How do you organize your tools?

[YakTJ]

Hey All. I'm wondering how you organize your sockets??? I picked up a box 112 loose craftsman sockets on the cheap at a pawn shop. Includes 1/4 ,3/8, and 1/2 drive standard and metric. Do you use the cheap 99 cent metal socket holder from harbor freight or are there magnet ones that work better? Any ideas ? Thanks

 

[jchadscud]

These are pretty good from Amazon

Olsa Tools 3/8-Inch Drive Aluminum Socket Organizer | Premium Quality Socket Holder (RED) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G31X8IK/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Jorge Bolivar]

I do use magnets trays in my garage tool box but at the end I pile them all around the Jeep.
Trail box ones are in a pouch.
Craftman use to sell a nice tool box drawer divider for a set like the one you mention, not sure if stil around thought.

 

[Boinked]

Harbor freight



https://m.harborfreight.com/3-pc-sa...r-68100.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided

 

[Drizit]

I use these in the tool box
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/1-4-in-dr-sae-socket-holder/A-p8272791e

And one of these on the wall
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/5-rail-socket-holder-tray/A-p8595605e

In the jeep I use the case the sockets came in.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.

 

[Chris]

These are pretty good from Amazon

Olsa Tools 3/8-Inch Drive Aluminum Socket Organizer | Premium Quality Socket Holder (RED) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G31X8IK/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I've been using these for years. They work very nicely to organize my hundreds of sockets.

 

[toximus]

A bit messy right now as I'm mid-build.

Mechanics Time Savers are what the rails are. I prefer the non-magnetic ones. The magnetic ones collect a bunch of metal junk off the floor.

Ratchets are in their own drawer along with extensions and breaker bars.

 

[jgaz]

The top drawer of my former work box. I’ve left it pretty much the same since I retired.
The sockets stored here were suitable for 95% of my day to day jobs.

The plastic rails were purchased from Sears. I believe they were made by a company called VMI for Craftsman and other sellers such as Armstrong, Matco, and Wright. They have been a quality piece. I’ve never broken one stud in almost 15 years if daily use!
I screwed the rails to a piece of 5/32”? aluminum. This allowed me to easily reconfigure the rails over the years. I used the magnetic trays for the 1/2” stuff because the drawer was not quite deep enough for the larger sockets to stand upright. This worked out well since many times at work I’d take the tray into a test cell with a 1/2 impact to work on a fixture.
This box was rolled across Parking lots, transported on the forks of a lift truck, and rolled on miles? of rough surfaces in the time I had it configured as shown.

This method of storing my 1/4” stuff allowed me to use a shallower drawer and again take the socket tray to a bench for lighter duty work.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

@Chris candidate for the Shop and Tool talk subforum

last one for now, I'll leave you alone for a while lol. Just did a search for "tools" and tagged you on all the ones that weren't specifically pertaining to working on TJ's.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I have several of the Olsa socket rails in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and really like them. I also have some shorter plastic Kobalt one that I found on eBay as a lot of 10 or so. The individual socket holders slide around a lot less than the Olsa ones.

I have 3 or 4 drawers of various styles of wrenches on those little angles stands. Makes it easy to see if one is missing.

My pliers are in a couple racks.

Ratchets and the like are in cut out foam. Several other drawers with screwdrivers, hammers, etc and the same.

Then I have a couple drawers that are a complete piled up mess.

I‘m always on the lookout for small, sturdy containers for small stuff like taps, bits, blades, rivets, etc. I had a small plastic container that had a bunch of deck screws in it that turned out to be the perfect size to hold a metric and SAE set of ignition wrenches and sit in one of the shallow drawers and still be able to close it.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I didn’t realize how old this thread is.

 

[PCO6]

I've been using the old style metal clips for as long as I can remember.

 

[jjvw]

I have several of the Olsa socket rails in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 and really like them. I also have some shorter plastic Kobalt one that I found on eBay as a lot of 10 or so. The individual socket holders slide around a lot less than the Olsa ones.
View attachment 308607

...

Is the Olsa stuff is all aluminum? Do they hold the sockets securely? I've been thinking using them for my trail bag of sockets.

 

[jesseshoots]

Is the Olsa stuff is all aluminum? Do they hold the sockets securely? I've been thinking using them for my trail bag of sockets.

