Guys,
Dad and I are forever replacing sockets (i swear i've bought 9/16, 1/2, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 16mm & 19mm sockets about 10 times each!)
So after having a clean up of the shed getting ready to move it to mum and dads new place we are looking for peoples ideas on keeping sockets in order. We've used those metal strips with the clips and they seem to last about 3 months before they die in the ass. We've used the tool box but that just ends up with them being in a mess and un easy to find.
So - suggestions please!
Cheers!
Full Version: Tools - sockets
ummmm, learn to look after ur tools (both mechanical and physical) and place them back where they belong???
failing that, y exactly are u replacing them? because u lose them, or they are getting damaged somehow?
failing that, y exactly are u replacing them? because u lose them, or they are getting damaged somehow?
yeah exactly, if youre losing them,jsut put em back where they belong when youre done!
lol. back in the case if you got a set. 
If you go into IKEA, they have long strip magnets that attach to walls. I use them for my knifes in the kitchen, but I have a mate that uses them for his tools.
Just make sure that when you finish using them, you put them back (like a one for one policy)
Just make sure that when you finish using them, you put them back (like a one for one policy)
LOL.
Strip of wood across a wall with nails in it, and discipline.
shadow board
on the wall
for all to see (when something's missing)
that will end all your trouble
on the wall
for all to see (when something's missing)
that will end all your trouble
Foam cutouts in your toolkit, all our rollcabs at work use foam cutouts, basically it's two pieces of high density foam rubber glued to each other, lower layer is yellow upper is black making it very visible when a tool is missing, then it has shapes cutout in it, ours were all laser cut our something like that cost about $22000 for all the kits to be done, but you can do it at home for the cost of some high density foam and a few hours work with a router and scalpel blade to cut the shapes out.
Like this but without the Snap On price http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P6...amp;dir=catalog just go to your local foam and rubber shop and buy the seperate foam sheets and glue them together and get cutting, so you cut right through the top layer but not all the way through the bottom layer if that makes sense.
I found some pics, so hopefully you can make it out in the pics, if you remove a tool from the tray a spanner a socket or whatever, there will be a a big yellow area from the yellow lower layer of foam where the tool is missing from.
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Like this but without the Snap On price http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P6...amp;dir=catalog just go to your local foam and rubber shop and buy the seperate foam sheets and glue them together and get cutting, so you cut right through the top layer but not all the way through the bottom layer if that makes sense.
I found some pics, so hopefully you can make it out in the pics, if you remove a tool from the tray a spanner a socket or whatever, there will be a a big yellow area from the yellow lower layer of foam where the tool is missing from.
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Kirk... Are you serious? lol
Anyways, on a more serious note, any of the above methods would work fine. We have ours all packed away in their respective sets/boxes. Then those go in the tool chest/drawers, thingy majigy. We have an old set on them strips that have the 1/2" male ends on them to hold them on. Seems to work fine IMHO.
Hope that helps lol.
Anyways, on a more serious note, any of the above methods would work fine. We have ours all packed away in their respective sets/boxes. Then those go in the tool chest/drawers, thingy majigy. We have an old set on them strips that have the 1/2" male ends on them to hold them on. Seems to work fine IMHO.
Hope that helps lol.
Try to not lose them.
Works for me.
Works for me.
put them back where you found them.. my dad gives me bad looks when tools arent put away.. or in the wrong spot.. haha
or learn organisation...
or learn organisation...
dont use them, works for me!
i had a 54mm socket in my engine bay for 3 years and never lost it, was just sitting there sealed by the bonnet.
friend was wrapt when i got it out for him, wasnt a cheep socket haha
i had a 54mm socket in my engine bay for 3 years and never lost it, was just sitting there sealed by the bonnet.
friend was wrapt when i got it out for him, wasnt a cheep socket haha
i vote this for useless post of the year award.
QUOTE (BMWTurbo @ Aug 26 2008, 02:51 PM) 
I have a similar set, but thats the set I don't care about cos they're pretty cheap and nasty (not TOO bad, but I wouldn't wanna use them for any major mechanical work)
however, I haven't lost any of them either.
Ok ok ass clowns.
The problem is that between us we have atleast 5 sets of 1/2" square drive socket sets and about 3 sets a 1/4" square drive socket sets - plus a heap of impact driver 1/2" square drive sockets.
All of these sets (Kinchrome, Sidchrome, A.O.K etc) come in metal boxes with plastic inserts - over time of being used these plastic inserts break down and then the tools become jumbled in the boxes.
We also always put our tools back - but there have been occasions when a socket has been lost. Particularly the more common sizes like mentioned in the original post. I've never broken a socket in my life. I have snapped several socket adaptors and extension bars though (mostly twist extension bars).
