Socket organization

[lowbucktruck]

Has anyone tried out these socket drawer trays from Harbor Freight? If so, how did you like them? The drawer-size trays seem to me to eat up a lot of valuable toolbox drawer space. I have the Sears Crafty version of this thing.

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piec...+identifier&utm_campaign=criteo&hft_adv=50020

I am leaning towards the individual socket trays, like the Central Warehouse trays or the Hansen trays, for a number of reasons. Portability being one reason that comes to mind. Like if I'm working with my 1/2 -inch drive ratchet, being able to remove that tray of 1/2-inch sockets from the box and take it with me is a nice idea. Saves trips back and forth from the fender to the old tool chest.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-sae-socket-tray-organizer-95595.html

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VSDKS0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Hansen socket trays available at Sears:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00933936000P?mv=rr

There was an earlier thread on organizers for the good ole tool chest, but I am focusing on just organizer solutions for my existing socket mess. And I have to separate my "vintage" socket collection from my daily-use socket sets, which right now consume separate drawers out of necessity. Don't laugh, but right now out of redneck workaround ideas I am using some cheapie plastic silverware trays from the dollar store to keep the sockets from rattling around inside my tool box.


What do you think? Which socket organizer worked best for you?

 

[RLRRLRLL]

ive heard the new black trays that look like those red ones are better, they have more room for the bigger sockets and dont skip any numbers. i myself, just use rails. but next time im in a habor freight i may buy the black trays.

 

[mikevango]

There are some current threads on those things. Try doing a search.

 

[fordbroncodave]

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece...zer-95595.html

get those. they work on all sockets with coordinating sizes and drives. one of the best for swivel sockets. if your socket set doesn't have the bigger and small sizes and you don't plan on getting them, just saw the ends off the trays to save space

 

[air]

I bought those Harbor Freight trays on Saturday and returned them on Sunday (the ones in your first link). They ****. A lot of my sockets (mix of Snap On and Craftsman) did not fit. I suppose if you wanted to spend some time enlarging various holes to make it work, you could fiddle with it. But me personally I say don't waste your time...

 

[mkdive]

I have something very similar from Cman.....all though it does waste some space, it allows me to easily spot what I'm looking for. I would probably go with Hansen trays...but my wife bought these for me years ago. I have a bunch more in coffee can(s) and stashed in the top of my smaller box that I still need to go through some day.

My "full length" drawer was not quite wide enough to allow me to keep the 1/4" tray with the others so I had to use a smaller drawer for the 1/4":

I keep duplicates, deep, impact, and misc in the top on racks:

 

[briandrex]

I have a set of metric and SAE Hansen Trays very nice but expensive. Just bought a set of the Harbor Freight ones for both Metric and SAE took my 20 percent coupon in and brought the price down to 8.00 out the door. They are not as nice as the Hansen ones but for the price they can't be beat. Cost me about 1/4 of what the Hansen ones did.

If you have alot of sockets you can't beat the deal. Also like someone else already said, you can cut the ends off and save some room in your drawers. If I continue to collect sockets I will like buy another set for the price. Can't justify another set of Hansen Trays as it was 72 out the door at Sears for both the metric and SAE.

Also the 3 pack of socket rails 1/4, 3.8 and 1/2 made in Taiwan are pretty nice for the price. 2.49 out the door. I'm using these for allen sockets, torx and miscellaneous sockets.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Yes, ease of use should have been part of my initial post. Good point, mkdive.
I looked on the Sears website for the Craftsman socket trays and found them:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00965172000P?mv=rr
And this version from Sears:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00965287000P?mv=rr

I should mention that I'm avoiding the use of the traditional metal socket rails... mainly to avoid rust forming on my sockets. Most of my "ancient" socket collection have suffered from some rust in the past, which I have worked hard to clean, remove and prevent. I have been closely monitoring the humidity levels in my shop. That is my reason for looking at the plastic/non-metal socket organizers.

