Socket organization- what do you do?

[Abner]

So.....How do you organize your sockets?

I have wood trays built to hold them in order (tapering from largest to smallest) but I find it frustrating as I still have to pull them to look at the size.

There must be a better way.....

[SGW]

You could mark the sizes on the edge of the tray.

I'm not consistently organized about sockets. I've got a molded box for my 1/4" inch set, a metal box for my 1/4" metric set, clip rails for my 3/8" and 1/2" inch sets, and a metal rack for my 1/2" metric set. At least I never have to worry about confusing one for another.. :D

[jack3140]

i use a fairly wide flat board with dowels standing vertically for each socket and i write the size on the board next to the socket works for me jack

[tyrone shewlaces]

... I still have to pull them to look at the size.

There must be a better way.....

The best way is to use them every day. After a while, you'll get to know which size a socket is by its shape and will be able to pick the right one from a pile across the room.

Yea, I don't use mine every day either, but occasionally I'll be working on a project for a few days which forces me to get familiar with those critters again and after a while I can pick the right one almost without looking.

I try to keep mine on those clip rails, but most of the time they are somewhat scattered in the drawer with the half-empty set of clip rails. I agree that there must be a better way, but I do find those clip rails to be a fairly good way to keep sockets organized and still easy to use.
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_726.jpg

I keep meaning to use an electronic etcher to mark the sizes in multiple places so it can be read without having to search around the perimeter of the sockets, but I haven't made the time to do that either.

[Dr Stan]

I bought some plastic socket organizers from Horror Freight and they're not bad. The sizes are already marked, they are cheap, and being plastic are easy to modify if desired.

I gave up on the metal socket clip type organizers as they do not hold the sockets well.

[Bob Fisher]

I use the same system as Jack. Have a complete set of SAE and metric in regular and deep wall sizes in all three drives on one board in one drawer of my toolbox. It is amazing how many sockets you can put into a single drawer when they are standing on end. With the business end up, it is very easy to pick the size you want. Works for me, Bob.

[SGW]

Re: Socket rails holding sockets securely, or not.

In my experience, it depends on the brand. The ones I'm currently using (Sears Craftsman from 1970, and I think Snap-On), hold very well. I've tried others in the past that basically didn't work at all.

[Abner]

I look at those metal clip rails, too...what... loose with the HF ones. Didn't fit the sears ones(yet).

I think I'm ready for homemade wood dowels racks.

I thought painting every other socket with paint would help, and it does, but only when they are scattered all over the floor.

I think a full 15 % of my time should be spent organizing and I would save 5% of the 20% I now spend looking for sockets, etc...

[tyrone shewlaces]

I'm disappointed. I thought you's guys worked with metal.

The clips are loose?
Hmmm.....
The clips are loose???? Are you serious?:eek:

I wonder if there is anything in the world you can do to a strip of sheet metal loop to possibly make it bow out a bit wider and make it fit the sockets tighter... Hmmm.

Nope... Impossible.

Anyways, they still won't make the ultimate socket organizer. But really? A loose hoop of sheet metal? If you have some and it would work better than what you've got, surely a guy could spend a few seconds to make a tighter fit.

No mumbly-jumbly about the type of metal or design or whatever will be accepted either. Bailing wire could be made to fit a socket tight enough to not fall off.

For shame, for shame.;)

[vpt]

I use the plastic magnetic holders. Love them for fast easy grabbing of sockets. I wrote with a sharpie the coordinating number for the socket in the middle section so I know what I am grabbing fast. Green for metric red for standard.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BdhWJQoWL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Chester]

More ideas here, even some DIY metal versions:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47412

[MichaelP]

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae148/MPdisp/Linn-20110625-00054.jpg

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae148/MPdisp/Linn-20110625-00055.jpg

[BrassBuilder]

^^^^^
I am using those red trays. Found they work better than the metal rails...at least for me.

Mike

[Chester]

Some of my solutions:

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4341/quarterdrdeepsockets.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/quarterdrdeepsockets.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6354/socketorganizers.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/193/socketorganizers.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5916/socketmiscstorage.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/215/socketmiscstorage.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[PixMan]

At home (where my machinist toolbox doesn't live) I have a small box full of miscellaneous tools. I have 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive sockets all floating around, and aside from one small set of deep 6pt 3/8" drive metric sockets, its a big mess that takes way too long to find most things. The box is far too small for the tools I have.

A friend who works in sales from a local industrial distributor called to tell me of a special deal they had going on Crescent brand kits. I checked Amamzon.com to be sure, but the $85 price (pick-up) for this 170pc set was too good to pass up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_1339-r.jpg

That's about as organized as my socket sets will ever be. I have a 3/8" drive set with all the metric & inch sockets in 1/4" and 3/8" drive (std length 6pt) in my machinist box over at the shop, this will serve for all the quickie jobs around the house.

