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| bogus | Tool Storage Question | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
 
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I have been reorganizing my tools in the new garage... I am running out of ideas on how to store them... I am looking for some ideas.
I have a pot load of sockets. In the past, I have used the metal rails with the spring clips, but they are not one hand friendly. Currenly, I have the vertical trays with the pins... but I have sockets that won't fit - too damned big!! I am thinking of dense foam andcut out where the tools go. Any other ideas? |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 3:25
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| Matatk | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Webmaster
 
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I bought a craftsman tool chest that has a lot of smaller drawers in the top box. I dedicated different drawers to different sizes (and labeled them - makes it easier to find). I have 6 drawers I broke down into sae 1/4, sae 3/8, sae 1/2, and metric 1/4, metric 3/8, and metric 1/2. I try to keep them loosely organized in the drawer by size. I also separated impact sockets, extensions, and socket wrenches. On top of that, I too have the socket rails full of each in the other drawers. I also have a craftsman set still in the plastic flip open case that is nice for portability. Bottom line is I have too many sockets...lol. No such thing! I'll take some pictures later. It's not sophisticated, but works out surprisingly well. Better than digging through one giant box of 300 sockets to find one.
Matthew |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 3:36
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| Jeffvette | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Elite Guru
 
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Best thing I have found for socket storage. Matco #444
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 5:03
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Senior Guru
 
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I like the foam idea. With a razor sharp knife it should be easy to cut if you mark it right.
I hate those socket rails, having to pry the socket you want while the others are falling off. But maybe that was just because I was dealing with other people's rusty mismatched tools. I just use the socket holders that come with the tool sets when I bought them, which are molded plastic. |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 6:38
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| Matatk | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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I had foam in my toolbox and ripped it out. It's really time consuming to set it up and takes up too much space if you have a lot of tools.
They also make molded plastic trays that lay more flat, like a 15* angle, and the sockets just lay in them instead of being straight up. Matthew |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 13:56
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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The Stig Moderator
 
