Socket trays and socket organizing ideas??

[John in Ct]

I was wondering how everyone stores/ organizes their sockets? I would like to get more metal socket trays ( the kind with the bar on top that you move to the side/bottom to remove a socket) but am having no luck ? I use clips+ rails for odd sets but prefer the older style metal tray. I got some of those plastic ones with the posts sticking up. They are ok but you can't carry them to where you are working and they sometimes leave out some sockets. Snap-On doesn't sell the sizes I need anymore. Thanks!

 

[markiz41]

You can try those magnetic socket holders, I think they are made by Lisle. Sears carries them. But you really can't beat the old metal tray for convinience and durability.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have some of those magnetic ones and like them but just wish they had put a different handle on them and a way to also store the ratchet and extensions on it.

 

[John Niolon]

John,

try here for socket and wrench racks

www.ernstmfg.com

nice stuff and reasonable cost

john

 

[Fawteen]

Just a word of caution about Ernst:

I bought some of their stuff, and while it was well made, I decided it wasn't suitable for my situation. I called them, and the feller I spoke to was very nice and told me to go ahead and return them.

I did, and I never got my money back. Calls haven't changed anything. I sent a certified letter and they never picked it up, PO returned it. It's been nearly 6 months and I haven't seen a nickle or heard a peep out of them.

Not saying this is Business As Usual for them, just saying it's what happened to me.

 

[Anonymous-0]

John
All my sockets are still in the original metal boxes that they came in. Each box has room for ratchets & extensions. Well, almost all are in boxes. Impacts are on a clip/rail, but in the drawer with air tools, specialty sets like Torx & hex-key(allen) are on rails, but fit in drawer with regular sets. If lucky enough to have a helper on a project, I can ask for the black, red, gray or green, metal or plastic box in third drawer of the cabinet, or red metal box (3/4 drive) on the shelf. Even my "travel" set of 1/4 & 3/8, metric & inch sockets rides in its original box in back of vehicle.
Might not work for you, but am used to this system.
HTH
Willie

 

[Anonymous-0]

Their site doesn't work with security problems. Are they still in business?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Years back I when bought my tool chest,I discovered that I missed the old fitted tray/boxes for sockets.So I designated 1 large drawer the "socket drawer" and started designin.I took a piece of 3/8 hi-density partical board,cut to fit the drawer and drilled and routed out fitted slots for the 1/4 & 3/8 sockets(like the OEM trays),added a fitted borehole for each U-joint,adapter,etc.This took about 1/3 of the drawer.On the remaining 2/3 I screwed down 3 clip rails adding enough clips to hold each type of sockets on end.Extensions lay between the rows of sockets,and handles/rachets lie face down between socket rails and front of drawer with a hole for the drive nub.Makes it ez to find what you want,can tell at a glance if anything is missin.Don't have to abide by mfgs ideas of how many tools you should have and how to arrange em.Only problem is drawer depth with large deepwells.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Gave up looking. Built them myself in about 10 minutes. Perfect fit and no wasted tool box space.

 

[Bob Huntress]

What I use, and like very much, is the multi row socket rail. Years ago, when I was working at a truck shop at nights, one of the other mechanics gave me two of them, because he was getting the box type with the pivoting top. I love them. I can put alot of sockets on one rail, and throw it on my roller cart and have them next to me, when the truck is on the opposite end of the shop as my box. The only problem is that the sockets that get used less, sometimes get stuck, and if they're on a middle row, I have to knock some extra sockets off the rail to flex the socket I want off the rail. This is acceptable, though.

 

[roger 52]

I have found the plastic tackle boxes from plano or the like work well. the one with movable inserts. you can set them up for each socket and each tool. I use one for standard and for metric with a different color for each, that way I figure which I need for the job and only have to carry one box with me to the job.