Socket rail that holds both 1/2 drive and 3/8 drive

[RedneckWelder]

I need a recommendation for a single rail that holds both 1/2 and 3/8 drive tools- I have a set of 8 hex bit sockets that I want to keep on the same rail...they came shipped on a metal rail but I sprung a couple of the clips by dropping the loaded rail and now I need a replacement. Thanks

 

[CJM8515]

Sears sells socket rails you can take off the holders and replace any size you want. About the only craftsman thing in my toolchest.

 

[gdocktor3]

^ Yea what he said. The rails themselves are all the same size.

 

[WWheeler]

I prefer the plastic rails with the ball detent to the metal clip kind, but either type rail you can mix/match the drive sizes on a rail. Here's a bunch to choose from:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?LH_P...RAIL HOLDER ORGANIZER 1/4 3/8 1/2"&rmvSB=true

Harbor freight has the plastic and metal kinds also

plastic:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-pc-socket-rail-set-68101.html

metal:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-pc-steel-socket-rail-set-68103.html

 

[RedneckWelder]

prefer the plastic rails with the ball detent to the metal clip kind

I do too.

Thanks guys I'll drop by Sears and grab some, I haven't been in a long time so I didn't think of them.

 

[6PTsocket]

Most rails are the same size for all three drive sizes. If you don't want to have to buy two rails to get the holders it comes down to who sells loose holders. Gearwrench, MTS, Eastwood Sears and a lot of others sell holders. With some companies the rails are a different length by drive size so make sure you start with a rail that is long enough to hold the assorted stuff you want to put on it. I like the Gearwrench rails. They come in red for inch, blue for metric, and green for torx. There are so many styles and materials and fastening nethods l would not try to cover them here so just find a rail you like and make sure you can get loose holders for it. Most torx and hex bits come on a mixed rail but they don't sell mixed rails by themselves and you already have your bits so you will have to make it.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Jaysreal]

Mechanic's time savers(also available as Torin and craftsman) you can mix sizes, Gearwrench rails can also mix sizes. These are the only two types I use after trying many.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[6PTsocket]

Mechanic's time savers(also available as Torin and craftsman) you can mix sizes, Gearwrench rails can also mix sizes. These are the only two types I use after trying many.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

I started with the aluminum MTS rails for my impact sockets and I thought they were the best thing since sliced bread. I got some more for my reguler 3/8 sickets and they did not fit a lot of my sockets. You could not lock them. You could rotate them maybe 3/4 of the way and they would go no further. The trouble was that the detent in a lot of sockets is not deep enough for the MTS ball to come out all the way so the cam inside the post can reach the internal detent and lock the socket. A ratchet handle ball is spring loaded so you never have a problem in normal use. MTS is aware of this and that is why their ads say "fits most sockets". If they fit the brand of socket you are using they are great but I had trouble with older SK and Williams.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[bob15]

Sears sells socket rails you can take off the holders and replace any size you want. About the only craftsman thing in my toolchest.

This ↑ ↑ ↑

SK and Wright also use the same rail & clips. Can also be bought from HJE. A quick search shows Home Depot selling them now....

The craftsman used to be all black, not sure if they are red & blue now.

 

[DeadPedal]

I got some really good socket rails from McMastercarr a couple years ago. They hold some 1/2" impact sockets very tight. Much better than my cman ones. Stay away from Tekton brand too.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Richard Cranium]

I think I have every thing from craftsman to snap on rails in my tool box, most work just fine.

 

[FigureItOut]

I went with the Ernst rails partially for mixing drive sizes like this, because the replacement posts are way cheaper than the other styles. Getting MTS posts for example is almost the same cost as buying the rails.

 

[ryan20021982]

Advance Auto sells these gray ones in the store, all the clips are interchangeable

 

[Jaysreal]

I started with the aluminum MTS rails for my impact sockets and I thought they were the best thing since sliced bread. I got some more for my reguler 3/8 sickets and they did not fit a lot of my sockets. You could not lock them. You could rotate them maybe 3/4 of the way and they would go no further. The trouble was that the detent in a lot of sockets is not deep enough for the MTS ball to come out all the way so the cam inside the post can reach the internal detent and lock the socket. A ratchet handle ball is spring loaded so you never have a problem in normal use. MTS is aware of this and that is why their ads say "fits most sockets". If they fit the brand of socket you are using they are great but I had trouble with older SK and Williams.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Ya, it's a bit of a problem with some sockets. I have a newer SK set that after playing with them for awhile they fit now. I also have sockets from Tone, Bahco, Craftsman, Cornwell, Sunex, and HF that fit just fine. Another thing is that the MTS(and the rebrands) are a bit more expensive than the GW ones. They are also on the bulky side.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[magtl]

You can mix 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive on the Magrail TL. Soon you will be able to add 3/4 drive also.

 

[shockwave]

Yes the magrail tl is great it's all I use I have a few sets that have mixed drive sizes like torx and etorx but my hex are mixed with 1/4 and 3/8 on the same rail

 

[Mrmontebuilder]

I have 5 of the ones Lowes sells that have 4 rails on each, took all the clips off and rearranged for my setup. Very nice and not bad for $22 each in my opinion.

 

[CSRPenFab]

The plastic rails at HF are all interchangeable. I have one holding some 1/4" and 3/8" univ joint sockets.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have aluminum rails with changeable clips in 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2. The rails are available in RED, BLUE and BLACK. High quality. The Link...

 

[WWheeler]

Advance Auto sells these gray ones in the store, all the clips are interchangeable

Those look to be the same as the ones Harbor Freight sells that I linked above for $4 for a trio of 1/4", 3/8", & 1/2".

