Socket Rails for impacts

[pcpro15]

To start... I've searched the forum for 1/2" socket rails. I saw a nice wright rack that you hung from the wall, I caught elroy's thread where he made awesome socket holders... I saw another thread that a few commented that they liked cman rails (was a 4 year old thread) and not sure if the production has changed by now...

I have two 12pc sets of impact sockets (both deep), and in the future I plan to get two sets of 12pc shallow impacts. The rails I did pick up a while back were only 10pc, and realized my fail after I got home.

Needs:

Full set portability (no Hansen trays)
Fit full 12pc set (no leftovers)
Keeping space in mind...
Easy on the wallet

Thanks guys!

 

[Altec]

Re: Socket Rail's for impacts

Here is what I use for Impacts. Sorta portable... They will stay on pretty good. I've shoved the whole tray in a 5 gallon bucket with a bunch of other tools, and the only one that fell off during the trip in the back of the truck was a 1-3/8" socket...

http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-v444.aspx

Kobalt has one like it at Lowes for $25.

Another option might be something I want to try soon.

http://stolltool.com/

Just remember four sets of impacts is a lot of weight...

 

[mypov]

Re: Socket Rail's for impacts

I can only half comment. I just purchased 300 dollars worth of the Cman magnetic socket rails (the twist lock kind), and am thus far VERY pleased with them. However, I don't have any half inch impact sockets (as of yet). I just purchased a 14 pc set from ebay and am waiting their arrival. Here's the only problem I foresee - the half inch deep sockets are slightly too high when sitting on these rails for the regular full length drawer to close (I think). I havn't got my tool box yet either (it is arriving on Monday). But the magnetic function of these rails is amazing, as well as their ability to hold the sockets in place. Perfect for transportation and portability.

Good luck with your search.
I should also comment that I was initially going to purchase the Ernst magnetic rails, but they were both more expensive and appeared to be less sturdy and able to hold up to regular use and abuse.
my opinion.

 

[soob]

Re: Socket Rail's for impacts

I got my Chicago Pneumatic (imported) sockets with blow-moulded cases for about what some people are paying for rails.

Maybe you could buy them and throw the sockets away.

 

[sporty_drew]

Re: Socket Rail's for impacts

I'd try some Ernst duro clip rails. I just bought some twist lock ones and the rails are very ridged when loaded up so I have a good idea the duro clip setup would be perfect.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Re: Socket Rail's for impacts

I'd try some Ernst duro clip rails. I just bought some twist lock ones and the rails are very ridged when loaded up so I have a good idea the duro clip setup would be perfect.

^^^^^

I agree 100%

If you're going to be toteing these things around, a socket board full of impacts will be too heavy and I can personally attest to that.

Single rails with the twist lock clips is your best bet unless you want to spend major $$$ like on the stolltool flip lid rails.

You can audit each rail to see if there is a socket missing if a clip is empty after each use, they lock and you can add or delete clips if your socket count grows or shrinks.

 

[csmitty]

x3 for the Ernst. I've tried a few options. Hanson's, Mechanics time saver magnetic ones and finally the Ernst and very pleased with how they sit in the box and portability. I have the twist ones and a 18" rail is only $8 with 15 clips. There are two other smaller sizes to with less clips, but you can take as many on or off as you need. and can add to both sides of the rail depending on the storage needs. I loaded up a 18" rail with 15 3/8s deep impacts and it droops some (its plastic) but not bad at all. I've got a 18" with 13 1/2dr shallow and its straight as an arrow. Going to be outfiting the rest of my sockets with them. Not as easy to quickly identify as a hanson tray but prefer the portability.

 

[pcpro15]

Thank you guys for your help. I started looking into ernst rails and saw they had HD clips which were designed for heavy sockets which is nice. The one post about the rail bending does have me feeling eh about that. I'm wondering if the newer craftsman rails (although expensive) would be a better fit since the channels look aluminum. The Stolltool holders look very nice, but certainly are expensive. As mentioned, the vim style with 4 sets of impacts probably would be on the heavier side. Thanks again for all the suggestions, I have plenty to think about.

 

[Altec]

A VIM loaded with impacts is far from light, but it has the advantage of a handle. I'd rather have a heavy tray that is easy to carry in one shot, then single rails that I have to carry two at a time, or try and carry all four in a awkward mess.

