Which HF socket organizer?

[stickshift]

I looked at the socket organizers at Lowes. In my opinion, way too expensive for such a simple function. And HD didn't have any. So looks like I'm going with HF.

Which do you prefer? This would be stored in a portable toolbox or large tool tote of some sort, NOT in a chest or rally box drawers.

Rails:

Tray:

 

[49tandc]

Pop-rivet the rails to the TOP of the box. All your sockets will be right there without you having to dig for them. For 30 years, I've had this setup - in a .50 cal ammo can I use for a tool box in my truck. The metal rails hold the sockets really well. Not sure about the plastic rails.

49T&C

 

[cajunfirehawk]

I have the craftsman rail type and to me, they arent worth a squat, the sockets fall off or the socket holders get bent out of shape too easily, if I pick up the rail with the sockets attached and walk around my garage, esp on deep sockets, several fall off in route....IMHO I'm looking for a better way too...

 

[BLACK DEATH]

If its portability your looking for I think rails are the way to go, the tray for boxes that get moved. I need those rails for my box

 

[tyndall]

I think I have some of those rails if they are the ones with the ball detent. They're not bad but don't hold deep sockets on as well as I thought they would. The trays do not hold the sockets at all and have a short peg. Bounce the box or tote once and the sockets will be scattered all over.

 

[Rickster]

I don't like the HF trays. Had them before and they don't fit all my sockets next to each other and they're difficult to remove off the square peg mount. The standard steel rails are nice if you leave them in the box pop-riveted down and you have the drawer clearance. They are also the cheapest and they fit all the sockets because they just slide on the rail. For lying flat in a short drawer the red Lislye magnet trays are nice but costly. The Hanson trays work well but you need the height clearance.

The Mechanics Time Saver blocks are best for

 

[Al Bundy]

Lots of threads on this topic. It's personal preference, there are advantages/disadvantages to every method.

 

[porcupine73]

I've been using the HF rails and then keeping them in my box. I really like being able to take a spare rail and put duplicates of all my most commonly used sockets on there, then I can just pick up that rail and walk over to my job and have 95% of the sockets I'll need right there. With the rails then you can combine 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 all on the same rail.

 

[stickshift]

Sounds like the rails are best for mobility purposes, with the caveat that they might not hold onto deep sockets when moving just a rail. That's not such a big deal for me, as I'd probably grab the rail and drop it into a small tote along with whatever other tools I need for whatever I'm working on.

 

[ishiboo]

I've been using the HF rails and then keeping them in my box. I really like being able to take a spare rail and put duplicates of all my most commonly used sockets on there, then I can just pick up that rail and walk over to my job and have 95% of the sockets I'll need right there. With the rails then you can combine 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 all on the same rail.

I'm thinking about using the trays (probably Hansen) for most of my sockets, then making a combo rail and throwing on the common sizes with a couple extra slots. Then when I have to do something not near the box, I grab the common sizes, throw in any I need and bring my portable set along as well.

I bought the HF plastic rails and wasn't impressed, but then I went to Sears and it was the same damn thing for more money. The Kobalt's have nicer rails (anodized aluminum) but they're 5x the price and the actual socket holders seem the same as the HF/Sears.

What bugs me is there is no good way of storing extensions/universals/ratchets, I think I'm going to end up custom cutting foam inserts for that.

 

[blarf]

I have the Craftsman (Vim) rails. Love them, and I haven't had a problem with stuff falling off (deep 1/2" drive included). From the comments on GJ, and the COO the HF ones aren't made by Vim and aren't of the same quality. You could try the HF rails with Craftsman clips, but you might as well just buy a three pack of the Craftsman rails instead ($12).

 

[wrh3]

It looks like you have the HF new plastic rails in your pic, these have worked better for me than the old-style metal rails as far as socket retention goes.

 

[oldtools]

Socket can fall all over the place with tray, so I vote for rail.

 

[porcupine73]

Oh I didn't notice the HF rails in the pic were plastic. I have the metal rails and clips. I bought probably 10 boxes of them on sale maybe 5 years back.

 

[Outlawmws]

A metal tray with a strong magnet rail would be another option for mobility other than the rails. I do use a few rails (Most of my sockets are on magnets) ; most hold everything fine, a couple of clips get loose through use/abuse, but unless the metal just won't hold the set it needs, can be retweaked to hold almost anything.

 

[BLACK DEATH]

My local harbor freight doesnt have the rail type you posted above. Is it only online?

 

[twincam00]

I have the HF black plastic trays, love 'em but they wont hold the sockets secure of theyre in a portable box being swung around

 

[jam022316]

I have the plastic HF ones and love them.

 

[wrh3]

My local harbor freight doesnt have the rail type you posted above. Is it only online?

I saw them in my local store a few weeks back, but did not see extra clips for them there like GearWrench sells- relatively new product according to the store manager.

 

[mark40sw]

Have VIM/Craftsman plastic ball detent rails and have tried few HF rails.

The HF are a copy but seem to be made of a more brittle plastic and the pegs slide around loosely.

 

[53sled]

Buy American. 3 different styles.

http://www.wttool.com/index/page/category/category_id/15090/

http://www.allthingsjeep.com/ort-530x.html

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_370416_370416

 

[Jim85IROC]

Buy American. 3 different styles.


http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_370416_370416

My father uses these. They're great, except that they wind up taking up a LOT of space in the tool box.