The Tool Board

[Jarhead0408]

RCstocker,

Can't say I agree with you all the way.
However, Your post is a classic.

 

[BWS]

Was in a very clean hotrod shop awhile back.......an old friend of my builder partner.

This is the world of $100k cars....you know,the "cool kids",haha.What was funny after hangin out for a cpl hrs lookin at all his chit,the thing that impressed me the most was his "tool bd" for all of the welding/grinding stuff.And there was a ton of it....all the usual wire brushes,wheels of every sort,ect,ect.

Our grinder chit is pretty organized here....could be a little better.But am thinking about a tool bd for some other,hard to put in cabmet stuff.Funny how a subject(tool bds) is such a big deal?

 

[picshooter]

I have the opposite opinion. My son loved to spend time messing around "fixing" things...with my tools.
I tried to instill the value of tools, but deep inside i would have sacrificed every tool I owned to keep him on the correct path in life and in the shop, and off the streets. We did lose a few things, and he did wear out a Makita, but it was a no brainer of a trade off.

I still have teenage sons at home so a locking toolbox is a necessity.

 

[KMinAF]

I have the opposite opinion. My son loved to spend time messing around "fixing" things...with my tools.
I tried to instill the value of tools, but deep inside i would have sacrificed every tool I owned to keep him on the correct path in life and in the shop, and off the streets. We did lose a few things, and he did wear out a Makita, but it was a no brainer of a trade off.

I set each of my sons up with their own tools (usually quality tools from pawn shops, garage sales etc) and I keep mine "out of reach" unless I am around. However, if they ask they are always welcome to use them (they all know where the key is kept) it's a repect thing. I am happy to say that they have learned to repect my tools in all regards i.e. safety, care, replacement cost and appreciation for another persons property. And most importantly, to ask and thank when using someone elses tools whether it be mine or a friends. I have spent countless hours working with each one of them and am wouldn't trade that time for any tool.

 

[Garpar]

I like the tool wall for ease of access and knowing whats out of place . I also like the portability of the rolling chest. I have a small section in my work space with a limited amount of tools on the wall and I also have a rolling chest and work bench for the time when i have to take a project outside. When I get my DREAM GARAGE I will incorporate A tool wall rolling tool chest and rolling work bench. My 7/16 wrench disappeared lol

 

[johnd900]

Hammers are on my hammer stand.

-Brad

Hammer stand? That I want to see a picture of, sounds like a good idea!

 

[ATC]

I tool board would not work for me at all. I add and change tools a lot for one. For two, there is no way I would want my tools on display for anyone to see. For three...not enough wall space. Four, they get extremely dirty

Now, I wouldn't be against a small one for the common stuff. 3/8 through 5/8, screwdrivers and such. Just something small enough to fit between two wall studs...

 

[rwhite692]

I think Tool Boards are more suited for oddball tools (like specialty tools used at a car dealership, for example) that are highly specialized but are only occasionally used. Particularly if they are large/bulky and would otherwise take up valuable toolbox space.

 

[mopar4wd]

wow dirty tools upset alot of people. I like toolboards but I'm a scatter brain and the reason I like the boards is I will just fill a drawer with ****, harder to do that with little hooks.

Of course as a point of reference I go 10,000 plus miles between oil changes(dino)

I destroy and loose tools on a regular basis

I wait till **** breaks before I perform maintenance

I no longer work as a mechanic but when I did I used a box mostly for walking tool syndrome though.

I should mention also that while I agree that a clean shop makes customers feel more comfortable, the best marine mechanic and the best hot rod mechanic I've known in my life both had clutter stacked every where tools piled on benches with little concern but their work was flawless.

Yes I have a problem and I don't care.

 

[bobemmerich]

I think they're cool, but the problem with me is, if I get one that already has the pegs and outline, I would have to buy that brand tools and the EXACT tool to fit.. Would probably take too much time/money for tools i don't need...

 

[IHfarmall]

Heres a couple of old Indestro Tools boards I picked up recently. They are apparently display boards for selling them, labeled on the back with Tool company name and address along with a blurb about increasing sells...I don't have much use for them, but thought they were neat! I have plenty of "peg board" wall space all ready, thanks to reading to much GJ stuff. Seems I spends more time lately working on my garage than working on stuff in my garage...lol

 

[ASRoff]

hmmm.... 400 mechanics in my "shop" all snap-on tools all in foam/ display boards and no tools have "walked away" since 1994........ odd but then again we torque our hose clamps so maybe were ****.

I understand not wanting a tool board if your garage faces the road, But I have a side entry. tool boards allow quick inventory and quick clean up. if you paint them they dont get "dirty" (which to me is funny If you work on stuff your sockets will retain grease.)

