I Need A Socket Organizer

Uncle Bubba · #1 01-20-2008, 05:15 AM

I'm tired of fightin with these damn things and spendin money on junk. All my sockets are just thrown into tool box drawers and I have to dig everytime I'm lookin for one. I've tried the rails and I've tried the little junk plastic boxes from sears and none of it works in the real world.

What is everybody else using for this that I'm missin. This needs to be portable for job sights and to carry in the truck box. -

2500HeavyDuty · #2 01-20-2008, 05:19 AM

Have you look at one of these?

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Uncle Bubba · #3 01-20-2008, 05:28 AM

If the magnets were strong enough they would work for some of them. I keep everything from 1/4" all the way up to 1" drive sockets that are 3 inches wide.

By the way, I have tried the wrench carriers from this company also. More junk layin around that don't work. They look like a cool idea though. -

2500HeavyDuty · #4 01-20-2008, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Bubba

If the magnets were strong enough they would work for some of them. I keep everything from 1/4" all the way up to 1" drive sockets that are 3 inches wide.

By the way, I have tried the wrench carriers from this company also. More junk layin around that don't work. They look like a cool idea though.

I scrap the wrench carriers too... The socket rack looks like a good idea, but im not gonna spend $35 to find out if its good or not. Its a real hassle trying to keep sockets organized on the field and not take up alot of space. -

puddlestomper · #5 01-20-2008, 07:26 AM

I use a peice of all-thread, like I have seen some guys do with wrenches. Bend it in a pear shape, using a two foot piece, weld a piece of small tubing on a nut. Make the two ends meet on a straight side, leave a two inch gap. put the nut on one side, then screw it up so that the tubing connects with the other end closing the gap. Or you can use a piece of flat bar, weld some nails on it, and put your sockets on them. Then put a small piece of flat stock on top for a retainer. Bend a lip on one side of that bottom, cut a notch in it then weld a bolt on (after you put a nut on it). Make sure the nut turns freely, at least a quarter turn, then weld the top bar on. I use a hose clamp to hold them together for transport. Just my ideas that I use for my crane tools. I am always dropping them from 15 feet or runnning them over, so I am never out any money if it breaks, and I have yet to break one. -

RSWORDS · #6 01-20-2008, 08:30 AM

Rollin Smoke Diesel · #7 01-20-2008, 12:51 PM

Sears has some nice little socket organizers. I paid a little over $20 bucks for mine and it sorts them between standard and metrica nd six and twelve point, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. Made my drawer look a lot neater and of course I know right where my sockets are now. -

**bow2no1** · #8 01-20-2008, 12:55 PM

i still use those junk plastic boxes from sears..

they work kinda sorta......

what are you doing carrying the tools around or just being kept in a stationary box? -

Uncle Bubba · #9 01-20-2008, 02:23 PM

I got one of the little plastic boxes that I bought with the set from sears. The drawer won't stay closed so they end up all over the bottom of my truck box and even when they do stay closed the holes aren't deep enough to hold them in place while they get bounced around. Not to mention the fact that the handle falls off when you pick it up.

I have a house with a garage that I work on stuff at, a farm about 15 miles down the road with what's left of barns after the tornado, equipment and livestock, and I also work on some odd jobs around town with my own tools. So everything is packed in the truck, both automotive and woodworking tools. Just got a call from the wife this morning that one of her co-workers couldn't get her car started so I got vollunteered, ended up changin an alternator and battery at 5:30 this morning in the hospital parking lot. Now if somebody calls to see if I can fix the wall there kid just rode his bike through it will be a normal day in the life. So everything has to be portable. -

**bow2no1** · #10 01-20-2008, 02:47 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-Pc-...spagenameZWDVW

how about this rig -

Uncle Bubba · #11 01-20-2008, 02:58 PM

That's the same thing Heavy Duty posted up. If they work theres nothin wrong with them at all. But I'd need somebody to tell me they actually work cause i bet i already have over $200 invested in gadgets to carry these things in and still nothin that works. I ain't buyin nothin else unless it's tried and true by somebody on here. -

**bow2no1** · #12 01-20-2008, 04:12 PM

oops, i should have read the posts -

**Johnny Cetane** · #13 01-21-2008, 10:31 AM

I have these in the various incarnations. Portability is very important to me too and I couldn't be an happier with them. -

**Mr. Miyagi** · #14 01-21-2008, 10:35 PM

I have used these exclusively since they came out.....the best I've found yet.

There are a number of places to get them--direct from VIM Tools, off the Matco truck, or at Sears. VIM sells red, Matco sells red, blue, black, gray, and I think even yellow, and Sear sells black or gray.

FWIW Sears is the least expensive for the clips but their rail selection is limited to only a couple lengths....Matco's selection is the best but their price is also the highest.....YMMV.

http://www.vimtools.com/product_detail.asp?id=V523 -

**Mr. Miyagi** · #15 01-26-2008, 12:33 AM

Here are some pictures taken "in the field" of the Craftsman/VIM/Matco rails in action....there are before & afters of the bending, too.

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