 

[amolaver]

i like having a set of sockets with me where i'm working, so i prefer rails. i've used the cheap metal rails for years but finally got fed up with them after losing a couple sockets - i am commonly working in the dirt or sand of a race paddock. i'm converting to the ernst plastic twistlock rails. i've got about half my sockets converted and the few smaller projects i've worked on, i like them. only 2 downsides i've noted.. one is that, when the rails are new anyway, the twist-2-unlock can be a little stiff, especially with oily fingers. i think they'll loosen up with use to be just right - won't fall off, but easily released. two, they're freaking expensive. i've got probably $200 into the rails and magnetic vertical mounts already

not happy about the price, but they seem to be better than my old solution ..and they better be for the cost...

ahm

 

[posaune]

I think you'll want to check out this thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86581

 

[NJHandyGuy]

used them and found tons of wasted valuble space

 

[route246]

I've tried quite a few solutions but all of them were sub-optimal for one reason or another. Now, I use Lisle socket organizers because it makes it easy to grab them as a group and take them out of the drawer to the location where they will be used. If you search here:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=lisle+socket+holder

you can see what they are. They are not for everyone and a little expensive but the magnets seem to be adequate and are extremely convenient when you need multiple sockets in one location.

 

[Rickster]

I use the hanson trays. I like the easy on & off of the sockets and fact that my mixed brands of sockets actually fit. That said, I bought a set of the new black HF socket trays. The 3/8 trays are the same length as the 3/8 hansons and the numbers are all there like the hansons. I had a fitment issue with the HF 1/4 dr metric 10mm not fitting on the peg so I had to sand it down to make it fit.

I've cut the round pegs off the 3/8 & 1/2 dr trays leaving only the square base and plan to use them for my universal sockets. I'm in the middle of it right now and I'll have to let you know how that works out.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I don't want to waste tool drawer space, but I would like to keep my sockets organized somewhat and prevent them from rolling around. Hard to find that one product/solution for organizing sockets that is affordable/not too expensive, yet functional, practical and flexible. I was considering the Lisle trays (I really like the idea of a magnetic tray for sockets).
I did see these socket trays, Triton, which are magnetic... that's a cool idea. I think the Triton trays might work well for my larger size sockets.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200358434_200358434

 

[Skin]

unless you're rolling your tool storage over hills or require the entire set of sockets be ready for 'on the go' travel the hansen/HF trays are the best. Every locking/magnetic option i've seen requires you to either hold the tray in place while you yank/twist a socket free or pick up the whole set. With the tays its just a simple peg affair.

I like the Craftsman trays also but they waste way too much space and some brands dont like the cut-outs.

 

[Rickster]

In addition to the actual socket storage, the labeled pegs help me verify any missing sockets. Several times after completing a job I've had to do a garage search for a missing socket that may have gone unnoticed if it haden't been for that naked peg.

 

[Rickster]

I use the hanson trays. I like the easy on & off of the sockets and fact that my mixed brands of sockets actually fit. That said, I bought a set of the new black HF socket trays. The 3/8 trays are the same length as the 3/8 hansons and the numbers are all there like the hansons. I had a fitment issue with the HF 1/4 dr metric 10mm not fitting on the peg so I had to sand it down to make it fit.

I've cut the round pegs off the 3/8 & 1/2 dr trays leaving only the square base and plan to use them for my universal sockets. I'm in the middle of it right now and I'll have to let you know how that works out.

Once again I'm drawn into the HF for their socket organizers and again I'm left totally disappointed. I cut the pegs off them for use with my impact swivel head sockets. I had high hopes for them due to their being the same size as the hansons. Tight fitting 3/8 dr bases mean you have to wrestle on and off the socket... if it fits at all. The extra thickess of the impacts makes it impossible for half the sockets to fit next to each other. But the deepwell's fit on the hansons, why?, becuse the hanson pegs allow the sockets to move slightly side to side back/forth where the HF trays have 3/8 dr fixed mount in the base that forces the socket into one position only. I'm thinking about trying to use it for the chrome swivels or figure something else out.

 

[ToddyB]

I use old-fashioned rails; They do not use much space and I can grab a bunch at once. It is also easy to identify if anything is missing. I have considered the racks, but after 25 years, I cant bring myself to move my sockets to different drawers to acomodate them.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I have a mix of Hansen and HF trays. I also have most of my sockets on rails. I can throw a rail of sockets in a bag, or grab them and go. The trays are harder to take with you, as the sockets will fall off in a bag, or tools box.
They all have advantages and disadvantages.
Trays for my at home box and cart........rails for on the go.

