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Socket storage?

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nanofrog

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Mar 1, 2012
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1,323
Also use socket rails (small box though, and not a professional mechanic FWIW).
 

Fastbird

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Jan 28, 2007
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Location
Fort Wayne, IN
You should really try a search. This exact topic has been covered numerous times the last of which was just a couple of days back.

And Hansen trays.
 

mrjaw14

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May 22, 2012
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1,958
Location
Nashville, TN
I got some cheap socket rails and painted a piece of sheet metal, then riveted the rails to the sheet metal. Keeps the rails standing up and takes up less space than Hansen trays do. Was cheaper to make that then buy the Hansen trays, and it holds more sockets. Since the rails take interchangeable clips, I can mix and match drive sizes on my bit socket and misc rail since I don't have a full rail of bit sockets.

Here is a like to a discussion thread with a pic of my setup:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=185883
 
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Jtcrep

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Apr 20, 2013
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80
ge8e7yza.jpg

Here is mine. Not perfect but it's handy.


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crewchief888

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Dec 3, 2009
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13,739
Location
NW indiana

^^^ this

i dont use the plastic rail/clips, mine are all metal rails from SO
i also use a lot of original metal trays from both SO and mac.
IMO hansen trays are a huge space waster, i have a few of them in my home boxes, but none in my overstuffed work boxes.


:beer:
 
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MDSPHOTO

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Nov 10, 2011
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2,396
Location
Oz
Cheapie socket rails from HF. I'm not great with visual identification of the bolt size so I grab the rail of sockets that looks closest, which is better that lugging a full set or having the wrong size and having to go back to my box.
 

jsa83

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Oct 10, 2013
Messages
30
photo_3.jpg



snap on socket trays.... i always like the way sockets look laying down rather then standing up. thats why i am able to fit them in the seconds drawer. top drawers of snap on boxes are too tall just for sockets (in my opinion, and what i use)
 

aoleg

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Sep 5, 2013
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Location
Berlin, DE
Socket rails which, in turn, are kept in fabric tool rolls together with some pliers and screwdrivers.
 

xtremek

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Apr 13, 2012
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11,603
Location
St. Johns, Mi
I like the plastic rails with the little plugs that you have for different drives and you can stack for deep well sockets. Can't find them any more though. They're easy to grab sockets when your hands are greasy.
 

firebox40dash5

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Mar 19, 2012
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4,185
snap on socket trays.... i always like the way sockets look laying down rather then standing up. thats why i am able to fit them in the seconds drawer. top drawers of snap on boxes are too tall just for sockets (in my opinion, and what i use)

Curious question... what do you keep in the top drawer? :headscrat

The trays are certainly organized, but damn that looks like the most inefficient use of space! Not that you don't have space to spare, but still. I think I have about the same amount of sockets as you, but on Hansens and rails, shoehorned a bit in to a 40x18" drawer. I tried loading them all into a KRL1002 top drawer we were storing once just to see how well it would work, and looked at it and thought "wow, I'd need to buy more tools..." :lol:
 

Montosi82

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Mar 25, 2013
Messages
101
New socket trays from lowes this Friday.. Work in progress but I like them so far.
 

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chi.ted

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May 3, 2013
Messages
7
For what it's worth, the HF socket trays are a little wider than the Hansen trays so I find myself storing T-handles, and some other misc items in the tray between the socket and divider. Also, from pictures of the Hansen trays in use, I normally see the socket face down, whereas the HF are always face up, so you can easily see whether 6 or 12 point. Not sure if you can flip the sockets using the Hansen, but something to consider if you think it's important.
 

jsa83

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Oct 10, 2013
Messages
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Curious question... what do you keep in the top drawer? :headscrat

The trays are certainly organized, but damn that looks like the most inefficient use of space! Not that you don't have space to spare, but still. I think I have about the same amount of sockets as you, but on Hansens and rails, shoehorned a bit in to a 40x18" drawer. I tried loading them all into a KRL1002 top drawer we were storing once just to see how well it would work, and looked at it and thought "wow, I'd need to buy more tools..." :lol:


i keep tools that come in plastic storage cases (mostly diag tools). .. inefficient, yes. even my co worker said so haha.. its just a part of my OCD. and if i do run out of space i'll upgrade
 

blacksuit99

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May 21, 2007
Messages
91
I don't have near the sockets that some of you have, but I've acquired a few over the years. I am defiantly getting rid of the 1/2 inch tray on top as I only have a few deep wells. I'll be putting them on rails here pretty soon to free up space.
7y6a2ebu.jpg



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abyqunep.jpg
 

firebox40dash5

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Mar 19, 2012
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4,185
i keep tools that come in plastic storage cases (mostly diag tools). .. inefficient, yes. even my co worker said so haha.. its just a part of my OCD. and if i do run out of space i'll upgrade

Alright, that was my guess. Glad to see someone has worse OCD than I do. :beer:

I have the advantage of not owning much of anything that came in blow molded cases. Pretty much all that type of stuff is shared by me and the boss, so we keep it on a shelving unit. I think just my Gearwrench plier-thingies and Powerprobe came in cases, neither of which I'd dream of keeping in their cases in my toolbox. No room for that in a 40 incher. :lol:
 

xtremek

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Apr 13, 2012
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11,603
Location
St. Johns, Mi
Do those rails that have the plastic clips release the sockets easier than the rails with the metal clips? I can't stand the metal clip ones because when my hands are greasy, I can't get the sockets off of them.
 
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