I cannot figure out a nice way to organize my sockets in my tool box. I have a bog Craftsman tool box and a full set of metric sockets.

I have tried different ways but none work well. Please show off your toll boxes here and share your ways of organizing tools.

See, Alex, you should have gotten a wagon -- lots of cubbies and trays in the sub-floor compartment for tools. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif Anyway, I use the Craftsman socket bar (black plastic version with roller inserts). Works for me, and it won't wear out as quickly as the metal jobbies.

Joe, I can fit yor silly wagon in my Forester along with both mine and yours toll boxes. 4e*!

Those black roller bars are not good for me. Too hard to get the sockets in and out. Not reference point either.

Dear Mr. Imprezer,

As a Projection and Sound Technician...

700 tools and counting...

check these people out
www.tecratools.com (http://www.tecratools.com)

<IMG SRC="http://www.tecratools.com/pages/assorted/graphics/pelicanstackl.gif" border=0> http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif

This is what I do:

I went out to Sears and bought a pair of socket holders. It's a long thin steel piece which has about a dozen clips where the sockets mount. I paid $5 / pair. You put all your sockets to that holder.

I also have a Craftsman metal toolbox ($39) in my RS. I utilize one of the holes that the trunk has, and tie the toolbox along with my floorjack with a cable.

Alex,

Contact Opie, he has the nicest toolbox setup known to mankind, it's well organized and damn impressive!

Not sure how it fits in this forum... http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif

But, one thing you can try are the magnetic sheets they sell for crafty people to make pictures into refrigerator magnets. One side is sticky, attach that to the bottom of the drawer. Then but the sockets in order on top of that. The magnet is probably strong enough to hold them all in place when you open and close the drawer as long at you don't slam it.

Never tried this, but it's a thought.

Mac/Matco/Snap-On/etc. tool truck guys sell socket organizers that are plastic blocks with holes for sockets and a magnetic layer at the bottom.

finally a question I can answer ahah, but I have no pics.

I have mine in the tray they came in, but I have hundreds of sockets, and its a huge set, so it came in its own carrying case, I just took the top off the carrying case and laid the bottom part in the top drawer of my tool box.

Chuck is on the right track too, you could go to a sign shop and purshase a piece of magnetic sign matarial, the thin stuff they make the signs people stick on there work vans, and lay that in the top drawer and then line up the sockets.

or you can, get the socket slides, that someone mentioned.

I do have a pic of my wonderfull Snap-On Tool box though. Its a pretty crappy pic.

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1072522&a=7920399&p=46403931&Sequence=0&res=high" border=0>

Note, if you can see the three pictures of my scooby on the wall http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif


Jay McDade
Auto Tech--Lincoln/Mercury/Jaguar
www.hometown.aol.com/impreza25rs2000 (http://www.hometown.aol.com/impreza25rs2000)




[This message has been edited by McDade (edited April 12, 2001).]

I was going to do this myself and do pics but Have not gotten around to it. This is based on a "tool tip" I saw in a wood working mag....
(Keep in mind this is very work intesive but nice and custom...)

measure the tool box. Make a square frame that fits teh demensions. Lay the tools you want in a nice configuration. Put saran wrap over each tool. Spray expanding foam in the box. After it hardens cut off the overflow with a long kitchen knife. You now have a custom tool tray that fits exactly to the tools that you have. For a nice touch buy some of that Plati-Dip spray (home depot, next to HD racing dept. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif )and spray your desired color over the foam. Need to add a tool? Just carefully cut ot the foam to the tool measurements and there ya go.
I am going to to this for the spare tire in the trunk. It will be a little more involved but worth it I think.

Feel free to tell me I'm a goof, but I think it will work. In the mag, the guy took one of those small socket sets that come in the metal/plastic cases, but have the cheesey-flimsy socket holder. He duct taped th tools in and turned it over in the case and sprayed to foam in. he cut off the excess, anit it looked and worked great.

ChosenWon - Damn, that is actually a pretty good idea. The only way I could see it being better was if it was a thick liquid (like a thinned pudding) that poured in and cured non-sticky so you can just pull the tools out without problems.

Personally I've got two small tool boxes (small small) and a Craftsman set in a box made to hold it, and two sets of open ends in boxes like that as well. Just fold them up and throw them in the trunk anytime. *shrug*

I've got a big nasty Craftsman toolbox that barely fits in my trunk. It has about 6 2" drawers and stands about 2 feet tall. Misc wrenches go in one of the 3 smaller drawers, seperated by measurement standard of course. Sockets all go in one of my large drawers. They are all secure on these rubber socket holders I found at a Big A autoparts store (and they are expensive). Measurement standard is seperated by socket holder color http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

...Maybe I can be the first one to get pics http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

-Jon

I think ChosenWon put forth a good idea. The only suggestion I would add is priority. What is the frequency of use of each of your tools in your toolbox? I'm sure you'll find that you use certain sockets, etc. MUCH more than others. If you organize your tools according to usage, not being analy retentive about the supposed 'order' of the tools as you bought them, you'll be much better off. How often do you use that 18mm socket than came with your metric set? Not often if you just working on your Subie...

Worth thinking about, anyway.

- Steve


[This message has been edited by zzyzx (edited April 12, 2001).]

You throw all your sockets, extensions, adaptors, et cetera, metric and inch, into a slightly greasy, slightly gritty small cardboard box. Then when you need a particular size socket you just grope around until one feels right. After a while you'll get really good at it.

"1/2 inch... damn! I was trying for 13mm. Well... close enough!"

--scott

Thanks for the plug Dirt Man http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

Imprezer - Go to your local Sears store in the Hand Tools section, they sell these plastic, flourescent orange socket trays, they hold deep sockets on one side and shallows on the other. The sockets are all held in by a magnet and the tray has a nice handle that makes it easy to carry. Also the back of the tray is magnetized so you can stick it on the side of your toolbook if all the drawers get full http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif.

Here's a pic:
<IMG SRC="http://www.commercial.sears.com/comsale/industrial/toolcat/items/i12033.jpg" border=0>
Check it out here: http://www.commercial.sears.com/comsale/industrial/toolcat/ti.cgi/keyitem.ti/S ocket?tool=9-41374 (http://www.commercial.sears.com/comsale/industrial/toolcat/ti.cgi/keyitem.ti/Socket?tool=9-41374)
Here are the Sears part numbers for them:
1/4" Drive = 9-41359
3/8" Drive = 9-41358
1/2" Drive = 9-41374

Man, didn't you guys read his question? He said a big toolbox, I doubt its a cheesey handheld toolbox http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif. McDade looks like he's the only one that's got me beat...I don't have any pic's though.

[Tim Allen mode on]Arg, arg, arg, more tools![Tim Allen mode off]http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/lol.gif

[This message has been edited by Opie (edited April 12, 2001).]