Shown above is a generic magnetic parts tray. This particular image is of a Titan 3pc set I found on Amazon, but there are many others like it, and they’re sold almost everywhere mechanics or automotive tools are sold.
Magnetic trays are often circular or rectangular, and they provide you with a convenient and secure place to store fasteners that you don’t want to lose track of during a task or project.
If you read the title carefully, you might have noticed that I said magnetic cup, not tray.
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This is a Hazet magnetic parts cup. I wrote about these before, and you can buy one for yourself for ~$18 and change. I have yet to find better pricing on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
If you want to save a little money, you can buy something similar from OEMTools on Amazon.
I compared the Hazet and OEMTools parts cups, and I prefer the Hazet for no particular reason. The construction is only slightly different, and I convinced myself that the Hazet was worth the small premium. In other words, I prefer the Hazet, but there aren’t any objective reasons for me to recommend it over the OEMTools version.
There are also now a couple of new brands selling similar products on Amazon for even less than the OEMTools version, but I like to stick with brands that I know.
Back to the point – magnetic parts cups are better than generic magnetic parts cups and trays.
Whether you call this a cup or a bowl, its benefits are clear.
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First, I really like the footprint over magnetic trays. These cups are 6″ in diameter, and so they’re not too small, and the side walls help them to hold more without risk of the contents spilling out.
Second, these cups can be secured to vertical magnetic surfaces, such as the side of a steel cabinet or tool cart. This greatly increases its versatility, as it means I don’t have to give up any horizontal working surface. Sure, you can almost do the same with traditional parts cups and trays, but parts can start to slide if they’re not directly over a magnet. Magnetic strength can be a concern here too, but the sidewall will physically stop fasteners from sliding out in most situations.
The magnets are fairly strong, and I like that I don’t have to worry about the rubber-encased magnetic base or plastic cup construction scratching or dinging anything.
Are these better? I certainly believe so. Could I be wrong? Sure – I’m open to the idea. Tell me why in the comments section.
Whether you agree with me or not, maybe we can at least agree that it’s good to have options.
Buy Now: Hazet Cup via KC Tool
Buy Now: OEMTools via Amazon
Buy Now: More Styles via Amazon
While we’re on the topic of magnetic parts holders, I also like this new style of collapsible parts tray. I have a 2-pack of the Craftsman version, and sometimes wish I went with the EZ Red 3-pack. If I had to pick just one style, it’d be the Hazet or OEMTools cups, but the different styles tend to complement each other.
See Also: EZ Red Trays via Amazon
See Also: Craftsman Trays via Lowe’s
I still have an older plain-style Craftsman-branded magnetic parts tray around here somewhere. I’ll probably never part with it, unless it falls apart, but I have definitely found myself using the plastic Hazet cup quite a bit more, even for non-magnetic parts and fasteners.
Bob Hinden
I almost ordered the Hazet one, but the shipping was would have been over 50% of the cost. I got the OEMTools on Amazon instead.
Stuart
Yup. The best way to order the Hazet from KC Tool is to add it to your cart or wishlist and pull the trigger as part of a larger order that’s eligible for free shipping.
fred
You might also wait to see if they do their 20% off deal around BF/Cyber Monday – but that’s pure speculation.
Hilton
I bought a two pack of the OEMTOOL green cups in 2019 for $14.
Still seems like a good buy.
Randy
Same here. Very handy.
Eric
I rarely find myself using one of these after getting my 3d printer. I’ve made a few different divided trays of various sizes. I really prefer the divided trays for keeping things organized.
MoogleMan3
Holy crap I need like a dozen of these things lol
I have a bunch of the titan ones and can still never find one when I need it…
Paul
I like the magnetic ones but a lot of electrical fasteners aren’t magnetic and the trays never seem to keep things contained.
