VIM Magrails

[The Critic]

I recently moved to a new house and decided to build a home toolbox using a HF 44” Series 2. During my research for toolbox organizing ideas, I learned about VIM Magrails from a YouTube channel.

I purchased purchased seven VIM Magrails. Four 12” for 3/8, two 16” for 1/2” and a 12” 1/2” rail.

I used the VIM magrails for my frequently used 3/8” metric chrome (short and deep), 3/8” metric impact (short and deep), 1/2” metric impact (short and deep up to 22mm) and for my lug nut sockets. My less frequently used sockets (1/4” drive and large 1/2” drive) are organized using the Tekton/Ernst rails.

The magnets are strong and hold the sockets well. I have no complaints other than the initial setup being a bit tedious (the magnetic bits need to be tightened once you find the desired position).

I highly recommend the VIM magrails if they are in your budget. Not sure why I did not learn about them sooner.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Fatboy148]

Great choice! The magnets are pretty amazing keeping the rails stuck to your cabinet. You need to purchase some of the lifting studs. It will make you life much easier if/when you try to move the rails.

When you do the wrench drawers look into the ToolBox Widgets. It's another "buy once, cry once, happy ever after"! Personally, I am not yet entirely sold on their screwdriver holders. Nicest folks ever though! If you have any questions, the owner will get back too you.



ETA Link:

https://toolboxwidget.com/

 

[Fedwrench]

Magrails TL are a very expensive habit but, well worth the investment!!!

If you plan on removing the full rail from your box or cart often, i recommend getting some of these to make it easier.

https://cloud1.shopsite.com/donofish/product376.html

and in addition to the red/blue magrails in different lengths, VIM offers a black 2 foot long rail for those other odds & ends

https://cloud1.shopsite.com/donofish/product398.html

 

[Perry H]

The Magrail inventor is a garage journal member.

 

[M6erfan]

VIM currently has 15% off on orders over $50. Helps a bit

 

[RKA]

I tried to get along with the magrails, but pulled a bunch out of my toolbox recently. The magnets were a little too strong, so pulling the rail off the liner in my toolbox was a chore (before I discovered the lifters Fedwrench linked above). On they plus side, they stayed in place. Even if I pulled them out, the magnets were so strong that where ever I put them I would end up with a clump of tools all stuck to the rail. Pulling the sockets off required a bit too much force as well, you have to tilt the socket forward or back to get it off or just pull up hard. But the one factor I really didn't like compared to other solutions was my sockets are mostly stamped and it's too hard to see the socket size in the box (I don't often pull the rail out of the box). I would pull one socket out that looked like the right size, I would usually be off by one size and then put it back and grab the next one over. The thing I liked about the rails is it's easy to reorganize and you can really pack sockets into your drawer with minimal wasted space.

I switched to magnetic socket trays with size labels next to each hole. Much faster to find what I want or lift it out of the box if I want the whole tray. Lots of wasted space though, nothing available yet (with labels) for torx, etorx, triple squares and other bit sockets. Sometimes they are missing a hole for a socket I have. I may use the magrails for these bit sockets sets and lesser used sockets and continue to use the trays for my standard 6 pt sockets.

So, as good as they are, I wouldn't suggest getting more than a few at first and see how they work out for you before committing to using these for your socket organization.

 

[Fedwrench]

Magrails aren't for everyone even though, I feel they are simply the best rail system you can purchase. They might be too expensive for some, and I don't think they're really designed to remove from your cart and take to what you're working on but, that's just me.
I use them in my cart that I wheel close to wherever I'm working. The magnets are quite strong as I have more than a few magrails on the inside of my cart lid

 

[ChrisLS8]

I tried to get along with the magrails, but pulled a bunch out of my toolbox recently. The magnets were a little too strong, so pulling the rail off the liner in my toolbox was a chore (before I discovered the lifters Fedwrench linked above). On they plus side, they stayed in place. Even if I pulled them out, the magnets were so strong that where ever I put them I would end up with a clump of tools all stuck to the rail. Pulling the sockets off required a bit too much force as well, you have to tilt the socket forward or back to get it off or just pull up hard. But the one factor I really didn't like compared to other solutions was my sockets are mostly stamped and it's too hard to see the socket size in the box (I don't often pull the rail out of the box). I would pull one socket out that looked like the right size, I would usually be off by one size and then put it back and grab the next one over. The thing I liked about the rails is it's easy to reorganize and you can really pack sockets into your drawer with minimal wasted space.

I switched to magnetic socket trays with size labels next to each hole. Much faster to find what I want or lift it out of the box if I want the whole tray. Lots of wasted space though, nothing available yet (with labels) for torx, etorx, triple squares and other bit sockets. Sometimes they are missing a hole for a socket I have. I may use the magrails for these bit sockets sets and lesser used sockets and continue to use the trays for my standard 6 pt sockets.

So, as good as they are, I wouldn't suggest getting more than a few at first and see how they work out for you before committing to using these for your socket organization.

I've gotten to know what sizes start where. My 3/8 start at 8 and go to 27, 1/4 goes from 5-15mm etc. So I can just count from whatever side since I have no skips if I can't eyeball the socket size which is rare

 

[Sloper0204]

VIM currently has 15% off on orders over $50. Helps a bit

Is there a coupon code for that?

 

[M6erfan]

 

[MadeByMiller]

I converted recently from the Hansen socket trays to the 24" VIM magrails in my Vidmar cabinet. They are expensive, but in my case highly worth it. They opened up quite a lot of valuable drawer space, allowing me to move my ratchets in with my sockets and extensions (I have a plan to better organize the extensions too), as well as move all of my large impact sockets in with the rest. The only drawback I can find with them is of course the lack of labels, however I don't have trouble remembering drive size location and eyeballing size. The magnets are quite strong, strong enough that the rails stay in place perfectly even though I use carpet drawer liners. My favorite part about them aside from being space saving, is how easily they're customized. In my case using the 24" rails, I can have 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive all on the same rail spaced out however I want. This was very useful, especially with my hex and torx drive sockets which vary in drive size.

edit: another note worth mentioning - how low profile these rails are. For those without really deep socket drawers, this is an awesome feature. It's what allowed me to move my large impact sockets into this drawer. The previous socket tray was too thick, not allowing the sockets to clear the drawer.

 

[todd_fuller]

Double check pricing. I checked a few days ago and seemingly, Amazon was cheaper even after coupon by 8-10%.

 

[M6erfan]

Double check pricing. I checked a few days ago and seemingly, Amazon was cheaper even after coupon by 8-10%.

AMZN pricing/stock varies wildly but always worth checking before purchase.

 

[hicktown773]

The Magrail inventor is a garage journal member.

I know this post is 6 years old; what’s his name? I’m getting a new toolbox in a month and would love for him to make some sort of a wrench holder that can slide on to the magrails.

 

[2barevo]

I know this post is 6 years old; what’s his name? I’m getting a new toolbox in a month and would love for him to make some sort of a wrench holder that can slide on to the magrails.

@Steve_P

 

[Steve_P]

@Steve_P

I am not the inventor of the VIM magrails!

 

[MichaelP]

Yes, you are! You just don't know about it.

P.S. The screen name of the inventor is Magtl.