Your socket organizers

[lexluther]

Oh man, the stickers are cool

 

[Big Barn]

Oh man, the stickers are coolView attachment 508050

Now all we need to do is convince ALL manufactures to utilize fasteners with sizes marked on them also...

I have a hard time believing there used to be a day when not only would I KNOW the size of fastener with only a fleeting glance but ALSO grab the CORRECT sized tool without even thinking. *

* metric/SAE Allen wrenches different story.

 

[lexluther]

Yes, it's funny, this made me realize how poorly marked my once "nice" socket set was...
This is the one place I like the plastic case, but if my kids had dumped them one more time... now they are saved, and I am sure it will save some strife with the wife as well.

 

[bcp]

I like the metric 3/8 and metric 1/2 ratchet wrenches.

Bruce

 

[Gary Fowler]

All this organization... I have everything all over the place. Once a month or so, I'll go around and collect all the sockets from the workbench, vice area, cabinets, electrical bench, welder cart, under my rolling seat. THen toss them in the drawers. First is metric socket, then sae socket, then metric wrenches, then sae wrenches, then ratchets/extensions, then screwdrivers. I'm usually working until the 11th hour, seldom time to get a proper clean up.

I cant understand how folks like this ever find anything. I have a place for everything and everything goes back in it's place when I finish work.
The only thing that isn't organized is spare sockets and such that get dumped into a plastic cup and kept in its place in one drawer. With my CRS syndrome, this is the only way for me to keep up with things.
I don't have the collection like the "Snapon Kid" with his $5000 tool cabinet (minus tools) but I have enough to do most any job I encounter. I find that the best organizers are the steel (or plastic) boxes that tool sets come in so I try to keep mine in them. Some of my larger sockets (3/4-2" that I use only occasionally are stored in their steel boxes on a shelf in back of my shop. This keeps me down to only 2 small rolling tool chests.
I do keep some cheap socket sets separately in my motorhome "just in case" and a few tools in an old Craftsman rolling tool chest in my garage for use in quick repairs in the home. This keeps me from walking the 75 steps to the shop to fetch a small wrench or pliers to tighten something in the house.
One deep drawer in my shop tool chest is dedicated to shop rags, one can never have too many grease rags. Mine are mostly old T-shirts which seem to out work shop towels like the ones from Harbor Freight.

 

[PHPaul]

Lots of nice solutions here, but I'm a cheap Esso Bee. I tried a few of the various plastic organizers and either didn't like them or they didn't fit my needs.

So I came up with these. A couple hours of my time and some scrap lumber and my sockets, wrenches and screwdrivers are organized.

Two major benefits: I can find the tool I need without pawing around, and I can spot a missing tool quickly when I'm cleaning up.

 

[piercedtiger]

I wish I could organize my tools like some of those! haha I got so sick of sockets, wrenches, allen keys, and screwdrivers being scattered between 2 work benches in my barn, one in my basement, and wherever I last used them that I just bought a new combo kit. Around Christmas time this one was $99 Shop Kobalt 227-Piece Standard (SAE) and Metric Mechanic'''s Tool Set with Hard Case at Lowes.com so it seemed like a good deal to me. Everything in 1 case, trays to organize most of the pieces and take just them to my work area, and an extra empty tray for other commonly used random tools. It was a duplication of many already owned tools along with some sizes I didn't already have, but $100 was worth just having everything in one freaking place to look! Now it stays under the workbench in my office and goes with me whenever I might need a socket, wrench or driver. It's not perfect, but it sure saves me a lot of running back and forth between buildings and benches!

 

[piercedtiger]

I cant understand how folks like this ever find anything. I have a place for everything and everything goes back in it's place when I finish work.
The only thing that isn't organized is spare sockets and such that get dumped into a plastic cup and kept in its place in one drawer. With my CRS syndrome, this is the only way for me to keep up with things.
I don't have the collection like the "Snapon Kid" with his $5000 tool cabinet (minus tools) but I have enough to do most any job I encounter. I find that the best organizers are the steel (or plastic) boxes that tool sets come in so I try to keep mine in them. Some of my larger sockets (3/4-2" that I use only occasionally are stored in their steel boxes on a shelf in back of my shop. This keeps me down to only 2 small rolling tool chests.
I do keep some cheap socket sets separately in my motorhome "just in case" and a few tools in an old Craftsman rolling tool chest in my garage for use in quick repairs in the home. This keeps me from walking the 75 steps to the shop to fetch a small wrench or pliers to tighten something in the house.
One deep drawer in my shop tool chest is dedicated to shop rags, one can never have too many grease rags. Mine are mostly old T-shirts which seem to out work shop towels like the ones from Harbor Freight.

I ended up in that situation (tools scattered, always looking) over years of collecting tools. Small set here, 1 or 2 pieces there for ONE specific job, random gifts or hand me downs. Then we bought a house with a barn. One side was an open floor workshop area, but it quickly cluttered up, the lighting sucks, and it's too cold to use in the winter. I made a smaller bench in the larger "truck" bay for working on vehicles, but soon I wasn't working in that area either. The basement isn't heated, but is warmer than the barn so my mill, lathe, table saw, router, etc are there. I wish I could have rebuilt everything to suit my needs, but that wasn't possible. Definitely something on my mind for our next house!

