Tool Box organizers What are you using?

[JOE.G]

I just picked up a new tool box and while swapping stuff over from my old to new I realized that I really could use some tool organizers. My Sockets are fine ( I have a craftsmen set up that I really like and have had for years for my sockets ) , But everything else could use a help staying neat and in order. What are you guys using?

Thanks

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-I...ickid=SmCX:GQ1HxyOWP3wUx0Mo38VUkEwPUQsEWs4xQ0

 

[Gummi Bear]

Ernst wrench and screwdriver organizers (with the magnetic back)

I built my own socket rail holders.

Everything else is just kinda laid in the drawers as neatly as possible.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[Moosefire]

I ise ernst for socket holders. Wrenches I just have them laid against one another in order. I dont use them often enough to justify the few bucks its going to cost to organize them properly. Hand tools I just lay them out as cleanly as I can...

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[Badgerstate]

I use the Milwaukee Packout system for all of my impact bits, drill bits, impact adaptors, jig saw blades and Dremel accessories.
Its a little expensive but so worth it, IMO.
For my other tools, I simply have a rubber mat in the bottom of the tool box drawer and have tools laid out on it.

 

[Firefighter1406]

Harbor freight has some nice organization stuff that isn’t to badly priced.

 

[Don53]

Another vote for Ernst. Wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, etc. Their 10 and 3 compartment trays are nice too.

Quality stuff that works well at a good price, and even made in USA.

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[gearhead1]

Another vote for Ernst. Wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, etc. Their 10 and 3 compartment trays are nice too.

Quality stuff that works well at a good price, and even made in USA.

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+1, I have some Ernst stuff also. It is good quality for the money.

 

[Rickster]

I noticed the other day Gearwrench now makes a reversible wrench rack.

 

[Jersey Drew]

Westling machine for sockets and oem tools 35 wrench rail. You can cut them to custom sizes if you like

 

[richfinn]

I like the canvas tool bags with multiple pockets, I organise them with "tool kits" for different types of jobs so I can lift it out of my tool box and carry it to the job
(I work mobile from a van)

I really like my pliers and screwdrivers stored vertically and this works great as you know instantly what each tool is

I hate opening and closing drawers, I just want to reach in my bag and grab it first go

 

[Ralf11]

I noticed the other day Gearwrench now makes a reversible wrench rack.

that's clever

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFT2N92/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[FunkyYota]

Got the Ernst now. It’s good, but I’m in process of switching to the VIM mag rails. Spendy, but awesome.

The twist lock on the Ernst is nice, but can be a pain when your hands are covered in oil/grease. With the VIM, you can rock the socket loose easily. The magnets are also really strong. For tools I use often I can put them in the cart lid.

 

[BTL-A4]

For pliers and such I bought some dish racks at the dollar store and cut them so they fit in my drawer.
For my T-handle hex wrenches I made holders out of wood scrap.
I did the same for my files and screwdrivers.

I've attached pictures.

 

[carnivorioussheep]

I love the dish rack idea.

 

[hoffman912]

I use Hansen socket trays, and craftsman wrench organizers. Other than that everything is laid out in the drawers as nicely as they can be, until it all becomes a mess again the next time I wrench.

Honestly organization has been big on my list the last few years. I really want to have better state of mise en place. I need to find that zen state of garage

I’m leaning toward kizen foam to replicate what sonic tools does.

https://sonictoolsusa.com/shop/sonic-foam-system




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[Lucid Moments]

I am a fan of the stuff from Toolbox Widget for wrenches and screwdrivers. They are modular and I really like the flexibility that gives you. I use socket rails from Harbor Freight for the smaller sockets but am still looking for a good rail for impact sockets.

 

[RTM]

I have some Schiller boxes for organizing the smalls in my box. Tiny screwdrivers, 4” crescents, nail sets, punches etc, just get the right depth for your drawers

I also organize my screws in them too.

I don’t mind having to poke around for a moment to find the correct tool


https://www.schallercorporation.com/

 

[plinker]

Ernst gripper style wrench racks work great. I also have their pliers racks, both can be had from Snap-on with other colors for not a lot more money. The trays are nice too.

Menards has some trays and I have a few of those as well, they are actually really good quality.
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/tool-storage/socket-organizers-small-parts-bins/tool-shop-reg-2-compartment-small-parts-drawer-organizer/8362/p-1444421228681-c-9189.htm?tid=3236818063344838837&ipos=29
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/tool-storage/socket-organizers-small-parts-bins/tool-shop-reg-11-compartment-small-parts-drawer-organizer/8365/p-1444421207324-c-9189.htm?tid=3236818063344838837&ipos=21
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/tool-storage/socket-organizers-small-parts-bins/tool-shop-reg-6-compartment-small-parts-drawer-organizer/8366/p-1444421211353-c-9189.htm?tid=3383825649153486924&ipos=2
They have a couple more styles, but these three are the most useful for me. 1st one linked holds ratchets, second one has misc. junk/fittings/small bits, Third has all sorts of punches/chisels.

