Need box for socket wrenches

[DFrank]

The lame box that my 101 piece craftsman sockets always fall out of has finally expired.



Does anyone have a good replacement suggestion? I would like something portable that actually keeps the sockets organized. I am DONE playing 101 pickup, I hope.



TIA, Dave

 

[Bertram65]

I bought a couple of each of the strips at Sears for 1/4",3/8", and 1/2" they each hold from 12 to 20 depending on which size. They work pretty well then I just put them in a medium Sears plastic tool box with all the wrenchs and other tools.

 

[SRadke]

I like the plastic socket racks with the little ball detent in the side. They're much easier to get the sockets off from than the spring steel loop jobs. Sears sells both kinds.



-Scott



Edit: Here is a link to the ones I'm reffering to.

 

[Bertram65]

Those look better than the metal ones I have, I do not think they were available when I bought mine.

 

[PRyker]

Wow,



great post!! I have been dealing with them "socket rail" type organizers too long!! I have a LOT of sockets and I hang the rails from a nail on my work bench. I think I have maybe 20 different rails for all of the sockets I have??



Anyways, I have been looking for a better way to organize my sockets as well. There has to be something better out there. What do you guys do with wrenches?? I bought those plastic wrench organizers from sears and they are junk!! There has to be a better way to organize our sockets and wrenches. How have others done it??



Phil

 

[SRadke]

If you're organizing socketes in a shop toolbox I use on of these. There isn't room for the full array but the ones you use fit and the others can be on the plastic strips in the back of the drawer. Works for me!



Wrenches... . that's a diffrent deal. I have one of these. It works okay but requires a little shaving to allow you to get the wrenches out easily. Mac makes a similar product of higher quality but you pay for it. Most of my wrenches are spread out in a large drawer where they're easy to find.



-Scott

 

[PRyker]

SRadke,



Hey! that is funny. I was just looking through the harbor freight catalog about an hour ago before seeing this post and I saw those socket trays and wondered how well they worked. I might get one and try it out.



As far as wrenches are concerned mine just sit in a pile in one of the drawers of the tool box as well. Always wanted to get it more organized but I do not know what to use.



Thanks



Phil

 

[MLimpert]

Haha... I've done that a few times with my craftsman socket set! I have a set of the el-cheapo rail things from the import tool store. I have them arranged by size and metric/standard and I just grab whatever set I need out of my toolbox at the time.

 

[Wayne M.]

In my years I have found that the individual socket rails with the loop clips work well when arranged and rivited to the top area of a tool chest or a plate. Large sockets (+1") usually stand alone, but there is a new style of magnetic organizer that I don't think Craftsman has that looks like this which is the hot ticket. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=17145&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

. I keep wrenches flat on a padded drawer in size order (looking like an xylophone). If it's a road kit we're talking about, then my socket sets (with ratchet, extensions, etc. ) stay in the tin boxes they came in (S-K) with seperate boxes for 1/4,3/8,1/2 drive with larger stuff hanging loose. There is only one choice for wrenches, and that's a quality wrench roll like this

http://www.duluthtrading.com/items/99115.asp



I found a surplus military bag that I use to throw a quickie road kit together and it works great- get's great comments too.

 

[southpaw]

I have a variety of orginizers and am continually looking for a better mouse trap . I find the metal ones are sometimes hard to remove the socket and I have cut my fingers doing it . the red plastic orginizers from harbor freight look good the fit in the bottom of a box and you put sockets in the designated holes someof the holes are too small and the sockets wont fit also the plastic isnt deep enough and sockets will fall over . the best ones for me have been the black and grey plastic from sears that way I can put sae on blk and metric on grey. im now condinsing my tools down I found a set at pep boys both metric and sae with bolt thru elimimating the need for both deep and regular sockets I also found the combo ratchet box, open end very useful again eliminating duplicate sets. Still looking for a good toolbox that fits. Most of my shop tools are craftsman. my mobles are what ever works and are good quality not china pot metal tool mats can be had in bulk by using carpet anti slip mats cut to size. good luck finding the combo that works for you.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

These are what I'm using - http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/VIM-V523.html . They work great! They have a spring loaded ball that holds the sockets to them and they are easy to remove and replace - FAR better than the old metal clip style.

 

[Wayne M.]

Hey Steve, those rails look like a good deal! I've always used the metal rails and have had good luck if they're of good quality.