Organizing Sockets - Which is the Best Method?
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- Опубликовано: 6 янв 2017
- This video reviews common methods for organizing sockets in a toolbox.
See how I cut the dowels to the correct size and laid out my socket drawer: • Build the Best Socket ...
If you are interested in buying any of my wooden crafts, check out my Etsy store:
www.etsy.com/shop/EngWoodworking
Methods:
Flat magnetic tray: amzn.to/2iPBdOi
Upright magnetic tray: amzn.to/2iTIO0w
Socket tray with pegs: amzn.to/2i0L7zy
Harbor Freight trays: amzn.to/2iPxkIY
Foam cutouts
Socket rails: amzn.to/2iTYSQ1
DIY holes/slots cut in wood
The method that I designed uses square dowels glued onto a piece of plywood. To watch that 'build' video, click here:
Do you have a different method for organizing your sockets? Describe it in a comment below.
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I’ve been turning wrenches for 60 years & I’ve tried them all. The best & most convenient for me is a tray. Since I usually use the most common sizes I have always stored the 9/16, 3/4 and 15/16 upside down. I use those 99% of the time. With my small sockets 1/4, 5/16, 3/8. With my metrics 10, 13 15 & 19.
Many good suggestions here, thanks for your post.
What do you mean by tray? Laying flat horizontal or sticking up vertical? I put paint markings on some of my sockets I use a lot ;-)
@@aacar4095 in the top of my toolbox is a tray with a handle to lift the whole tray out. I keep all my sockets, extensions and ratchets there for quick access.
I've been trying to decide the best way for years. I've tried them all. Your way is very interesting. I'm sold!
Great vid. Good explanations of each system. All my sockets are currently on rails in there own drawers(metric, imperial, metrinch extensions etc) I’ll give that idea a go in my workshop. See if it works better for me, if it does great if not no harm done. Thanks for the idea.
This is a pretty good solution for the same problem I have. I’m going to include this into some shallow drawers that I’m building into my shop cabinets. With quick release drawer slides I can easily bring the whole set to where I’m working 👍
Nice video, good comprehensive research and excellent analysis. Bravo!
I tried your method for my tool cart...for professional auto mechanic work. I used round dowels rather than square. I found the glue comes loose after a few weeks. You may have better results if the dowels are cut cleaner or prepped better to maximize surface area contact ... or you use something better than wood glue. I had to drill the base wood to receive the dowels. Now the dowels stay glued in place...even after a year of use.
If your dowels are set far enough into your base zend your base is set into a drawer why would you even need to glue the dowels in? Isn’t the reasoning for the dowels to keep the socket from moving side to side?….gravity does to rest. For I can shop use i don’t see the point in glue and without g go glue his method works so much easier with moving stuff around
Thanks for making this video! I've been struggling with my organisation for a long time. It's nice to know there are lots of different people also struggling. Personally I travel a lot with my socket sets and unfortunately generally end up leaving most of my kit in my van. If I'd be starting again I think I would only bought complete sets the restocked them as necessary. I know in Practice this don't always work.
I used 1/2" mdf and laid out the sockets like I wanted and then drew outlines around everything. The sockets where I had a drill bit the right size I drilled. The rest of the cut outs I did with a scroll saw. A lot of work but I am fairly happy with the results. I now have a CNC machine where that I can program it to do all of the cutting. Another thing that I have thought about doing is dividing the drawer up in to small rectangles for each section of sockets. That way I can just pull one section out to add cutouts or to re cut the entire section.
Ya know for all the criticizing he did regarding the others methods about "over committing & so much time making them, looking at his method.... Isn't it painfully obvious when he explains how to adjust the dowels?
Here's how to prefect ur method buddy;
Scrap the plywood. Keep the wooden dowels. Use pegboard instead... Then all u gotta do is pop the dowels out and move em. Problem solved. 👍
Yes! This is genius. You just solved my storage/organization project. Pegboard. Why didn't I think of that? Thanks.
