How do you organize your sockets?

[Martinjmpr]

Over the years I've either bought or "inherited" what seems like hundreds of socket wrenches. For the past decade or so most of them have resided in the top drawer of a tool cabinet but that just means that every time I need a specific size socket I end up wasting too much time trying to find the exact socket I need.

And every time I do that I say "I need to take the time to organize these things" but of course, when I'm right in the middle of project is never the "right time." And every time I'm in that situation, I tell myself "I need to find some cold, snowy, miserable weekend when there's nothing else to do and finally get those sockets organized."

Of course, this weekend filled the bill for that since it was cold, snowy, miserable, etc. So I got started.

This is what I started with:

sockets.JPG

As of last night I got the metric and SAE separated. Next task will be to separate by wrench size (1/2, 3/8 and 1/4) and then by socket size.

As you can see by the picture I do have some of those metal socket holder things, and certainly I could just get more of those but just wondering if that is what people are using or if there is something that might work better.

[CS1983]

First I lose 10mm and then I embark on a project that uses none of what I seem to have.

[20X11]

As a former "professional" mechanic, I have always used the "metal socket holder things" shown in your picture. The ones with the handle are the ones I use.

[Irving]

Every socket set should come with three 10mm sockets, even if it's SAE.

I've got a metric and SAE from Harbor Freight and I keep them on the plastic they come with. Since those are the majority of what I usually use, that is enough organization for me. Then I have a few of the metal holders with sockets in a different drawer that I generally forget about until I need some less used size. Just organizing the most used sizes goes a long way.

[whitewalrus]

I use the holders seen in your pictures. Since they are drive size specific, I sort by size with Metric and SAE on separate ones, 12pt separated from 6 pt. Socket trays also work if you want quicker access without having to remove the strip to pull them off.

[TFOGGER]

I use the twist lock racks. I think I have about 12 these days...

Similar to these:

https://www.amazon.com/Torin-Big-Red...ag=googhydr-20

When you lock the socket on the rack, it also locks the holder in place so it can't slide, maintaining spacing.

[Ah Pook]

Why did I read the title as "How Do You Organize Your Socks"? Time for more coffee.

Another user of the sliding racks. All my tool boxes have them.

[newracer]

In my tool box in the garage I have ones similar to these.



In my tool roll in the buggy I have these.

[ray1970]

I use magnetic holders. I'll see if I can get a generic picture up of what I'm talking about. They stick to the bottom of the toolbox drawer and the sockets stick inside of them. You'll have to have a deep drawer if you have a lot of deep sockets.

[ray1970]

Most of mine are like this.