Tool Organizing Hypothetical

[betsy325e]

You have tons of sockets. You often throw several of your portable toolboxes in your car to help a friend. You haven't got a garage, so portability is key for you. You basically rely on a few of these: http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/6475135/Excel-20-Inch-Portable-Steel-Tool-Box-P14069760.jpg

You acquire awesome, quality tools on craigslist and yard sales and flea markets...but can't stand that they don't come in a plastic case that keeps everything neatly organized. Rifling through random, loose sockets in the tool tray just ***** when you're taking apart a front-end and the like; even if they were half-assed organized for the first ten minutes of the job, by the end you start to wonder if you're sitting on the socket you're looking for and the cussin' intensifies.

Any suggestions for keeping sizable numbers of loose sockets organized but still portable? I'm looking for something along the lines of the carabiner combination wrench trick -- cheap and friggin' "why didn't I think of that?" style.

Thanks.

 

[DBendr]

Start with something along these lines and add to it as necessary.
OTOH you could buy some socket rails.

 

[jimgood]

Why loose at all? Why not just use these:
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...00P?sid=IDxCMDFx20140801x001&KPID=00941849000

 

[ssdave]

I don't understand the obsession with organization and endless rails and racks and such for someone that works with and uses their tools for mechanic work. I have a more or less standard toolbox configuration (42 inch rollaway and top box). I put the sockets in two drawers, in rows, by size and type. A few are in metal trays they came in, my 1/4 are in magnetic trays, and my metric are in the plastic trays they came in. Essentially, any system works.

When you use them on a vehicle, you take out the ones you need, put them on a small working table or rolling cart, and leave them there until you're done with the job. Usually, need about 5 for the entire job. You don't need 100 out, just make 5 trips to the main box and leave them on the table for the duration. Or guess at which ones you need, and put 8 or 10 sockets on the table to start with.

When you're done with the job, wipe them off and put them back in the main box in their original location. If you do a lot of repetitive work, leave the common stuff on the rolling cart such as the ratchets, a few extensions, and a 10mm socket. All you really need in your main box is a way to put the sockets in order so you can find them readily. It doesn't have to be a Martha Stewart experience every time you open the drawer and admire them!

Here's an old picture of my 26" box in my garage, the 42 looks similar except about 3 times as much in each drawer. Has worked that way for years. Wouldn't have even thought of doing something else if I hadn't seen the obsessive posts on here. So far I've resisted the urge to fix something that isn't broken!

 

[martin666]

Utilizing some sort of socket organizers makes life easier. I currently have probably 50 sets of sockets ( all different ) if I laid them out in a drawer there's really no way to tell at a glance if one is missing. All it would take is for a few to roll and fill in the empty spot. On or in organizers I know immediately not only if one is missing but which one is missing. As much as I love getting greasy and oily and fixing things I do want it to be as easy and enjoyable as it can be and tools being organized definitely helps with that. Thats why I not only use socket organizers but some sort of system for pliers, wrenches and screwdrivers, just makes life easier

 

[ssdave]

Re-reading your post, I see that you want to have the sockets portable because you don't have a tool box setup. I'd use either socket trays or rails, or a portable toolbox that has tapered trays to set the sockets in order. That's how I organize my portable road box. Mixture of using the built in tray, and some original manufacturer socket trays. Here's some pictures:

 

[bczygan]

You have tons of sockets. You often throw several of your portable toolboxes in your car to help a friend. You haven't got a garage, so portability is key for you. You basically rely on a few of these: http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/6475135/Excel-20-Inch-Portable-Steel-Tool-Box-P14069760.jpg

You acquire awesome, quality tools on craigslist and yard sales and flea markets...but can't stand that they don't come in a plastic case that keeps everything neatly organized. Rifling through random, loose sockets in the tool tray just ***** when you're taking apart a front-end and the like; even if they were half-assed organized for the first ten minutes of the job, by the end you start to wonder if you're sitting on the socket you're looking for and the cussin' intensifies.