Rick those strips your talking about are what we currently use and they are sh!t. After about 6 months use they don't hold the sockets any more.
The magnet idea isnt bad but I can see swarf and filings getting stuck on it.
Lukes idea with the foams pretty good and actually similar to what I've been thinking of (only I was stupidly trying to work out how to do it using expanding foam)
Putting them back on a one for one is a great idea - only its not always that practical. If you need ot work on something on site you only take to sizes you require which can lead to lost sockets (lost some over the edge on the boat once) Also when working on machinery which needs 2 different size sockets either side you dont have that one for one.
Also with having so many tool sets (I have a set at mum and dads, plus dad has 2 sets plus Eamon has a set. Then there is one full set of metric imperial and whitworth down at inverloch plus a part set. Plus there is a set at the new house plus theres the set in the gardeners shed - though the gardener nearly always works in the main shed and uses the other sets cause its a PITA to work in the gardeners shed. Plus I have a full set and a part set at my place. Plus theres all the random sockets that come with different tools like the crank and the impact driver rattle gun and air ratchet.
The shed at home is 25ft x 60ft and admittedly through carelessness tools do get lost from time to time. Though having turned out 5 full restos and two bare metal buildups and gone through 2 teenage boys and countless number of mates borrowing the shed and tools I think the number of tools that have gone MIA isnt too bad. I still have every single ring spanner I've ever owned cause they have always been kept in their tool belts or on shaddor boards around the shed - its just sockets that we have the storage problem with.
The problem is that between us we have atleast 5 sets of 1/2" square drive socket sets and about 3 sets a 1/4" square drive socket sets - plus a heap of impact driver 1/2" square drive sockets.
All of these sets (Kinchrome, Sidchrome, A.O.K etc) come in metal boxes with plastic inserts - over time of being used these plastic inserts break down and then the tools become jumbled in the boxes.
We also always put our tools back - but there have been occasions when a socket has been lost. Particularly the more common sizes like mentioned in the original post. I've never broken a socket in my life. I have snapped several socket adaptors and extension bars though (mostly twist extension bars).
Rick those strips your talking about are what we currently use and they are sh!t. After about 6 months use they don't hold the sockets any more.
The magnet idea isnt bad but I can see swarf and filings getting stuck on it.
Lukes idea with the foams pretty good and actually similar to what I've been thinking of (only I was stupidly trying to work out how to do it using expanding foam)
Putting them back on a one for one is a great idea - only its not always that practical. If you need ot work on something on site you only take to sizes you require which can lead to lost sockets (lost some over the edge on the boat once) Also when working on machinery which needs 2 different size sockets either side you dont have that one for one.
Also with having so many tool sets (I have a set at mum and dads, plus dad has 2 sets plus Eamon has a set. Then there is one full set of metric imperial and whitworth down at inverloch plus a part set. Plus there is a set at the new house plus theres the set in the gardeners shed - though the gardener nearly always works in the main shed and uses the other sets cause its a PITA to work in the gardeners shed. Plus I have a full set and a part set at my place. Plus theres all the random sockets that come with different tools like the crank and the impact driver rattle gun and air ratchet.
The shed at home is 25ft x 60ft and admittedly through carelessness tools do get lost from time to time. Though having turned out 5 full restos and two bare metal buildups and gone through 2 teenage boys and countless number of mates borrowing the shed and tools I think the number of tools that have gone MIA isnt too bad. I still have every single ring spanner I've ever owned cause they have always been kept in their tool belts or on shaddor boards around the shed - its just sockets that we have the storage problem with.
Lost tools are a nightmare for me, I work in aviation and on my shift I'm the go to person for tools so if you want to modify one I'll explain the paperwork required or if you need something ordered in to do a job or just replace old f***ed ones. Anyway we use a combination of tool boards with shadowmarks and it's all tagged each peron has a individual row of tags and to use a tool they must tag the spot where it came from, that way at the end of the day they put there tools back they get all there tags back and they know eveything they used they put back. We also have rollcabs with those foam cutouts but you tag the whole rollcab out in that case and at the of the day you make sure it's all there and sign for it all being there. The problem is sockets mostly, people sometimes lose them especially the small 1/4 drive ones and also screwdriver tips etc... So what is meant to happen is if someone loses a tool they put there hand up and admit to it since you don't get in trouble and we can ask the questions where were you working etc... and everyone can start looking for it and in 95% of cases it will get found, problem is from time to time people lose something and don't admit to it since they don't won't to make themselves look bad and we spot it when we clear the boards at the end of the day and since they have removed there tag it's like so on which of the three aircraft was it lost and in most cases those tools will never get found, or in some cases people will go to huge lengths to cover there tracks such as getting a cheap tool from supercheap and replacing the lost one, and it won't get spotted for days or months that there is an odd socket on the board, and it's well what do you do we could search for weeks and not find it. The paperwork for me and Quality and then Engineering is a pain in the backside if something gets lost.
