socket racks

[kartracer55]

I was just downstairs and I realized how annoying the extended handles on socket racks are!!! Idk if its just one of my quirks, but they irritate the hell outa me, and I was just wondering if this was the case with anybody else. Generally, When I pu sockets on a rack, I cut off the handle and grind it so it looks like its meant to be there, but this is time consuming.

Im talkin about this kind...

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00941333000

How do you all organize your sockets??? We have those hansen socket racks at school, but they are 25 a set, and Id need 3 that would mean $75 in socket organizers... I like being able to grab one rakc of sockets.. IE my set of 3/8 drive metricdeeps, not my entire collection of 3/8 drive.

I Do like the plastic ones alot...

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00941845000

I have the kobalt version (which is really the same thing) but the downside is they arnt long enough to hole a full set of 3/8 or 1/2 sockets. The green metal "trays" the Sks come in are nice, but not all of thier sets come like that.

Any ideas? I have seen the craftsman trays where the socket fits into the hole, but this looks like its a pain in the ***. How do youy guys all do it? I dont have anymore room for tool boxes, or room in my boxes, so I can thave something that takes up a ton of space like the hanson racks do.

Thanks

Jim

 

[bmwpower]

I use the plastic Craftsman holders exclusively. Originally I thought the plastic ones would break, but these hold up really well. The holders have a ball bearing just like the end of a ratchet so the sockets don't fall off like the metal ones. And no rusty metal to contend with.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Yes, I have always hated the handle on my socket racks. I am in the process of slowly replacing all of my Craftsman metal ones with the Craftsman plastic ones. The plastic ones cost quite a bit more, but are much nicer to use.
I had bought a Lisle magnetic deep socket rack, but I brought it back because the sockets would fall off when I held it upside down.

 

[wythors]

I got these last year http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00933932000 after getting completely fed up with messing around with the tin ones. I love 'em.

 

[Luckydevil]

I use those plastic Kobalt ones and love them. You just have to buy a bunch at once and then remove the sliders from some and put on as many as you need. For $6 a pop though I can't complain.

I also put a yellow paint dot on all my metric sets so they are easily visible when standing up.

 

[kartracer55]

Hmm... My metal ones are starting to wear out, so sockets come off a little too easily.

Luke, Craftsman sells bags of the little clips, so you wont need to buy new racks.

My question for you guys is... A, can I mix and match clips of different drive sizes onto one rack? I usually put all my adapters and universals onto one rack. And also, how many sockets can I get on a rack, and inwhat size range. I mean, can I fit a 1/2 drive set from 1/2- 11/4 on one? It would be annoying as hell to have to get two socket racks because I couldnt get a whole set on one. Any other Ideas? you guys

Jim

 

[bmwpower]

You can fit different size clips on the same rack. The rack is about 13" long. Measure the total diameters of your sockets to see if it's less than 13".

Buy the 3 rack pack (1/4", 3/8", 1/2") for $9.99.

 

[Rickster]

I use the Craftsman socket racks with the handles. I like 'em, its easy to grab a set when you have to crawl around to work on the car. But I did use my angle grinder to cut off the unused portion at the end of the row of sockets. I like being able to see if I'm missing a socket right away and also not having to return to the tool box continually. The red and black handles for metric/standard works out great too. I thought about the tray and the plastic spike holders, but I wanted something more secure and easier to grab and change size while working. I had several of the Lisle magnetic ones with the deep on one side and the regular on the other, but they weren't secure enough, I always had unused slots and they were frickin heavy. Along the same lines I had bolted down several of the longer metal rails without handles into a tray, but it was too heavy and hard to reach the sockets or find a size quickly. So far the metal rails with handles has worked best for me.

 

[Wolverine]

I'm considering those 'Hansen Trays' as well. Who elso has them besides wythors???

 

[kartracer55]

We use these at school. We have big waterloo rollarounds, so the top draw is very deep.

The downfal of these is you need a draw that is likee 5 inches deep. I prefer to lay them on thier side, but whatever floats your boat i suppose.

They are kind of expensive for something as lame as an organizer, I am leaning towards the plastic racks. Its ashame that Im going to be buying more plastic, I guess the metal racks will become a vintage item soon.

Jim

 

[kartracer55]

Ahh. They wont work on my 1/2sets. They ar just over 17 inches long when the sockets are pushed together. I dont think they will work on my 3/8 sets either because they are just a hair over 13 inches long. Damn.

Jim

 

[Wile1Coyote]

I have the hansen ones as well, Fantastic! My only complaint is that htye don't make a model that supports deep amd short 6 amd 12 point, It would be nice to have em all in one but buying two of em gets you there. Price is coming down too as more stores are selling them now including Sears.

 

[kartracer55]

That is another probelm I have. Also, Our impacts at school dont all fit on them!

Maybe If they get to be cheaper, like $6 a peice, and I can afford to go buy a big roll around, Ill invest in them.

Jim

 

[BetterDays]

I have the Craftsman metal racks in the garage.

Found them on sale (sold out, so I got the raincheck)

I bought 5 double sets (so 10 racks) or each size (1/4, 3/8, and 1/2)

6 point - metric
6 point - sae
12 point - metric
12 point - sae
deepwell - sae
deepwell - metric

etc..