[wrenchbender]

the hansen socket trays work well for me.
i do work with them daily and the reason i like the tray with pegs. i see at a glance which are missing.

http://www.hansenglobalinc.com/socket_trays.html

[J Tiers]

The Sears boards of pegs appear to be designed to sell more toolboxes. There is so much dead space when you have loaded them up that at a minimum double the quantity would fit and be quite accessible.

Depending on where the sockets are (at work* in shop, out in shed), I have lay-down trays, or stand-up trays with the tapering sides, or, for some, drilled boards with the sizes marked.

The big sockets, 1.5" etc don't have a holder, they don't seem to need one.

*yes, I have a toolbox at work. If the tech folks are not in, the engineers have to do the work.

[Bob D.]

i use a fairly wide flat board with dowels standing vertically for each socket and i write the size on the board next to the socket works for me jack

I've got the same setup and have used it for about 25 years. Haven't found a better solution yet.:)

[brian Rupnow]

I built this about 32 years ago, and it has served me faithfully ever since. The top is for 1/2" drive sockets, with pieces of 1/2" dowel glued into holes in the top shelf. The second shelf is for 3/8" drive sockets with 3/8" dowels glued into holes in the shelf---and the bottom is for 1/4" drive sockets with 1/4" dowels.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn294/BrianRupnow/003.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn294/BrianRupnow/004.jpg

[Mr Fixit]

I have built metal boxes that have a rack in them for the sockets that tilts out with 1/4" rod for each socket to sit on so I can see the tops of each one and choose the size that fits. I have painted each box a different color, red for Metric blue for SAE and yellow for Whitsworth as I work on early British cars.
This is a great organizer for me as I can put them all in 1 drawer and not have them get mixed up. Oh and they do have lids so when you drop them they kind of stay in the box.

Mr. Fixit in the Family
Chris :)

[tyrone shewlaces]

I have built metal boxes that...

No you didn't. No pictures, no believe you.;)

[EddyCurr]

The Hansen socket trays work well for me.
I do work with them daily and the reason I like the tray with pegs.
I see at a glance which are missing.I use the Sears Craftsman version of the Hansen-style socket tray, but I
find them less than satisfactory.

These trays are expensive for what they are - it looks like it will currently
cost around $100 for the six trays someone would need for 1/4", 3/8" and
1/2" drive sockets in metric and imperial sizes. The trays are also fragile.
At the smaller end of the size range, the pins are prone to bending/breaking
easily. I am not clumsy or rough, yet several pins on my sets have succumbed.

I also use the metal rail & clip style organizers and I agree with others
who have said these are often unsatisfactory. Mine are mostly used
for odd items like universals, adapters and so on that don't fit elsewhere.
Problems I've encountered are that some have clips that won't hold a
socket, some have clips that won't remain in place on the rail.

http://www.slalom4me.com/imaged_a01/jpg/other/tools/Hand/2011.06.26_SocketOrg.jpg

Unfortunately, none of the organizing systems I've seen sport an
automatic socket return feature.

.

[noah katz]

MichaelP, where did you get yours?

[aboard_epsilon]

i went with tyrones method ..

that is the clip bars ...as i have hundreds of sockets......and many the same size

you just clip in the bars then lay flat in the tool chest in rows

all the best.markj

[A.K. Boomer]

I have clip bars too - to tell u the truth I really don't know what all the fuss is about --- if you just reinstall your sockets when your finished you always have a reference point from left to right and right to left, I work in MM's and you cannot physically get crossed up with putting a larger socket or a smaller one where it don't belong - it's totally obvious --- and to get one in the middle all you do is quick count from left to right or right to left - but for me I just look at the top hex of it and grab the right one, and that's from 7mm to 19mm

now my bigger less used ones I generally have to look at the print on the side that has the size - that's what its there for...
If your one of those guys that needs to see exactly what it is before you grab it then install them on the clip bar with the size facing out so you can see it - but I can't imagine actually doing that - I have far better things to do with my time, even if its just sleeping...

[Willy]

.......... but for me I just look at the top hex of it and grab the right one, and that's from 7mm to 19mm

now my bigger less used ones I generally have to look at the print on the side that has the size - that's what its there for......

I have to admit I'm more of a mechanic than a machinist as I too subscribe to AKs' method of socket selection. Just as a machinist or any tradesman for that matter, can run circles around me in their chosen field of expertise.
When you've reached for a certain size socket a thousand times and there's time and money at stake you don't have to look at an organized set. As often as not I may have a dozen or more on the bench or on the slab when under a piece of equipment and you know you've got the right one.

Actually mine are in drawers in a roll away tool box, no particular order, just open end facing upward. Metric in one, imperial in another.