But the point is it's all well and good coming on here saying just put stuff back when your finished, but unless you work with tools all day every day and sometimes in very difficult spots with just about one of everything to get a job done, you don't realise that sometimes stuff gets lost or dropped and not relised, the number of time you put a tool in the bin without relising because it's mixed in with a bunch of rubbish. Especially when there is close to 150 guys, 4 main toolboards and about 40 rollcabs.
But the point is it's all well and good coming on here saying just put stuff back when your finished, but unless you work with tools all day every day and sometimes in very difficult spots with just about one of everything to get a job done, you don't realise that sometimes stuff gets lost or dropped and not relised, the number of time you put a tool in the bin without relising because it's mixed in with a bunch of rubbish. Especially when there is close to 150 guys, 4 main toolboards and about 40 rollcabs.
Amen to that! ^
You'be be supprised at how many times we've had to go to the scrap bin to get hand tools or a grinder - or in one case a $3500 mag base drill stand. People get busy / distracted what ever they pick up a bunch of scrap or rubbish and dump it in the bin. Or someone dumps a grinder in a barrow with scrap then someone else grabs the barrow cause then need to borrow it and they dump the scrap thinking they are doing someone a favour - only there is a shifter or a grinder or a podgie or a beam bar or something in the barrow too that someone put on there to get it off the floor whilst they sweep their area.
We spend about $4000 a month, maintenance and purchase, here at work on tools - and im the guy who has to keep records. Not only for our records but also for taxation and OH&S reasons I have to keep maintenance records of every thing. Be it simply replacing bushes in the grinders or sharpening drill bits - right through to compressor and pressure vessle records and records for overhead cranes and the chain slings and a 200tonne hydraulic cropper which will punch a 70mm hole through anything upto about 50mm mild steel plate.
I realise tools go missing. Someone borrows something off one of the other boys then at the end of the day chucks it in their tool box by accident or it gets dropped and goes between stacks of steel - let me assure you its cheaper to replace tools than it is to move 50+ tonne of stacked fabricated steel
Obviously in the home workshop theres less excusses - but stuff does go missing. Like I say ring spanners, hammers, ratchets etc dont go missing. Its smaller and commonly used items like stubby screw drivers and common socket sizes. And in 99% of cases its not lost when working in the shed - its when working on something in the field (be that in the paddock or at a freinds place or when you've worked on a car thats broken down on the side of the road).
Honestly loosing these items really isnt a worry cause I just buy them on account when I buy my bolts a few bucks for a new 12mm socket is nothing when you're spending $10k+ per month on bolts from the same suppliers. Its more a case of its frustrating when you need one and you cant find it for looking because there is no organisation in the way the sockets are stored.
You'be be supprised at how many times we've had to go to the scrap bin to get hand tools or a grinder - or in one case a $3500 mag base drill stand. People get busy / distracted what ever they pick up a bunch of scrap or rubbish and dump it in the bin. Or someone dumps a grinder in a barrow with scrap then someone else grabs the barrow cause then need to borrow it and they dump the scrap thinking they are doing someone a favour - only there is a shifter or a grinder or a podgie or a beam bar or something in the barrow too that someone put on there to get it off the floor whilst they sweep their area.
We spend about $4000 a month, maintenance and purchase, here at work on tools - and im the guy who has to keep records. Not only for our records but also for taxation and OH&S reasons I have to keep maintenance records of every thing. Be it simply replacing bushes in the grinders or sharpening drill bits - right through to compressor and pressure vessle records and records for overhead cranes and the chain slings and a 200tonne hydraulic cropper which will punch a 70mm hole through anything upto about 50mm mild steel plate.
I realise tools go missing. Someone borrows something off one of the other boys then at the end of the day chucks it in their tool box by accident or it gets dropped and goes between stacks of steel - let me assure you its cheaper to replace tools than it is to move 50+ tonne of stacked fabricated steel
Obviously in the home workshop theres less excusses - but stuff does go missing. Like I say ring spanners, hammers, ratchets etc dont go missing. Its smaller and commonly used items like stubby screw drivers and common socket sizes. And in 99% of cases its not lost when working in the shed - its when working on something in the field (be that in the paddock or at a freinds place or when you've worked on a car thats broken down on the side of the road).