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I have socket rails in the rollaway in the race trailer, they're Ok because the trailer bounces around.
But, over the years, I've gotten tired of the rails (what CC said). I did make up some sheet metal dividers for a 1/2 in set that are pop rivited into one of the drawers, works well and is easy to do. A guy at the race shop had a lot of tools in foam, it was the biggest pain in the ass I've ever tried to use. I recently bought a bunch of the Hanson socket orgainzers for the shop toolbox. I really like these and they have the socket size on the post, easy to see. Attach file:  210927422.jpg (0.00 KB) |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 14:24
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| Ultraman | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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 I kindof like the old drawer storage system. |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 16:58
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| rklessdriver | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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I personally have my sockets on individual metal racks but....
Has anybody see the organization trays craftsman sells?? [IMG]http://www.labsafety.com/images/xl/SOCKET-ORGNZR-SET-LSS-_i_LBM104301.jpg[/IMG] Looks like it would work similar to cutting a bunch of holes in foam (minus all the hole cutting). Will |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 18:51
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| bogus | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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I have the Hansen trays, and they work rather well. But I have many sockets bigger than what they offer a tray for.
I like the Craftsman trays... I might have to check that out. If these tools were in a truck, I would use that Matco piece that Jeff suggest. It is a nice looking setup. However, I find getting tools on and off those things annoying, and then over time, they wear out and the spring tension goes south. |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 22:11
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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massive waste of space IMO. If I arranged my tools like that I'd need 3 rolling toolboxes. Mine are similar to this: fits in a thin drawer and easy to remove sockets with one hand once they wear in a bit. Well, these have magnets, mine don't. Maybe that means they aren't snapped in place as tight, that would be a good thing.: [img width=300]http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/00941374000-1?hei=248&wid=248&op_sharpen=1&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0[/img] http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12 ... 10944&ci_sku=00941374000P |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 22:38
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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The guy that owned the raceshop had those (with the magnets), they worked really well. And with the magnets, you you could almost throw the socket at the slot and it would be pulled in. |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 23:28
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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I'd love to have the tool boxes to do that and a 5,000 sq.ft shop to hold them. When I did the roller for the trailer, I had to try and squeeze as many tools in each drawer as possible. I have std. & metric- 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 drives, wrenches, torque wrenches all in one drawer. Attach file: 2006-03-05 09-48-03_0001.JPG (0.00 KB) |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 23:32
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| Jeffvette | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Andy, I think the Matco piece will surprise you. Once weighted down with the sockets, the tray does not budge when removing the socket you want. Mine have made journeys to Canada twice, Alabama and of course to the local track with no issues. I think I might have a spare if you want to try it out. |
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Posted on: 2011/3/1 23:38
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| NelsonV | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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You want your Kennedy top chest back? I haven't figured out yet if I want to utilize it.
And back on topic... for my own storage solution, specifically with sockets, I have thought about machining some blocks of Delrin or HDPE. Thinking one 6-7" long block per group of sockets (i.e. one block for 3/8" drive standard, one block for 3/8" drive metric, and so on). This would be modular and could grow as I add tools later. Haven't figured out what do with wrenches, though. |
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Posted on: 2011/3/2 0:07
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| Matatk | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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I agree with #1. #2...that better be a great socket holder, because at $20 a pop I'd be spending a lot of money on something I don't really need. Matthew |
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Posted on: 2011/3/2 3:30
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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I don't think $21 for both of them to hold most of your metric and SAE sockets is a bad deal at all.
Anyways most of the socket sets I've bought already came with a similar holder, just not magnetic. I like the sockets on their side as it's easy to see what you're grabbing. I can't always tell the difference between a 10mm and 11mm deep socket at a glance. |
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Posted on: 2011/3/2 18:24
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Each Hanson is $20 also, holds std. & deep. I did get them on sale at Sears for $9.99e. Attach file: 2006-03-06 05-48-11_0001.JPG (0.00 KB) |
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Posted on: 2011/3/2 19:30
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| biggrizzly | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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2011 Memorial Day Car Show Winner!
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Bill - Don't fib now... Did you go and organize them sockets before the photo shoot? Looks great. I still use the metal strips and clips for most of mine, but I just bought a little set of ASE sockets from Sears and they came on a nice little holder which I leave them on. I also like the newer etchings that they use on the side of the sockets to identify them. For the most part I can usually just grab the correct size socket from repetition, but its still nice to have the etching for "old eyes"!!!
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Posted on: 2011/3/2 19:42
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Organized? Who me? No, that's the way they are, a bunch missing and some slots to fill. But this is the second set so, I'm not in a hurry. I like the sizes on the posts, easy to see. The damn etched ones wizz me off cause I don't have them.  |
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Posted on: 2011/3/2 20:10
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| Matatk | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Bill, I like those trays in theory, but I don't want to have to keep them in the top of the chest, I like to keep them in the drawers. Personal preference.
