wood approach rcm mentioned, but use oak dowels and hardwood material to make the exact same things as Ryan shows, but wood instead. You could make them in no time at all. I wouldn't care about size markings if I made them, since I know by counting the 6th socket will be 11/16, etc (starting with 3/8 and going up in 1/16). But you could Dremel in the sizes if you have a steady hand.
Heck, I think I know what to do with all that left-over maple now. And then sell 'em on ebay!
I've looked at those plastic stand-up holders at Sears, but would have to use a tall drawer for these -- which seems like a lot of space wasted (though I agree they look nice). And even they are not that cheap for all the sockets I have.
If you have a lot of tall drawers and these work for you, but they look too new, perhaps take the wood approach rcm mentioned, but use oak dowels and hardwood material to make the exact same things as Ryan shows, but wood instead. You could make them in no time at all. I wouldn't care about size markings if I made them, since I know by counting the 6th socket will be 11/16, etc (starting with 3/8 and going up in 1/16). But you could Dremel in the sizes if you have a steady hand.
Heck, I think I know what to do with all that left-over maple now. And then sell 'em on ebay!
G1GRANDEUR
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i really really like this one. but still why empty space??? aghhhhh
http://cal-conproducts.com/html/fast_rack.html
http://cal-conproducts.com/html/fast_rack.html
rcm296
Well-known member
I've always just laid my sockets on their side in a drawer and use metal dividers between the various socket types. I guess I've just never been so far away from the car to need to drag all the sockets over and plop them down somewhere.
I've looked at those plastic stand-up holders at Sears, but would have to use a tall drawer for these -- which seems like a lot of space wasted (though I agree they look nice). And even they are not that cheap for all the sockets I have.
If you have a lot of tall drawers and these work for you, but they look too new, perhaps take the wood approach rcm mentioned, but use oak dowels and hardwood material to make the exact same things as Ryan shows, but wood instead. You could make them in no time at all. I wouldn't care about size markings if I made them, since I know by counting the 6th socket will be 11/16, etc (starting with 3/8 and going up in 1/16). But you could Dremel in the sizes if you have a steady hand.
Heck, I think I know what to do with all that left-over maple now. And then sell 'em on ebay!
hahah u stole my next idea i was browsing home depot website last nite and decided i am gonna try n make hansen type holders exactly how u described, with dowels
afazz
Well-known member
I've also wanted to copy the Hanson trays in wood! The Hanson trays are very nice if you don't need to take the whole rail away, but they're wasted space if you don't have the exact range of sockets they're built for. I usually keep at least one set on the plastic Craftsman rails if I need to take the whole thing, everything that stays in my box is either Hanson or just laid flat and packed so tight they can't roll around. I need a bigger box
I agree with the metal trays for a vintage look. A pretty cheap and easy way to get exactly what you want would be to sketch them out and get a high school kid to make them in shop class or use the desire as an excuse to buy or build a small hand break.
Then paint 'em with Hammerite to match or compliment your box.
Then paint 'em with Hammerite to match or compliment your box.
ProGun3400
Well-known member
Not vintage but this is what I use at home and work. I like being able to glance over them and see an open slot, open slot = missing socket. I bought them from Matco but I'm pretty sure they all sell them. You can also buy this set-up with the new style plastic holders. I have run across them at the local tool store. Not sure of the mfg?
Although it's very hard to tell from this picture, here's what they look like in use:
Although it's very hard to tell from this picture, here's what they look like in use:
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scottguehne
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- Joined
- Nov 4, 2008
- Messages
- 82
Here you can see my socket holder thing-a-ma-bobs. Homemade (sorta).
wreckercologist
Well-known member
Variations on the idea:
I've been using this set up at work for years. Aside from being able to stuff more tools in the same amount of space, it keeps the borrowers frustrated because they can't see the sizes stamped on the sockets very well. Most just give up and go borrow someone elses tools.
I've been using this set up at work for years. Aside from being able to stuff more tools in the same amount of space, it keeps the borrowers frustrated because they can't see the sizes stamped on the sockets very well. Most just give up and go borrow someone elses tools.
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car99r
Well-known member
I just use my home made socket tray, costs less than $20 and waaaaay space efficient than the brand name ones.
I really like that! How far apart did you space your holders?
about 1" but should have done wider. the thing is those socket peggs are interchangeable. I can use all of them for 1/2 drive or 3/8 and 1/4, just slide in and out. it's pretty tight for the 1/2 stuff, but perfect for 3/8 and 1/4
car99r
Well-known member
I got the materials and several of the socket rails. I think I am going to try to make one to fit my entire socket drawer. Yours looks pretty sweet and easy enough to do.
Maybe just put 4 rows 1.25" apart and the rest 1"?
evs1
Well-known member
My Grandfather worked for Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach during the 50's-60's. He made his socket organizer out of wood using a flat piece of wood for the base and dowel rods mounted into the top. They looked a lot like those peg organizers Sears has. He had the wooden base countersunk about 1/4" the exact diameter of the socket. They were laid out precisely in the order he needed to tell at a glance if I had been in his socket drawer.
To make this would be time-consuming, but definately vintage.
To make this would be time-consuming, but definately vintage.
I had a similar home-made multi clip rail project originally. It works well because you can cutom fit your sockets. I found there were two downsides: can't always identify the correct size socket and it was pain to have to wrestle the socket off and on each clip. Switched to the Hansons for the main socket drawer now, best I've found so far. Although I have the lay-flat red magnetic holders for the tool cart. If you want to go old school than I'd say either the original metal socket trays or the that red multi clip tray with the handles, both are old time classics.
Soon2AdjustYou
Well-known member
Do you have a pic of it completed and filled with sockets?
I love this idea and have played around with doing it. Is that 1/8" aluminum?
Dr. B
I love this idea and have played around with doing it. Is that 1/8" aluminum?
Dr. B
Metal trays are classic, Cornwell still sells their sockets in metal trays, you could buy the metal trays separate from Cornwell and paint them whatever color you want. I like the metal trays, no spring pegs to deal with, and they organize well, and look tough and old school.
bgott
Well-known member
Metal trays are a PITA. Remove one socket, bump your toolcart and then it takes two hands to stand the knocked over socket, or sockets, up so you can replace the socket you used. Regular sockets might not fall over as easily as the deep wells do but they still slide around in the tray if you move the cart. Plus, the bail always seems to flip up and let the sockets slide out whenever you use a tote tray. I'm thinking of building some wooden trays like some have mentioned, I'm thinking that I could plagiarize Hanson's design and make the studs so the sockets can fit with the business end up and the stud short enough to allow me to fit a fastener into the sockets when I'm not quite sure of the size.
hydramatic
Well-known member
My sockets are on Hansen socket holder`s..the pegs are marked.so your kids can help..hand me that 5/8`s...