Any suggestions for keeping sizable numbers of loose sockets organized but still portable? I'm looking for something along the lines of the carabiner combination wrench trick -- cheap and friggin' "why didn't I think of that?" style.

Thanks.

A warm welcome to GJ. Please put your location in your profile. And good on your for helping out friends.

You have a real problem. Needing to be portable, and ready for any kind of problem and repair, means you have to carry virtually everything with you.

As some experienced mechanics have mentioned, it is useful to keep everything in a main box, and just pull out the few items you need for a job. Of course, with their experienced eyes, they know exactly what tools and sizes they will need for a particular job. Me, I have to take the whole toolbox out every time and sort through it right at the job.

So I recommend you actually do something similar, but based on a mobile situation. Get a big one, or 2 or more smaller road boxes. Fill them with all the possible tools you might need for almost any job. Label them for what's inside. Inside, fill them with racks and other organizing items. This big box, or set of smaller boxes, will act as your main roller would at home. It contains the full array of tools to pull from. But you don't bring them all in from the vehicle at your friends house. You leave them in the vehicle. You take an empty portable box or a tray, and fill it from them, and take this small box or tray inside to work. It's like having a service cart that you supply from your main roller.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

Here's some cheap DIY solutions for sockets.

String them on some coat hanger wire.

String them on some thin rope.

Or make your own socket organizer. Take a piece of thin (1/4 to 3/8") board and drill 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2" holes spaced as needed, and glue in short pieces of dowels.

Here's an example of a big one, but you can make smaller ones.

Or just buy some cheap socket rails at Harbour Freight.

Bill

 

[betsy325e]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm not really looking for something pretty to admire how beautiful and organized all my tools are -- I'm not one of those guys. I am, however, one of those guys who starts losing his **** when he can't find his deep well 6pt that he ******** KNOWS he brought with him.

I guess I'm spoiled by the ****** plastic tool carrier case that comes with your ****** first set of tools...you know where your trust stubby 3/8 drive 10mm socket is, and you readily see when it ain't there. All nice and organized. -- That's basically what I'm hoping to replicate...something visual. It's also so much easier to clean up and know you've got everything.

...The last repair I got finished at dark and already pissed and just threw all my **** in the truck. I have everything, but it didn't sit well with me.

I should also note that I don't throw all my tools in the back of my beater that often -- maybe once or twice a month. Sometimes more often...word gets around that you know a guy that'll fix **** for a case of beer.

I can't afford/don't have the capability to have a huge box in the beater...but I do cram all my tools in it when do go, because driving back and forth across town (after packing up all the tools i don't want stolen...) for an oddball size something or other I didn't think I'd need gets old real quick.

Honestly, its just the sockets. I don't give a **** if I have to dig through for 2 minutes to find a pair of snap ring pliers...but sockets...goddamn, it just drives me insane. I want to have 'em all with me just cuz...but they just don't organize worth a ****.

So:

1. HF brand socket rails? What's the failure mode, and can I go more than a few uses before finding out what the failure mode is for myself?

2. HF rails with the post and the size on the top of the post...if I can stand those up vertically in my box and take a rail out when I need it, will those work?

3. Other suggestions I've seen were magnetic trays (I think Lisle)...anyone have experience with those? How strong are the magnets?

4. Ernst Socket Boss was also suggested which seem pretty awesome. Has anyone used these? Do they wear out with that weird twisty action?

5. Tapered boxes -- I have an old metric SK set that's like that. Really like that -- are things like those boxes/cases available for sale anywhere?

6. Haven't looked -- but how much does the O.D. of a given socket size vary brand to brand? The long SKs I have look pretty goddamned thick compared to some of my shittier tools. I'm just curious if I could find some junk cases on ebay, but worried nothing will actually fit properly.




