Tool Organizers- Whats out there ?

[RedRacer74]

So I thought with my new found organization skills I have obtained from this site I would look for some more idea's.

I just purchased a few of these made by Hansen from Sear's. I looked on line and they actually had the best price. They have metric and standard in 1/4. 3/8 and 1/2 that I have found.

Lets see what everyone has found/ made out there for socket, screw driver and general tool organization in your tool boxes, on your shelves or walls etc. .........

 

[Discovery]

Earnst Manufacturing, they supply Snap On, Mac, and Matco. Pic

Their products can be purchased here: https://www.expeditionexchange.com/, or directly from the company.

Matt

 

[Darren M.]

Very timely thread for me. I've just come into a lot of tools that I didn't previously have. Various screw drivers, pliers, etc. Previously my 3 layer tool box was more than sufficient. I now have a "tool box runith over" situation if you will. I'll be quite interested in the various solutions posted.

 

[l_bilyk]

There aren't many good ones out there. I finally bent over and bought the hansen trays. I can't believe I spent 60 dollars on cheap plastic

 

[79rallysport]

I have the Hansen socket trays and I can't imagine not having them. They are functional and compact. I also have the Ernst wrench-racks also. They are very good quality and they have a good selection sizes and configurations as well.

 

[Darren M.]

79rallysport. I think we have the same toolbox. Can you expound on where you picked up the wrench-racks? Also, just out of curiousity, what kind of drawer matting are use using?

 

[246gts]

I envy the choice of tools and organisers you have over in US. I live in England and we just cant get hold of such equipment. I have sent a mail to "expedition exchange" to see if they mail worldwide so lets see if that can be done
Dave

 

[79rallysport]

I bought the wrench racks off ebay from a seller named "cbmtools" you can see his store here
After looking at that expedition exchange website, that might be the place to buy from. He seems like he has a good selection to choose from.

The drawer liners are the Craftsman non-slip liners.

 

[Discovery]

I am sure that Expedition Exchange ships internationally. I know both of the owners personally and they very nice and knowledgeable about everything they sell. Also, as you can see from the pictures, they are very particular about their tools.

Matt

 

[RedRacer74]

Some interesting organizers.

Craftsman Socket Organizer 65172 At Epinions.com
epinions has the best comparison shopping information on craftsman socket organizer 65172. compare prices from across the web and read reviews from other ...
http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Lawn_and_Garden-Storage_and_Sheds-All-Craftsman_Socket_Organizer_65172

Rh Engineering: Socket Organizer
socket organizer. customize your socket organization with our unique, lightweight, anodized aluminum socket rails. finally, you can mix and match drive ...
http://performanceracingmall.com/RHEngineering/Socket_Organizer.html

Yaurset, System, Socket Organizer
yaurset, system, socket organizer. ... set includes the following socket organizer components: 1/4" sq. dr. ya14ur socket organizer with 20 clips (1 each) ...
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=69943&group_ID=17458

Tool Organizers
tn-vim-v520.jpg, vim hand tools v520 socket organizer rack - 1/4" drive ... tn-vim-v521.jpg, vim hand tools v521 socket organizer rack - 3/8" drive ...
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TTW89.html

Yamset, Kit, Socket Organizer Mounting
yamset, kit, socket organizer mounting. ... yaurset,system, socket organizer. system, socket organizer. stock no:yaurset ...
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=67334&group_ID=17458

Garage Innovations Llc. - Product » Socket Organizer With Rachet .....
socket organizer with rachet holder ... product details:. a great way to keep tools neat, organized and easy to find. sockets easily push on and pull off. ...
http://www.garagewalls.com/store/index.php?action=item&id=90

Pelicanparts.com - Tools > Sockets > Organizers
versatile socket organizers come with 15 socket clips. socket clips are easily repositionable, and can be placed between previously placed clips. ...
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/ShopCart/TOOL/POR_TOOL_CAT053-detail.htm

Ernst Manufacturing Tool, Wrench, And Socket Organizers
ernst tool organizers let the tool user immediately go to and find the tool of choice, saving valuable time. tool organization with a good tool storage ...
http://www.ernstmfg.com/

Drivewerks.com - Tools > Sockets > Organizersorganizers
15-clip socket organizer, $6.20. versatile socket organizers come with 15 socket clips. socket clips are easily repositionable, and can be placed between ...
http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/ShopCart/TOOL/POR_TOOL_CAT053-detail.htm

Vim Hand Tools V520 - Socket Organizer Rack - 1/4 Drive - S&j&#...
vim hand tools v520 - socket organizer rack - 1/4 drive socket resilient - glass filled nylon construction. secure - spring & ball socket retention holds ...
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/vimv520.html

 

[vince-uk]

I envy the choice of tools and organisers you have over in US. I live in England and we just cant get hold of such equipment. I have sent a mail to "expedition exchange" to see if they mail worldwide so lets see if that can be done
Dave

I agree Dave - Unless you pay the Snap On man a small fortune - Or buy a new set that includes the racks. Let me know If they do ship Internationally.

