Make a Socket Clip

by WareShoals

5.5K426

Intro: Make a Socket Clip

Don't you hate it when the socket you need is lost in the bottom of your tool box, just rolling around loose and you have to pull everything out to find it... Well no more! You too can make the socket clip and have your sockets neat and handy. Just a few minutes, some simple tools, and your tool box is organized like never before.

STEP 1: You Need a Wire Hangar

What you need: a wire hangar, needle nose pliers, regular pliers, and some sockets needing to be organized.

STEP 2: Cut Out the Bad Part

Using the wire cutter jaws on your pliers cut the hagar just below the twisted part. We really dont want to try and straighten that out so just cut it off.

STEP 3: Straighten It Out

Now straighten out the hagar so it's one long peice of wire.

STEP 4: Bend a Hook

Using your needle nose pliers bend a little hook in one end of the wire.

STEP 5: Measure and Bend Again

Line up your sockets. Bend your hook over so it's 90 degrees to the wire. Bend the wire below the last socket so it's pointing the same direction as your hook. Then I use the width of my pliers as a guage and bend the wire back up to the hook.

STEP 6: Cut, Wiggle, Clip

Cut the top of your wire just above the hook. Then using your needle nose pliers bend a little 'wiggle' right where the wire meets the hook. Don't make the wiggle to big or the sockets won't slip over it. And we're finished.

STEP 7: Sockets Organized

Slip your sockets on and clip it closed. You may need to adjust the width of your hook so there is just a little resistance when it clips closed; that way it won't come open in your tool box. Your sockets are now organized and ready when you need them.

STEP 8: Enjoy Your Success

Here's the small tool pouch I carry on my motorcycle. The clips only hold three sockets each but it fits in the pouch just fine.

The first time I posted this instructable I took a little criticism because I called it a holder. It's not... it's just a big clip or safety pin. Yes you will have to take all the other sockets off to get to the one you need and put'em back on to store them. If you like it... great! If you improve it or change to suit you... even better. In the world of DIY YOU is the most important part. Remember, I'm pullin' for you... we're all in this together.

6 Comments

LINGLING 11 years ago

I use a similar design for holding bait on my crab nets

WareShoals 11 years ago

You know I've been taking these clips underneath the car with me for the last 34 years. Here are a couple pictures of my first one I made in 1978. Still have it in my tool box and still use it. You'll notice I've changed it a bit to make it a little more user friendly. Thanks for your comments. WS

Phil B 11 years ago

Thanks for pulling for us. We are men. We can change if we must, I guess. (I appreciate your reference to Red Green.)

Thank you for the idea. I have thought I need something like this. I frequently think I have accurately judged the size of a bolt or a nut, only to discover I need to crawl out from under the car and try again. This would allow me to get the right socket without climbing out from under the car again, and again.

punkhead58 11 years ago

Yep, I do that every time. And rather than just getting the whole socket tray to begin with, I go back and forth 3 times with different sockets before I finally get it right. It doesn't make much sense.