Plano boxes with out the lids can work good as trays as well for smaller bits of stuff.

Screwdrivers just sit in the drawer except for the various style mini's & picks from Snap-on, those use the tray they come with.


Gearwrench, Napa/Carlyle & Matco for socket rails, there are a couple Hansen trays for the 1/2 impact sockets.

 

[Bogie1632]

Pliers racks work nicely if your drawer has enough depth. I've got a long one (holds 32) and Horror Fright sells a short version (holds 16) and an adjustable version (holds 15, nice for thin handles like snap ring pliers).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SA23E80/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.harborfreight.com/wire-pliers-rack-70022.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/15-compartment-adjustable-plier-rack-56399.html

My hammers I made holders from wood so they stand up and take less room in my drawer (pic below).

V/R
Bogie

 

[unslow1]

I use the dish rack style for pliers. Hansen or similar for sockets. Then the HF for liners and drawer organizers. The wrenches I have different ways in different boxes.

https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-...izers/3-piece-drawer-organizer-set-99731.html

 

[PugetDude]

Rubbermaid interlocking drawer organizers fit my 18" deep Husky cabinet drawers perfectly. Several different sizes, dark gray color- found them at Walmart.

 

[designer485]

My favorite organizer is actually the 3 compartment tray from Ernst, I have 5 of them now. Second would be various size bins from Schaller Corp followed closely by the pliers racks from Ernst. I also recently used an Ernst socket rail to organize some wrenches working better than anything designed specifically for wrenches.

 

[cjarvis]

I like Protoco for wrench racks. ( I hate the Ernst racks) Pliers are either laid flat or stood upright with a cut up dish rack. Sockets go in a tray similar to the black plastic ones at Harbor Freight.

 

[JOE.G]

I have these for my sockets and really like them, I have had these since the 90's. I like the Tool box widget stuff but I'd have a couple hundred just in wrench holders. THe Ernst stuff is probably the best as far as price point but I am really not seeing anything that is a must have yet. I do like the dishwasher rack idea.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UDGKY6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Cryptic1911]

Olsa tools copy of the hansen socket trays as well as the olsa wrench rails. Got some of the metal plier racks but I can't remember who made them

 

[Gummi Bear]

Ernst wrench and screwdriver organizers (with the magnetic back)

I built my own socket rail holders.

Everything else is just kinda laid in the drawers as neatly as possible.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

I almost forgot about my pliers holder. I made it from a wire shelf from HD, and used a sheet metal brake at the school where I teach at night to bend it. Got the idea here.



Wrench rails in my metric drawer, also have one in my SAE



This is my socket drawer. I made the holders from a HF rail, a piece of Poplar and a cabinet handle. The socket rails are pretty terrible on their own, but fastened to a piece of wood, they hold even the heavy sockets.




Apparently I don’t have a picture of my screwdriver drawer.






I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[username2]

I didn't have a lot invested in large boxes (just a HF 44" and cart), but I own cool vintage hand boxes and went back to those for purpose-built kits. The giant drawer thing is still good for storing power tools and general junk.

 

[m6z]

I've been happy with the Ernst stuff I've purchased.

 

[hoffman912]

I didn't have a lot invested in large boxes (just a HF 44" and cart), but I own cool vintage hand boxes and went back to those for purpose-built kits. The giant drawer thing is still good for storing power tools and general junk.

Yeah, I have started doing something similar. As mentioned in my previous post, i am starting to be obsessed with mise en place as it relates to working on projects and general garage organization.

I have a go bag for road trips, with some tools dedicated to that purpose. Note when I am talking road trips, I am talking anywhere from 8 hours down the east coast to 6000 mile cross country journies (round trip) in my old porsche.

Those tools that are not dedicated to that bag but shared, I have specified colored tape on them to quickly allow visual ID to grab and add to the bag quickly.

I also have separate bags for different tasks filled with their own dedicated tools. These are not road trip specific, but general use. I have a bag for electrical work, I have a bag for just house tools (kept in the house, not in the garage). I have a bin in the basement just for picture hanging or wall mounting. I have my good drill bits and my so so drill bits. I have a bag specifically for tuning - with carb spectrometer, test light, digital timing light, feeler gauges, multimeter (for dwell), points feeler gauges, points file, spare carburertor jets, jet gauges, jet reamers, dedicated generator wrench, dedicated distributor wrench, dedicated wrench and screw driver for valve adjustments, float level gauge, dedicated thumb screw driver for carburetor adjustments etc... When i need to tune, i grab the bag and get to work. If santa is good to me this year, I will have an innovate motorsports Lm2 wide band meter and exhaust clamp to really tune.

