Socket Trays, or Socket 'Organizers'

[Chrislols]

Recently I picked up a 42" roller cab from HF, and I have all my chrome sockets in the Hansen knockoff trays from HF, and while I love them, I need something to organize all my impacts in the same way.

But while I noticed they have the trays, they also have socket 'organizers'.

What do you guys think is more neater looking and nicer to use, socket ORGANIZERS, or socket TRAYS? (please don't say rails )

Thanks!

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-metric-socket-trayorganizer-68102.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-socket-drawer-organizers-99717.html

 

[franzdom]

The organizers use too much space, and I am wondering if they are made for impact or not, impacts can be a lot thicker. I am using a mix of Hansen (1/2") and mechanics time savers and lock-a-socket. Seems like none are perfect and all are useful.

 

[Chrislols]

The organizers use too much space, and I am wondering if they are made for impact or not, impacts can be a lot thicker. I am using a mix of Hansen (1/2") and mechanics time savers and lock-a-socket. Seems like none are perfect and all are useful.

I'm going to use the dimensions and measure it to a side box on my drawer, it'd be really cool to have a side drawer for just impacts.

Especially since my impacts I keep in my indoor cab are just 3/8" dr shallow, deep(sae & metric), and 1/4" shallows (metric)

 

[Stuey]

I'm a fan of Hansen organizers and magnetic rails. Moreso of the organizers. Although, missing socket sizes do make it look a bit awkward.

 

[Chrislols]

I'm a fan of Hansen organizers and magnetic rails. Moreso of the organizers. Although, missing socket sizes do make it look a bit awkward.

Organizers, not trays, right?

 

[dodge610]

I have the trays and the organizers I like the trays much better and have one drawer they fit in. And as you said it is pretty neat I am in the process of making this drawer my metric only drawer so far looks pretty neat.

 

[crewchief888]

of all the ways to organize sockets, i still like the OEM metal trays that sockets used to come in. next on the list are MTS socket holders, GOOD metal socket rails and clips, and lisle magnetic holders.

 

[Stuey]

Organizers, not trays, right?

Right. But to be honest, you can't go wrong with either one. For the price, try them both.

 

[suss427]

But while I noticed they have the trays, they also have socket 'organizers'.

What do you guys think is more neater looking and nicer to use, socket ORGANIZERS, or socket TRAYS? (please don't say rails )

Those socket organizers are completely worthless (link 2). Sockets will not stay put and they take up way too much space. go for the hanson style (link 1) much less worthless

My impact sockets are still in the plastic package they came in, although I have trimmed them down. I might try the hanson for those as well. Please let us know what you end up doing with the impact sockets!

 

[knocker]

The organizers use too much space, and I am wondering if they are made for impact or not, impacts can be a lot thicker. I am using a mix of Hansen (1/2") and mechanics time savers and lock-a-socket. Seems like none are perfect and all are useful.

I have all hansen trays @ work and the 1/2" fit impacts no problem. But the 3/8" I have SO deep impact's that fit no problem but I have sunex shallow's that don't.

 

[Chrislols]

Those socket organizers are completely worthless. Sockets will not stay put and they take up way too much space. go for the hanson style much less worthless

My impact sockets are still in the plastic package they came in, although I have trimmed them down. I might try the hanson for those as well. Please let us know what you end up doing with the impact sockets!

I think I can already tell the organizers take up WAY to much space, just zooming in on the photos I can see they have spots for 6pts, 12pts, adapters, etc. Stuff that I have no reason to pick up for say 3/8"

EDIT: All though I can see that the 3/8" trays would fit PERFECTLY in my 13 drawers side drawer for shallows and deep impacts, (assuming pittsburg pro sockets fit in the holes) but I could deal with dremeling the holes larger.

 

[outcast]

i have the HF trays. i think they are pretty nice, and heavy duty.
i also have LOWES 1/4" trays. they look great, but brittle.

 

[canuckian]

Can I ask why you're opposed to rails? I have Ernst lock a socket rails and they work great. Similar alternatives to Ernst can be found for less $$ as well. Also, the metal rails can be had for cheap and can be rivited to a piece of aluminum to keep them upright and neat.

But, if you're set on the 2 choices you posted, I definitely go with the Hansen style ones.