Josh Royal I like your plan better
Josh Royal I agree 100%, but fuck it was 7:21 minutes. Then covered his system I half a minute... Well less than a minute. I mean shit I like, and will probably adapt it. I shoulda skipped to the end. I knew it. LOL
Shawn McRoy why do people always want to skip to the end you may have missed an important part,it a good video with not so great idea at the end .
chris aragon I did watch it all, but disagree with you on the ending. I liked his method. I’m actually planning a similar but modified way myself.
Them dowels are the best that I've seen , thanks
I like the idea of the wooden insert in your tool drawer, adds a bit of toughness, and the little section for the breaker bars is a nice touch. Just a dump box
Good job. Thank you for sharing with us.
Good idea , thank you for sharing it !
I did almost the same thing. However I used wood dowels, that way the sockets can swivel. Also put some teak oil on the wood. Good job!
david helmuth h
Excellent video son. I like how you review the pros and cons of all the run of the mill socket organizers out there and certainly agree with you. Most of these are pretty pricey too. I was thinking of constructing something like what you came up with except I keep my tools in my basement and only take what I'll be using for a specific job out to my detached garage so I need to come up with a portable version of what you have. Keep up the nice work and God bless you.
I had the same thought. How do I take some of these away from the tool chest. There's nothing saying you can't saw the base wood plate into segments and put a handle on them so you can pull a whole "tray" up and haul it somewhere for a few minutes. Nice thing about wood is that it's cheap and easy to work with. I was thinking 1/4-inch plywood with a bunch of button magnets secured on the wood side with double-sided tape. Or not. Just a thought.
Interesting idea, you should be able to use round dowel as well if you can't find square. I plan to give this a try with some MDF, hot glue and round or square dowel.
Good idea. I think I may try this.
My 66 mustang, a project that I never seem to get around to has volunteered to being a giant tool and part storage. Even for lawnmower parts. I got tools under the hood, inside the car and in the trunk.
Great method dude! "semi permanent" Way to think outside the box!
I really like your method. Since I love working with pegboard, I'm going to use pegboard instead of plywood. Just glue two pieces together and you can insert dowel rods. I know that makes all sockets the same space apart, but I don't have a many as you, just two or three assorted sets (with missing sockets in each set). If I use this method, my sockets will stand vertically and I can move them around if I want to.
Excellent video , good idea
Love this !
Virgie Baise thank you
Nice Job!
Very thoughtful solution... I like that it is not a static system (easily changeable over time) it requires a very deep heavy-duty drawer and the expense of a real mechanic tool box, but maybe not....
The magnetic tray type from snapon are my go too. Organize your shop, a place for everything.
Thank you for your informative and functional way of laying out a socket storage set giving the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy. I was overjoyed to find your video; because, I too, have a mess on my hands (er, in my toolbox) regarding sockets as well as other tools. The only thing I would change about your final and chosen method, is designing some way of carrying a set of sockets away from the drawer (perhaps a tray that includes your dowel idea). If you could create a presentation on ways to organize your other tools, that would be great. ~GP
Sir you are an architect. Superb idea. Thank you.
I have been struggling with this as well and decided to go a route similar to yours. I am 3D printing individual pegs and screwing them down to a piece of wood in my drawer.
I am inspired... Nice system.
I’ve been really loving the nicer plastic rails... in my cart I’ve got the one from kobalt with 4x plastic rails fastened to a base plate... very good system... been recently looking at a tool grid system after I get a larger roll cart
nice job, im gonna try that
Great job thanks for the ideas
Awesome idea thank you
An interesting idea. Coming from the aviation field though I am probably pretty stuck on the foam cut out/shadow method just because it's what I've used for years. Makes it really fast and easy during cleanup to see which tools are missing. Thank you for the video!