When i go on road trips, I take the tuning bag with me, and throw in spare ignition parts and a spare fuel pump so its all in one place, and keep it next to the regular tool kit in the trunk, and then another bag i throw other spare parts in.

 

[hoffman912]

I would end up just staring at my tools all day and get nothing done, lol. Need to look into that.

Anyone 3d print socket trays/holders etc?

Yeah, the only downside with using something like foam is that its pretty hard to add more stuff, or to change it up to fit different brands if they have different handles etc.

Something more modular like tool box widget would be a bit more versatile when it comes to wrenches and screw drivers. but after that its pretty limiting.

 

[serdvd6]

Went with Westling socket organizers, seem to do the job


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[Aquamoose]

My hammers I made holders from wood so they stand up and take less room in my drawer.

V/R
Bogie

Genius! I will try that!

I used aluminum angle to “compartemize” my older setup in my truck when you absolutely need the tools to stay in place (rubber mats were useless).


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[Fatboy148]

For pliers, I just replaced the Ernst holders with the Gear Wrench adjustables back in October. I had/have the rack running side to side both front and back of drawer and it opened up 17 more spaces in my 40" wide drawer. It also made it so fat handled insulated pliers can have spaces wide enough so they will actually fit in the slot while smaller, narrower pliers and cutters aren't sliding around because their slot is fitted for them. I posted these in the Hot Deal tool deal section back then, they were less than $13.00 each with a $3.00 clippable coupon that Amazon had. If interested and not in a hurry, sent up a CX3 price alert and it will tell you when Amazon gets to your target price. As I said in the Hot Deal post, purchase an extra rack for it's removable extra uprights so you have them where you want to narrow up spaces. I haven't experienced any negatives with the Gear Wrench (yet) but they too are not magnetic on the bottom. Even with soft close drawers, with the Ernest racks, I ended up replacing the factory supplied tray liner in that drawer because it moved and got crinkled in the middle of the drawer from the racks wanting to move when the drawer closed.

For wrenches, after trying the Ernst, I went with the Tool Box Widget.

For sockets, I started with the VIM Magrails and still like them fine.

 

[jec1521]

My favorite organizer is actually the 3 compartment tray from Ernst, I have 5 of them now. Second would be various size bins from Schaller Corp followed closely by the pliers racks from Ernst. I also recently used an Ernst socket rail to organize some wrenches working better than anything designed specifically for wrenches.

I like that plier holder a lot.

 

[Ryanbabz71]

Ares socket organizers


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[serdvd6]

Just got the Tool Box Widget for the wrench drawer


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[DIY_Guy79]

I just picked up a new tool box and while swapping stuff over from my old to new I realized that I really could use some tool organizers. My Sockets are fine ( I have a craftsmen set up that I really like and have had for years for my sockets ) , But everything else could use a help staying neat and in order. What are you guys using?

Thanks

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-I...ickid=SmCX:GQ1HxyOWP3wUx0Mo38VUkEwPUQsEWs4xQ0

If you want to save money and do something that will prob look a lot nicer in the long run, you can use wood. 1/4" ply to make compartment dividers, wrench wracks, plier racks, etc. For clean custom fit stuff, take a 1/4" piece of ply, lay the tools out you want however you like them organized, mark them, then carefully cut each tool out with coping saw or scroll saw. Glue this 1/4" piece to a solid piece a bit thicker, maybe 1". anything that lays flat, you're done, if it sticks up, take a chisel and carve out to make it lay flat. Check youtube for ideas with wood, there are lots of good ones.

Finish the wood to your liking. Will look sharp when done.

 

[lardy1]

I lack sufficient deep drawers so I had to settle for this. Works great and the price is right.

 

[Mr.Smoke]

My sockets are mostly on Ernst rails, some on a Hansen tray but they will go to an Ernst setup soon too.

I'm awaiting the arrival of my new box in April or May and will be doing a total overhaul of my organization. I will be using the Tool Grid system for holding all my ratchets, torque wrenches, extensions and breaker bars. I'm having custom wrench racks 3D printed by a friend of mine along with holders for all my pry bars, heel bars, etc. Nothing available suits my needs 100% so I decided to go the custom route.

Pliers, screwdrivers, vise grips, air/electric tools will just get laid in drawers nicely. I also have multiple organizer trays from Ernst for keeping drill bits, pens, markers and other odd small tools/accessories/parts/pieces nicely organized.

 

[Troy32323]

My first tool kit was a husky kit that came in plastic trays that fit right in a tool box drawer. I loved having every tool having it own spot. It is easy to find stuff and easy to see if something was not put back. I just bought a new box and tool kit so I could use the Foam Fit Tool kit. I may a bit ocd but I love this set up. Like someone mentioned the only downside is you cannot really add to it.