Socket organization

[lilredex]

I like your solution the best. I might need to get a small brake to make some of those.

-Jeff

I only used a brake, 'cause I have one. You could easily bend up those sides without one, as was done on that smaller tray. If I were to make those larger trays again, think I'd make the sides a bit lower, makes it easier to get the first one out. The stand-up socket tray does not matter as you can poke your little finger in it to remove a socket, which is usually what I do.

I was after a solution that uses the least amount of space and could still be installed in a shallow drawer. Works very well for me and they are easily made to any size that suits your needs.

 

[beelsr]

eneloop rechargeables.

i hate power adapters. why couldn't everyone agree on a single plug style? like on cellphones?

that is the only downfall besides the batteries, get the ac power adapter

 

[Jeff]

 

[pst496]

Like Jhunter, I made my own socket holders out of wood (1/8 plywood and dowels. I have seperate designs for 1/2, 3/8 & 1/4. I attached a pdf of the templates of all three designs. Its been a while but as long as you print the first page on 8.5x11 and the second page on 8.5x14, they should scale correctly. I believe you can get the second page on two 8.5x11's and then splice together. All you have to do is glue to wood and drill your dowell holes. I'll take some pictures of the finished product tonight and post. I hope this helps. What I need to do is come up with one for the BIG sockets.

 

[bilko1]

I was able to print both pages on standard paper,
Now I am confused, Is each place for a socket, a diffrent size dowel?
What did I miss?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Sharkin,
What brand are these red tray, or did they come with the sockets? Very neat (AND I love red!)

 

[fflintstone]

It thought I would like to get a dozen or so of the Lisle magnetic holders.
http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/categories/browse.cfm?division=1&category=16
After biting the bullet and getting one, I have to say I am really disappointed with it
The magnet needs to be about 3 times stronger for it to be any good. I thought it would be good to be able to take a set of whatever drive you happened to be using. Unfortunately the sockets can fall off if you are not OVERLY careful.
I currently use cheap craftsman rail with handles.
For sockets that I don’t use at all I put them sets with long zip ties.

i would like to have something better.

 

[sarel.wagner]

Ernst socket system: I love this, so flexible....

Rgrds

 

[pst496]

Sorry Bilko1, each circle represents the diameter of a socket, (standard craftsmen accept for 1/2in which are impact sockets).

The cross hatch in the middle of each circle represents where you drill the hole for the dowell pin. 1/4in dowell for the 1/4in sockets, 3/8in dowell for the 3/8in sockets and 1/2in dowell for the 1/2in sockets. I kept the dowells short (pic will come tonight) but you could make them long and label them like the plastic ones.

One more thing, if both pages each fit on a single letter paper, something is not right. There should be 16.0983 (roughly) between the centerof the first 1/2in socket and the center of the last 1/2in socket. Also, since the circles are supposed to be the size of the sockets, you might want to lay out your sockets on the paper before you drill your center holes.

 

[pst496]

One other note, I was wrong on the paper size on the 1/2in socket, its 11/17. I do these drawings in MS Visio, I attached the visio version in the zip file below. I can put them in other formats if someone has a suggestion.

 

[Jeff]

Sharkin,
What brand are these red tray, or did they come with the sockets? Very neat (AND I love red!)

They are made by Lisle Tools. They are quite handy to grab and go to the project.

 

[caper]

Not for everyone but here is what I did....these are thread spool holders from the local sewing and fabric store, about 7.00 on sale and work with 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 sockets. They even had ones with longer spindles for my deep sockets... I took all my doubles and moved them to the upstairs shop...I find this FAR better than looking through the socket drawer...

Mike B

I like this solution.I may try to find some of these for behind my bench.I could use them for duplicates and cheaper sockets.The kids would automatically grab the sockets from the rack instead of taking my Snappy's out of the box.They're lazy so if they see a rack of sockets on the wall that's what they'll grab.It may save me some screaming at the boys when I find my good sockets in the driveway.

 

[pst496]

So here are some pictures of all three versions. The 3/8in example is the finished version. As you can see, I keep 12 points on one side and 6 points on the other. The 1/4in & 1/2in examples are not finished.....lazyness mostly but also because they house the "duplicate" sockets that I keep in an "auxilary" drawer. I do this along with a paper list to remind me what sockets to looks for at swap meets. One more note about the 1/2in holder, it looks a little spaced out. Thats because it was origionally designed for impact sockets. I hope someone finds this usefull.