I'm retired Army Aviation as a mechanic and crew chief on UH 60 Black Hawks and retired Department of Defense Federal Civilian, so I'm used to the shadowing and rails for organizing sockets and all the other tools in the toolbox.
You'll get over that.
It all comes down to personal preference. I use the rail type holders because they are more portable. If I need to do a field repair I just grab the whole rail.
have had all the issues you mentioned-never thought of glue on studs-thanks
I did almost the same thing, only I used round Stock for the hardware store. Came in 1/2, 3/8, &1/4. Worked great for me!!!
Your method is very similar to in concept and reminds me of the Westling socket holders. Have you ever seen those or considered them? They are made of aluminum and comes in different configurations and sizes. It has worked out well for me so far. Though it's more expensive than what you made, I believe it's a valid option for those without wookworking abilities.
Excellent, thanks.
Great option!
Sometimes the work we do is not near the tool box. Although your socket holding system is nice and organized it is not very practical. Having a type of socket keeper that you can bring to your work across the garage or outside is the best way to go. When I wrenched professionally I put the rails into a carry tray and set it on the top of the vehicle by the radiator. other smaller tools like ignition tools, cutters, tapes, plyers and long noses were also in the carry tray. It eliminates walking back and forth to get the right socket.
I think this is a setup meant more for a woodworking or even metalworking shop. one where you typically don't need to have too many sockets in use at the same time. its more of a specialty tool in this type of shop. For me personally, I have a specific socket or wrench left on a machine tool if it is used often, so there is no need to go to the tool box
bag o' toe tags IAM a professional tech and use a 5 drawer roll cart that has my most used tools so all my tools I need to fix anything are always at arm's length want to be an efficient tech watch and learn from the old fat guys lol
I got tired of walking back and forth from my tool box to the vehicle I was working on and I invested in a Rubbermaid 4 wheeled cart. I can throw things like bottles of antifreeze and quarts of oil on the lower shelf and keep the tools on the top. I built something similar but smaller to hold sockets upright. Spray your impact sockets with brake cleaner and then fill in the markings with white paint so that it's easier to read your socket's size. My eyes aren't getting any younger.
Your comment seems to miss the point that I don't "wrench" professionally. I open my socket drawer MAYBE once a month. Now when I do, it's organized. That's the overall point of the video.
...you can't please EVERYBODY-!!
I've gotten lazy after 40 years of twisting a wrench . I've done most of those over the years and now I just use the harbor freight free magnetic bar and attach them in 3s to a piece of sheet metal . It's not perfect but works just as well as most anything else . I use a HF 3 shelf cart to take my tools from the tool box to the job and back . I may not be that fat , but I'm no spring chicken and I'm lazy 😂
My dad has bad breath
I really like two different setups. The first being the aluminum ones with the plastic clips you can find at harbor freight. Definitely a step up from the crappy stamped metal ones that are either way to stuff or have no grip at all (as you demonstrated in the video) if you look around online, you can find spare clips if you ever end up buying more sockets which is nice. I have many rails and ended buying I whole crap load of spare clips, just in case! The downside is they’re only so long, my 1/2 drive impact socket set takes up 2 full sized rails. Although that may or may not be a issue depending on your setup.
The second option I really like are those magnetic ones that the snap on socket sets
Are sold on. They keep the sockets upright, are magnetic so they won’t slide around in the box, and also strong enough to keep sockets from rattling around when you close the drawer rapidly, but the magnets are also ‘weak’ enough that the whole socket tray doesn’t come up with the socket you grab.
The Hanson socket trays I’m not a fan of because the tabs are plastic, and if your taking or putting sockets back in a hurry, they will break right off. On the other hand, they’re clearly marked with the size.
Toolbox organization is a science all in itself. But everyone is different. My setup may not work for you, just like yours may not suit my preferences. And that’s ok, everyone has their own method of organization that works best for them.
Excellent!