Another option is some basic rails, a sheet of your favorite material, and a couple of fancy handles. Here is a tray I made on that basic idea.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=110099

 

[jjjrmx5]

A VIM loaded with impacts is far from light, but it has the advantage of a handle. I'd rather have a heavy tray that is easy to carry in one shot, then single rails that I have to carry two at a time, or try and carry all four in a awkward mess.

I run 4 of the VIM trays in my home box. For std. chrome sockets they are fine, but since they are non locking clips, if you pick one full tray up by the end handle loaded with impact sockets, especially deep sockets, the shear weight of the socket themselves on the clip creates a cantilever action where the clips cannot support teh length of the deep sockets when held on their side and they begin to fall off taking other sockets with them as gravity does it's thing.

Talk about a frustrating and giant PITA pick-up after each use. It's like picking up LEGO's or the tiny single Lincoln Logs off teh floor every time with the impacts.

No thanks. And it got old---- real quick.

That why for impact sockets that must be portable I go single rails with locking clips.

 

[IH82BL8]

I bought some of these:

http://www.craftsman.com:80/shc/s/p...ge+Accessories&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=L3

I wanted racks that were portable--not affixed the storage drawers. One-handed socket attach/detach. You can buy additional clips separately and remove or add clips to rails to group your sockets however you like.

They come in 1/2", 3/8" and 1/2" drive.

 

[ads47]

I was looking at these.....

http://performanceracingmall.com/RHEngineering/Socket_Organizer.html

ads

 

[Altec]

I bought some of these:

http://www.craftsman.com:80/shc/s/p...ge+Accessories&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=L3

I wanted racks that were portable--not affixed the storage drawers. One-handed socket attach/detach. You can buy additional clips separately and remove or add clips to rails to group your sockets however you like.

They come in 1/2", 3/8" and 1/2" drive.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-14-38-and-12-socket-rail-set-68101.html

 

[Fedwrench]

What you need is a tool cart to place under your four sets of impact sockets and roll it to where you're working.

You can try mag rail tl or another aluminum rail (neither is cheap) but, as others have pointed out, impact sockets are heavy. You're asking alot of a plastic or nylon rail to carry a full set of 1/2 inch drive impact sockets.

 

[pcpro15]

Thanks again guys. I was in sears trying to find the new cman rails just to check them out, and ran cross the lisle socket trays. I signed up for the free ship vantage trial and ordered them online. $26.99 that takes care of all for sets of sockets.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941379000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Guess we'll see what happens. Hopefully I made the right choice, but if I didn't I can always revist this thread.

 

[pcpro15]

Keep an eye on that 3rd socket in on the 3/8" rail.

 

[jfull]

Re: Socket Rail's for impacts

I would second the cfman lock a socket rails. Those are awesome. I have bought the mechanic time saver (mts) ones and they aren't as good, and i've bought the mac version, also not as good. The cfman have a channel that holds the magnetic strip, it holds it in for all temps. The mac and mts ones just have glue on the bottom. During the summer the glue failed on all of mine. Piece of **** those mac and MTS ones are...so now i just have a lock socket rail w/o the magnetic feature. The cfman ones that I have held up very nice, and the magnet stayed put. I'm going to invest in more of those.

IDEA - what would be the best though, is if someone can reproduce the rail and make custom lengths of the cfman lock a socket rail - because you can buy the posts separate - but you can only buy their rail w/ the posts in it...thus it is possible to have a rail not fit all your sockets; if you could custom the rail size that would be awesome. Anyone do this? anyone have any idea where to buy channel for these? I've done a lot of looking online, and nothing fits the bill.

Next comment is on the ernst twist lock rails. JUNK total junk. just go buy a hunk of plastic at all a dollar and call it good...I bought a ton of ernst stuff, after reading a few pro's online here on the GJ...however those are total garbage, I threw most of it away. There is nothing goood about the ernst twist lock socket rails. (the rails may be good as a drawer divider or someting, but def NOT to hold sockets...) I'm not sure how those passed any QA...just a major waste of money if you buy them and gimmic. There is no way an ernst rail would hold up to any impact storage, imo.

Hansen trays - i've also had those, but sometimes i have the need to throw a whole rail in a bag or go box, and the trays didnt fulfill that need very well, thats why i am moving to the cfman twist lock or cfman lock a socket (whatever they call it)...those are the best I have used. I'll have to snap some pictures of what I'm talking about, regarding the magnet so you can see.

 

[Kenneth]

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-14-38-and-12-socket-rail-set-68101.html

Have you been using these a while? I bought two sets of them, and it's much harder to remove sockets from them when compared to my similar Craftsman plastic socket rails. Fairly often, I'll give a socket a gentle tug and the clip will just snap right off of the rail. Mine are a little older judging by the packaging, but the rails don't actually look any different.

