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Socket Organizers

PearlWhiteGT

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I've had a HF U.S. General 26 in. Roller Cabinet for a few years already and have never had it organized. Just had stuff thrown in there. I recently purchased a Kobalt 211-piece socket set on sale for $99 and looking for options on organizing the sockets. I also have an old Craftsman 300+ mechanics tool set that sits on top of a bench and wondering if I should throw all those sockets in it as well. I'd like to get everything organized. I have a bunch of miscellaneous stuff in almost every drawer that needs to come out and get organized. What do you fellas recommend? Here is the Kobalt set I got on sale.

 
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Matt XYZ

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Ernst or Harbor Freight are two good options for sockets and wrench holders without breaking the bank. I am very happy with my Ernst set up.


 

danho

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I was looking at Olsa but got Harbor Freight organizers for Christmas and am pleased with them.
 

BroncoAZ

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I was looking at something like these. Thoughts?

I’m using the Olsa aluminum rails like those. I have maybe 30 rails for all the sockets in my two boxes. I generally like the ability to grab an entire series of sockets to walk to the project and not have to go back and forth to my toolbox for each socket. These rails work well for 1/4” and 3/8” sockets, but can get unwieldy for 1/2” impact sockets due to the weight. The caps can fall off allowing the socket holder and socket to fall off the end. Olsa makes locking caps, I bought some and they seem to work fine. I used my dremel to engrave the socket size on the top of each post for 3/8” and 1/2”, yes I’m that kind of ****.

I would recommend getting them set up the way you want then cutting the rail to length. Resist the urge to put multiple sets of 1/4” on a single rail, shorter sets are better. I have a set of metric Vim tools 1/4” sockets on their excellent short magnetic rails ($$$). The short rail sets are very easy to grab and take to a project. I could see cutting the aluminum rails in half to split the sets on the 1/2”. My Sunex 1/2” impact sets use two full rails per set from 10mm to 32mm, splitting this into quarters would probably work well.

There is no perfect socket organization. If you have something where you easily grab individual sockets from the drawer then you have no organization if you have to take them away from the box. The rails are less convenient when you are pulling from the box. Magnetic rails that can hold the rails down to the bottom of the draw so they don’t fall over pick up metal debris from the workbench. I think the best solution is the old metal trays like my dad got with his Montgomery Wards sockets back in the 60’s and 70’s.

IMG_7244.jpeg
 

dcoleman88

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I ordered a bunch of socket rails from Cripes. They're not Magrails but they work and were relatively cheap. They also have the corresponding 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" clips that can be bought separately.
 
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PearlWhiteGT

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I really don't plan on having to grab the entire series of sockets. Just need something to keep them all organized in the box. Just a DIY guy who wrenches on my own stuff. The Ernst ones look like but pricey when adding multiple ones to secure all the sockets.
 

rust in the eye

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I really don't plan on having to grab the entire series of sockets. Just need something to keep them all organized in the box. Just a DIY guy who wrenches on my own stuff. The Ernst ones look like but pricey when adding multiple ones to secure all the sockets.
The Hansen peg type organizers might suit you well. Inexpensive too.
 

BroncoAZ

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I really don't plan on having to grab the entire series of sockets. Just need something to keep them all organized in the box. Just a DIY guy who wrenches on my own stuff. The Ernst ones look like but pricey when adding multiple ones to secure all the sockets.
Check these out. If I didn’t need to work on stuff away from my box I’d go with these. After looking at them for this thread I’ll probably buy a set for my cart to try them out.


IMG_7245.png
 

Mr_B

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Amazon type ones do the job fine.
since you got sockets for 99 bucks you don't want be spending 100 bucks to organise them .
Hunt around for good deal/value option .
 

zmotorsports

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PearlWhiteGT

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Check these out. If I didn’t need to work on stuff away from my box I’d go with these. After looking at them for this thread I’ll probably buy a set for my cart to try them out.


IMG_7245.png
Aren't these types size specific? The set I purchased has 211 sockets. These peg type don't cover all the sizes.
 

rust in the eye

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Aren't these types size specific? The set I purchased has 211 sockets. These peg type don't cover all the sizes.
Yes, the pegs are marked. This will drive some mad if an empty peg.
They cover appropriate sizes in the drive range. If your set has a 1/2" drive 6mm or other essentially useless filler socket you'll never use it anyway.
 

zmotorsports

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I did use that style in our race trailers over the years and never had a socket leave the organizer in tens of thousands of miles. The actually stacked well in drawers as I put the most used ones on top and lesser used ones on the bottom. But yes, they did take up some room, but they held sockets well.
 

cvairwerks

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Found this set but looks like it would take up multiple drawers in my small 26" box.
Got a few sets on holders like that, but hate them with a passion. You have to set the socket at the correct angle and rotation to get them to go in, and it's always a pain. A post type, or ones with a well are much more user friendly. The one issue with well ones, is that they need to be really shallow for smaller sockets, or they get hard to remove for use.
 