DBendr -- please tell me you know the guy who bought that monstrosity. How many children did the snap on man put through college with that?

 

[crewchief888]

pic is several years old, and i've added a few more sockets, but i use a combination of hansen, original stamped sheetmetal trays, and SO metal rails/clips.

in my service truck i'm kinda cramped for space, so i dont use any hansen trays, metal rails, original sheetmetal trays, and MTS magnetic holders fill the bill.

the only sockets i have in a blow molded box are a set of std/MM SK's.

 

[betsy325e]

Here's what I think Ima do.

Get some ****** ones of these spiels: http://hansenglobalinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/3801-Fractional-Socket-Tray.jpg

Cut up some wood as long and as narrow of each row of the socket tray, and drill holes where the tip of the socket post will go through, and lay it over the rows of sockets as a "top plate".

Skookum rubber bands on both ends to sandwich the sockets in place.

Should keep everything together as I throw tools around, and maintain a visual organization for easy identification and clean up when I'm done.

...so the question is...how garbagy plastic b.s. are the HF equivalents of those socket trays?

 

[Raven GT]

I Would seriously look at one of the montezuma top boxes at strictlytoolboxes.com.

They seem ideal for your needs, and get good reviews.

Might be a bit more money than a few organisers, but it looks like a better
solution to me.
Especially if your working out of the back of a van or pick up truck.

 

[Al Borland]

magnetic socket trays. wrenches in a rollup pouch. get a small box...

 

[Agentwho]

1. HF brand socket rails? What's the failure mode, and can I go more than a few uses before finding out what the failure mode is for myself?

3. Other suggestions I've seen were magnetic trays (I think Lisle)...anyone have experience with those? How strong are the magnets?

1. I started off with the HF socket rails way back when and still have a few in the box holding tidbits I don't use much. In short they work! the springs hold well, they are easy to cut down to the size needed, you can put all sizes on the same rail (1/4 3/8 1/2) There are some springs that don't hold but most do. I'm sure after enough use they will give but for the price just get more. This will most likely be the best solution for a tool bag.

3. I use the Lisle magnetic trays in my toolbox and love them, they are great for keeping everything organized and just taking the whole rack with me to whatever I am working on. The down side is the magnet is not very strong, it has enough force to help click the socket into place but I wouldn't even trust carrying them sideways. Most of the time when I put them in my tool bag I have to retrieve loose sockets upon removal.

You can use the carabiner trick for sockets as well by taking a length of wire with loops at both ends, thread threw the sockets and clip ends to the carabiner. I would use small loops with 4 to 6 on each one, this would make it easy to get to what size you are in need of.

 

[justme-]

HF trays do not have tall posts with the size up there like the Hansen... They are also available in any color you want as long as its black... Metric or standard. Durable enough but the above suggestion of a top cover will not work..
Simplest is craftsman chrome rails...highly rated here and elsewhere.

 

[Lassen Forge]

In my 50 cal ammo can toolbox (the green one), I used to keep one each of the most common sockets I'd use in bags - the metrics (8-9-10-12-14-17-19) were in a Crown Royal, the standards (3/8 to 3/4 and a spark plug socket) were in some white canvas thing (I think it was a soil sample bag I snagged form work). 3/8" drive, cut down speed wrench, extensions, etc. My other ammo can (the flat black one) had a cut down 1/2" drive, and the same assortment (kinda) in some old repurposed GI canvas something...

I could have what I needed in seconds (or know I didn't have what I needed). That's why everything was color coded - no confusion, no mess.

 

[afbrian13]

This is what we do at work. EVERYTHING is shadowed out. Takes up more space, but you can glance at a box and know for sure you have everything.
Done wrong it wastes a ton of space, heck, wastes space even done right.

I want to do this with mine, but I don't think I have the room!

 

[LennyTheLizard]

I have an old craftsman Plastic box like you describe. It's just sitting in the corner wondering what I'm going to do with it.

