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Socket organizer trays that don't ****?

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David9726

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Feb 20, 2016
Messages
62
I've been using craftsman trays but i need more of them and can not get them anymore without ordering online and they are $20 each. Are there any other trays to get that are not made of plastic?

These are the one i have.
spin_prod_210639401



What do you guys do when you have multiple sockets of the same size?
 
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cweidert03

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Oct 19, 2015
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417
Location
New Castle, IN
I have the Westling machine holders and I like them. They are not good if you like to take the socket rail with you to your project. I am a DIY garage guy so a few extra trips to the box are no problem.
 
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ckblum

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Jan 20, 2013
Messages
143
Location
BC, Canada
I've had my Hansen trays in my service truck the last year and they've held up fine. Other than the lack of sizing on the larger trays, I'd like to see 1/2" drive trays larger than 1 1/4" and 30mm. It'd be nice to have some 3/4" drive trays as well.
 
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astroracer

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Jun 22, 2005
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Location
Mid_Michigan
I use the Hansen trays as well. I've had these for a few years with no issues. I just ordered a few more of the red ones as I am upgrading my impact sets.
What I like about them is the sizes are readily visible and I can grab a socket with one hand. The "rail" type holders usually require two hands to remove a socket unless they are hard mounted. I got the Hansens and gave away all of the rail holders I had.
The SAE sockets are on red trays.
2v2voZvjLx9EDKg.jpg

And the metric are on grey.
2v2voZvzGx9EDKg.jpg

Mark
 
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PT Doc

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Nov 12, 2010
Messages
3,197
Harbor freight are very reasonably priced. I like that the socket is stored square drive down so you can take a bolt head to all your tray sand test fit. I wrestled with the same question but with 300 plus sockets, the cost would have been staggering for something like the westling. I never remove my trays so the hf durability might be an issue if you were going to.
 
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Tallpilot

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Jan 13, 2017
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Location
Orlando
ckblum said:
I've had my Hansen trays in my service truck the last year and they've held up fine. Other than the lack of sizing on the larger trays, I'd like to see 1/2" drive trays larger than 1 1/4" and 30mm. It'd be nice to have some 3/4" drive trays as well.
Click to expand...

I agree...the 1/4 tray has an awesome range (arguably too wide on the low end) the 3/8 should either stop at 19 or go to 22 but is pretty good. The 1/2 should be split into two trays so it isn't so wide and expand it to 32 or 34.
 
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Tallpilot

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Orlando
JJ99SS said:
I have two drawers full of Westlings. I love them. I do however wish I had the sizes etched into them for a few bucks more. Not doing so makes them more flexible for the larger sizes though...
Click to expand...

That is why I didn't do it with my 1/2". I have up to 34mm on them. It would be nice to have labels though.
 
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colin39

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Mar 3, 2014
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I love my ernst organisers
 

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Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
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Southern Maine
I use the VIM mag rails and they are pretty darn good, but really expensive. I would not recommend them in a machine shop as they will grab metal particles and then annoy you.
 
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crewchief888

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Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
13,741
Location
NW indiana
i use a combination of storage
MTS magnetic
stamped sheet metal trays ( like socket sets came in "back in the day")
SO metal rails

i have a couple hansen trays in my garage boxes, they just take up too much space IMHO.

i rarely take an entire rail or set of sockets to what i'm working on, even in the garage. after 30+ years of wrenching i'm pretty good at eyeballing the size i need.

the only exception is the 1 set of SK 1/4" dr sockets i have in the blow molded case.

sockets in my service truck have pretty much been organized the same way for over 20 years, i can reach in blindly and grab the ones i need.


:beer:
 
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77Mini

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Dec 27, 2015
Messages
447
Location
Ontario Canada
I have a few different things storing my sockets. Most of them are stored on a piece of MDF with roll pins for the size of the sockets. I made it back in highschool and it has actually worked pretty well.

I have thought about switching to Hansen style trays but I'm sure they wont line up with the sizes I have quite right and I know it will drive me nuts. Also worried that they wont all fit as they look to take up a ton of space and I have a substantial about of sockets.