You can do the same set up with magnetic rails where you can exchange the drive pins on every rail
I use a combination of racks ernst twist lock and drilled holes with plastic pins for sockets
I use Foam Fit socket inserts. They fit snuggly and look great. My only complaint is that they are not labeled.
WAAYYY back in the 80's I started out with the metal socket rails from Sears and I really liked them. By the late 90's I changed over to those Hanson trays with the posts and they've been great except for the reasons you stated, although a vacuum cap over the unused posts work well. I'm setting up a mechanic's tool box to stow in my truck under the passenger side rear seat (carpenter's box is on the driver's side) and so I've dug out my old Craftsman socket rails and clips once again. I figured out early that I can "tune" the fit by either gently squeezing with pliers or bending out each clip so the sockets slide off easily but will still stay put when needed and I lightly crimp the clips to the rail with pliers so they don't slide around too much. I've always like how I could just grab the one rail and I was all set because I had both regular and deep well sockets on the same rail.
The metal socket rails do take a bit to "break in". I have for years used these screwed to a painted 1/4 or 3/8 piece of plywood cut to a mobile size (13"x17" is my favorite, holds 8 rails). Once all of the sockets are on it is easy to remove and install them with the weight to hold the organizer down. I have tried many, possibly all of the sockets organizers and for me this is the cheapest best way to do it.
Thanks for the suggestion and dimensions. I'll have to try it.
Lob alt sells a socket tray with all three drives on it. It’s metal, uses ball retainers for each socket and even has a handle to carry it to a job from your box. It’s pretty sturdy and under 30 bucks. The sockets have stay d put for me so far. You might check it out at Lowe’s.
I use the harbor freight socket organizers. I just filled in the open slots with random brand single sockets. Extra ones I put in a rail on the side. But you need tall drawers to fit 1/2"... Then I made my own for odds and ends. For wrenches I took a 2x3 and cut 45s dados 1/4" thick every 1/2" and they set perfectly in there.
Awesome advice thank you.you just save some time on you tube to see what’s the difference in all the ideas
I personally as a mechanic was the same, nothing worked or fitted my tools. I ended up buying some nice socket rails (alloy and plastic holders) and mounting them to an alloy insert for one of my drawers made out of and old men at work sign, that way if things change or I get a bigger toolbox I can either move them to another sheet of alloy or rework the one I have. If a plastic holder brakes I can easily buy a new one (I have heaps of spares) and keep going.
Another great idea. Thanks!
Nice! 👍
Real nice
I'm using the metal rail. At first it's a little annoying, for the reasons you specify, but I've mounted the rails to thin plywood and have them on top of the 18" Harbor Freight magnet bar. As far as stiction is concerned, a little WD l-40 takes care of the problem.
Your method looks good to me, so I'm glad you posted it.
I've taken a file to the socket holders on the rails of the harbor freight ones and ut made placing and removal easier but i have a ton of sockets I've just got a full 16 inch double drawer tool box full of my sockets, with a set of each driver and impact drill adapters for the American drawer as well as the metric drawer i don't have the gigantic impact ones like you but ive got 4 sets of each and some oddballs in each
Check out the Montezuma Triangle toolbox. Perfect for organizing sockets!
I’ve always need portable on the go storage. I like what you have for shed or garage if I can ever retire. Sears used to sell flat black containers that were pretty good. I could toss in a ratchet & 1 or 2 rails. I used those boxes for combination wrenches too. I haven’t found such containers in years. Had a metal one too at one time. I have several sets now in various factory containers that I don’t like. Not space efficient at all. I wish I had equipment to mold plastic & make my own boxes. Lot of doing though. Tools have gotten too high now to buy new sets also, even if I see one I’d like.
If I did this, I would cut the bottom board into 4 or five sections, with some kind of handle, so you could lift one out to bring to your work spot (under hood, car, etc.).