After investing big in Toughsystem boxes I had a ton of bins left over (no magnets). They are usually a good size and on jobs where we remove something and plan on coming back weeks later since they are effectively free I don’t feel bad if I lose one but they mostly just come right back so right now I still have plenty.
Col. Bud
The magnetic cups look cool snd I can see the benefit of taller sides for non-magnetic parts, but I have three of the generic style round trays that I use a lot, and I just don’t see the weaknesses noted. Mine are stored on the sides of my tool cabinet so I always know where they are, and the magnets are more than strong enough to hold steel fasteners with the tray upside down. It’s not unusual for me to think I’ve lost a part and then find it stuck to the outside bottom of the tray.
A tray that won’t scratch a painted surface is appealing, and I might try one of these cups, but not because there’s anything substantively deficient in the generic trays I have.
Matt the Hoople
I have a couple of the trays. Came in a set. One round and one rectangle. I plan to get a cup or two. I think, in general, the advantages you mentioned of the cup have merit. This is especially true when using on the side of a surface. However, there are times when the tray rules. For many small jobs where I need only a couple of tools, the rectangular tray allows me to carry and contain the tools and have a place to put fasteners. A recent example was replacing the battery in my son’s car. The rectangular tray held the 1/4 drive ratchet, extension, 9 and 10mm deep sockets and a screwdriver for travel from the garage out to the car and back. It also easily held the battery hold down bracket once removed. A cup couldn’t have done this effectively.
So, while I think the cup is maybe a better general purpose choice when only small parts are concerned, trays have their place based on application.
Jon98
been a mechanic for 20 years and have cup and rectangular tray and I prefer the cup mainly because it can be hung on the side of machine I’m working on (I’m in heavy equipment field) and not have to rely on magnet keeping bolts in the cup
Mike
I’ve had that EZ Red set for about a year now. I can’t recommend them enough. I use them all the time.
Jared
I have a lot of the traditional magnetic metal cups and trays – but I’ve been meaning to try the ones with the taller sides. My use case is probably a bit different than most however, so let me tell you were the rectangle style can be handy.
First, I have several long skinny rectangular trays. Without running out to the shop to measure I’d guess they’re somewhere around 2″x11″. What those are GREAT for is organizing tools! You can pop two or three ratchets in there and put it in a tool chest drawer, that way everything stays put but is also re-organizable. It’s easy to take a tray out too. I also have some smaller rectangles I use for stubby ratchets or the 1/4″ stuff.
Second, I have one of the big Titan rectangle trays holding nothing but adapters. E.g. the ones to change sizes (3/8 female to 1/2″ male for example), magnetic extensions, swivel adapters, wobble extensions, etc. All the short stuff that I can pop onto the magnetic tray vertically and still close the drawer. I like it because it gives me high-density storage but it still holds things in position and makes it easy to spot what’s what. My one gripe is that the adapters tend to cluster in bit off a figure-8 pattern because of the magnets.
Those big rectangles could also make decent extension organizers – but I prefer to rivet a socket rail to the side of my drawer and have all my extensions lined up horizontally.
Cups waste too much space to use in drawers, so I end up actually using those to hold parts. On bigger projects though, I prefer the larger trays with multiple compartments so I can keep things in order – but I’ve also been known to just use several round cups.
Jared
Here’s a Canada-friendly deal on some skinny rectangles: https://www.princessauto.com/en/4-pc-magnetic-hook-and-tray-set/product/PA0008943631
$6 and free shipping
That’s the style I’m using in my drawers – though in a bunch of different sizes. The small rectangles are handy to keep accessories close to other tools, or for the odd socket, etc.
BTW, I am also using two magnetic hooks like come in this set to hold my extra-super-long extension to the front of my drawer. 3/8″ slips right into the hooks (and you could always bend them wider).
fred
I keep items that I use regularly in Stanley, Bosch and lately Packout compartmentalized boxes. But I also tend to keep toss assorted odd parts into old jars roughly categorized by type (e.g. short pan head screws, misc. washers etc.) When I’m Looking for the odd fastener I dump the contents of the jar out to sort through them – using one of these trays:
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Sorter-Funnel-Tray-inch/dp/B006ZBD6FE/
20 years of inflation (I bought mine in 2001 for $3.59) seems to have increased the cost by 43% – but they are handy for sorting then pouring the stuff back into the jar.
