Sockets?

[ptfranzis]

Hey everyone, I have a lot of different sockets, different sizes and socket wrenches and extenders, universals etc. I find those long socket bars that hold the sockets in-line to be a pain. Right now I have them all mixed together in a metal box and hunt for the right one all of the time. Any organization ideas?

 

[Steevo]

5 gallon buckets work really well.

Just kidding.

You can try the search function in the tools section of this forum, and search on things like "tool organization" "socket organization" "socket rails", etc.

 

[JamieK]

Look over in the tool section. Lots of info there. Heres the popular one today.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177488

 

[Falcon67]

I got rid of the snap and hold socket rails and use some plastic organizers that the sockets just slip over. Works well, got them at HF.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-sae-socket-trayorganizer-68100.html

 

[Gary S]

My sockets are organized. I have one full set of SAE 1/2" drive, one full set of metric 1/2" drive, one set of both SAE and metric 3/8" drive, and a set of each SAE and metric 1/4" drive. Any socket that isn't part of these basic sets is junk and doesn't belong in my tool box.
Keeping a bucket of extra unneeded sockets is simply hoarding and serves no useful purpose.

 

[ra42mario]

I have the Harbor Freight Metric & SAE organizers setup in the top of my red harbor freight service cart. I use all of them except the 1/2" SAE. It just takes up too much space and I don't use SAE in that size hardly at all, so I have those sockets in a drawer on regular rails.

 

[lilscorpion]

My preference are the Mechanic Timesavers. Technically they are inline I guess but they're super easy to take sockets off and put them on because they're really just posts until you twist them 90* and lock them on (I rarely do).

They're Mina pricy but I've found them the cheapest at ToolTopia. 3 of 1/4", 3 of 3/8", and 3 of 1/2" for around $125.
http://www.tooltopia.com/mechanics-time-savers-las9pack.aspx
They have magnetic bottoms so they stick where you put them in the drawer. [my story] The other popular style some use didn't work for me because I don't have sets that match pre-labeled trays and racks. I also found that the pre-labeled posts usually are spaced in such a way that they best work for those size sockets so any old socket didn't always allow me to use all of the posts...which seemed like a waste of space. Anyway, I like the way I can slide the posts around on the MTS racks.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

I bought my socket organizers at OReilly's. The labels on the end of the pegs are nice.

 

[Super Sport]

Keeping a bucket of extra unneeded sockets is simply hoarding and serves no useful purpose.

I would disagree with that. Having cheap tools around as extras gives you tools to beat on, modify, or have spares of. I don't want to grind down my brand name sockets or wrenches for some odd bolt that I can't reach for one random job. I'd rather use that cheap, imported rusty tool to do the job.

 

[camarotoolman]

You can screw the socket rails to a piece of scrap plywood to organize then for free. I have driven nails into a board and put the sockets on the nails, alot stronger then the plactic **** holders and free.

 

[stratman977]

I would disagree with that. Having cheap tools around as extras gives you tools to beat on, modify, or have spares of. I don't want to grind down my brand name sockets or wrenches for some odd bolt that I can't reach for one random job. I'd rather use that cheap, imported rusty tool to do the job.

Those buckets for junk tools are also good for lending to your neighbor when the come around whining about their kid losing their 7/16" and need to borrow one. Its also good for kids to use cause you know they are going to leave your good tools laying around. Those junk tools seem to accumulate when you buy fleemarket and yardsale tools. You hardly can get anything for them in resale so why bother.

My preference on socket storage is to use the cases that come with sets. Kind like the red boxed that the snap on master sets come in. You can stack them, take the whole set with you and then theres no chance that you will drop it and scatter the sockets over the floor when its closed. I havent seen a generic socket case like those you can buy though.

 

[hifi_hokie]

I would disagree with that. Having cheap tools around as extras gives you tools to beat on, modify, or have spares of. I don't want to grind down my brand name sockets or wrenches for some odd bolt that I can't reach for one random job. I'd rather use that cheap, imported rusty tool to do the job.

That's exactly what I use mine for

Now, starting to claim you can't throw any of them away because you're "saving" them from the landfill...well, that may be crossing into hoarding

 

[stonesfan68]

I use the Ernst socket rails.

http://www.ernstmfg.com/

The lowest price that I've seen the 13" and 18" units is from, believe it or not, Snap-on.

13"L for 1/4" drive

13" L for 3/8" drive

13" L for 1/2" drive

 

[kmacht]

I bought a set of socket labels a while ago. I can't remember if it was sears or harbor freight that I got them from. They were clear labels tha wrapped all the way around the socket and had the socket size listed in white with silver letters. The labels take a beating and will eventually have to be replaced but it works really well when you have a pile of sockets and are looking for a specific size. It is much quicker to find the label than it is to pick up every socket that looks close and carefully examine the engraved number on it.

Keith

 

[jaysonb]

Look over in the tool section. Lots of info there. Heres the popular one today.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177488

These seem to have super good reviews from those that have them, there is a group buy on the 1st, I cant wait to get some.

 

[Kevin54]

TSC sells socket rails. Fairly nice looking plastic ones.

I can't remember the name of the company, but there was some discussion just a couple of days ago about the aluminum rails that they sell. They're double wide on an aluminum base and anodized in either red or blue. I don't think they are too bad of price either.

If I find the link, I'll post it, but someone might beat me to it,

 

[ptfranzis]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Personally, I like the socket rails. Currently use the metal ones with metal clips, may someday change to the plastic ones. The trick for me is that I cut a piece of sheetmetal to fit in the top of my chest and popriveted the rails to it (if I get the rails with handles, I cut off the handles). I keep a drawer liner under it to prevent damage to the chest. This allows me to keep the sockets in order by size, allowing me to quickly loate the one I want. It also allows me to rearrange when I end up acquiring some new socket I need for a job that did not come with my sets.

 

[metaleltr]

5 gallon buckets work really well.

Just kidding.

You can try the search function in the tools section of this forum, and search on things like "tool organization" "socket organization" "socket rails", etc.

This just gave me an idea. What if you were to take socket rails and put a hook on the end, put your sockets on the rails and hook the rails over the edge of a 5 gallon bucket. Might work well for mobile/junkyard box. Would allow you to store more tool on the center of the bucket. Might not work so well with deep sockets.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Yeah, but unless they were the twist lock kind they'd easily fall off every time you stubbed your toe. It'd get aggravating either rotating the bucket or walking around the bucket to find one socket too! Unless you picked up the whole rail at one time. But that too would be aggravating.

 

[Conductor562]

I have a set of Craftsman rails I've had for years. I hate them! I hate to use organizer trays and tie up the deeper drawers in my box for sockets though.

 

[camarotoolman]

Keep the junk to lend out, then when does not come back you are not out anything!