Socket Organizer

This is not an original idea of mine. I saw this in an article but I cannot recall when or where.

I have collected a fairly complete set (metric and standard 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive) of sockets over the years. I bought the majority of them in one of the Sears couple hundred piece tool specials they periodically advertise. One of the problems with these tool sets is that they do not usually come with tool holders or organizers. I have stored my sockets in boxes, plastic bags, those inexpensive metal socket strips from the mail order houses, and loose in my tool cabinet drawers. None of these devices worked to my satisfaction as the sockets had a tendency to get mixed together thereby resulting in my spending more time hunting for a particular socket than I did working on my project. I recalled seeing this idea somewhere and decided to give it a try. It is nothing more than a piece of wood with wooden dowels attached. I bought long pieces of 1/2", 3/8" and 1/4" dowels at the local hardware store and cut them to the desired length. I spaced the sockets on the board, marked where I wanted each socket, and used a drill press to drill the appropriate sized hole for the dowel. I cut the tops of the dowels at an angle so it would be easier to put the sockets over them and to make a larger surface so I could print the socket size on the dowel with a thin tip permanent marker. I painted the top of the dowels with white paint before I printed the sizes. You can make this any size for any number of sockets. You are only limited by your desire and imagination.

This is much better. It is now quick and easy to grab the right socket. I can determine the size of the socket by looking at the printed info on the dowel and, by looking for empty dowels, I can see in an instant what sockets are still on the bench or in the car.