Hi,
The problem I have is my tool boxes don't have a deep drawer. So I have to lay them down. Thanks Brian
I’ve been using the Harbor Freight trays. They have some odd skips and there are just a couple of Tekton sockets that don’t quite fit. I think I’m just going to cut some foam for my drawers.
As has been noted already, this is just about the polar opposite of "best" for me and many others.
This is great, i suppose, if you always work within arm's reach of your main toolbox. Not so great when you load some tools into a service cart and wheel that to the job area. I use a combination of Harbor Freight style organizers, Ernst 1/4 twist rails, and Ares magnetic holders. All of which allow me to just pick them up and take them with me, rather than having a random assortment of loose sockets rolling around in the cart.
I'm also a little amused about the desire to save space while storing what looks to be like about 75 sockets in a 52" drawer. :)
I need to grab the whole set at once a lot of times. I often work in different areas of the shop as well as in the parking lot.
I like the quad rail system.
I have 2 Quad rails.
For me they are the best.
I've had them for about 30 years now. I bought them off of a tool truck, but I've seen them at H.F.
I like redundant sockets. Different sockets have different numbers of points that can differently grip that hard to break or reach bolt. I also like the various sizes and depths provided.
been using socket rails with clips for years, not been a problem of them falling off, but I dont put deep 1/2 impact drive sockets on them. If you find them too tight, put grease on the spring clips. Advantage is, I have a boat at a marina,, I cant bring a tool cabinet to the boat, so I load up a tooltray with what I need. I also went with small portable Husky toolboxes, has a lid with 3 drawers, I have 3 of those, a $49 each, 2 large craftsman tool cabinets, and one with just drawers which I find I don't use much.
I can also put the boxes in my Trooper. I can lift them and they weight around maybe up to 70 pounds for the heaviest one
Great video, I like those holders. Nice tool chest, but it needs a dusting. 😉
I have the same box and love it!
i been a mechanic 35+ yrs and tried many things
your way is a lot of dedicated space. I got one giant tool box but can't see using up that much room with the sheet of plywood, that's a ton of square inches just in wood
keep trying
Go to Amazon and look up Great Neck 10001 1/2 3/8 1/4 socket rails. Metal rails with plastic and handle socket holders that you have to push a tab to release. Easy to carry a whole set to work area and not at flimsy.
Used a square key stock with a small hole drilled out for a cotter pin & washed or a bolt, washer & nut for organizing your crowsfoot wrenches!! Line them all by size!!
Interesting but I'd still have to go with ABS plastic rails. Stronger than the metal ones, no problems with sockets falling off but still fairly easy to remove. Got a few nice matching sets that you can swap clips between so they can be configured for different socket sets. Originally I had them screwed into a backboard but now I've replaced the screws with magnets so you can take the whole rail out if needed, also means they can be swapped round no problem inside the drawer. Plus a few plastic trays on the same magnet system for ratchets/extensions.
I use a double sided organizer with the handle in the middle. It's much like what a maid uses to carry cleaning sprays and brushes, etc around a home to clean with. I guess some call it a dual sided tote cleaning caddy.
My idea was to buy dowels 1/2" 3/8" 1/4" then drill holes on my plywood to my configuration
I never thought just gluing them would work great tip thanks, but still will use my method I will just cut the plywood in section just in case i want to change the configuration
Thanks again for sharing your ideas
I like that idea, you could use clevis pins. They won't pull out. Pricey but you could buy in bulk. Also thanks to my Metwrinch set, I don't much sockets to organize.
Ive got a harbor freight 3 pack. Both standard an metric. Scewed to a piece of pywood. Sets on top of my roll around bottom
Instead of wooden blocks you can use small screws instead, about the same idea of remove and adjust with time just requires slightly thicker base plywood
I think the idea with the square wooden blocks is they match the drive size on the sockets and hold the socket relatively firmly.
Socket rails mounted to a strip of wood with a drawer handle is what I found to be the best. The sockets are standing upright and don’t fall off when you lift out the strip.