I used a combination of both. but most of my consumables are in the drawers.

rolling work surfaces and tool carts are a must for any shop!

and last but not least, If you have to stretch to get a tool........your doing it wrong

 

[stephen4785]

I really want to get some nice tool boards for my home shop. I think they look good and it's easier to see what you forgot to put back. It also give you reason to buy more tools because that one spot that you dont have a tool will nag at you until you get one. My only issue is that most of us have a hodge podge assortment of tools and brands so one manufactures tool board is going to have the wrong outlines. Which would drive me insane.
Martin tools sells them and they look really nice
http://www.martinsprocket.com/2001/ToolBoard.pdf

 

[oldmerc]

I still use my roll cab and chest that I purchased as an apprentice in 1977 , but now its in the home shop with some tuff on boards and in/on wall cabinets . In short I like both and I don't have enough wall space as it is .

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I have plenty of "peg board" wall space all ready, thanks to reading too much GJ stuff...

Man, I REALLY like the pegboard layout you've got there in that last photo. I have a LOT of pegboard space to fill too. I've seen those wide horizontal bars for the wrenches before but ONLY here on GJ. Does anyone know where to get them or are these home-fabricated things?

 

[Train]

I have several and they keep changing. This one is on wheels and has two sides. On the other side I have shelves. I have 3 of these and got them for free.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All due respects to the pro tool board guys. Some look great. I'm 100 percent for cabinet storage. Having limited space in my garage and my tools stay clean and organized. With 4 roll-around cabinets, 3 top chests, 2 steel auto parts wall cabinets, 1 Xerox base cabinet, and 12 steel kitchen cabinets from the 1950's that I salvaged, there is plenty of room for to lay out tools neatly. Space in the larger cabinets are used for project parts so they won't get lost.

 

[zman]

I've always been more of a tool cart guy, though I do have some things on a board, hammers for instance, pickle forks, stuff like that. The regular stuff is organized in a cart.

One of my first ones.

Where I am now.

I can tell when something is missing or not where it should be almost instantly.

 

[Nephronracing]

I have to agree with RWhite692. Awesome for specialty tools that don't get used that often. I will also say that the Snap-On Puller set with control board and wall cabinet is pretty sweet.

 

[Inky Ford]

I don't like the generic tool boards, but the ones made for a specific purpose are cool.

Here is a tool board offered by Hazet in the 50's. It includes a compliment of tools specific for VW and Porsche. There are some generic tools on the board too but most are engine building tools. Basically the tools on this board are used infrequently so they don't take space in the box and you can find them when you need 'em.

 

[nkachur]

I really like all of them. I have used boards, carts and roll caps. Each have there place. I hate boxes without some way of keeping tools in place, tool boards with tools you never use.

I have posted this before but figured that I would fit here.

Our toolboard from work.

really it combines all of the best of all 3 worlds. Portable, storage for less used tools and rapid access to those tools that you use all the time. It also has a bench to boot.

And we can close it up at night to keep things were they belong.

 

[fiveoboy01]

I like the idea but I've been working out of a box for so long, I immediately know if something is missing. A board would add clutter to the wall IMO, but that's just my opinion as it would pertain to my personal garage.

For a shop type of environment it would work great, other than not being able to lock them up at the end of the night... if there was another shift or person working there.

 

[KPSquared]

I have posted this before but figured that I would fit here.

Our toolboard from work:

really it combines all of the best of all 3 worlds. Portable, storage for less used tools and rapid access to those tools that you use all the time. It also has a bench

And we can close it up at night to keep things were they belong.

That is a thing of beauty.

 

[2mJps]

I went to a votec auto mechanics. We had tool boards i would like to know how you guys that hate tool boards would have done it diffrent if you were incharge. I have used a tool box all my life but always thought their was a better way.

 

[don long]

I have to agree with RWhite692. Awesome for specialty tools that don't get used that often. I will also say that the Snap-On Puller set with control board and wall cabinet is pretty sweet.

I saw this thread and thought of my tool boards then started reading and found your responce to RWhite692 and disagree a bit.

Did you know that snapon has tool cabinets for body repair as well as combination wrench sets and socket sets as well

I just love mine allow me to share them with all.

 

[project_junkie]

I have found this thread very interesting. My garages have never been that big, so the idea of rolling my toolbox "over to the car" was never really something I did because the car was already at the toolbox! And wall space was pretty limited. Now that I am about done with my new shop I am planning to use my tool box to roll it to the area I am working in.

