Tool Organizers

[DavidC]

I bought a tool box specifically to keep tools in the 5th wheel so I am not hauling tools all jumbled up back and forth from the 5ver to the house. I just picked up a 263 piece set from Craftsman (on sale). I can put wrenches, screw drivers etc. in the drawers but am having a tough time with the sockets. Anybody have any recommendations on a good socket organizer. Keep in mind these will be in the 5th wheel tool box and will most likely get jossled around. Will the magnetic mats work well?.



Dave

 

[rbattelle]

Check these out!



Ryan

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

These are the ones I use:



http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/VIM-V521.html



I have all my sockets on rails like these - black rails for metric sockets and red rails for sae sockets. The clips have spring loaded ball bearings so sockets are easy to put on/take off the rails. The rails are small enough that you can grab a rail to take where you need it (under the truck for example). I have at least 20 of them in my tool box and they've been by far the best socket organizers I've ever used. They sell them at Lowes if you want to check them out in person (cheaper online though).

 

[Nate]

I use metal racks, like the plastic ones in the above link. You can get them from Craftsman, Snap-On, etc.



The Craftsman ones are like $7-8 for a 2 pack I think.



It's nice when your working on a project that required several different sizes since they are all handy on that rack. Plus you can tell if your missing a socket without much trouble.

 

[Dl5treez]

These are the ones I use:



http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/VIM-V521.html



I have all my sockets on rails like these - black rails for metric sockets and red rails for sae sockets. The clips have spring loaded ball bearings so sockets are easy to put on/take off the rails. The rails are small enough that you can grab a rail to take where you need it (under the truck for example). I have at least 20 of them in my tool box and they've been by far the best socket organizers I've ever used. They sell them at Lowes if you want to check them out in person (cheaper online though).

x2. Can't say enough good about these rails. I too have a couple dozen and, in the immortal words of Tony the Tiger...



THEY'RE GRRRRRRRRREAT!!!!

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I like these



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they have them at sears pretty cheap, I have some magnetic ones but like these better.

 

[DavidC]

I added up the sockets that came with the set. Totals up to 150. This could get expensive.

Ryan, I have to commend you for taking the time to detail your custom holder. The nice thing is you can customize the holder for any drawer etc. . Nice job.

Guess I will have to decide whether I want custom or fast. Thanks for the replies.



Dave

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I use metal racks, like the plastic ones in the above link. You can get them from Craftsman, Snap-On, etc.



The Craftsman ones are like $7-8 for a 2 pack I think.



It's nice when your working on a project that required several different sizes since they are all handy on that rack. Plus you can tell if your missing a socket without much trouble.

The metal craftsmen ones that I know of like that just have metal spring clips that hold the sockets on - I've had those in the past and I HATED them. Putting sockets on and off of them was very difficult. The plastic ones that I'm talking about have a spring loaded ball bearing to hold the socket on and they are VERY easy to get the sockets on and off but still hold them firmly. Unless there's something new out there that I'm not aware of.

 

[Nate]

I'm not sure how it's difficult? When they are brand spanking new, they are a bit stiff, but they loosen up after a while.



I've had the same racks for a good 5-6 years now and they still work great.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Trust me, if you tried this style of rack you'd never go back to the spring clip style. Having used both these are well worth the extra cost.

 

[Nate]

I had those before as well and the sockets would fall off in my toolbox all the time. With the metal racks, no problems.



To each their own though. I like the metal ones, you can like the plastic ones

 

[Dl5treez]

I had those before as well and the sockets would fall off in my toolbox all the time. With the metal racks, no problems.



To each their own though. I like the metal ones, you can like the plastic ones

PM me your address and I'll send you a care package full of those crappy metal clips and rails... ... you can have mine and the other six mechanics I work with would be more than happy give you their's as well.



Think of it as Pay-It-Forward. :-laf



Seriously though, glad they work out for you, because they sure don't for me & it sounds like they don't for Steve either.

 

[Nate]

:-laf



My Dad uses them, we use them here at work and I use them at home. Never had a issue other than when the clips get worn out, the sockets tend to fall off easy. Just a matter of putting a new clip and it's good to go.