Not to criticize but your way seems that it would take even longer than it would to drill holes in a piece of plywood and having to change out drill bits for different size holes. Also gluing the dowels seems like they would break off easy as you grab sockets. Great video though, you gave me lots of ideas so I thank you, your time is much appreciated 👍🏼
Try using pegboard with dowels
you missed the up right magnetic based socket holders .
they come in various sizes also for more than just sockets.
Is that not what he's talking about at 1:42 ?
@@c0unterph0bia that’s precisely what he’s talking about, I believe
I use the plastic stand up sets and have a small rubbermade tub for my ratchets and so on....easy to move stuff to my cart if im not close to my toolbox....
What glue did you use that will hold a 32mm 1/2" impact socket racking that drawer like that. I gotta get some of that
I need to do something like that.
Only have a few rails of the most common sizes keep in the top of your box and have a mass storage of all other sizes either in the original package or with a large organizer
I use snapon trays that are labeled and I only by sets without skips so I don’t have this problem
I personally like socket sets in molded cases, full socket set in every drive, just grab the one you need depending on what you're working on, and you got your ratchets and extesions there too, no mess.
I think I'm gonna build one like you
Toolbox Widget has a similar method to the plastic trays with rods but it's more modular
0:05 when I'm at the junkyard and my buddy tells me to hand him a 12mm from his bag
Plus you can write the size of the socket beside the socket.
Could you also use regular dowel rods? Just get a round dowel rod that will jus fit he square hole. I don't have the equipment to make a square dowel
You say that using the other methods you will be committed to that system but yet your method your just as committed. No matter what method you use your goin to be committed
Wood dowel so easy and smart
Color code each different size with tape or paint and throw them in there.Once away from the box I can still spot a 10 mm from 20 feet away. Done.They are out of the box often as not many mechanics replace tools after each procedure
Good idea
I'm a visitor and sun from Essential Craftsman. Thanks for the tips!
I have both the adjustable plastic upright socket rails and Harbor Freight magnetic rails. I far prefer the mag rails. Infinite adjustability and no additional cost to add the keepers when adding items. Mag rails are also easier when removing sockets from them. Easiest, cheapest and most area efficient system for me is definately the mag rails.
The thing I don't like about your method is it is a lot of work for little pay-off. The dowels come loose and if a larger socket happens to get loose, it can mow down dowels like a bowling ball.
I elected to go with the aluminum socket organizers. The sockets don't fall off when I slam the drawer, they are very nice looking, they contain the socket sizes, and I have sockets fore every space. If I want to rearrange them, I just scoot them around the drawer. They have a perfectly flat and smooth bottom that grabs the drawer liner and they do not move.
Yep this wood method may be cheaper but it looks cheap also. Painting the plywood would help but I'm still not a fan.
I’m late to the party but tool box widget is where it’s at
I prefer the peg org because i can see the sizes at a glance. I don't know about anyone else but over the years I've accumulated dups and different brands and every year it gets harder and harder to read the sizes. The pegs can be used to keep dups organized as well as divide according to wrench size. But, the prices are outrageous. I researched this quite a bit and all I could find were (toy quality) peg boards that were anywhere from 8 to 10 for each board. Even at hf, a set of 3 costs about 25 without a coupon. I considered creating my own but I have other projects to work on. Time is money.
Ima try this method rn fr. Thanks for the idea!
Used similar method, but used wood screws instead of dowels
i have this same tool box as you a 52" husky tool box and there is no way to do this with my sockets there is no way enough room... if there was 1" more space maybe,,, but my deep well sockets can not be stood straight up... i have to lay them down with twist lock socket rails or else they would roll all over... was the one thing that upset me after i got it all together ....
jason hullihen I have deep sockets standing up in my drawer
ya i see that... my craftsman sockets will not i have the 300 piece set and there is just no way...