Socket trays

[Mr Ratchet]

Who has experince and what are your thoughts with both the Hansen and Grip socket trays.

I know how they differ but never used either. I'll be using socket trays with my new box. Thanks

 

[bonneyman]

I've tried all sorts of socket holders(trays, magnetic, etc), but always end up migrating back to socket boxes and/or rails.

 

[zach kinney]

i use both socket trays and rails i filled up the trays first and with the other sockets i put on rails

 

[makgreens]

i like the hansen trays but they wont hold impacts well.....i need to find a good tray thatll hold impact sockets or go to i a big rail setup

 

[fordcragar]

The HF trays aren't that bad, but I like the Hansen trays; which the metric trays are blue.

 

[crewchief888]

i use a combination of socket solutions,
hansen trays
SO metal socket rails
oem metal trays
( the kind socket sets used to come in, instead of the flimsy plastic trays)
MTS magnetic socket holders.

my preference is the metal trays

 

[jjjrmx5]

I use these socket rail boards.



My Snap-On and Mac drivers both source them for me as well as Griots above (but no longer at Griots) . I can move my 1/4", 3/8" , 1/2" ,3/4" clips around at will and add or remove at will. Any and all clips fit as well from Snappy to HF to add more storage on each board.

Not great if you have to lug to a fix around but great for box-only grabbing.

Hansens take up WAAAAAAAY too much room for me, like a fat girl in a church pew.
Too tall and lost of wasted space to boot.

 

[whelenfan]

I actually like the craftsman socket rails that allow me to add more sockets holders to the rails.

 

[GTO]

Hansen's well worth the money.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Thanks so far guys.

Anyone have any experince with these though?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J3FM6K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Skin]

Thanks so far guys.

Anyone have any experince with these though?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J3FM6K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

those look like the HF trays, you might want to skim this thread

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86581

i prefer Hansens, its just what i'm use to and i prefer the sizes on the pegs. Rails are used for universals.

 

[TireTracks]

I made my own.

thus no holes for sockets i dont own. and no OCD about filling them

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Thanks for the link Skin. Just what I was looking for!

 

[Jack Olsen]

I keep trying to get a set of the new HF ones. No luck so far.

 

[mmangno]

I've used both of those trays and my prefference is the Hansen. Just like having the size on the peg. The Grip trays are not bad but the only think I dislike about them is the way they mark the sizes I just don't like the center deal there.

 

[Shipfittin]

I have the Socket Organizer from Craftsman and I hate it. Takes up way to much space in my drawers and every time I roll my box the sockets move around.

Trying to find something new myself.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Takes up way to much space in my drawers and every time I roll my box the sockets move around.

Trying to find something new myself.

Wow. That's even more inefficient than the Hanson.

Rail board. Holds more **** packed tight yet visible than any Hansen. Plus, the 20mm Hansen socket peg makes me LOL to the point of not buying in.




All same rail size on the board. just swap out clips for what you need. These grow as your set grows and if anything is missing there will be an empty clip vs. empty spaces due to mfgr pegs or holes. No clip = no unnecessary wasted unused storage.
1/4", 3/8". 1/2" living together and side by side adn intermingled. WTF?
Move it around . Oh look, I still have room. The draw slides suffer. The storage does not.

Used this system for decades. If you want to be cheap, buy the Snappy rails and screw them to 1/4" th plywood covered in carpet or rubber or use alum. or steel cut to size like these and pop rivet the rails in.

Easy peasy and cheap.

 

[Gregg33]

The Craftsman rails are good. Made in the USA, clips can be added or removed, surprisingly strong for plastic, sockets never fall off. The co. that makes them for Craftsman, also makes them for Kobalt and other brands. The Kobalts are slightly shorter and are better for 1/4 or 3/8 drive sockets, a full set of 1/2 drive won't fit on ther Kobalts, but will fit on the Craftsman.

 

[Joe B.]

i like the hansen trays but they wont hold impacts well.....i need to find a good tray thatll hold impact sockets or go to i a big rail setup

It must depend on the impact. I have most of the Craftsman impact sockets and only two 3/8 drive, deep SAE sockets would not go all of the way down on the post. Those two would go 80% of the way so they look sloppy but work just fine. (I have the clearances height.)

I really like the Hansen holders and would recommenced them. Granted, I would have seriously considered the Rail Board shown above if I had know about it when picked the Hansens.

 

[dirtrider]

I have the Socket Organizer from Craftsman and I hate it. Takes up way to much space in my drawers and every time I roll my box the sockets move around.

Trying to find something new myself.

I have this same set and I love it. I also have rails but prefer the Cman organizer and my sockets never roll around. If you use rails you have to grab the whole rail to get one socket to get the right size you need and you would need to un clip the rail if there standing.

 

[jjjrmx5]

and you would need to un clip the rail if there standing.

No need to unclip rails.
1.5" on center per rail on the boards. Plenty of room for all but the big 3/4" drive sockets (then u make your own boards) and to read each row for sizes.

Laid flat in magnetic injection moulded plastic half-rounds or on pre-determined pegs = wasted space. At least to me.

Matco part #444

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2445

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I personally like the old metal trays better than anything, and I've tried just about everything over the years. Hansons take up too much space, and make me buy **** that I don't need (socket OCD), the Craftsman board thing takes up WAY too much room, the Lisle magnetic things are borderline useless, I'm currently using rails and I don't like them either.

Since it's such a PITA to find small socket boxes and trays commercially, I'm looking at buying a brake and making my own. Who knows? Might be a niche market out there.

 

[dirtrider]

No need to unclip rails.
1.5" on center per rail on the boards. Plenty of room for all but the big 3/4" drive sockets (then u make your own boards) and to read each row for sizes.

Laid flat in magnetic injection moulded plastic half-rounds or on pre-determined pegs = wasted space. At least to me.

Matco part #444

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2445

Yes I know of this setup. I'm actually in the process of putting something like this together right now using Snapon rails and a metal sheet rather than board. I use the Craftsman organizers for my Craftsman sockets only and will use rails for my premium tools. Space is not as much of an issue to me as organization is. Except for the fact that the Cman organizers are not as versatile as rails because of the predetermined sized holes, they are the best solution I have personally found organizational wise if space is not an issue.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Good idea, making your own socket rail board. I've been thinking about doing just that myself. I have the Craftsman socket organizer "board" myself and I don't use it (gift from father-in-law) because it eats up too much toolbox real estate. I'm using the HF socket trays now in one toolbox, but they are hard to find in stock (new ones) and have their limitations. I'd like to figure out a solution for my other toolbox top compartment for my Proto sockets in half-inch drive. The HF or Hansen trays would fit in top of box, but I want something more solid and would prefer metal or wood tray.

Someone else on here recommended the Earnst Mfg socket system to me; I haven't tried it myself.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VMDE7G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[barney rubble]

I have some of the Hansen's and Grip's also. I prefer the Grips. I like the socket sitting with the opening up.