 

[route246]

I've tried many different ones. Ernst have worked the best for me by far. I use a hacksaw to shorten them when needed.

 

[Steevo]

I started to put my HF 13-piece metric deep impact socket set on a Hansen rack, only to realize that there are three sockets in the set that are bigger than the racks large end.

 

[The Dutchman]

Re: Socket Rail's for impacts

Here is what I use for Impacts. Sorta portable... They will stay on pretty good. I've shoved the whole tray in a 5 gallon bucket with a bunch of other tools, and the only one that fell off during the trip in the back of the truck was a 1-3/8" socket...

http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-v444.aspx

To Altec, or anyone else: Could you buy 3 of the above products & make one tray all 1/4" drive, one all 3/8, & one all 1/2? IOW, can you remove/reinstall the individual socket clips from the rails? ETA: If so, can you slide the clip(s) along the rail & let them stay exactly at that point on the rail, or do the clips have to sit in only certain spots along the rail?



THX for any info, anyone. KS

 

[Altec]

Yes, you can remove the clips, and install them any way you like! The clips are spring steel and basically "pinch" the rail. You can slide them off, and reinstall them as you please. I use a pair of diagonal cutter to install them. Lightly grip one side on the socket area, place the opposite side lip that contacts the rail in place, and gently pull the other side onto the rail. Pretty easy.

If you don't have enough clips, you can buy more. Online, tool trucks, and some stores carry bags of the clips. I like to get them from Harbor Freight though. They sell the $1 rails that come with 16 of the clips. The rails themselves are cheesy, but the clips are just as good as any... And since clips wear out over time, it isn't worth spending a ton of money for VIM ones, or what have you.

 

[The Dutchman]

Yes, you can remove the clips, and install them any way you like! The clips are spring steel and basically "pinch" the rail. You can slide them off, and reinstall them as you please. I use a pair of diagonal cutter to install them. Lightly grip one side on the socket area, place the opposite side lip that contacts the rail in place, and gently pull the other side onto the rail. Pretty easy.

If you don't have enough clips, you can buy more. Online, tool trucks, and some stores carry bags of the clips. I like to get them from Harbor Freight though. They sell the $1 rails that come with 16 of the clips. The rails themselves are cheesy, but the clips are just as good as any... And since clips wear out over time, it isn't worth spending a ton of money for VIM ones, or what have you.

Thank You, Altec! KS

 

[William Payne]

I like the rails that came with my snap-on sockets, those things just dont fall off.

 

[flyingblind]

Thanks again guys. I was in sears trying to find the new cman rails just to check them out, and ran cross the lisle socket trays. I signed up for the free ship vantage trial and ordered them online. $26.99 that takes care of all for sets of sockets.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941379000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Guess we'll see what happens. Hopefully I made the right choice, but if I didn't I can always revist this thread.

I have some just like that. Mine are from Mac, and they work great unless you drop them.

 

[adamsredlines]

Any new solutions?

I'm looking for a good solution for my Craftsman 1/2" sets, shallow and deep.

I dont think regular clips will work well in a bag due to the weight (I use my impacts at the junk yard)...the trays wouldnt work either...the magnetic Lisle ones look good but dont hold all the sockets.

I see talk about a locking one but the link doesnt seem to be working.

Any other ideas?

 

[adamsredlines]

I guess these are the beloved Ernst ones?
http://www.ernstmfg.com/products_socket_accessories.php

How durable are they? I originally had some HF plastic rails for my chrome sockets and those sucked. Was it because they were HF or because they were plastic? Very brittle and the impact sockets much heavier.

 

[csmitty]

Yea. Those are the ones I use. The twist lock. I haven't tried the PRO clips though. I tried to exhibit the flex involved. That's the full set of metric Cman deeps. If you hold them in the middle the flex is less. But given the easier storage and flexibility (for sockets) ill take the trade off.


Take up a lot less drawer space compared to laying flat with metal rails.

 

[adamsredlines]

I bought one of these today to try out and I am very impressed with initial quality. I think these are the answer for my question. Was able to put all 12 SAE sizes of sockets on the rail, a swivel and 3" extension. Gonna go get another one tomorrow for the metric set.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-1-2-...p-00942332000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

[MattPersman]

I have had my shallow snap on 1/2 drive impact sets on the Ernst twist lock rails for a few years with no issues. Not taking them to the junk yard but pro technician use.