Harbor Freight lists theirs for $2.99
https://www.harborfreight.com/easy-sorter-funnel-tray-37081.html
Stuart
Rockler has it for $2.99.
https://www.rockler.com/easy-sorter-funnel-tray?sid=AFV58
I mainly use mine for sorting small Lego pieces.
MoogleMan3
I love those things. I’ve 3d printed a few small size ones for my tool kits, but the regular size ones are the ones I use the most.
Nathan
as I was going to order the OEM cup – I saw the ez red tray set. Love them and they fit in a go bag better.
But I can see why the cup is useful too – probably more useful on a workbench.
Tom
I glued rare earth magnets to the bottom of a “I can’t believe it’s not butter” tub
evadman
I do not like the cup style because they are hard to clean. I do almost entirely automotive work or welding, so I often end up with metal shavings everywhere. The metal ones are easy to wipe off with a stiff rag, while the cup style are very hard to get those magnetic bits out of. Metal bits have a habit of sticking straight up on a magnetic tray, and I have got some jammed under my fingernails a few times.
If you have never had a metal tray/cup at all, I recommend getting a cheap one to try it out. It is certainly a huge time saver to have one. Once you try out one that is a few dollars, you will probably see what style fits your work best.
DRT42
I think you have a really good point. Easy to wipe out a metal tray, but perhaps not so easy to clean magnetized steel shards from a rubber bowl. I get metal splinters in my fingers all the time – rotary tool burrs leave the worst debris…
Stuart
The bowl is hard plastic. Textured, yes, but it’s still plastic and relatively easy to clean.
The underside base is rubberized to prevent it from marring your tool box or sliding down.
fred
I guess the same is true for the OEMTools (a Great Neck Saws brand) one too.
BTW , we had guys who hated magnetic tipped tape measures and some other magnetic tools because of their propensity for collecting all sorts of iron detritus.
Matt the Hoople
Just beware, that nice, rubber cushioned magnetic base is actually worse for grabbing shavings. Set it down on the work bench, or drop on the ground and you may never want to stick it on your car’s paint job again. That’s what happens to mine.
I would like the cup because I could stick to the fender next to the wheel well to hold lug nuts or other brake/suspension parts while working inside the wheel area. If I get one, I will need to make some sort of cover for the magnetic bottom when not in use to keep magnetic debris off of it.
JoeM
Ah, okay, so it’s the Cups part that you’re emphasizing, not the Magnetic part of the sentence.
I came in here wondering what non-magnetic product would be up against the standard magnetic offerings that are everywhere in the tool industry. Turns out you just mean the literal cup shaped ones are better than the trays.
I entirely agree. I’ve turned down clearance items from Canadian Tire because they came with “Magnetic Parts Holders” and they were just little round trays. As to the collapsable trays with the raised sides, I’m gonna lump them in the same with the cups… It needs a lip just in case. If it’s flat, it’s a no-buy for me. Which is strange, because I never use magnetic parts holders anyways… It’s usually in my pockets or something like that. But out of principle, I am in the Cup team on this particular issue.
Thanks for Clarifying, Stuart!
Oh, and, $18 for a decent parts cup is a bargain, not just “Reasonable” here. I don’t remember where, but I once glanced at a tool place’s flyer, and they were offering a set of two deep parts holders, 6″ either wide or in diameter, on sale for $100@40% off. This isn’t a standard price, and I don’t think the company exists anymore, because that price level has never been seen by myself ever again. So I always tell myself “Well, everything is a bargain if it’s below that awful deal.”