 

[suss427]

Can I ask why you're opposed to rails? I have Ernst lock a socket rails and they work great. Similar alternatives to Ernst can be found for less $$ as well. Also, the metal rails can be had for cheap and can be rivited to a piece of aluminum to keep them upright and neat.

But, if you're set on the 2 choices you posted, I definitely go with the Hansen style ones.

I have 6 hanson style 3 metric, 3 sae and about 5 socket rails filled with other sockets. I find this solution to work well. Riveting the rails to aluminum sounds like a great idea!

 

[csargents1546]

Had the cman version of that organizer, too much space and since it is only 1/4 of an inch tall, the heavy impacts had a tendancy of falling over. I like the good old spring clip rails for my heavy impacts. Mounted them up on alumium angle to keep them from tipping over.

 

[outcast]

LOWES has some magnetic rails that i really like. but they are $20 each.

 

[Chrislols]

Can I ask why you're opposed to rails? I have Ernst lock a socket rails and they work great. Similar alternatives to Ernst can be found for less $$ as well. Also, the metal rails can be had for cheap and can be rivited to a piece of aluminum to keep them upright and neat.

But, if you're set on the 2 choices you posted, I definitely go with the Hansen style ones.

I don't like rails only because I can't see spending $20 per good quality rail.

And I can't find any good guides to riviting my .99c harbor freight rails to aluminum.

I love trays so far, but I'm trying to get the best bang for my buck in terms of OCD organizing in a 42" box,

LOWES has some magnetic rails that i really like. but they are $20 each.

I work for Lowes but I just can't see spending $20 a rail, even though they're superb quality

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I really like having the Hansen trays. My sockets have never been so organized and I like how I can take the try/s out of my main box and drop them into my cart or carry them alone.

 

[Chrislols]

I really like having the Hansen trays. My sockets have never been so organized and I like how I can take the try/s out of my main box and drop them into my cart or carry them alone.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/Worc/han1.jpg[/IMG]

Yeah, I'm thinking for $13 I might as well just pick up a SAE & Metric Hansen knock off again to store the rest of them, because my indoor roller (I'm a weekend warrior) is in my finished basement, and I noticed it's very easy to just pick up a 3/8" tray and head outside, all though I was hoping to fit them inside the side drawer, that won't happen with trays

I guess I'll just have to wait until I pick up the 8 drawer top for my 42"er

 

[John in OH]

Just curious ... I have never tried using these magnetic strips from HF ... but how well do these work for holding sockets?



It would seem as if they would give you lots of flexibility for holding whatever size and number of sockets you may have ... or add sockets if the need should arise. For instance, I recently found a nearly new 19/32" x 1/2" drive socket at a flea market. Don't know where I'd ever use it, but with a magnetic strip it could be readily added to the socket lineup. Of course, you probably could not pick up the strip and carry it to a specific work location like a tray, organizer or rail.

Price would be decent as they are on sale for $5 each this month.

 

[shampoop]

I prefer the real Hansen trays. The socket goes on upside down as opposed to the HF ones that go on right side up. Sounds like i'm being picky, but if you try out both side to side, it's much easier and faster to use the Hansen ones than the HF ones. I bought some HF ones a long time ago that I replaced with Hansen ones purely because they skipped sizes and Hansen ones didn't. I actually just gave away all of my HF ones to coworkers.

 

[ibedayank]

I don't like rails only because I can't see spending $20 per good quality rail.

And I can't find any good guides to riviting my .99c harbor freight rails to aluminum.

simple arange how you want the rails
mark holes with black sharpie..drill holes put in rivets from the bottom...
done

 

[Altec]

Here is a log I made about making a tray with rails. I used Delrin, and tapped the holes for screws.

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

 

[mypov]

A lot of input about this already, but thought I'd chime in. I bought the cman magnetic rails, and I cannot say enough about them - LOVE THEM! They keep my sockets organized, the magnets are strong enough to attach to the steel below the drawer liners, they are twist lock so I can easily grab one socket and remove the entire rail if I want to bring the rail with me under a vehicle (magnet is strong enough to grab onto the bottom of a vehicle upside down - and will hold on to the sockets). I thought the socket rail would be too tall to have impact sockets on it and still close the drawer, but I was wrong. Snappy and MAC impact sockets sit on the base upright and I can still close the drawer. Seriously great socket organization system...
Would highly recommend.