Maybe I would be interested in trading the box for some sockets I'm missing (assuming you have extra in that big 'ol collection). Hell I would probably just give it away if you pay for shipping.

 

[vartz04]

I Would seriously look at one of the montezuma top boxes at strictlytoolboxes.com.



They seem ideal for your needs, and get good reviews.



Might be a bit more money than a few organisers, but it looks like a better

solution to me.

Especially if your working out of the back of a van or pick up truck.

This.

I frequently help people with their broken junk. Depending on who it is I make them bring it to me if possible. If not (or its someone who I like) I grab we'd what I think I needed and put it in tool bags. Almost always I was missing something. When I moved I needed a second smaller set of tools to keep in my 12x20 workshop so I bought one of these triangle boxes so I could toss it in the truck and go if need be.



Still working on filling it out because I am only letting German or USA tools in it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[one9gt]

When I was in the Air Force and we had a jet break down at other airfields we had road boxes that were basically wheeled pelican boxes which contained multiple trays of tools shadowed in. Wouldn't be to difficult to get some 1/4"-3/8" backer board and some kaizen foam to fab up each tray.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[becker_atc]

We use the triangle boxes on the farm and they are great! Most all the farmer I worked for in hs and college had one and then my dad finally got one on his "service" truck. Air , welder, tools, and gin poles on Chevy 4wd.

Those come in all different sizes we got him a bigger one due to the fact of some equipment is becoming metric and he pack air tools and large tools


Sent via message in a bottle

 

[fastbike02]

Start with something along these lines and add to it as necessary.
OTOH you could buy some socket rails.

pretty sure that cost more than my house

 

[mrjaw14]

The pelican box like this would be nice and be portable. Uses foam cutouts for organization

 

[betsy325e]

Thanks for all the input. Everyone gets involved in this forum. I dig it. Ya ever go on a car forum or something for info and see that like 400 people viewed the thread but literally no one can tell you the pin out on an idle control module? Glad that doesn't ever seem to be the situation here.

Of course the friggin' HF don't go all the way through the socket. Damn. I really liked that idea because everything was more organized and I know I'd have what I came with when I left. Would some cheapo ones with the posts work adequately?

After having thought about this since posting I'm really more focused on making sure I've got everything when I leave rather than show up...especially cuz I don't work with these tools everyday. I'm sure most real mechanics just know they're missing something.

That shadowing **** you guys with the big boxes do is like NASA booster-assembly-clean-room level ****. That's awesome haha.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Prior to getting the race car in 2005 I had a bunch of loose tools in two a pair of HD boxes. I bought a new set of Craftsman sockets from my cousin but no box. Then I saw this socket box at the local Sears store and bought it. Model #33354

I don't think its available anymore as a stand alone purchase, at least I can't find it. I bought a second one a year or so after I bought this one, but it didn't seem to hold sockets as well so I don't use it. Can't find it right now, I think it had a different model ##.

What I like about this box is that I've got (almost) all the sockets and combination wrenches in one place ... plus nut driver bits and various screwdriver bits. The sockets stay put when I carry it around and open/close the drawers. The case and drawers alone are pretty light. Full of tools, its pretty heavy ... but NOT too heavy (yet). I do have bunch of very large sockets, very large combination wrenches (I call them "chassis wrenches), and a variety of extensions and breaker bars in a large CM tool box.

I find it disappointing that Sears/CM apparently doesn't market this box anymore. I think they are missing the boat. I think CM should market the "box" separate from the drawers and develop a whole series of drawers. For example I rarely (if ever) use metric sockets and wrenches on the race car. I'd love to have SAE only drawers that would combine say 1/4 and 3/8 drive. There could be a drawer dedicated to a complete set of CM screwdrivers, a drawer dedicated to pliers, a drawer dedicated nut drivers, etc. Let us mix and match!

Listening Sears/Craftsman???