 

[BillGalbraith]

So here are some pictures of all three versions. The 3/8in example is the finished version. As you can see, I keep 12 points on one side and 6 points on the other. The 1/4in & 1/2in examples are not finished.....lazyness mostly but also because they house the "duplicate" sockets that I keep in an "auxilary" drawer. I do this along with a paper list to remind me what sockets to looks for at swap meets. One more note about the 1/2in holder, it looks a little spaced out. Thats because it was origionally designed for impact sockets. I hope someone finds this usefull.

I find it EXTREMELY useful. I've been wanting to do this for a long time. The only think you forgot was to label each peg, either on the peg itself, or on the wood. Otherwise, great job. Thanks.

 

[pst496]

Well......I did but one of the guys I worked with liked them so much i sold them. Never pass up making a buck on something you make....you can always make it again better. I used longer pegs (and narrower) and cut the ends at 60 deg angles. I then printed the labels on clear film, really small of course (most expensive part). Then cut them out and lacquered them to the tips. I did try to paint the labels on but I am not steady nor patient enough for that. I use the short pegs only because of personal preference, I'm sure there are other ways to label if needed. enjoy

 

[Sammy7]

I'm using the Craftsman socket rails for my regular sockets, but I'm not too happy with the setup as-is. I think I'm going to finish out the set and do a mass reorganization after that.

One thing I do is I don't seperate the standard and metric; much easier to just grab one rail and than to guess if I'll need standard or metric.

 

[IONH]

For my impact deep wells, I made a socket holder.

Looks a little expensive for my taste.

One thing I do is I don't seperate the standard and metric; much easier to just grab one rail and than to guess if I'll need standard or metric.

Must be a small socket set to fit them all on a single rail. I understand what you are saying though. I was working on a Mustang recently and some were Standard and some were Metric, definitely had me scratching my head. Then there's my MG which is surprisingly standard!

 

[jaysonb]

Here are the ones I made out of some scrap 1/2" oak plywood, and some dowel pins. The pins hold the sockets on nice and snug, and unlike hanson trays, I can make the trays for the size of the sets that I have, and they only cost me about a $1 a piece!

 

[meissen]

Same wood/dowel as other mentioned - just painted and partially labeled (got tired of printing out the labels lol). I use some red rubber pipe caps to ID the dowels that go empty so I'm not searching for a lost socket that I don't actually have. Spares go in the little plastic case. Some spares (9/16ths) I made a dowel for.

<a href="http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/jaf31a/?action=view&current=HPIM2883.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/jaf31a/HPIM2883.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/jaf31a/?action=view&current=HPIM2888.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/jaf31a/HPIM2888.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/jaf31a/?action=view&current=HPIM2889.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/jaf31a/HPIM2889.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/jaf31a/?action=view&current=HPIM2887.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/jaf31a/HPIM2887.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Wow - that looks great! I like how you have them grouped on separate pieces of wood. I just might have to stop at Lowes on the way home now...

 

[CrashTestDummy]

I use these:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941829000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

They're plastic, and come in two colors, gray and black, for your SAE and metric sets. The tree part is one width, so you can mix and match 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" holders on one tree. They are a thick plastic/ABS, so they won't rust, and the holder is spring-loaded , so the sockets don't drop off the holder like they do with the metal ones. You can even get extra 'square bits' so you can put more sockets on the tree than the tree originally comes with. I pull them out of my tool box and throw them into my tool bag when going on the road or on a J/Y trip. The sockets don't all go falling out when you pick up the holder like they do with the magnetic holders. Since they are not mounted on a base, you can pack the sockets in a lot denser than those trays.

I inherited my Dad's tools when he passed away. He started 'collecting' tools later in life, so I have several copies of many standard and metric sockets. For now, I have stacked the same size sockets on the same tree for now. I figure I'll split things up later, when I get more trees.

That's my solution, and if you want those metal trees, like these:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM161718299P?prdNo=24&blockNo=24&blockType=G24

I have a buttload of them holding my toolbox down.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

 

[onewaydave]

I have looked at all these replies and feel that lilredex has the only dolution I can use. Most of the others are a waste of space. I know, more bigger tool boxes are bigger you know what. I need to use the space I have efficiently first.

Using the Craftsman socket bars shown above I can't get half of the tools I have into a 54" wide 60" tall box. That's ridiculous. I can with lilredex's solution. Not any more complex than any of the other solutions.

Dave, with a 48" brake in his future (not for this project).

 

[jkherd]

I like using the hansen trays for metric and standard, they may not work for everyone but they keep me from misplacing sockets. During clean up if there is a open peg I know I left a socket somewhere

 

[Zengineer]

Hansen trays are great, no fuss, can see when things are missing, and can get them out neatly 1 handed.

 

[blue dog]

x2 on the hanson trays, easy to read, save space.