Homemade Socket Racks

[rbattelle]

I really like these socket trays, but I think they're too expensive to justify just for holding sockets. Even on sale at Sears for $10 each I'd have to buy $100 worth just to cover most (not all) the sockets I currently have.



So I decided to make my own. What I did here is nothing special, and I'm not posting this to "toot my own horn". I just thought I might inspire someone else who's as cheap as me to do something similar.



I used a 1/4" poplar board, cut to size (~10. 75 x ~3. 125, depending on specific sockets), and some poplar dowels. I took the time to measure the diameter of each of my sockets, then made a template to locate the holes for each dowel.



Not all 1/2" sockets are big enough internally to fit on a 1/2" dowel! I learned this the hard way. I had to use 3 different size dowel rods: 1/2", 3/8", and 1/4" (smaller sockets take the smaller dowels).



With the template taped to the board, I drilled each of the holes. Then cut the dowels down to 2" for standard sockets and 4" for deep sockets with a nice 45* at the top (just like the commercial ones).



Glue each dowel in place and allow to dry. Then I used a soldering iron to burn the size into the 45* part of the dowel. Finished up with 2 coats of polyurethane.



So far I've only made 3, all for my 1/2" sockets. Eventually I'll make more. The ones I have I've used for a couple years now with no damage. All told they cost roughly $2 or $3 each to make, but the real advantage is I get precisely the sizes and quantities I need.



Again, there's nothing special about this. I just thought I'd point it out in case no one else thought of it. These racks - the commercial ones or the homemade ones - really are a remarkably convenient way to store sockets.



Ryan

 

[JOdell]

Very nice Ryan. I like that. I just might have to steal that idea from you and make my own. I too have a LOT of unruly sockets. Jason

 

[nickleinonen]

looks good... at work i have one of the plastic premade trays, but when you look at my socket drawer at work, 50% of them are just laying around in the drawer [i only have a 1/2" tray, but my 3- 1/4" sockets, and 5- 3/8" dr sockets, or my 3/4" & 1" sockets lay in the drawer]



at home, i have those cheap steel snap rails. . i got them from walmart for like $0. 99 for a set of 3 [1/4", 3/8", 1/2"] in the bargen bin

 

[Joe G.]

Excellent Ryan,



One nice thing about a tray like that is that any AWOL socket is conspicious. I have a socket set in a foldable case from Craftsman. It is very nice because of the same sort of thing. Missing sockets are obvious. I may make a rack like yours for the drawer full of lose sockets I have. Good idea.

 

[rbattelle]

One nice thing about a tray like that is that any AWOL socket is conspicious.

Yup! Notice I'm missing a 10mm. Dropped it in the engine compartment of a 1985 Olds Cutlass in 1998 and never found it. 8 years later I still haven't got around to replacing it. But it has a home waiting for it! [sort of like the "prodigal socket"].



Ryan

 

[BimmerAgent]

Great idea, Ryan... . I need to make a few of those. Bruce

 

[JRuel]

I have a full set of the plastic pre-made ones at home. They're great, except that there's no place for my big 3/8" Metric sockets. I might have to make a set someday, too... .

 

[daveshoe]

Good Idea

There is no way I could burn such legible numbers on a dowel pin. I wouder if you could just whup it up on the computer,glue it on the rod end,and varnish over the top.

You could vary the font style and size to suit yourself.

 

[rbattelle]

There is no way I could burn such legible numbers on a dowel pin. I wouder if you could just whup it up on the computer,glue it on the rod end,and varnish over the top.

You could vary the font style and size to suit yourself.

Dave, you live right near me. You cut the dowels and glue them down, I'll burn the numbers for you. Free of charge.



Ryan

 

[Van Blom]

Really NICE, Ryan. Thanks for posting the picture Oo.

 

[bmoeller]

Looking good. I've been toying with the idea of doing the same thing, but haven't gotten around to it. Been to busy.

 

[Grunt]

Looks like a great winter project -as if I don't already have enough of them

Thanks for the idea and pictures.

 

[GFritsch]

Nice, I guess one could even angle the dowels slightly and hang them on the wall.



I got lucky and the plastic trays that my sockets came on fit exactly into my rolling tool box slide out drawers. I couldn't believe the fit, that never seems to happen. The dowels did give me some other ideas for organization though... .



Thanks,

Greg

 

[HNewton]

newton tool taxi

I came up with a idea for a tool organizer that would fit a ordinary 8''-16'' craftsman tool box. The tool taxi, as I call it, consists of 140 pieces, 82 sockets 1/4''-3/8''- 39 s. a. e. ,42 metric sockets deep well and standard sockets. 3/8 socket set starts at7/8'' down to 3/8''. Metric sockets start at 19m. - 9m. on deep well and same for regular. There are four rows of sockets. Each socket rack is labeled on the tool taxi indicating what socket goes where. There are also 1/4'' and 3/8'', rachets, extensions,4,- 2-3/8'' 2-1/4'', nut driver and screw driver that accepts different tips. Now for the best part, the tool taxi 9 s. a. e. and 9 mertic open combination wrenches slide in a opening at each end of the tool taxi. Open end start at 3/4''-5/16''s. a. e. , metric 17m. -10m. My invention received such a impressive response that I applied and received a patient. I make them in my garage but my goal is to obtain a tool company that would be interested in manufacturing and marketing my invention. I make the tool taxi out of 1/8'' allumium with a stainless steel handel. Weight empty 2. lbs with tools 18 lbs.

If my invention is injection molded out of plastic, it could sell at one fourth the cost. My invention would be a million dollar seller because everybody would like an organanize portable tool box. Not that blow molded plastic case you get with a tool set. When you open it up and tools fall out. Also you can have misc. tools under the tool taxi as it fits on top inside the tool box. Tool taxi 4 1/2''h. 17''l. 71/2''w. Will fit a rollaway if the drawer is 4 1/2''h. -18''

I have pictures that I am able to share, but not able to attach them on this website. If you would like to see a picture, please email me and I will be happy to send it to you.

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact me at 305 245 4744 or e-mail -- email address removed --

-HL Newton

 

[Dl5treez]

Nice job, Ryan.

 

[CLamb]

I have found the 10MM socket to be the most evasive size ever .

 

[opjohnny]

Ryan,

After digging for the sockets to do a valve adj, I made one for myself. Thanks for the idea.



John