 

[246gts]

I agree Dave - Unless you pay the Snap On man a small fortune - Or buy a new set that includes the racks. Let me know If they do ship Internationally.

Yes they ship materials to uk on a regular basis!
Dave

 

[z28toz06]

So I thought with my new found organization skills I have obtained from this site I would look for some more idea's.

I just purchased a few of these made by Hansen from Sear's. I looked on line and they actually had the best price. They have metric and standard in 1/4. 3/8 and 1/2 that I have found.

Lets see what everyone has found/ made out there for socket, screw driver and general tool organization in your tool boxes, on your shelves or walls etc. .........

northern tool used to carry these cheaper than sears.

 

[kartracer55]

one thing I noticed about them is that sometimes the holes inside the sockets are too small to fit over the little things that stick up, so the socket doesnt slide on like it should... MAJOR pain in the ****. This seems to happen with the smaller sizes in snap on and SK.

Jim

 

[01G8R]

Anyone know where to get these besides Matco?

I found a similar on on Ebay and it said it is made by MTS.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-3-8-drive-M...ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting


I Googled MTS and could not find this particular item from MTS. Thanks.

 

[stimpy]

we used to make them out of a piece of hardwood and used the drill press and the boring bits and then stain them they looked better than those . I can't use those as the drawers on my box are too short to put them upright so I use the snap style socket bars

 

[l_bilyk]

one thing I noticed about them is that sometimes the holes inside the sockets are too small to fit over the little things that stick up, so the socket doesnt slide on like it should... MAJOR pain in the ****. This seems to happen with the smaller sizes in snap on and SK.

Jim

Yeah i had to grind on a socket to make it fit once :-/

 

[Fast Orange]

For sockets,I'm using the plastic rails with clips that Matco and Sears are selling.Matco has the rails in different lengths and colors,seperate socket clips are available.Sears has the rails in only one length and color from what I've seen,but the socket clips interchange between the brands.
I've had mine in daily use for about 2 years now and they're holding up well,much better than the metal rails and clips.
The Hanson racks are nice if your set of sockets matches the layout and # of pins on the rack,but I've either got more or less sockets than the rack is designed for.I also feel that they take up too much space in my socket drawers.

George

 

[JohnZ]

I use these molded plastic socket drawer and wrench drawer organizers - Eastwood and several other mail-order houses have them for about $15 each; I use the heavy black Sears "nubby" drawer liner material in all my other drawers.

 

[ScottS]

Hey guys I just picked up what looks to be the same sets that John Z posted at the local Harbor F. store 10 bucks and made in USA

 

[oversteer]

I just use the cheap steel racks. They seem to work ok and if a socket falls off I take the clip off and bend it for a snugger fit. They're about 10 bux from Princess Auto.dave

 

[eschoendorff]

I just use the cheap steel racks. They seem to work ok and if a socket falls off I take the clip off and bend it for a snugger fit. They're about 10 bux from Princess Auto.dave

I use the same. They work well, if you lay them on their side. What I can't stand are the plastic socket clips that work on a similar principle.

 

[69lkmno]

I got one of those Harbor Freight organizers too and used my old socket case to hold all my sockets.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I'm still using the metal clip trays that I've had since the early 80's. Its a great way of telling if one is missing. I recently bought a couple of Hansen trays for my impact sockets in both metric and SAE

 

[eschoendorff]

I use those organizers from HF too, and so far I like them. Here are some pics from about a year ago. Things look a little different now (some different tools, ), but the basic idea is the same:

 

[Wolverine]

Which ratcheting wrenches are those?

Like em'?

 

[Da Bull]

Try here

http://www.mechanicstimesavers.com/home.asp

 

[eschoendorff]

Which ratcheting wrenches are those?

Like em'?

They're the gearwrench brand. I have those and the actual Craftsman brand. While I like the feel of the Cman better, I am convinced that the ratcheting mechanism is identical in all of these greawrench-type wrenches, whether they say Snap On, Blue Point, GearWrench, Craftsman, or Pittsburgh. Reason for that is that I heard that there is a company in Taiwan that holds the worldwide patent for the design, and supplies it to all the different wrench makers.

If I had to do it all over again, I would skip the Snap On/Blue Point and go straight to the Craftsman. I have the metric versions in reversible and locking flex, and the wrenches are very HQ in my opinion, esp for the $$$!!!

