Tool box layout opinions...

[Wileel]

BLUF:
Individual socket cutouts or kits in cases?

Alright guys, gals and whatever "proper pronoun" you want to go by , I'm looking for some thoughts on the tool layout for re doing my tool boxes., individual tools or kits..

I'm a retired USAF aircraft mechanic and now that I'm settling down in my first home shop it apparent that after a few moves and loaning tools to buddies my box is now embarrassing. Its time to buy a new set and refresh my set-up.

I'm kinda **** about tool layout in boxes. That being said, I have always had by boxes laid out like we had at work, two color or shadowed layout with each tool cutout so everything had its own space. This is how I intended on my laying my box out...

Here is where the opinion part comes in...

While surfing around looking at tools, it occurred to me I could save time and maybe gain some convince by instead of laying out and cutting spots for say 20 individual sockets I could just add a kit in a case. Obvious way less cutting and you can just grab a socket kit and if you need another size its already there with you at the project. Thoughts?

Longest post ever for such a small question...sorry.

 

[FigureItOut]

That's what I'd do. I don't use foam for sockets but I almost did, and I was going to use a variation of what you're talking about but with rails instead of cases.

At home I have the HF plastic rails and I can easily see the size and grab a socket and the empty space is very apparent, but I like being able to grab, say, 3/8" metric shallow and deep and take them where I'm going.

At work it's Magrail TL's, and it's great to able to grab one or a whole rail. I kinda think you answered your own question actually. You gave a couple of pros for cutting spots for cases, but none for cutting spots for individual sockets.

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[one9gt]

It all really comes down to personal preference... as an ex crew dawg myself I too had aspirations of owning a shadowed toolbox so each single piece had its own tiny home and a quick glance would show what's missing. Fast forward 6 years after I got out and I wrench full time on heavy equipment and am constantly adding to my arsenal so having a shadowed box would definitely be costly, time consuming and down right annoying to redo drawers over all the time. Now as a homeowner, if I had every single tool for every single need then yeah I would shadow my box and call it a day. To each his own my brother...

"If it turns, burns, banks and rolls, crew chiefs made it happen"


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[redvalkyrie]

The Hanson socket trays, for me, are fantastic.

 

[Decline58]

I currently have my "new" sockets stored in their kits, my old sockets are on rails. Most of the time the sockets in the kits are what get used.
I have not shadowed but I plan to. My plan is to shadow only a small percent of the tools, the ones that I use (and lose) most often, and are most used by others in my household.
I am looking forward to more ideas/opinions.

 

[Tallpilot]

Some guys cut the hinges off the blow mold cases and just set them in the box. I don't like it because now I ruined my case so if I wanted to take them in the truck I can't. Also they are probably held in the case somehow which makes it time consuming to remove the few that you need.

So I have a set in a case for my truck and a mixture of Hansen and Wesling machine trays with some Olsa tools rails for less used sockets. I like the Hansen trays because it's easy to see the size and the socket is drive side up so you don't need to flip it around to put it on your ratchet. They don't go past 27mm though and even smaller impacts won't fit so that's why I have the Wesling machine trays.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I set my SK 1/4 and 3/8 drive cases (minus lids) in the drawers of my lower box.
That way, I can take one with me if needed by just popping the lid on.

 

[CR888]

The 'show us ya toolbox' thread is a good read for layout ideas.

 

[AviationTech]

I did not want to shadow individual sockets either, shadowing the whole box took long enough. I just shadowed the rails with the sockets on them. Since I originally shadowed the drawer I've acquired some Ko-ken SAE 12Pt Semi deep sockets and various other individual ones that I just shadowed individually to fit them in

 

[rsanter]

My sockets are on rails and in trays.
I have sets in the trays that are organized by size. Then I have rails of the most common sizes of sockets (divided by drive size) and that's what I grab for on the go when I want several sizes

In this case you don't even really have to do cutouts

I have cutouts for my wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers.

I figured out long ago that wrenches in cutouts and stacked several wrenches high is the lease space consuming way to do it

Bob

 

[Eslader]

I use that. You can get it at Sears. The light grey on a black liner makes for a natural 2-color cutout. The package has both SAE and metric trays. The only downside is that if you're **** about open spaces, you'll end up buying sockets you don't need just to fill them.

I hate the vacuum plastic kits as storage because there's always that one socket that's held in a little too tight, and when you pop it out, 5 other sockets jump out with it.

 

[thool]

I have the GW 3/8 and 1/4 socket sets. The covers are held in at the hinges with plastic barbs, so they can be removed. All my sockets sit in the blow molded cases, in a tool chest drawer, with the lids stored elsewhere.

This is nice for a few reasons. First, the case is already configured for its contents, so everything fits compact. Second, if the need arises, I can simply lift a case out and I'll have all my pieces...nice if I'm seated and working on something with a lot of different sizes. Third, I can reattach the lid and take it with me.

 

[Finky198]

My sockets are on rails and in trays.
I have sets in the trays that are organized by size. Then I have rails of the most common sizes of sockets (divided by drive size) and that's what I grab for on the go when I want several sizes

In this case you don't even really have to do cutouts

I have cutouts for my wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers.

I figured out long ago that wrenches in cutouts and stacked several wrenches high is the lease space consuming way to do it

Bob

I'm with you on that one ^^^

I had a shadowed box not any more, but I will say +1 on the rails and tray. All of my chrome is on rails each as its own set. 1/4", 3/8" sockets and bits fit in a top tray of my box, 1/2" is in my overhead. I can grab one socket, the whole tray, or anything in between. Their color coded to grey is Metric, Black is Sae. I got them from CMan but their rebranded... This method fits a ton of sockets in a small space.