I was thinking of making a newer better version of my original one that will fit my impact etc etc but I want to find a better option than roll pins.
 
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Bob275

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Nov 20, 2011
Messages
319
Location
RI
I use the ERNST trays now as well... my ocd won't allow the Hansen trays. I was constantly trying to fill the empty spaces.
 
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ThatSickRip

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May 23, 2017
Messages
763
Bob275 said:
I use the ERNST trays now as well... my ocd won't allow the Hansen trays. I was constantly trying to fill the empty spaces.
Click to expand...

Yep, same thing happened to me lol. Bought socket sizes that I never know if Ill even use because I had the empty spots on my tray :wtf::bounce:

I love the Kobalt ones, same thing as the Ares, but cheaper. 4 rows that you can arrange any way you want, and if you need more of just the holders, theyre cheap on Amazon and make it even more customizable
 
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joe_pinehill1

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Feb 23, 2013
Messages
537
Location
Northern Virginia
I use a combination of HF trays and strips, Craftsman strips, and plastic holders that came with the sockets. Also probably half of the time I can do the job with a craftsman 3/8&1/4 combo set that is in the original box
 

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nbruno

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Feb 12, 2014
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I love everything about the Hansen trays except for the fact that they take up so much space. With 4 Hansen racks lined up in my drawer I could probably add 3 or 4 more rows of sockets going with Ernst or the machined racks.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
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pbon

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May 14, 2017
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3,498
I have a shallow drawer so I can’t stand deep sockets upright. I have the magnetic trays for the most part but some clip strips laying on their sides.
 
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shawhite

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May 28, 2014
Messages
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skunkape1 said:
I see they added several more options since the last time I checked them out, including the ever popular orange and green colors. It might be time for me to check them out in person.
Click to expand...

Wrestling is in the process of coming out with a 3 row tray and some trays for swivels impacts.
 

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atikovi

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Suburban Washington DC
David9726 said:
I've been using craftsman trays but i need more of them and can not get them anymore without ordering online and they are $20 each.
Click to expand...

In my "go anywhere" tool box I have a magnetic tray for deep and regular 1/4 drive metric and keep these style Craftsman rails for 3/8 drive regular metric sockets 7mm-22mm, torx and hex bit sockets and E torx sockets. (Don't ask why I keep E torx ready to go, I just do.) You can swap the retainers between 1/4 3/8 or 1/2 inch drive. A few bucks each.

large.jpg
 
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bob15

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Dec 8, 2011
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Northeasten, CT
I like these and find they work awesome and will even hold 1/2 drive sockets upside down. Are sold by: craftsman, SK, Wright, Matco, McMaster, HJE and others:

socketrails.jpg
 
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Wamsutta

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Location
Amarillo, Texas
bob15 said:
I like these and find they work awesome and will even hold 1/2 drive sockets upside down. Are sold by: craftsman, SK, Wright, Matco, McMaster, HJE and others:

socketrails.jpg
Click to expand...

You see that's why I like the GearWrench design better; the clips are on inside of the rail instead of wrapping around the outside like the Matco. The GearWrench rail sits flat on the table and are very stable without toppling over.
 
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Mikeske

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Apr 28, 2017
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Washington State
I have never found ones that really satisfy me. Either they show what I have missing or like the magnetic ones are either to strong or to weak. The old metal rails as they aged they got weak and dropped sockets. The ones from Harbor Freight do not include some of the larger sizes (they are closest to what I like). The biggest complaint I have of them that lay out the sizes is that take up way to much room. Not one of them really does it the way I like as my OCD really finds fault in every one of the organizers.
 
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77Mini

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Dec 27, 2015
Messages
447
Location
Ontario Canada
skunkape1 said:
I see they added several more options since the last time I checked them out, including the ever popular orange and green colors. It might be time for me to check them out in person.
Click to expand...

I wish Westling would special order trays to hold the number of sockets you want. I would buy them for sure if that was the case.
 
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