My understanding is the Olsa and Ares brand rails are identical. I have the Ares ones on a hex bit set I bought and it works great for tossing in the trail bag. The rail is aluminum, the socket holder is plastic, and they have rubber caps on the ends. The sockets (1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive) all fit nice and snug but don't require too much force to come off. I plan on buying additional sets for all my sockets.

I have some rings that I use currently for standard depth sockets. I got them from my old man years ago but can't find them online.

Edit: added pic

 

[MountaineerTom]

Is the Olsa stuff is all aluminum? Do they hold the sockets securely? I've been thinking using them for my trail bag of sockets.

The rail is aluminum and the individual pieces that hold the sockets are plastic. They make some with a rubber cap on the end, which is what I had originally bought several years ago. Using the socket rails in my workshop, they hold the sockets on great. I did have one of the rubber end caps slide off one time and some of the sockets slid completely off the rail. Last summer I noticed they make plastic end caps, so I bought some to replace the rubber caps. They snap on tight and work better than the rubber caps. You can now buy the rails with either the rubber caps or the plastic snap one caps. I’d suggest buying an extra bag of the plastic caps if you go with those. Ive only taken one of them off, but I could see how they may break easily if your not careful, they are a really tight fit.

They also sell the 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 plastic pieces that hold the sockets separately so you get get the right amount of them that you need.

As far as in a trail bag, just last week I put one in my trail bag with some sockets in it. No real test of it yet, but I imagine they will stay on as there isn’t a lot of room for it to move around in my bag.

 

[MountaineerTom]

My understanding is the Olsa and Ares brand rails are identical. I have the Ares ones on a hex bit set I bought and it works great for tossing in the trail bag. The rail is aluminum, the socket holder is plastic, and they have rubber caps on the ends. The sockets (1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive) all fit nice and snug but don't require too much force to come off. I plan on buying additional sets for all my sockets.

I have some rings that I use currently for standard depth sockets. I got them from my old man years ago but can't find them online.

Edit: added pic
View attachment 308663

Those are pretty cool. I‘ve never seen those before. Do you know if they for that purpose or are they something repurposed and work great for sockets?

 

[tworley]

I am really liking the socket rails and think Ill have to jump on board. I have a tray version from HF and the quality of it is as about as good as you can imagine.

My old garage was a single car 10x27', hard to get anything in there but I ended up using white peg board to brighten things up as well as keep any encroachment from the wall minimal to keep space available. I actually had quite a few compliments from my neighbors. One elderly gentleman said he hadn't seen peg board used in quite some time and told me I should be proud of my organizational skills

Havent started organizing the new garage but my wife thinks I should keep the peg board, though I really want a tool chest to keep things organized this time

 

[MountaineerTom]

Here’s some close pics of the Olsa parts and pieces for any one interested.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I am really liking the socket rails and think Ill have to jump on board. I have a tray version from HF and the quality of it is as about as good as you can imagine.

My old garage was a single car 10x27', hard to get anything in there but I ended up using white peg board to brighten things up as well as keep any encroachment from the wall minimal to keep space available. I actually had quite a few compliments from my neighbors. One elderly gentleman said he hadn't seen peg board used in quite some time and told me I should be proud of my organizational skills

Havent started organizing the new garage but my wife thinks I should keep the peg board, though I really want a tool chest to keep things organized this time

All the walls of my workshop are brown/tan pegboard. I bought my house in 2004 and if I remember correctly, the precious homeowner had the shop built in the mid to late 90’s. Some people don’t like pegboard, but I love it in my shop.

 

[jesseshoots]

I am really liking the socket rails and think Ill have to jump on board. I have a tray version from HF and the quality of it is as about as good as you can imagine.

My old garage was a single car 10x27', hard to get anything in there but I ended up using white peg board to brighten things up as well as keep any encroachment from the wall minimal to keep space available. I actually had quite a few compliments from my neighbors. One elderly gentleman said he hadn't seen peg board used in quite some time and told me I should be proud of my organizational skills

Havent started organizing the new garage but my wife thinks I should keep the peg board, though I really want a tool chest to keep things organized this time

I like pegboard for some things, and hate it for others. A tool chest is by far better and you really cant go wrong with the US General ones from HF. I've been using them for about ten years now and can't find a reason to upgrade to anything else.