Wubicon

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I’m using the Olsa aluminum rails like those. I have maybe 30 rails for all the sockets in my two boxes. I generally like the ability to grab an entire series of sockets to walk to the project and not have to go back and forth to my toolbox for each socket. These rails work well for 1/4” and 3/8” sockets, but can get unwieldy for 1/2” impact sockets due to the weight. The caps can fall off allowing the socket holder and socket to fall off the end. Olsa makes locking caps, I bought some and they seem to work fine. I used my dremel to engrave the socket size on the top of each post for 3/8” and 1/2”, yes I’m that kind of ****.

I would recommend getting them set up the way you want then cutting the rail to length. Resist the urge to put multiple sets of 1/4” on a single rail, shorter sets are better. I have a set of metric Vim tools 1/4” sockets on their excellent short magnetic rails ($$$). The short rail sets are very easy to grab and take to a project. I could see cutting the aluminum rails in half to split the sets on the 1/2”. My Sunex 1/2” impact sets use two full rails per set from 10mm to 32mm, splitting this into quarters would probably work well.

There is no perfect socket organization. If you have something where you easily grab individual sockets from the drawer then you have no organization if you have to take them away from the box. The rails are less convenient when you are pulling from the box. Magnetic rails that can hold the rails down to the bottom of the draw so they don’t fall over pick up metal debris from the workbench. I think the best solution is the old metal trays like my dad got with his Montgomery Wards sockets back in the 60’s and 70’s.

IMG_7244.jpeg
I think you're bang on with "there's no perfect socket organization". There is advantages and disadvantages to any approach. I have both a couple different kinds of socket organizers because I have deep, shallow, 6 point, 12 point, metric standard, 1/4", 3/8" etc etc.

Thinking about it, I'll grab off the the labeled deal when I know for sure which size I need. When I need more than 2 or I'm not sure, I'll grab a set that I can take the whole rail. If I need or want something specific, like a 3/8" drive 6 point impact, I'll take one socket etc.
 

Skellyii

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I’m using the Olsa aluminum rails like those. I have maybe 30 rails for all the sockets in my two boxes. I generally like the ability to grab an entire series of sockets to walk to the project and not have to go back and forth to my toolbox for each socket. These rails work well for 1/4” and 3/8” sockets, but can get unwieldy for 1/2” impact sockets due to the weight. The caps can fall off allowing the socket holder and socket to fall off the end. Olsa makes locking caps, I bought some and they seem to work fine. I used my dremel to engrave the socket size on the top of each post for 3/8” and 1/2”, yes I’m that kind of ****.
****?? Don't worry, we don't kink shame here.

Actually, that's a pretty good idea, kinda makes the rails similar to Hansen's, and you can only include the sizes you want/need.

Thanks!
 

housewolf

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Ernst or Harbor Freight are two good options for sockets and wrench holders without breaking the bank. I am very happy with my Ernst set up.


I’m no pro but I like the Ernst/Tekton style too but they do get pricey if buying them all at once. Easily customizable. You could even put 1/4”, 3/8”, & 1/2” drive on the same rail and or tray if that’s what you wanted to do.
 
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PearlWhiteGT

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I have an older Craftsman mechanic set that has about 150 of sockets with mix of 6 and 12 point in 1/2, 3/8, 1/4. They're in their own box and organized. Any reason to keep them? Would you guys throw them in the box with the new Kobalt ones? I'd like to get all my tools organized as best as I could.
 

Steve_P

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I have Ernst. Yes, they're pricey, but they're also really nice. I have a lot of sockets, so spent a ton of $ on them over the years, but no regrets as sockets are frequently used. A bonus to the Ernst is that the pegs don't easily move around on the rail, which is toothed, like they do on the aluminum extrusion ones that I've had- easily slide back and forth.
 
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PearlWhiteGT

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I'm considering the set from Etsy. I know they will take up more space but hoping that if I can stack them I can get them all to fit in one drawer. Two drawers would be the max I'd want. Still have to find organizers for the ratchets, extensions, swivels, etc.

 

Bryanbdp

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Please take a look at our new project, we can make them exactly they way you need!