 

[ssdave]

I've got one of those Craftsman boxes, loaded with tools that's in my get rid of pile. Nice set, but not my needs. I'd sell it with or without the tools.

 

[betsy325e]

I was asking around at work today -- a lot of people said those Hansen socket trays are not so skookum. What sort of plastic is it?

I just googled that CM # on the socket boss. Def. discontinued, though some guy got a great deal on one with tools in 2005 haha.

Sidebar: wtf is with sears website? jeeeeesus christ.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I've got one of those Craftsman boxes, loaded with tools that's in my get rid of pile. Nice set, but not my needs. I'd sell it with or without the tools.

I'm interested in it without the tools. My zip is 53024. IM me a price and estimated shipping.

I was asking around at work today -- a lot of people said those Hansen socket trays are not so skookum. What sort of plastic is it?

I just googled that CM # on the socket boss. Def. discontinued, though some guy got a great deal on one with tools in 2005 haha.

Sidebar: wtf is with sears website? jeeeeesus christ.

The box and trays are what I think is called blown plastic. Light, full of air, and has been strong and durable for me.

I agree on the Sears website. Often slow. Presentation seems like something from the late 90's or early 2000's.

 

[Rickster]

I would recommend you go with Mechanics Time Saver socket holders to organize all your sockets. Either the large tray or my favorites the individual blocks.

https://www.google.com/webhp?source...v=2&ie=UTF-8#q=mechanics+time+savers&tbm=shop

 

[Matthewbeard]

The pelican box like this would be nice and be portable. Uses foam cutouts for organization

Don't do it...worst box design ever, the wheels are on the back so you have to flip the box and dump your tools every time you wheel it. Even the most tight fitting foam wears out and will dump the tools.

We have this box for when we have to go work down on the flight line and it is terrible. When you open it you have to put all the tools back because they are all at the back of the box

 

[LennyTheLizard]

I have an old craftsman Plastic box like you describe. It's just sitting in the corner wondering what I'm going to do with it.

Maybe I would be interested in trading the box for some sockets I'm missing (assuming you have extra in that big 'ol collection). Hell I would probably just give it away if you pay for shipping.

I really like the Hanson Socket Trays in the top of my HF service cart, but I don't know if they would work very well for a mobile transfer system like you're after.

Put some photos of my Craftsman Blow molded case if your interested. Came from a 140 pc tool set with some open space in middle for extra wrenches / pliers / hammer etc.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Ernst locking socket rails and a regular large hand carry box. Add in wrench rolls for metric and SAE and your ratchets and extensions and a screw driver set. Boom. done. Get a seperate hand carry box and fill it with pliers, punches, hammers, etc. Two boxes to grab. Build a third with electrical (don't want the heavy tools beating up your meter) and you've got a pretty good system that won't take 10 minutes to load up.

I don't understand the obsession with organization and endless rails and racks and such for someone that works with and uses their tools for mechanic work.

Because organization helps you work faster and really helps with tool accountability. I know at a glance what is out of the box and what is in it's place.

 

[colin39]

This.

I frequently help people with their broken junk. Depending on who it is I make them bring it to me if possible. If not (or its someone who I like) I grab we'd what I think I needed and put it in tool bags. Almost always I was missing something. When I moved I needed a second smaller set of tools to keep in my 12x20 workshop so I bought one of these triangle boxes so I could toss it in the truck and go if need be.



Still working on filling it out because I am only letting German or USA tools in it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Started moving out of my van box and into one of these todays.

 

[Dookie2122]

Picked up that Sears 33354 box and figured I would love it, never used it, anyone interested in it can have it for the cost of shipping.

 

[dbabicky]

I just keep one of those Craftsman 100-140 piece tool kits in each vehicle with a small tool bag for the extra odd stuff I may need. They work flawlessly. There is extra space in them for a wrench set and some other small stuff. The tool bag has bigger stuff like hammers and different pliers of sort and what ever else I think of.