 

[fflintstone]

I've tried quite a few solutions but all of them were sub-optimal for one reason or another. Now, I use Lisle socket organizers because it makes it easy to grab them as a group and take them out of the drawer to the location where they will be used. If you search here:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=lisle+socket+holder

you can see what they are. They are not for everyone and a little expensive but the magnets seem to be adequate and are extremely convenient when you need multiple sockets in one location.

I bought one of these and thought the magnets were totally inadequate. I would loose sockets all the time. I really wanted to like them but unfortunately I was disappointed.

 

[TheDukeofDeere]

I use two different brands for my socket organization.

For my impacts I use the Hansen trays:

3/8" and 1/2" Impacts:

For my chrome sockets I use the Ernst Socket System (www.ernstmfg.com):

3/8" sockets:

1/2" sockets:

I really like them both for different reasons. For my regular sockets I like the Ernst rails because you can do any combination imaginable. It is basically infinitely adjustable, which really allows you some flexibility on how you can organize sockets within a drawer or multiple drawers. Because any socket clip and fit on any socket rail, you can put 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" sockets on a single rail (if needed).

For my impacts I like the Hansen trays because the clips on the Ernst rails gripped the sockets a little too tightly, causing issues when removing sockets from their rails.

If you could combined the two principles, you would have, IMO, the best of both socket organization designs. Basically, use the long Hansen pegs as clips to attach to the Ernst socket rails. That would be great.

Hopefully you find the best socket organizational system that works for you and your box!

 

[lowbucktruck]

Very cool! thanks Duke! I will have to look at the Ernst socket rails now. Thanks for including photos of your socket organization, that helps.
Question: are you using the regular Ernst rails or the "Twist-Lock" rails in your box?

 

[TheDukeofDeere]

Very cool! thanks Duke! I will have to look at the Ernst socket rails now. Thanks for including photos of your socket organization, that helps.
Question: are you using the regular Ernst rails or the "Twist-Lock" rails in your box?

Very cool! thanks Duke! I will have to look at the Ernst socket rails now. Thanks for including photos of your socket organization, that helps.
Question: are you using the regular Ernst rails or the "Twist-Lock" rails in your box?

The rails are universal. I believe they still come in lengths of 8, 13, & 18 inches (don't hold me to these) if I remember correctly. I use the red rails for SAE and the blue rails for Metric.

What distinguishes one type over the other are the actual black clips which slide on the rails. The HD clips (regular, straight pull) are cheaper but the "Twist-Lock" clips are just that, twist lock.

There are definitely pros and cons to both designs. I am currently using the HD clips with only a few Twist-Locks on my 1/4" socket rails. I ran out of the regular clips for my 1/4" sockets and used a package of Twist-Locks to finish up a few of the sockets and drive accessories.

There are two mains reasons I went with the HD (straight pull) clips over the Twist-Lock. First, these tools mainly stay in the box or an entire rail is pulled out of the box if I am working on something requiring multiple sockets. The HD clips hold the sockets on the rail, even when I hold the rail completely upside down. I figured they were strong enough since I don't remove an entire rail from my box often. The second reason is, I have multiple people working out of this box at times. Most people see the socket they want and just instinctively pull. If I used the Twist-Lock, I can see ruined clips happening often as in a rush, people lack patience and might just rip the sockets off the rail.

If I was the only person working out of my box I would have went with the Twist-Locks and just gotten used to the design. When I finally get a service truck for mobile repairs, I am going to get more rails and use the Twist-Locks to prevent sockets from possibly falling off the rails during road travel, off-road work, etc.

Hope this helps and BTW, I'm sending you a PM.

 

[Hammer1963]

Magrail are the absolute best. I've tried so many types and these will organize your drawers with NO wasted space. I have (14) 1/2" drive deep well Snap-on sockets stuck to the inside of a drawer over the top of other tools and they do not fall off, even when the drawer is slammed shut.