Sockets in Tool boxes

Kind of a different question but here it goes.

A few years ago now I bought a Mastercraft tool box set. Nice tool box, provides a home for almost all my tools. The only downside is that it is not wide enough for the socket holders I’ve looked at. Presently my sockets (SAE and Metric, reg. and deep, 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2" drive) kind of get intertwined, mingle about as it were. And I’ve lost a couple probably due to not realizing that they were missing.

What do you guys use to organize your sockets in your tool box? Suggestions? I keep the sockets at top of the box so height is not an issue.

Small buckets. I spend half my garage time looking for the right size *&^$ socket.

Snap-On has a rail with clips that fit into the bottom of the socket.

Old tube sox. One for regular, one for deep.

I've not found a solution I really like. Sears and such sell various gadgets, but they typically take up too much space in your drawer, or require a tall drawer to accomodate vertical storage.

I finally ended up using nothing. I lined my drawers with a cheap, diamond rubber mesh available in the housewares section of your local store, and then simply laid out the sockets side by side. For the most part, they don't have enough space to roll around, and the rubber mesh liner has enough cushion to (sort of ) keep them in place. For the 1/4" small stuff, I do have metal strips with little steel mushrooms that hold the sockets, but they are dind of fussy.

It's not an ideal system, but I hate searching for sockets, so am willing to spend the time putting them back promptly. Needless to say, if half of the sockets are not in the drawer, the rest start rolling around.

I use several socket holders, the type with the rail and sliding socket holders. Mine have a handle on the end. I gave a set to my porsche buddy after we spent half a day searching his toolbox for the right sockets. They were too long for his box, so we cut the handle and 1 inch of rail off the end and hammered the end flat so the sliders wouldn't come off. He is still using them and hasn't lost a socket since.

Gavin

Princess Auto has some cheapo chrome rails that have sliding clips. Cheap enough that you can slide the sockets closer together then snip off the end so it fits in your box.
I think the pack of three sizes (1/2,3/8,1/4 drive) was 6.99 or so.
This box's drawers was big enough in this pic, but I trimmed some down that I screwed to the wall.

I have used the rails with the metal clips but the clips have a tendency to get bent and stop holding the sockets on, plus you can't rotate the sockets once they are on the rail to read their sizes. I have been looking for a better solution for a while and am thinking about splashing out for several sets of these magnetic trays.

I didn't have any 1/4" drives and limited metric and SAE 3/8" drives. So, I bought a set from Sears. Came in it's on hard plastic case. Very handy and nice. Pick up the little case and take everything where ever you want too. The rest are just in a drawer in the TB. I think the set was $69 on sale. Has both shallow and deep, SAE and metric. A screwdriver handle and hex screw driver bits to put in it. Ratchets and 2 double ended wrenchs, 7/16 and 3/8, 1/2 and 9/16. 2 extensions 1/4 and 3/8. A little extra room for more ratchets, extensions, whatever

Hmmm, the rails might work in the top compartment of the box. Gosh, now I have to make a trip to Princess Auto.

Mark Jones Wrote:

Organize? My wife would argue that I don't understand that term.

I use little plastic boxes with lids. They come in different sizes and I put the various type of sockets in different boxes. In the case of the 1/4 inch set the box also holds the rachet and extensions, etc.

Mike

You can make your own rack from metal socket rails and a rivet gun. Build the size and shape grid you want and install the size clips you need. All your sockets will stand vertically and remain stable.

I use metal rails with clips:



Sorry for the blurry pic. My camera was going dead. The rails can be bought at Harbor Freight for $0.99 each:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39722

I pop riveted them down so you can easily pull the socket off without the rail coming with it. Works great.

I use the mtel one and they work form. I also use the magnetic typ and you can stick them to the outside of the box. The magnets hold them to the side of the bax and hold the sockets well.

Steve

I also use the cheap, metal socket holders - which are bolted to the cabinet. Well, most of them are....a couple just sit between the "permanent" ones to hold some of the overflow. More of the overflow is lined up on the inside of the lid (which is always open anyway). The 3/8" metrics are on the right side in the plastic tray they came in since it fit the box perfectly...

Sounds like the metal rail ones are the way to go. Pop-rivets sounds like a simple way of fastening them to the cabinet; good idea.

I didn't rivet them to the drawer, I built a frame and riveted them together.

I have found that for my MG, I can get by with about 4 sockets most of the time. I have a holder that holds 8 sockets as for each size, I carry a short and long socket.

I wish I could get away with about 4 sockets. The BGT and the Spitfire take about 4 as you mention. But the TR7, which is undergoing a ground-up restoration, is a mish-mash of SAE and Metric with both regular and long sockets getting a work-out.

You don't even want to see what my toolbox looks like. Its sad because the nice Sears rollaway I have is still in storage in Boise (no room for it here!) and most of my tools are either in the bottom of a couple of "interim" toolboxes I have or on the walls of the little shop here at this rental house.

But to your question, I use both the socket rails and the plastic organizers like Matt T. shows. I like both because for me, it allows me to take a range of sockets out to whatever job I'm doing (I don't always judge sizes correctly) and I have them available for those "unanticipated" bolts and nuts I might also have to work on. All I would say is that if you decide on the socket rails, get good ones from at least Sears. Some of the ones from HF etc are made of pretty weak metal and will bend and the clips will not always have sufficient grip strength to hold the sockets securely. Nothing like having half the *$% sockets fall off and roll under the car or the bench.