 

BroncoAZ

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I'm considering the set from Etsy. I know they will take up more space but hoping that if I can stack them I can get them all to fit in one drawer. Two drawers would be the max I'd want. Still have to find organizers for the ratchets, extensions, swivels, etc.


Don’t spend more on organizers than you did on the sockets. You can get some cheap foam from some other packaging and cut it, make dividers out of wood, etc.
 

scooby074

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I'm considering the set from Etsy. I know they will take up more space but hoping that if I can stack them I can get them all to fit in one drawer. Two drawers would be the max I'd want. Still have to find organizers for the ratchets, extensions, swivels, etc.

$130 for just the trays? I think Id pass on that one.
 

soundjunky

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Jan 23, 2025
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Shortly before Sears closed up shop (they were gone from Canada well before the USA) I bought Craftsman brand metric and imperial organizers for 1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2” drive.
I like them, but these organizers caused me something of an OCD-fit trying to find sockets to fill all the spots.
(I also, on principal, wouldn’t break up tool sets to fill holes, so all of these sockets have been collected or gifted to me over the years)

I have no idea why all the different brands of these have metric 1/2” drive holders going all the way up to 27mm - as you can see (keep in mind this is several years down the road) I still don’t have all the holes filled.
 

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Nutria

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Don't worry, we don't kink shame here.

So many trick organizers! I've tried a few of them, and I've tried to like them, I really, really have. But I keep coming back to the cheap, stamped steel jobs. I don't love them, but they're cheap, and they work well with my limited space and shallow drawers. So, don't shame me either.
 
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soundjunky

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I used the steel ones for many years;
I still use them to organize my spares (note that I did not say duplicates ;) ).
I prefer these days that the socket holder shows the size - instead of having to fight the socket off the holder to then see I grabbed the wrong one… again.
 
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PearlWhiteGT

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Thanks fellas I ended up just getting some cheap ones from amazon. I don't use my tools daily. I'll report back once I get them all set up.
 

bassJAM

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Cincinnati, OH
I like the magnetic US general organizers from harbor freight. It keeps the sockets upright and stuck to the drawers when you pull them out and push them in, but it's still easy to grab a whole set and take it elsewhere. I had some of their $1 Pittsburg metal socket organizers and those are trash through, the sockets keep falling off.

I've have several of the metal "wands" from Craftsman as well, my oldest are probably 20 years old and some are starting to lose their grip. I'm slowly converting them all to the magnetic type.

1738332744694.png
 

soundjunky

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I found that with those metal holders it's all in the spring(?) clip;
I have older Snap-On ones, older Mastercraft ones (which appear to be dead ringers for that Craftsman one), and several different no-name/HF ones too;
The Mastercraft(MC)/Craftsman(CM) spring clips have a slightly bowed top, near vertical sides, and hard bends - they hold very well.
The old SO ones use a spring clip that is overly rounded - even though they look to be lower quality than the later MC/CM, this design seems to hold surprisingly well.
The HF/no-name ones typically have what I might call a oval shape to them, there are no real hard bends were it's supposed to hold the socket - you can clearly see that these are cheap knock-offs of the MC/CM & even the dare I say ancient SO ones.
 
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PhantomEB

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The Hansen peg type organizers might suit you well. Inexpensive too.

Yes, the pegs are marked. This will drive some mad if an empty peg.
They cover appropriate sizes in the drive range. If your set has a 1/2" drive 6mm or other essentially useless filler socket you'll never use it anyway.
That’s what I am running. Working on filling empty spots now with all Crastman if I can. What’s left will just be gear wrench or tekton.
 

Koolmoose

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Tractor Supply has some nice rails for $9.99. I too like my sockets on rails so I can bring a bunch to the project without multiple trips back to the box. I have the metric rails pointing left (Europe is more leftist than US) and SAE pointing right.

Walmart also has some nice magnetic organizers.
 

Pexto

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Please tell me who makes this unnamed organiser and/or where they may be purchased?

I have some seemingly identical organizers that were branded Craftsman, and sold at Lowe's. I also have some organizers that seem identical except that they are blue; these also came from Lowe's, branded Kobalt, a few years ago,
 

humber2

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I’m testing the water so to speak with this unit which uses sprung balls to hold the sockets but I don’t like the non buffered metal base.

The second similar unit I have is the all plastic Snap-on tray with detachable plastic rails and the turn to hold securement. How durable is this system?

Either will get weighty with 1/2 drive sockets which I’ll try to avoid. I think it best to load with 1/4 and 3/8 keeping metric and SAE allocated apart.

YMMV
 
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