Not for everyone, but the question asked is "what do you use"

[MichaelP]

MichaelP, where did you get yours?
I don't remember where I bought the red SAE trays (an online store? Harbor Freight? Sears?), but the metric ones (by Hansen) were bought on eBay.

Here is an interesting set, by the way: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hansen-6-Pc-Socket-Tray-1-4-1-2-SAE-Metric-92000-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c5cba894eQQitemZ19053 4289742QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

I used clip bars for many years, but fell out of love with them long ago and couldn't wait to replace the bars with something else. They do have their pluses, however (easy to carry, mainly).

P.S. Interestingly enough, almost all reasonably priced (for a HSMer) organizers I checked had some socket sizes skipped. So I strongly suggest you to ask what sizes are present.

[T.Hoffman]

A friend who works in sales from a local industrial distributor called to tell me of a special deal they had going on Crescent brand kits. I checked Amamzon.com to be sure, but the $85 price (pick-up) for this 170pc set was too good to pass up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_1339-r.jpg


These kits are great. I have one in each of my vehicles, and one in the garage- you can't find a better "all around" kit that comes in so damn handy just about anywhere. Crescent brand tools, so decent quality stuff.

They keep things organized, and fold up nicely into case with handle for easy transport. After buying my first one for my beater truck,and being surprised at how often I pull it out to use it, I bought another to keep in the garage. I used them often so I figured I better buy a third one for my good truck before they discontinue them.

I keep all my roller tool chests in my basement shop, so having a 'satellite kit' like this in the garage or truck is WELL worth the price.

[vpt]

That does look like a great vehicle kit!

[T.Hoffman]

That does look like a great vehicle kit!

Yup, I was always on the lookout for the perfect "vehicle kit". I actually found one that I felt was a bit better- VERY similar to this but included a hammer and tape measure along with a nice selection of metric and standard stuff. Made for Home Depot and it was Husky tool brand. Husky is made by Stanley, so it was also decent stuff. The hammer and tape made it just a bit more versatile than the pictured Crescent kit for all-around use and storage in vehicle. The hammer and/or tape do come in handy.

Here's a pic:

http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/galleries-slideshows/gifts-for-him/husky-160-pc.-tool-kit/283825-1-eng-US/Husky-160-pc.-Tool-Kit_slideshow_image.jpg

I had eyed up that kit at HD for months, and finally bought it for my Dad as a Christmas present. I used it a few times and I realized how great it was. By that time they had discontinued it and I could no longer find them ANYWHERE. I even called several states looking for it.

There are cheap asian crap tools around like this kit now, but they are not nearly as well made as the Husky was. My dad loves his.

So when I finally came across this Crescent kit pictured a few posts up, I wasn't going to go through that again. That's why I have three.

[vincemulhollon]

So.....How do you organize your sockets?

I have wood trays built to hold them in order (tapering from largest to smallest) but I find it frustrating as I still have to pull them to look at the size.

There must be a better way.....

Some consider it sacrilege to put paint on their shiny chrome sockets, but since I memorized the electrical resistor color code back when tubes were still occasionally in use, and the hard sockets to keep track of are the little ones, I have painted sockets with the standard resistor color code.

so, I need the 3/8, ah that would be the half orange half gray socket. The half inch, ah thats the half brown half red one. You get the idea.

Now I know what you're thinking, I can't find the half orange half gray socket, only the half gray half orange socket. That means its upside down. I could have done some kind of candy cane stripe, but I never did.

16th? Well that requires three colors. 5 16ths is green brown blue. Conveniently the "odd" fractional 16th all have a brown ring of quality around the middle, easy to either search for, or avoid, them.

The metric folks have it easier, this works in two bands up to 99 mm which is pretty big, thats like 4 inches. Unfortunately ? I now own both imperial and metric sockets, maybe I'd need a new paint scheme, stripes = metric and rings = imperial?

I actually lost that painted socket set. Not stolen not loaned, literally lost. Probably in the back of some relative's garage sold decades ago. I guess no one here has ever seen a set of painted sockets, or they would have commented, and I'd know my old set is in good hands. I need to get around to painting my current bucket of sockets...

[vpt]

The 3/8" drawer, some tools are out in action.


http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5301/porscheexhaust014.jpg

[gary hart]

Some consider it sacrilege to put paint on their shiny chrome sockets, but since I memorized the electrical resistor color code back when tubes were still occasionally in use, and the hard sockets to keep track of are the little ones, I have painted sockets with the standard resistor color code.
...

Paint sockets, some wrenches and some bolt heads that require wrench for adjusting. Also use the resistor color code but a little different.

The resistor color stands for the number of eights. Half inch = 4 eights or yellow.
White is used for adding 1/16, so, 9/16 = yellow plus white.
If needed gold means add a 1/32.