I am an apprentice Heavy Equip Mechanic and have a fairly large selection of sockets 1/4 thru 1/2" chrome and impact - use these tools everyday, and so far the cman socket rails have held up.

Hope this helps.
Cheers.

 

[outcast]

i just got these in. seems like they will work quit well for the odd assortments.

 

[fordcragar]

The HF 1/2" tray is shorter than some of the others, so the bigger sockets don't fit very well or at all.

 

[John in OH]

i just got these in. seems like they will work quit well for the odd assortments.

Outcast .... I don't quite "get" what these racks(?) are supposed to be or how they are supposed to work. Do you have any more application type photos??

 

[Altec]

Just curious ... I have never tried using these magnetic strips from HF ... but how well do these work for holding sockets?



It would seem as if they would give you lots of flexibility for holding whatever size and number of sockets you may have ... or add sockets if the need should arise. For instance, I recently found a nearly new 19/32" x 1/2" drive socket at a flea market. Don't know where I'd ever use it, but with a magnetic strip it could be readily added to the socket lineup. Of course, you probably could not pick up the strip and carry it to a specific work location like a tray, organizer or rail.

Price would be decent as they are on sale for $5 each this month.

I went out to the shop and messed with this. I picked up four during the dollar days sale for $3 each.

To answer your question, they don't work well at all.

If you stand them up, then the magnet forces try to **** the sockets together. Heavier sockets pick the whole strip up... Because the magnets are recessed into a piece of channel, the larger sockets sit cocked. When you try to put the sockets back on they'll want to grab the sockets already on the rail. If you lay them on their side, they want to pull towards specific spots. This is because they are in fact smaller magnet bars sitting in the channel. Not one big piece... So you only get a few places for sockets, or they want to stick together... And if you don't put it back just right, they will slam together...

A lot of hassle, I'm sorry to say.

Outcast .... I don't quite "get" what these racks(?) are supposed to be or how they are supposed to work. Do you have any more application type photos??

Google!

http://www.mechanicstimesavers.com/shop/intro/panel.asp

Although, my Dad just uses one of the plates in his box to hold otherwise loose stuff. He just slaps the sockets down on the plate. Stuff like spark plug sockets, and spares...

 

[muddyjoe15]

Outcast .... I don't quite "get" what these racks(?) are supposed to be or how they are supposed to work. Do you have any more application type photos??

They just lay in your box and the sockets stick to the magnetic strips. Its easier then trying to get sockets on and off the clips of a rail.

 

[njride]

I love the hansen trays, three metric and three sae. I have that disease where I put something down and I can stare right at it and not find it for 10 minutes. The trays were worth it on stress relief alone. Now when I finish a project I know I didn't lose any sockets. Plus the sockets just stand up over the pegs and don't clip on like the cheap metal rails, where you need two hands to get the sockets off. And the sizes are labeled which is super nice not having to look at the tiny writing on some sockets.

I keep the three metrics on my cart for working on the car and bike and the three saes on the bench for working on stuff around the house. They look nice too.

 

[Recoil Rob]

I just got a complete set of Hansens this weekend and found that a couple of sizes of the deep sockets don't fit on the Hansen pins. I have a ******* collection of sockets and some have center holes that are too small. OTOH I can double stack short sockets when I have duplicates, or a 6 & a twelve point, and still read the size. If I ever get around to getting complete sets it will look good!

 

[outcast]

i put my trays and plates into service today. so far i really like them !

the lowes 1/4" trays. i said that the pegs seem fragile , well, not really. i broke one off to fit a socket, and it took a little effort. i thought it would break rather easily, nope.
i am going to buy more of these.

the magnetic plate. for larger stuff, it works great !
for smaller sockets = 1/4 drive, there isn't enough metal for the magnet to grab. and this isn't a problem,until i grab a socket, then the others around it likes to fall over. i will just have to "learn" how to "grab" these smaller sockets.

 

[outcast]

oh. the HF trays. i like these also. and are probably better than the lowes trays. for the price, the HF wins "hands down". but i like the red/blue, so i am going with those.