As far as the etched sockets, those look nice, I don't have them. I have even seen the color coded ones at HF that look interesting.... I took some pictures of my toolbox, I'll eventually get around to posting them. Matthew |
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Posted on: 2011/3/3 4:03
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Yea, they're maybe a 1/4 in. higher than using rails so the drawer would have to be deep. The deep wells on rails in my trailer box (left side of the pic in post 12) only have a 1/16th clearance to shut the drawer. The roller we had in the race shop had a drawer with 4 magnetic trays CC mentioned, 1/4 & 3/8, std.& metric. That worked well too. Yea, preference. All of it beats sockets in a coffee can.  |
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Posted on: 2011/3/3 15:02
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| Matatk | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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OK, finally got around to loading some pics. Here are a few shots of what I did.
Matthew Attach file: 2011-03-01 14.05.41.jpg (0.00 KB) 2011-03-01 14.06.10.jpg (0.00 KB) 2011-03-01 14.06.23.jpg (0.00 KB) 2011-03-01 14.06.37.jpg (0.00 KB) 2011-03-01 14.07.11.jpg (0.00 KB) |
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Posted on: 2011/3/15 13:51
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2002 EBM convertible, Magnusson supercharger, cam, headers, etc. 1989 Corvette...RIP |
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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I still think you stole that box, gotta be one of the best CL deals ever.
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Posted on: 2011/3/15 13:59
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| Matatk | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Yeah, only took me 2 years of looking and the guy lives 4 miles down the road! If you remember, he modified it too with a heavier steel side handle and mechanically linked the top box lock to the bottom drawers. Nice work, too. Handle works nice for hanging about 5 various sized crowbars I have. He did something in the injection mold industry or something like that. Best thing you can buy yourself is one of these label makers: http://www.brother-usa.com/Ptouch/mod ... ail.aspx?ProductID=PT1290 They go on sale around the holidays for like $15.  |
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Posted on: 2011/3/15 14:11
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2002 EBM convertible, Magnusson supercharger, cam, headers, etc. 1989 Corvette...RIP |
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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I've had my boxes long enough that I can remember what's in each drawer.  Even with one box in the shop and one in the trailer.But, of course, I don't have a little person waking me up at night, scrambling my brain so that i forget what's in my drawers. |
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Posted on: 2011/3/15 14:39
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| captmike13 | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Elite Guru
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You also don't have that same little person playing with your tools while trying to help. Of course without them being labeled they don't go back to the correct drawer later on when said little one gets a little bigger.
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Posted on: 2011/3/15 15:32
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Mike| Matatk | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Lol. My wife steals my screwdrivers all the time to put batteries in the kids' toys, then leaves them in various drawers throughout the house. I think I have about 50-60 screwdrivers total (including the jewelers sizes, etc) yet I can never seem to find the one I want. You should have seen Samantha helping me "fix" the snowblower over the winter. She loves playing with tools. I'll have her rebuilding a small block by age 6  Matthew |
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Posted on: 2011/3/15 16:07
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| 85RedSled | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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These look good except if ya shut the drawer too hard they would go everywhere. |
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Posted on: 2011/4/3 16:46
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| mseven | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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those hanson trays work good. I have them in the bottom 2 drawers in the top chest and fit fine.
[IMG]http://i56.tinypic.com/24dhkzk.jpg[/IMG] |
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Posted on: 2011/4/15 10:45
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| Josh | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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I have been through several iterations, and the most effcient way I've found to do it is everything in a large single drawer; I use the Hansen trays to organize my sockets and 1/2 inch thick foam cut outs to organize the ratchets and extensions - all in the large top drawer of my bottom box.
I normally take a 1 x 4 and screw about 60 dry wall screws partially into it at 1 inch intervals. I attach that to the wall and then hang my wrenches on it. I had my girl run a piece of green masking tape above the wrenches and label their locations with a black marker. Now, she can find them when I ask her to grab one. I've done it like that for years now, and just build another one when I move. It looks pretty professional if you paint the 1 x 4, I like the look of 'cast aluminum' paint. In my current garage, I hung up some pegboard and am using that to hold wrenches and other tools. Thus far, I like the 1 x 4 method better for wrenches. The peg board hooks seem to fall off if I'm not careful grabbing wrenches. I'm sure you've been there, but www.garagejournal.com is a great resource for garage stuff. The signal to noise ratio is kinda high, but if you can get past that there are some great ideas on there. |
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Posted on: 2011/6/17 3:05
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| bogus | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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These are all great ideas!
I am using a mishmash... I found that not all sockets are created equal - for example, a 14mm can have an OD a bit bigger than the next 14mm, so one fits, another doesn't. I will post pics, but I need to clean up my garage. |
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Posted on: 2011/6/19 8:17
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| Mr_Mojo | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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I had those Craftsman trays or whatever we're calling those red ones with the holes. I brought them back because they have holes for sizes I don't have and no holes for the ones I did.
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Posted on: 2011/6/21 19:42
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| BillH | Re: Tool Storage Question | ||
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Posted on: 2011/6/21 21:08
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