Honestly loosing these items really isnt a worry cause I just buy them on account when I buy my bolts a few bucks for a new 12mm socket is nothing when you're spending $10k+ per month on bolts from the same suppliers. Its more a case of its frustrating when you need one and you cant find it for looking because there is no organisation in the way the sockets are stored.
mmmm mag drill stand
so handy! we used to have one for drilling safes, made life soo much easier!
so handy! we used to have one for drilling safes, made life soo much easier!
you're a bank robber?
This was an interesting thread until it turned into an essay fest haha
^ Thats heaps funny. Kirk, you, are a tool.
And yeah i know them strip things arent that great. We only use them for the crappy set that we dont really care about The good set stays in the tool chest in its case thing.
The foam idea is the best option. For sockets it would be awesome because you just cut out circles of different sizes obviously and they wont have to be perfect since the foam has some expansion in it. Only problem you might have is putting them in the wrong places when you are using a 12mm and 13mm socket and cant tell the difference in the spaces. You would obviously need to label the foam some how.
hahaQUOTE (~Sparkles~ @ Aug 27 2008, 10:33 AM)
Ok ok ass clowns.
Lukes idea with the foams pretty good and actually similar to what I've been thinking of (only I was stupidly trying to work out how to do it using expanding foam)
Lukes idea with the foams pretty good and actually similar to what I've been thinking of (only I was stupidly trying to work out how to do it using expanding foam)
^ Thats heaps funny. Kirk, you, are a tool.
And yeah i know them strip things arent that great. We only use them for the crappy set that we dont really care about
The good set stays in the tool chest in its case thing.The foam idea is the best option. For sockets it would be awesome because you just cut out circles of different sizes obviously and they wont have to be perfect since the foam has some expansion in it. Only problem you might have is putting them in the wrong places when you are using a 12mm and 13mm socket and cant tell the difference in the spaces. You would obviously need to label the foam some how.
Yep I like th foam idea - think I'll go check out clark rubber soon.
Fudd Mag stands - I've got 6 of them and rotor broach cutters upto 48mm. I've been telling you for ages we need to start robbing banks
Fudd Mag stands - I've got 6 of them and rotor broach cutters upto 48mm. I've been telling you for ages we need to start robbing banks
lets do it..
we shall scope out a nice country town bank
somewhere that hellicoptors are not close to (them pesky heat camera's are tricky to avoid!)
we shall scope out a nice country town bank
somewhere that hellicoptors are not close to (them pesky heat camera's are tricky to avoid!)
there is a quiet little bank vault in snowtown that might fit your needs.
so we can hide your body?
Ok ^ Bump! ^
Spoke with sam from Phatt and got a couple of good ideas and Now I think im going to get a strong flat magnet to line the draw of the tool box and then lay non slip matting over the top. See how that goes if not i'll go the foam cut outs.
But thats got me looking. I have 3 tool boxes and Eamon has 2 and dad has fricken heaps of smaller ones where as eamon and I have decent ball bearing slide tool boxes.
So I've spoken with mum and we have decided to look into getting him a roller cab
We are looking into the "super wide" style roller cabs with a 14 drawer (9 wide plus 5 narrow) bottom with ball bearing rollers and wheels like so
And an 8 drawer top ball bearing slides and gas strut lid like so
Its around about $1760+ GST through my suppliers for both cabinets delivered which I didnt think was too bad for the quality of the cabinets
They are either 1-11 or Senator Brand tool chests (I think he said they were senator branded units but senator is made by 1-11, dont quote me on that though)
Any one got any comments good bad or other wise?
Spoke with sam from Phatt and got a couple of good ideas and Now I think im going to get a strong flat magnet to line the draw of the tool box and then lay non slip matting over the top. See how that goes if not i'll go the foam cut outs.
But thats got me looking. I have 3 tool boxes and Eamon has 2 and dad has fricken heaps of smaller ones where as eamon and I have decent ball bearing slide tool boxes.
So I've spoken with mum and we have decided to look into getting him a roller cab
We are looking into the "super wide" style roller cabs with a 14 drawer (9 wide plus 5 narrow) bottom with ball bearing rollers and wheels like so
And an 8 drawer top ball bearing slides and gas strut lid like so
Its around about $1760+ GST through my suppliers for both cabinets delivered which I didnt think was too bad for the quality of the cabinets
They are either 1-11 or Senator Brand tool chests (I think he said they were senator branded units but senator is made by 1-11, dont quote me on that though)
Any one got any comments good bad or other wise?
QUOTE (Fudd @ Aug 27 2008, 02:41 PM)
so we can hide your body?
don't be like that fuddly, you know you would miss me.
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