Any clever ways to organize your sockets in a toolbox.

[Gregski]

How do you guys organize your sockets in your tool box drawers?

I am not a big fan of some of those pokey plastic organizers since they came with more fingers sticking up than the number of sockets I have and that makes me think I'm missing some, know what I mean

so if you made something cool etc please share a pic

[Stocker]

I have stainless steel socket rails. Same principle as the plastic ones you don't like. If you don't have enough sockets, you can remove the extra clips.

[Hollow65]

I have magnetic bars. 3 sides are magnetic and it works awesome. Other than that I have the honey combed padding for every other thing in the box.
Mac Maximizer and a big snap-on. Ones for metric one for standard.

The bars are at Sears. $15-$20 for a 3 pack

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by Stocker

I have stainless steel socket rails. Same principle as the plastic ones you don't like. If you don't have enough sockets, you can remove the extra clips.

Me too.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Me too.

thanks I have these and I don't mean to be difficult but they require two hands, and you know how it goes you got two greasy hands and you may be holding a beer in one hand and you must get that socket out pronto so I am looking for something that I can operate with one hand, LOL

[Livrat]

I use these, I especially like the socket size labeling at the top of each post, (since my eyesight is getting fuzzier as I get older)

http://hansenglobalinc.com/our-products/socket-trays/

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Livrat

I use these, I especially like the socket size labeling at the top of each post, (since my eyesight is getting fuzzier as I get older)

http://hansenglobalinc.com/our-products/socket-trays/

thanks, and here I go whining again, I was just at Sears today looking at those and the problem with those is you can't put them in a drawer you have to have them on the top shelf (or at least in my case) my drawers aren't tall enuff, they are too flat, perfect for box wrenches and even sockets just not those pointy things

I did see these flat thingies though

[t76turbo]

Originally Posted by Livrat

I use these, I especially like the socket size labeling at the top of each post, (since my eyesight is getting fuzzier as I get older)

http://hansenglobalinc.com/our-products/socket-trays/

Same thing I use. I love them. I do sometimes miss having the ability to easily bring the sockets to the project if I don't know what size I will need. But not the end of the world.

[special-K]

From front to back I have the little steel trays with handles for my 3/8 and 1/2 6pt, plastic trays where they lay down for the deep 3/8 and 1/2 6pt, magnet strips for smallest sockets and 12pt. The only place I use the snap in clip bars is what I put in vehicles. They are a P.I.A, but have their purpose

[68C15]

clearly you need more sockets. Those vertical stick system things are great. It saves me a lot of time at work and time is money. The rails with metal clips are annoying and slow. You have to get the socket turned just right. Now, my swivel sockets go in plastic blocks with a magnet on the bottom. It works better than the rail but crap collects in the bottom.

[71swb4x4]

I use those craftsman ones, they are ok. They came with the box I got quite a few years ago. The problem is you won't fill every spot as they have some odd sizes (32nds for example, 21/32nds is in your photo).
When I redo things someday I will use what Todd (68c15) posted. I have been in his shop and those are very nice, easy to find the socket you need and easy to take inventory to make sure you put them all away.

[Number98]

I use the stainless ones above, I also label all of mine with these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Socket-label...item27ff4d4d86

[HappyHooligan]

I have the stainless ones in my box mounted to a piece of plywood so they stay put.
one hand operation and easy to find.

Hooligan

[JWall]

My current box isn't tall enough for the stand up organizers so I'm using these.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by JWall

My current box isn't tall enough for the stand up organizers so I'm using these.

(Hope you don't mind, I changed the photo to a smaller one)

Those are what I use, I LOATH the metal or plastic ones that the socket gets pushed onto like posted earlier. These Lisle ones http://www.lislecorp.com/search/ are the best in my opinion. The best part is you can grab one and walk away from the box with it.

You know I am going to have a "Basics of Basics" on tool organization don't you? LOL

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/new-...ls-150700.html

Here's my box.



I have had many people refer to it as "anal" and comments like "I'm too busy fixing cars to waste my time" are common when I post about tool box organization. All I can say to that is, where time is critical like on the battle field or in aircraft repair, or how about during a surgery, do they go rummaging through drawers looking for tools?

No, I have worked for YEARS with this tool box. The few hours spent organizing it was nothing!

Brian

[kingsolver72]

I have all of the organizers that are posted here except for the ones that jwall posted. My least favorite are the craftsman. I like the blue point tray style but the plastic Hansen that livrat posted are my favorite.

[Willie Makeit]

Hansen racks. One of the BEST things I've ever purchased concerning organization and time savings when it comes to my tools.

A single glimpse at my drawer tells me what sockets are there and which ones are missing.

They aren't cheap, but most things that actually work aren't.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Willie Makeit

Hansen racks...
A single glimpse at my drawer tells me what sockets are there and which ones are missing...

thanks Willie, so in your picture are you missing a bunch of sockets? do you have them out right now for a project you are working on? or is that how your full drawer looks like? cause I see some empty sticks poking up in the air with no sockets impelled on them

[Willie Makeit]

Originally Posted by Gregski

thanks Willie, so in your picture are you missing a bunch of sockets? do you have them out right now for a project you are working on? or is that how your full drawer looks like? cause I see some empty sticks poking up in the air with no sockets impelled on them

some are missing. some are on ratchets laying around the shop. some are empty spots on the Hansen trays because I just don't have that size in my sets.

[In The Ten Ring]

My dad keeps all his sockets in their original boxes and strips, even as he keeps those in a Craftsman wheeled tool box with drawers.

I plan to do the same when I get my tools organized.

[e015475]

Here's another alternative

Been collecting sockets for 30 years and I could never find what I was looking for. Tried the stainless racks and the Sears plastic trays with holes for sockets but didn't find them very satisfactory. The problem was that the sockets I liked to use didn't conform very well to the commercially available racks.

Here's a custom made foam socket organizer - metric on the right, SAE on the left. I measured all my sockets diameters, put them on a spreadsheet and sent the file to FormFitTools. They are all dogs-and-cats: CM, Proto, Husky, Willams, etc. This is what it looks like-



People who wrench for a living look at it and say ' that sure has a lot of wasted space' I suppose I could of stuffed a lot more sockets/tools in there, but the idea was to be able to easily locate them, have to most frequently used in the front of the drawer and be able to tell when one was missing since I have a bad habit of misplacing them in engine bays. Here's the place the organizer came from-

[joel.e]

i'm slowly converting to these by Ernst: http://www.ernstmfg.com/store/c/37-Twist-Lock.aspx

You have to turn them 1/4 turn or so to lock them and get them off the rail which for some sockets is a little weird but overall it helped me clean up my mess.

[ccam]

Originally Posted by joel.e

i'm slowly converting to these by Ernst: http://www.ernstmfg.com/store/c/37-Twist-Lock.aspx

You have to turn them 1/4 turn or so to lock them and get them off the rail which for some sockets is a little weird but overall it helped me clean up my mess.

Yes - these are the best I have found.

[cdowns]

I throw all mine in the box that way the most commonly used ones find thier way to the top and are always hany for me to grab

[motornut]

Old maxwell coffee tins for travelling tools,and nuts and bolts storage but socket strips on the wall for home,holders for screw drivers