 

[Mr_B]

Yeh sockets on rails works great I do all 3/8 and 1/2 like that, 1/4 is a small koken set in set box and I put that in the drawer with lid open .
If you bought new sets and cases worked well in box by having easy remove lids I may go that way but I like short socket rails with between 8 and 12 sockets pending on size .
Neat easy use/carry to job, can see missing ones easy etc . shadowing other stuff probably good idea but if layout well not heeded as can still see missing stuff.
I liked shadowed foam mainly because holds tools in place which good if rolling box around becomes big bonus, besides that I find it waste of space and money .
I use a sort of mix of all methods really .

 

[Wileel]

Wow...great response here! This exactly what I was hoping for...a place to spit ball ideas and work it out OUTSIDE my head...lol

In my box right now I have sockets most of my socket sets on rails, but they are the old school metal ones from sears and I have realized over time that I went from digging it to hating them now. I have looked into the newer style ones that are magnetic and they look promising to me but don't have any real life experience with them.

Good point about sockets jumping out of their slots in the cases...I didn't think about that...so if I went that route I would have to have cases with lids...like the small craftsman socket sets. That could actually be an option since they are available in assorted sizes (SAE 1/4, 3/8, etc..)

I saw the tool drawer insert from Sears also but I'm not feeling it, it looks kinda cheap/flimsy to me but more importantly they wont fit inside my drawers right. Drawer size/shape is one reason for foaming out the box. I'm using standard Vidmar's so common solutions don't exist for 25" ish drawers

The Hansen trays are alright but not a big fan of the ones with the spikes because of the hight so Im thinking I'll go with a setup that lays the sockets on their side if I don't cut them all out. Anyone have experience with these? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002STST4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[16again]

I use the westling machine socket holders.

 

[thool]

Example of drawer with bottom of case for 3/8" GW sockets

 

[Wileel]

Thanks for all the help here. I think I'm going to follow my get and shadow them all individually...if I can ever find a set I want. I have a craftsman 311 piece in my shopping cart and even tho its a great deal I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger...I really wish this was available in the "easy read" version since I really like the way those look. They do have easy read kits but they all much more expensive (in comparison). I know that will make some laugh and I understand that most of the craftsman kits are VERY affordable but this is just how my head works...its like my "value" meter kicks in.

I'll probable settle and buy it then figure a way to colorize the size markings to make them easier to read at a glance

 

[one9gt]

Have you checked out foam fit tools? They sell complete sets of tools with foam all ready to go into your toolbox


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[Ditch]

a lot of pretty options for sockets but to me, they waste too much space

 

[Tallpilot]

Thanks for all the help here. I think I'm going to follow my get and shadow them all individually...if I can ever find a set I want. I have a craftsman 311 piece in my shopping cart and even tho its a great deal I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger...I really wish this was available in the "easy read" version since I really like the way those look. They do have easy read kits but they all much more expensive (in comparison). I know that will make some laugh and I understand that most of the craftsman kits are VERY affordable but this is just how my head works...its like my "value" meter kicks in.

I'll probable settle and buy it then figure a way to colorize the size markings to make them easier to read at a glance

Check out Klutch at Northern Tool. They have nice markings and sell the same sockets in sets as individual instead of crappier ones. Their 305 set is more expensive than Sears but has less ****.

I prefer my Tekton sockets for fit and finish but the Klutch have better markings.

 

[Wileel]

Have you checked out foam fit tools? They sell complete sets of tools with foam all ready to go into your toolbox


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Yeah, I checked them out but the Vidmars have an odd size, so I'll have to get blank foam and carve it out myself ...takes time but will save a ton of money.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Wow...great response here! This exactly what I was hoping for...a place to spit ball ideas and work it out OUTSIDE my head...lol



In my box right now I have sockets most of my socket sets on rails, but they are the old school metal ones from sears and I have realized over time that I went from digging it to hating them now. I have looked into the newer style ones that are magnetic and they look promising to me but don't have any real life experience with them.



Good point about sockets jumping out of their slots in the cases...I didn't think about that...so if I went that route I would have to have cases with lids...like the small craftsman socket sets. That could actually be an option since they are available in assorted sizes (SAE 1/4, 3/8, etc..)



I saw the tool drawer insert from Sears also but I'm not feeling it, it looks kinda cheap/flimsy to me but more importantly they wont fit inside my drawers right. Drawer size/shape is one reason for foaming out the box. I'm using standard Vidmar's so common solutions don't exist for 25" ish drawers



The Hansen trays are alright but not a big fan of the ones with the spikes because of the hight so Im thinking I'll go with a setup that lays the sockets on their side if I don't cut them all out. Anyone have experience with these? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002STST4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have those and love them for my sockets. I have them 4 of them hanging on the wall and can quickly grab one socket or the whole thing if i am working far away

The magnets are strong enough that they dont fall out as long as you are easy with the tray but super easy to drop a socket in or pick it up


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[Wileel]

a lot of pretty options for sockets but to me, they waste too much space

I agree...its more than I truly need, and there is a lot of **** filler in that kit but its so cheap its hard to pass up.

If I were to be honest with myself I really would like easy to read SAE and metric in 1/4, 3/8. deep and shallow plus 1/2 in shallow (deep would be a bonus), new ratchets and extensions. That would satisfy me for drive tools

 

[vehicular]

Where are you guys buying foam for two color set ups? The prices on Amazon and Ebay are so high, it would cost more than I paid for my (used) Mac box to put foam in it.

 

[APS2000]

Google fastcap, kaizen, lean foam. You might also try your local arts and crafts store like Michael's

 

[Wileel]

Where are you guys buying foam for two color set ups? The prices on Amazon and Ebay are so high, it would cost more than I paid for my (used) Mac box to put foam in it.

http://www.toolfoam.com/

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

How much does the foam cost approximately?


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