 

[6PTsocket]

Ya, it's a bit of a problem with some sockets. I have a newer SK set that after playing with them for awhile they fit now. I also have sockets from Tone, Bahco, Craftsman, Cornwell, Sunex, and HF that fit just fine. Another thing is that the MTS(and the rebrands) are a bit more expensive than the GW ones. They are also on the bulky side.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Most of my impacts are HF and my MTS rails are Cman rebrands. I never had an issue with bulk. I was impressed that I could stick a rail of impacts on the side of the cabinet and the magnet would hold them. I think it is neat that there are friction strips in the rail to keep the posts in place. They are expensive but I would wait for a sale at Sears. I could force a few of mine to lock but some were so far away I surely would have broken the post. Also they only come in red. There is a cheaper MTS with plastic rails and no magnet. I settled on Gearwrench. Not quite as rigid but made of filled nylon so not likely to break. The posts are spring ball and hold well and come in red for inch, blue for metric and green for torx. Also, cheaper tha MTS. I will only buy C channel rails that contain the post and not one where the post wraps around the rail. They break.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Fedwrench]

Two more rails worth mentioning that you can easily tailor to your needs, Gearwrench and NAPA's Carlyle. Don't forget to check out Cripe Distributing to see what they have available in rails & clips.

 

[KM223]

Two more rails worth mentioning that you can easily tailor to your needs, Gearwrench and NAPA's Carlyle. Don't forget to check out Cripe Distributing to see what they have available in rails & clips.

+1 on the Gearwrench. Good solid design that will allow for 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 drive on the same rail.

 

[kythri]

Carlyle all the way!

Red, blue and green rails in multiple sizes, clips are cheap, etc.

 

[KnurledNut]

The ball and spring retainer seems to commonly fail on the plastic rails.
Anyone else experience this?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Thanks guys I'll drop by Sears and grab some, I haven't been in a long time so I didn't think of them.

The Sears/Craftsman ones, without the handles, look identical to HF plastic ones. Sears used to stock extra 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" clips.

I actually use them on 1/2" impact sockets, just make sure to pick the rail up in the middle.


I need some more ! I just bought a Sunex 3/8" impact set to go with the M12 Fuel 3/8" Impact that Santa brought me !

 

[theoldwizard1]

The Craftsman used to be all black, ...

The older Craftsman ones were light gray.

 

[Fedwrench]

The ball and spring retainer seems to commonly fail on the plastic rails.
Anyone else experience this?

I have broken a couple of clips but, never had a ball fail but, I used the ones made by VIM and sold as wright/matco/craftsman/kobalt/SK.

What brand was yours that failed?

 

[ryan20021982]

Those look to be the same as the ones Harbor Freight sells that I linked above for $4 for a trio of 1/4", 3/8", & 1/2".

These are different and come in different lengths

 

[KnurledNut]

I have broken a couple of clips but, never had a ball fail but, I used the ones made by VIM and sold as wright/matco/craftsman/kobalt/SK.

What brand was yours that failed?

Wright.
Their customer service was GREAT and sent me new ones immediately.


(Edit: The HF version reviews show several failures.)

 

[Finky198]

Another Cman user I have 300+ sockets and bits on there rails both in black and grey...

I have had 3 or so where the detent has failed. I found out later the socket was wet when put back and caused rust on the ball and spring...

They have been great otherwise. I can customize rail and even cut them to fit exactly what I've needed.

 

[CJM8515]

The Sears/Craftsman ones, without the handles, look identical to HF plastic ones. Sears used to stock extra 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" clips.

I actually use them on 1/2" impact sockets, just make sure to pick the rail up in the middle.

I thought the HF ones were ok vs the sears ones. The HF ones the rails flex more and the clips arent as tight as the sears.

 

[6PTsocket]

Another Cman user I have 300+ sockets and bits on there rails both in black and grey...

I have had 3 or so where the detent has failed. I found out later the socket was wet when put back and caused rust on the ball and spring...

They have been great otherwise. I can customize rail and even cut them to fit exactly what I've needed.

If we are talking about the same ones, HF sells them in sets of three at a fractionof the price. I have had several of the posts break.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[6PTsocket]

I thought the HF ones were ok vs the sears ones. The HF ones the rails flex more and the clips arent as tight as the sears.

I thought they were the same. Not the first time I was wrong but if it matters where you pick them up I would still call them junk. The Gearwrench rails are glass reenforced plastic. They flex but the don't break.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[bob15]

The ball and spring retainer seems to commonly fail on the plastic rails.
Anyone else experience this?

Never had any issue with the 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2" drive rails. Even when it is 0°F outside, they have yet to fail me.

 

[Finky198]

If we are talking about the same ones, HF sells them in sets of three at a fractionof the price. I have had several of the posts break.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

These I haven't spent more than 50 bucks with all the points and coupons. I have another six or eight rails with 1/2" drive chrome, impact Hex and torx and some other adapters/extractors.

 

[WWheeler]

Advance Auto sells these gray ones in the store, all the clips are interchangeable

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=610510&d=1483192581

Those look to be the same as the ones Harbor Freight sells that I linked above for $4 for a trio of 1/4", 3/8", & 1/2".

These are different and come in different lengths

I picked up a few sets from HF over the last year. They may not be exactly the same, but they sure do look the same to me, and they also came in both short and long sizes.

I'm not seeing any of the short ones on HF's site though.

Likewise, I didn't see any gray ones or different sizes on Advance's site either. I did see that Advance online does have otherwise identical looking rails available in bright orange (1/4dr). yellow (3/8dr) and green (1/2 dr).