Outlining/Painting Tool Boards

[expatriated]

I've searched for the last 15 minutes on here but nothing would turn up that shows what I'm looking for.

Is there a certain technique for painting/outlining tools hanging on a pegboard so that they look very professional?

Other than just taking a sharpie and freehanding a shape, what else can be done relatively easily that looks good?

This is my goal: Ideally, I'd like to create my own tool boards using pegboard and then clearly be able to see across the shop that a tool was not there. Example: the whole board is painted blue but the shapes of the tool is white so if the 19mm wrench is missing, I see a bright white shape quickly. (this goes along with my DIY Moto Shop thread. I'm toying with the idea of having a bench with tool boards for most of the tools and then having a cart that guys can roll over to their lift and work on their bikes. I'm thinking this might be a better idea than each station having its own roll chest).

Anyone ever do this before?

 

[TheGrooveking]

I'd recommend painting the backing a light color and then place the tool a few inches from the board while using very bright directional light like a projector and then trace the shadow. Then by moving the tool closet you will have a smaller shadow for the inside line. Then paint between the lines.

Another option is to use a copier and make a copy of the tool and then take a reduced copy, cut out both copies and place smaller over the larger, then glue them to the backing board. When you get all of your tool shadows mounted clear coat the while thing.

TheGrooveking

 

[sleepjeep]

If you have access to a copier you can make a photocopy of the tools. Then you can take the photocopy and cut it out and you will then have a stencil that you can use to paint your tool board. You could also go to a shop that makes vinyl signs and have them make copies of the tools on vinyl that you could then stick on the tool board.

 

[expatriated]

good ideas!!

 

[rquackenbush]

I have commitment issues when it comes to tool storage... One idea that I saw that I thought was pretty cool was to paint pegboard with chalkboard paint and use chalk to make the outlines. It won't stay neat for nearly as long though.

 

[sberry]

Too hard to change on the go, I hate that look. Drawing around tools looks like a grade school scheme.

 

[OSAO]

Using a graphic design program, create silhouette graphics of the different tools. Take these graphics to a sign shop, were you can have vinyl images of the tools made. Once your tool board is white (or the light color of your choice) , apply the vinyl images to the board. Then, apply your darker color top coat. Once you remove the vinyl images, the negative white space will be a crisp image of the tool. You could even apply a clear top coat, to help preserve the paint job..

 

[RCStocker]

I hate tool boards. They are usless. They are ugly and have a clutterd look. Even the good comercial hooks want to come out. The only tools I have hanging in my shop are my huge SAE and Metric wrenches. I have the 36mm to 50 mm haning and everthing above 1-1/2" hanging. I have them up to 2-1/2" They are in my shop at the end of my tractor barn. In my other shops everthing is in tool boxes or cabinets and work benches I built.

Pox on tool boards.

 

[toolmiser]

I like to take shipping tags, write the tool name on it, and then laminate it and hang it by making the peg hook go thru it into the board. I know where each tool goes, and if I need someone to grab a tool for me, they know right away if they grabbed the right tool.

 

[jeremy v]

What about something a little bit outside the box. You could trace the tools in pencil lightly and then remove them and fill in the entire tool shape with a "black light" reactive paint or clear "glow in the dark" paint. Then you just turn the shop lights off really quick or shine a black light flashlight on your tool board and you would see the glowing form of any tools that are missing and it would otherwise look like a normal pegboard when the lights are on.

 

[Aberdale]

Paint the whole pegboard white. Then, place all of your tools on it where you want them. While the tools are on the board, spray paint it blue. Remove the tools and clean them in lacquer thinner. Now you have a blue pegboard with white phantom where the tools go.

'dale

 

[Quiksilver]

Tool tracing vinyl.

http://www.5ssupply.com/shop/pc/Tool-Shadows-Vinyl-c185.htm

 

[helterskelter]

To those who don't like tool boards they're really geared towards production shops. I know I'm going to need a mallet, a 9/16th wrench and a set of allen keys for the operator of X machine. So I put up a shadow board with all his tools. That way anyone who walks up to X machine can easily find the tools they need without searching. I also know when a tool is missing and needs to be replaced. The tools needed to run X machine are going to stay static (or change so little it isn't traumatic to paint in a new spot). Also when everyone has their own set of tools to run their machine, it discourages 'borrowing' from the other stations. Although it still does happen.

Shadow boards at the house don't make a ton of sense in comparison.

 

[sberry]

It seems like a way better idea than it works out to in reality, I never seen one I really like.

 

[jeremy v]

I dislike pegboards as well, but I know others that have and love them. I always preferred to just mount a small piece of plywood and hammer nails in it for hanging wrenches right next to a regularly used tool in the garage. just hammer in the nails wherever you want a peg and then snip off the head and you are good to go. Easy to change around, cheap, and the clips don't fall off all the time etc.

They are a bit expensive when I have seen them but they do have peg board hooks that allow you to easily install a secondary screw etc to rigidly hook the pegboard accessory into place to prevent it from coming off with the tool being grabbed.