socket organizer

[polexican23]

Looking for recommendation for good, better and best socket organizers for tool boxes.

I have used the BIG gray tray from Craftsman that basically take up an entire drawer for like 20 sockets. It is just a waste.

Sorry i also dont have the means to build by out out of cutting board material like whats his name.

 

[Whoismiked]

There is like 2,476 of these exact same threads if you wanted to get a jump start on looking at options rather than waiting for reply, if you use the search feature on the forum.

But my personal favorite is Ernst Twist-lock socket rail systems

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHJHA7I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Here is a pic of one of my socket drawer that uses them:

 

[polexican23]

There is like 2,476 of these exact same threads if you wanted to get a jump start on looking at options rather than waiting for reply, if you use the search feature on the forum.

But my personal favorite is Ernst Twist-lock socket rail systems

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHJHA7I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Here is a pic of one of my socket drawer that uses them:

Maybe it is me but the search function dont work so good for me on here. I get all kinds of weird thread suggestions. Even one about Loch Ness. WTF that has to do with socket organization, i have no clue.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Good rails pack a lot into a given space, Hanson or Hf trays are good too if you have some drawer space and aren’t planning on taking the tray to the job

 

[Voi]

Maybe it is me but the search function dont work so good for me on here. I get all kinds of weird thread suggestions. Even one about Loch Ness. WTF that has to do with socket organization, i have no clue.

Most of the time I use Google to search the GJ site by adding [site:garagejournal.com] without the brackets to my search terms.

https://www.google.com/search?sourc...1..gws-wiz.......0j0i22i30j33i160.zGkLSOoD9uo

 

[polexican23]

Most of the time I use Google to search the GJ site by adding [site:garagejournal.com] without the brackets to my search terms.

https://www.google.com/search?sourc...1..gws-wiz.......0j0i22i30j33i160.zGkLSOoD9uo

damn, i use that for redtub...er i mean other stuff. I forget it works for forums.

 

[connorm]

Another vote for the ernst twist lock rails. They hold my impact sockets awesome. I'd go for a tray system for them if they're gonna stay in the box so they can stand up to save space, I have to wedge mine next to a box to keep them from falling over.

If I worked close to my box I'd do one of those big trays with the pegs, but I frequently am working out in the parking lot or somewhere in the garage far from my box. I use the trays out of the craftsman master set I got in high school to keep my chrome sockets and handles. All three fit without the plastic box in the bottom drawer of my 26" craftsman

 

[Rickster]

Before you spend a ton of money check your drawer height against the height of you tallest deep socket and see how much clearance you have for rails. I tried to use the Lowes rail tray but the drawer on my older box wasn't tall enough. Went with the Hanson trays and even had to shave a bit off the top of the pegs in spots.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

I like the 99cent harbor freight ones. The rails are all same width so you can have 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2" mixed on one rail. Some I cut shorter as needed.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

[Alexander]

I recently switched over to flexible urethane socket holders and am very happy.

https://weldtab.com/product-category/socket-holders/

They're just awesome for my needs. I can pull out a full set, take it where I need or throw it in a bag or portable box, and they all stay on no problem, even being squished around. In the toolbox the rails all line up next to each other neatly in minimal space like any other good holder would.

It may not be the right choice for everyone, but I didn't know they existed until I saw them on GJ so I figure I'll help spread awareness.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I use the plastic socket rails from sears with the ball detent on each post. They work great, don’t cost too much, and carry a (probably worthless now) lifetime warranty. I’ve had my chrome sockets on these since 2004 and haven’t broken one. I recently bought a dozen more for my impact sockets.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I like Hansen trays the best. I pull them out of my main box and put them in my cart, tool bag, and some times I carry the tray by its self. When carrying them by their selves I stack extensions and drive tools in the middle. Carries as one unit to where I need them. I do use a combination of other rails including my own home made ones.
<a href='https://postimg.cc/njhvvqgf' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/MTydJDYH/Soc-hold.jpg' border='0' alt='Soc-hold'/></a>

 

[Craftfab]

Have been pleased with the Hansen and Kobalt ones for years.

 

[JimNC]

I still use a few Hansen, but mostly switched to Westling.

 

[16again]

I prefer the Westling Machine trays.

