How do you deal with broken latches on your socket set kits?
 

I'm working on a few ideas but was curious what some of you have done. Thanks!

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Bungee cord

Steel boxes, trays and chests.

Best
Les

Ding, ding, we have a winner.

What I do....flat rubber strap, though.

That's gods way of telling you those plastic boxes are only meant for 'occasional use only' items. Items such as compression check set, tap and die tools, weird cam holders, etc.

Old E is right. Free those sockets from that container. They need to be in a real tool box, or up on a wall in plain reach/sight.

edit- although when this specific tab breakage occurs, I rip it off and pretend it never happened!

Sockets? All arranged on snap in organizational bars in a rollaway drawer. For 3/8" drive, 15 bars, a dozen or so sockets each. What do you want? Short, long, mid, metric, SAE, 6 point, 12 point, hex, star, triple square, swivel, etc? Every strip's handle has a label taped to it..like "Metric..mid..6 pt."

For 1/4" drive, a similar set up, but not as many sockets...

Mostly USA made "Craftsperson" brand...I'll leave $nap-on to the pros.

Duct tape.

It's those damn 10mm sockets .... they always break the latch and escape :D

This should be another entry into the old man thread, because a young man won't have time to fuss with this. That said, here is how I'd solve it.

• Cut off the old loop
• Use a blind rivet and attach a small hair elastic, or similar, to the box (green).
• A piece of gaffers tape or similar for a pull tab (red)
• You might need to use a heat gun and the end of a common screwdriver at the area shown at the blue arrow to increase the size of the "hook" needed in the plastic box in order to give the elastic something to catch.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639009411.jpg

^ Heck, if you do that, use a piece of quality leather! :D

Ive had that same set for 50 years. Still use it all the time. The catch is broken on mine too. It stays inside a bigger box so its ok;

GREAT idea!

Appreciate all the other suggestions but if possible I'd like to keep using these socket kit boxes. I like how everything is in one box and the sockets are in individual holders marked with their size.

I do have some socket holders for my 3/8" and 1/2" sockets but for the 1/4" I like these little boxes.

Thanks, Herr Oberst - will post a pic when I get the repairs done.

Rack em and stack em….



New box.
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Old box.
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This is good. You could (maybe) skip the rivet and pass some shock-cord thru a couple holes and knot each end on the inside.

I would examine the box to see if there’s some place to put adhesive Velcro strips.

My first thought was to cut some strips out of a milk jug and heat-stake that latch back into place.

But that would be ugly. herr_oberst's solution could look good.

I'm using the strips because I'm usually working elsewhere, and select the first size wrong...

10mm, 13mm, 17mm all get a stripe or two of nail polish or touch-up paint.
Writing numbers also works but the paint chips off.

Another idea besides a new latch is to dremel square holes and inlay/glue magnetic stoppers.

Blow-molded cases and parking lots are always designed wrong.grr

Me too...Just grab the handle of the sears socket rack. the ratchet and/or extension, and I'm sure I have the right size.

Good idea. I have a piece of very thin shock cord that might work. Thanks!


Thanks, Bob. Afraid it would take too much force to open and sockets would jiggle out of place. Plus strips might get in the way after opening.


Thanks! I was just thinking about the same thing Saturday when changing out the Ninja battery. Color code that 10mm - 1/2" - etc.


With the small & portable box next to where I'm working ---- I have everything I need. Sockets, extensions, ratchet, non-ratchet, swivel, hand driver, etc, etc....that's why I want to keep using it this way.

Find a replacement box at a yard sale or Craigslist? :)

Before I proceed with the elastic band concept....I'm going to see if one of these will work.......

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/c34...2&odnBg=ffffff

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Thanks, Mark! SmileWavy

I used screws and JB Weld to repair a blown moulded case for the Ryobi demo saw. If you want, I'll post pics. It works OK.

I get it. The boxes often keep things more neat and orderly than buying rails and coming up with your own. They usually take up a lot more space than rails in a toolbox, but if you've got the space, then the boxes keep things very neat and organized.

I added a latch and metal hinges. Parts I just happened to have around.

Because of the "slant" angles on the sides of the plastic box top & bottom, I cut small aluminum wedges so the draw latch would mount and align properly.

I also have a big roll-around tool chest/base combination, but I still find it useful to have a good portable set. These have certainly served me well over the years.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639100297.JPG
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I knew it was a craftsman box the second i saw the title! lol I have a little 1/4" set probably from the early 90s I love it use it constantly. With an s-k ratchet because the craftsmans are scrap metal ofcourse. The latch is actually a seperate part i think so its a little more flexable material. I dred the day the latch breaks but with a little injunuity im sure it could be resolved somehow either with a latch or perhaps a snap. i like the magnetic idea aswell but it would be a mess with all the metal dust in my shop

What brand is the blue holder? I've been using rails for years but they suck and I'm looking for something better

BTW I can only hope to get my drawer that organized

I bought them at Lowe’s. The only problem is, there was not enough clips on each rack, so I had to buy more to fill the rack completely. Also, I’ve got them butted up tight to each other front the back.

Since this picture was taken a while back, I’ve added more sockets as needed.

Edit: my name is a930rocket and I’m a tool addict. 😂

Get the magnetic drop in organizers like the olsa ones, vs the ones with clips, those are great. Will dig up a picture.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639105550.jpg

Can't remember which brand I got, but the same thing, and there are also a few different styles for extensions, wobbles, etc.

This is an issue I've noticed I too will have to resolve. Your small aluminum wedge idea is a good one!

I wonder if this how it's done as NASA?

;)

I just came upon a Williams box with broken hinges. I havnt got into it yet but i was thinking maybe small jack nuts would be the strongest connection if there is a big enough hollow area in it. kinda doubt my local hardware store has them though

I use socket organizers (rather like A930Rocket's pictures) that go neatly int my big Craftsman roll around chest...much easier to grab what you need that way, or take a whole row with you.

I've had the strips with clips for years. They do the job, but I'm not a huge fan as they can be a pain to get stuff off of at times. I've occasionally had to bend them to get them to hold (too loose) and have done the same if they were too tight. Some are still pretty tight, but I just wiggle them back and forth a bit and they come out.

Are those DIY racks using bits of dowel? If so, I like that solution. The dowel is tall enough that they won't fall off, but presumably the sockets are easy to get on and off since they probably aren't a tight fit.

I used to have 5 boxes, one 3 high and one that was 2, not counting a small portable. When we downsized, I kept one top because it had been my grandfathers (not particularly old, but was his) and got rid of the rest. I need to start expanding again, but have other things to attend to first.

On the moulded case, how about simply strap it closed with a large slide release dog collar? Would probably keep working even if the back hinge failed too.