My favorite quality sockets are the SK brand from 50 years ago. They were my first set, still have them, and still are the best.

I like the feel of my old Craftsman ratchets and wrenches but the ratchets need rebuilding. The new Craftsman branded stuff from Stanley Black & Decker seems to have the quality of the cheapest china made junk of old, knick it and the chrome starts peeling. I've collected a few Gearwench tools and been happy with them.

With the addition of several German cars I've found myself needing Torx and triple square tools and I just bought whatever was reasonable on Amazon. Same thought process as when I go to Harbor Fright, if it last pasts the job at hand I'm ahead of the game. I've bought several sets from LEXIVON on Amazon and they seem to be of good quality.

Not so when it comes to cordless tools, the batteries are a serious investment and I have older tools that are now useless because the battery died and no longer available (except when I make a replacement). So I standardized on Milwaukee M18 and M12 and EGO for the yard products.

I still have some of my original Craftsman tools from the 70's but sadly a lot of them were stolen before I got a place of my own.

steve said:

I like the feel of my old Craftsman ratchets and wrenches but the ratchets need rebuilding.

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You probably already know this. Ive been collecting ratchets at estate sales and they all needed rebuilds....so I thought. Every one of them just had dried up grease and crud in them. A thorough cleaning and they work like new. Its gotten a little out of control.

steve said:

The new Craftsman branded stuff from Stanley Black & Decker seems to have the quality of the cheapest china made junk of old, knick it and the chrome starts peeling. I've collected a few Gearwench tools and been happy with them.

With the addition of several German cars I've found myself needing Torx and triple square tools and I just bought whatever was reasonable on Amazon. Same thought process as when I go to Harbor Fright, if it last pasts the job at hand I'm ahead of the game. I've bought several sets from LEXIVON on Amazon and they seem to be of good quality.

Not so when it comes to cordless tools, the batteries are a serious investment and I have older tools that are now useless because the battery died and no longer available (except when I make a replacement). So I standardized on Milwaukee M18 and M12 and EGO for the yard products.

I still have some of my original Craftsman tools from the 70's but sadly a lot of them were stolen before I got a place of my own.

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The old stuff is way better quality, but some of the advances in design of the new stuff are nice too, for situations that simply weren't designed for back in the day. Low profile stuff, extension options, weird angles, etc. I'd love to have a mix of both.

Like Steve, I tend to like the Gearwrench hand tools, but with my old eyes, I'm starting to consider looking for new sockets with very easy to read markings, so my next purchase might be Milwaukee sockets just to test them out. I really like Milwaukee for all the power tool options. I probably use my Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches the most.

Just remembered, toolbox liners. Im just not wiling to spent a fortune. I need to find a solution as all my liners are trash. What have you guys come up with? I googled and didnt like most of what I found.

pauleyman said:

Just remembered, toolbox liners. Im just not wiling to spent a fortune. I need to find a solution as all my liners are trash. What have you guys come up with? I googled and didnt like most of what I found.

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It's been many years since I bought drawer liner material, I'd be no help. Everything available now is going to be different than when I bought mine. And I don't really like mine either.

I'm using a drawer liner used in kitchens, black, rubber, looks like a woven mat. Cut to size. Home Depot?

I use these Harbor Freight tool box liners: https://www.harborfreight.com/18-inch-x-72-inch-mesh-nonslip-drawer-liner-67055.html

pauleyman said:

Just remembered, toolbox liners. Im just not wiling to spent a fortune. I need to find a solution as all my liners are trash. What have you guys come up with? I googled and didnt like most of what I found.

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Justin DuBois said:

I'm using a drawer liner used in kitchens, black, rubber, looks like a woven mat. Cut to size. Home Depot?

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yep, I've been using something like this for ages. https://www.amazon.com/Tonws-Non-Adhesive-Cabinets-Kitchenware-Tableware/dp/B07SRTXNGD

Our local dollar store has rolls of that stuff for like $2, works well and if it gets torn, just cut another piece.

jdxnc said:

Our local dollar store has rolls of that stuff for like $2, works well and if it gets torn, just cut another piece.

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Good idea. Im trying not to spend 100$. If my math is right I need about 40 feet.

Battery Charger:
I've been using the Pro-Logix PL2310 and PL2320 6/12 chargers for 5 years. They make the Snap On chargers. If you have a truck that goes kakakaka , the PL2410 works for 12/24v systems. Great chargers that you can use in power supply mode for key on engine off diagnostics, storage mode/maintain, or if you have an older battery that has been under voltaged to long it has a mode to recover it. Works for lead acid, AGM, and LiFe batteries for you rich folks.