 

[Snakebyt]

mine are for lowes, in metric, havent had a problem with them in 3 years since i got them

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-3-p...8MVNSlak1MzI44-YorlZV4D_mB9NRYwoaApaCEALw_wcB

 

[Badger 13]

I also prefer the Westling Machine socket holders.

Billet Aluminum Socket Organizing Trays - Westling Machine
westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html

 

[espyking83]

Westling all day

 

[pbon]

My new cabinets have drawers tall enough to fit Hansen trays. I can fit a lot more sockets in the drawer.

 

[bassbone52]

I prefer the Westling Machine trays.

Same here. Buy once, cry once. You'll never break them.

 

[Max]

Ernst. The Westling look great and I am sure that they hold up well. But the Ernst allow you mix and match 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" on the same rail. You can also pull off sockets individually, or pick up a single rail, or pick up a set of 3 rails.

Max

PS. If you buy Ernst from Amazon, compare prices on the Ernst site as well. Some of the Amazon sellers really jack up prices on add ons.

 

[lilredex]

If you want to make the best use of your space, make something like these. Have used these for many years and are now making a bunch more wall hangers for my basement winter workshop, as pictured semi finished in the last one.

 

[polexican23]

Thank you everyone. I found all 2,654 other posts, but appreciate your comments on my thread. I need to take some measurements and get my list ready

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[gatlibs]

I have many Westling and like them fine, but I am interested in trying the also made domestically Hansons.

 

[BroncoAZ]

The Westling look nice, but it looks like the only thing holding on the sockets is gravity? I originally went with the craftsman units because I can grab a set at a time and carry them or pack them in a bag.

 

[3oheight]

I use a combo of the Lowe’s socket trays and clip on rails. I keep a set of mid length SAE and Metric on plastic gearwrench rails as my go to set so I can just grab the whole rail if I need and take it with to me what ever I’m working on. The mid length work for most jobs.

 

[Fluxion]

I have been buying the Magrail TLs from Vim tools I like that I can mix drive sizes on the same rail and the magnets hold them securely in the the drawer even through the drawer liner.

 

[matlok]

Another vote for Ernst. I like that you can remove a single rail and take it to wherever you are working.

 

[connorm]

Tool organization ****


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CKS1955]

If you want to make the best use of your space, make something like these. Have used these for many years and are now making a bunch more wall hangers for my basement winter workshop, as pictured semi finished in the last one.

Pretty cool way to customize use of space.

Jay

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

The Westling look nice, but it looks like the only thing holding on the sockets is gravity? I originally went with the craftsman units because I can grab a set at a time and carry them or pack them in a bag.

Gravity and nubs with tight tolerances that hold them in place. I can get a tray about sideways before any come out on their own. I would not recommend them if you want to carry them in a pack if for no other reason than they are heavy!

 

[unknownroad]

Hansens are great if you're always working near your toolbox- you don't have to fiddle with the sockets when you remove or replace them, the markings are easy to read, and the pins are sized to fit each socket so it's easy to tell if you're putting one in the wrong spot.

The downside is that don't travel well- tip on its side and all of your sockets spill out on the ground.

I had a bunch, then got sick of knocking them over and switched to Ernst. The Ernst does a great job of holding on to your sockets, they're more space-efficient than the Hansen if you don't have a 100%-complete set of sizes, and you can mix-and-match drive sizes on one rail for annoying hex/torx sets and so forth.

Biggest downside of the Ernst, to me, is that it's not easy to read the socket sizes on the holders- the little stickers they include don't stick very well and can get obscured by large sockets.

 

[Fly YX]

I have the Westing and they are great but I don't have to move the trays out of my box at work. I am going to be starting a new job and will have to move more so I was looking at the Mechanic's Time Savers for my now box.

 

[Wyoming09]

Ernst. The Westling look great and I am sure that they hold up well. But the Ernst allow you mix and match 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" on the same rail. You can also pull off sockets individually, or pick up a single rail, or pick up a set of 3 rails.

Max

PS. If you buy Ernst from Amazon, compare prices on the Ernst site as well. Some of the Amazon sellers really jack up prices on add ons.

I also am a fan of the Ernst rails. If you decide to go that route check Summit Racing. I find better prices there.

 

[tomshep]

Another Hansen user.

Tom