 

[KubotainNH]

Oh man, the stickers are cool

Nice, those are on my list. Metric ratchet is comical. I have a set of deep wells that used to look like this but hard to read on the most used sizes now.
http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/Socket3.jpg

 

[lexluther]

My set is crapsman, your picture on the right is as easy to read as my better examples... very disappointing.

I thought about cutting the sticker on the ratchet, but decided I didn't care... try asking for a 3/8 ratchet without it...

 

[KubotainNH]

My set is crapsman, your picture on the right is as easy to read as my better examples... very disappointing.

I thought about cutting the sticker on the ratchet, but decided I didn't care... try asking for a 3/8 ratchet without it...

That one made me chuckle is all. I would only sticker the sockets.

Man, this thread makes me realize I need to have my eyes checked soon.

 

[piercedtiger]

My set is crapsman, your picture on the right is as easy to read as my better examples... very disappointing.

I thought about cutting the sticker on the ratchet, but decided I didn't care... try asking for a 3/8 ratchet without it...

That's one of the reasons I decided a whole new kit was better that trying to build custom organizers for my existing collection of mismatched tools. In addition to the sizes I was lacking (and duplicates in 1/2 and 3/8 if I need two wrenches at once) there was the labeling that made it so much easier. Not just on the sockets, but on the trays too so I'd know what was missing. Or if someone didn't put them back correctly.

 

[topbuilder]

I like the metric 3/8 and metric 1/2 ratchet wrenches.

Bruce

Hey, that fit well with my metric crescent wrench!

 

[jwmorris]

This reminded me of the time I was at a University working on a vehicle for an SAE competition and told an engineering student that he needed a 9/16" wrench to remove a 3/8-16 bolt holding on a part I needed to machine for him.

He went to a tool box, came back to the car and went to wrenching only to say "9/16 is too small...it's half inch." Me, "What? Did you just hear what came out of your mouth?" He showed me this wrench, that I replaced the next day with one correctly marked.

Dam the metric system, even "smart" people don't know fractions....

 

[mopardude318]

This reminded me of the time I was at a University working on a vehicle for an SAE competition and told an engineering student that he needed a 9/16" wrench to remove a 3/8-16 bolt holding on a part I needed to machine for him.

He went to a tool box, came back to the car and went to wrenching only to say "9/16 is too small...it's half inch." Me, "What? Did you just hear what came out of your mouth?" He showed me this wrench, that I replaced the next day with one correctly marked.

Dam the metric system, even "smart" people don't know fractions....

Wow! That wrench. I have never come across an incorrectly marked wrench like that. Please tell me you still have it? That thing would be a novelty! I would love to have it!!

 

[FarmWrench]

The toolbox​ consists of a large bottom Craftsman box.
Top drawer is "English" sockets on left side (wooden and steel homemade organization racks.) Steel rack is for 1/2" deepwell 6pt arranged in a U shape. (Smallest ends up next to largest socket. Doesn't tip over the way a single row will.). End wrenches in plastic dividers.


Next drawer is metric. Same layout.

Measure tools next down.

The rest of the bottom box is full of junk/supplies/don't want others to have fingers on.

There is a side hang on box that has smaller, and stiffer drawer. Top has the giant collection of Allen, torx special stuff.
Then a drawer of nutdrivers. (7mm is missing!!!!) Two drawers of pliers, vice grips. Then some carpenter stuff. Big bottom drawer has the 1" impact, 1" socket set, drill doctor.


There is a four drawer box on top of the big box. Top drawer is open, tube and box end wrenches, .22lr ammo, inventory sheet.
Drawer of screwdrivers. Drawer of drive tools, extension, speeders, adaptors.
Bottom has 1/4" drive and "little stuff" ignition wrenches, exacto knife magifying glass.


On top of this stack is a CPL Montezuma medium. That gets the snapon.

My favorite "go to" is this impossible to replace tray. Which I can't figure out how to post a picture of..... Square plate from Craftsman that takes the standard spring clip for sockets. It holds my 3/8" standard and metric 6pt sets. That plate, 2 blowmold cases of gear wrenches, jug of Hagen's brew and the tools in my pocket get me through 90%.

 

[FarmWrench]

 

[crazyal]

You guys are much more organized than me. I just have a flat piece of steel with holes in it mounted to the wall for screwdrivers. Next to that is a piece of plywood with screws in it to hang wrench sets. The stuff that's not regularly used is in junk drawers separated by SAE/ Metric. I have some old cabinets mounted to the wall to store things like drills and cans. The only foam I used is the one drawer that has the torque wrenches.

 

[Knight9]

Wow! That wrench. I have never come across an incorrectly marked wrench like that. Please tell me you still have it? That thing would be a novelty! I would love to have it!!

I have some of that type of wrench. Not mis-marked...just different sizes on the two ends. I suspect that wrench as fine.

 

[stuckmotor]

I have some of that type of wrench. Not mis-marked...just different sizes on the two ends. I suspect that wrench as fine.

That's what I was thinking.