TPMS Tool:
My new cars have TPMS sensors. Autel sells a series of TPMS tools and reprogrammable TPMS sensors that work on 433 and 315 MHz. I have the TS508 tool and use their MX sensors. I can clone the sensors to match the ID in the car ECU. So I do not have to reprogram the car ECU, but I could if I wanted to. That gives me the option to swap in winter tires without having to reprogram the car. I have 1 sensor that works for ALL my cars, its great.

Parallel Jaw Pliers:
Not sure if I have mentioned this on DSMTuners before. Look up Knipex parallel jaw pliers. Just buy a pair. Don't question the price. Game changer. No more marring the flats on bolt or nut heads. All of a sudden you have something to grab parts on flats without marring them. You are now a professional and you can perform work without being a hack. Thank me later.

Im off on another tangent. Socket rails this time. I have six Hanson trays but I feel they take up too much room. Do I really need to size markers? I can spot a 12, 14 or 17 easily.
I need to cram a few more sets into my drawer. Discuss.

I really like the Olsa tools socket trays I have. But I think I got mine before they came out with the 3-row versions, which I'd rather have.



Now, what I really need are easy to read socket numbers like the Milwaukee black impact sockets. So I don't have to put my glasses on to read them when I'm using the smaller sockets.

Ludachris said:

I really like the Olsa tools socket trays I have. But I think I got mine before they came out with the 3-row versions, which I'd rather have.

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Now, what I really need are easy to read socket numbers like the Milwaukee black impact sockets. So I don't have to put my glasses on to read them when I'm using the smaller sockets.

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That looks very similar to my Hansen trays. I want the sockets pretty much up against each other. My drawer looks like this. I think I could fit at least 30 or 40% more.

Ludachris said:

I really like the Olsa tools socket trays I have. But I think I got mine before they came out with the 3-row versions, which I'd rather have.

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Now, what I really need are easy to read socket numbers like the Milwaukee black impact sockets. So I don't have to put my glasses on to read them when I'm using the smaller sockets.

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I have about 7-8 of those (1/2 through 1/2 Metric and Standard in Black & Red, plus one or two overflow) in my main box. I really like them as well (so long as your drawer is deep enough for longer, 1/2 drive impacts in them, etc...), but I now have the Harbor Freight versions of them in my other garage building on the property in the main box up there. Less than 1/2 of what I paid for the Olsa units a year or two ago, and quite honestly, I haven't noticed a real difference in quality between the two. Just an FYI if you want/need more of them in the future.

pauleyman said:

A little time has passed. Ive found a new obsession. Vintage tools. I lost most of my usa craftsman stuff years ago. Ive starting buying vintage sockets, wrenches, ratchets etc. What do you guys think? New vs old on any brand?

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This sorta hit me. I have my own tools that I purchased from Snap-On and Mac in the early 90's. I also have tools from my father, grandfather and great grandfather. Father was a plumber then car mechanic after Vietnam. Both Grandfathers were railroad mechanics. Their tools barely show any wear e.g. 12 point box wrenches, where as mine are starting to be sketchy, especially the common ones, 10mm, 9/16th, 1/2 in etc. I reach more for tools made in the '20's and '30's than the chrome blingly tools I bought in the '90's. Must be the nickle content. Most are unbranded and some are simply unique in design, box wrench shaped like an "S", but I'm not afraid ti crack a exhaust manifold bolt with any of them, especially the 6 point ones. Sh*t, I have tools that just fix other tools.

pauleyman said:

That looks very similar to my Hansen trays. I want the sockets pretty much up against each other. My drawer looks like this. I think I could fit at least 30 or 40% more.

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I don't know if you need more compact socket trays as much as you need another drawer. I have all mine separated by drive size - 3/8" in one drawer, 1/2" in another and 1/4" in another. Though I probably have way fewer sockets/tools than others, and don't claim to have the best organizational methods either.

Ludachris said:

I don't know if you need more compact socket trays as much as you need another drawer. I have all mine separated by drive size - 3/8" in one drawer, 1/2" in another and 1/4" in another. Though I probably have way fewer sockets/tools than others, and don't claim to have the best organizational methods either.

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I haven't wanted to admit that to myself but that's a consideration. I have too many non tool drawers that I could move elsewhere. Drawers full of parts etc. I had thought this 56 would be good enough forever....maybe not.

pauleyman said:

I haven't wanted to admit that to myself but that's a consideration. I have too many non tool drawers that I could move elsewhere. Drawers full of parts etc. I had thought this 56 would be good enough forever....maybe not.

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Yeah, I moved all of my parts to either a cabinet (for parts that will definitely be used) or bins (for spares or future projects), and put the bins out in the shed Cleared up a lot of drawer space for tools only.