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Here are what mine look like


http://www.photodump.com/direct/Canadian_Charlie/Bills935.jpg

http://www.photodump.com/direct/Canadian_Charlie/Bills161.jpg

 

[kartracer55]

Here are what mine look like

http://www.photodump.com/direct/Canadian_Charlie/Tools001.jpg
http://www.photodump.com/direct/Canadian_Charlie/Bills935.jpg
http://www.photodump.com/direct/Canadian_Charlie/Bills166.jpg
http://www.photodump.com/direct/Canadian_Charlie/Bills161.jpg

haha whats the deal with the KKK sticker down the side? gotta be a story behind that one

Jim

 

[evildky]

haha whats the deal with the KKK sticker down the side? gotta be a story behind that one

Jim

I noticed that too, hoping just some kind of twisted joke and that he isn't a waste of flesh and a discrace to humanity

 

[Canadian Charlie]

My appoligies to everyone here, that was put on by a friend many years ago and that I never took off yet. But will


Sorry to anyone who finds it offensive

 

[kartracer55]

No offense here, just curous about it thats all. Id pull that picture because im sure somebody WILL be offended though.

Jim

 

[slowride66]

yea I don't like those plastic things they break way to easy and some sockets dont fit right my ex boss spent days welding & grinding little pound pegs on a piece of plate !

I just bought 2 foot magnets that pissed him off but good
this is my 1/2 & 3/4 draw

SR66

 

[Uncle Buck]

slowride: I have finally seen a drawer with a photoshot of tools that looks like most of the drawers in my boxes, alot of different brands of high quality used tools, stored in a somewhat cramped condition,some shine others don't! Anyway, your photo of what a normal drawer in your box looks like is the one I can most closely relate to!

 

[Fast Orange]

Rob-
Your yellow painted sockets remind me of an old friend of mine who did field service on heavy equipment.Every tool he owned was painted Cat yellow.He started doing it to keep his impact sockets from rusting due to being kept in a utility bodied truck and exposed to rain while he worked.He used the Cat yellow because he had a lot of it in spray cans to touch up new machines.After a while,every tool on the truck was yellow-when I asked him why,he told me that:
1)When he dropped a tool in the dirt or grass ,the color made it easy to find
2)He painted the size in large black numbers on every thing -easier to see with his bad eyes
3)Nobody would borrow or steal his"ugly a$$" tools !

You didn't happen to work with a guy named Dwayne at Foley in NJ,did you?

George

 

[kartracer55]

SR66... some BIG *** TOOLS!!! 3/4 drive I presume... what do you do? Also... what kind of impact sockets were those before ya painted them? lol, Pretty good idea if your doin that kinda work.

Jim

 

[slowride66]

No I dident work for him is he rich he might be my long lost brother father well somthing ..LOL

I always figured I was switched at birth but no such luck

I was working with these booger eating morons and the kept diving into my chit so i painted mine yellow and the others two stuff florecent green & pink and from then on when i get something new before it can get used I wash it & engrave it and paint it yea yello is easy to find in green grass & it keeps them from rusting I even paint screw driver bits

those bigger sockets are for full floater ford rear on my P/U I cringe when people use a chisel to 'tightent them up ' scares me

just the basic stuff 1/4 ",3/8,1/2 & 3/4 and cheap wrenches up tp 2" they have paid for them selfs alittle bit of this a little that tractors mowers back hoe small dump trucks i used to do alot but i got hurt & sick and ...well its a long story it *****

i need to get in ther and inventory the chit before I can't move any more I just want to gat a shop and tinker on stuff for the rest of my life but its a ways off this is my tool box Ive had t move a bit in my past 40 years

my 3/8 th draw and my other boxes that are in the big white one SR66 http://www.garagejunkies.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3800&stc=1(((no thats not me i need to photo shop that stooge out of there!!)))

 

[kartracer55]

Your name isnt Paul is it? Id be seriously freaked out if it was... My dads friend ( a mechanic) is named paul and he looks just like you hahaha

Great Idea paining the tools... do you just use lieka sharpie to write the sizes on? What were you talkign about engraving them?

Jim

 

[slowride66]

Kartracer 55

One of the 1st things I ever bought was a electric engraver the reciprocating type and I engrave my name & stuff into them then..
when I get something new like the 1/2"S-K sockets I clean the oil off washing them with a scotchbrite and paint them up then I just took a sharpie and just trace the stamping already there.

Some tools I have stamps that I will pound my name into then paint & detail I haven't done too many jobs where there was any kind of dispute to what tools are mine!

let your imagination work to come up with something unique

SR66