I have the HF bottom box and had planned to put just the tools I use in there so it is manageable and not have a top box on it. Seeing some of the rolling tool boards has given me an idea of putting some tool board on a panel that would come up from the back of the box that could be be used for wrenches and things that would look good on the "wall". Then put the rest of the stuff like screwdrivers in the drawers. I am thinking about using some metal pegboard so it would already have the strength and not need much structure. And I can paint it to match the box.

I would like to see more pictures of what others have already done. And I will share mine in a few months when I get to that part of the project.

 

[Jvvmusme]

I found this tool board in a book binding shop in bogota, colombia

 

[chief ben]

I found this tool board in a book binding shop in bogota, colombia

Is this last post up side down ???

 

[EuroVt]

 

[Jvvmusme]

Is this last post up side down ???

Yes, it is upside down. I took the picture with the ipad and uploaded the pucture from the ipad....

Please turn your monitor up side down and voila !

 

[Mike14k]

I guess I'm a combo guy.

My main wrenches, sockets, ratchets and drivers sit in a box. So when I need one, I know just where to go. Which slot, which drawer. Custom holders for each tool.

But larger, specialized tools, secondary items and duplicates tend to migrate to the pegboard. Or the small hand tools I use at a specific bench and don't travel far from that work area.

Very obvious when something is not replaced. And easy to pickup.

 

[aafadca]

I have both a tool board and chest. I got the tool board years ago from a hardware store that was closing. I keep it in the basement and don't use it that much but it's very convenient when I need something quick. I wish I had another one.

 

[jarhead]

I need one in my pole barn shop, as there isnt much floor space out there. I converted part of it for working on my tractor, and a car.

In my garage shop I have a roll away. Both have the good, and bad points.

There are some odd comments in this post, almost to the point of calling people names - - if they like a tool board.

I guess I dont give a **** what those posters think, lol...

 

[mattdwelder]

we had tool boards in high school and nobody left until every tool was in place and locked in the tool crib

 

[madmikeee]

I saw this thread and thought of my tool boards then started reading and found your responce to RWhite692 and disagree a bit.

Did you know that snapon has tool cabinets for body repair as well as combination wrench sets and socket sets as well

I just love mine allow me to share them with all.

That sir, does NOT ****

 

[lupinsea]

Jeez, I've been a way from this place for too long. . . . We're selling our house and moving to a bigger place (as soon as we find / buy the right house) so I'll be setting up another garage.

In my current house I set up pegboard across an entire 24 ft wall of the garage from the floor to the underside of a shelf (also 24 ft long) that was ~6 1/2 ft off the ground. In the far end of the wall I had what I called a "micro" work bench. It was only 14" deep and 8 ft long and fit between the pedestrian door jamb and the wall. Not much but enough to work on.

I LOVED this set up for organizing my tools.

A few reasons I went this route:

Space
Floor space was at a premium in my current garage. There really wasn't any room on the floor to house the footprint of any kind of decent tool chest(s). Where as a pegboard system against the wall took up zero floor space and all my tools only stuck out about 4-5" at most.

Convenience
I had all my mechanic-oriented tools set up above the work bench, all my sockets and gear wreches and various pliers, drivers, etc. Super handy to just reach up and grab them. Easy to put away, too.

Anti-Neat Freak
I'm not a neat freak by nature though I LIKE having an organized space. So . . . it was easier for my to just hang something back up on a wall rather than futz around with put it away in a case or chest. Weird? Sure, but it's me and I know myself.

Not Moving Around
My garage and tools are more for my "enjoyment" or home productivity and not for any professional job use. As such, I don't need to move them around or back and forth from work or anything. So, I don't need to have them packed up in a tool box or tool chest. Having the tools hung up on the wall wasn't a big deal.

Durahook
I absolutely HATE standard pegboard hooks. You grab a tool and 90% of the time you either have to be very careful or the hook is coming with you (well, then falling out of the pegboard or getting otherwise dislodged).

http://www.tritonproducts.com/pegboard-hooks/durahook/​

Fortunately, I stumbled upon the Durahook hook system. These are ingenious! It's a hook system that anchors to the pegboard with a fat, stubby screw. The threads on the screw are course enough that they don't screw up the pegboard hole (meaning you can re-use the hole over and over (hm, this sounds dirty)), but they RIGIDLY anchor the hooks, clips, loops, and other accoutrements right to the wall. No wiggle, no dislodging. Freak'n awesome.

Anyways, I'm packing up my garage and while I'm leaving the pegboard up and the mini-bench in place for whoever buys the house, I took down every single Durahook and lovingly packed them away.





Dust Control
The big issue, though, with the pegboard systems is that anything hung on them gets dusty and they're a pain to clean. So . . .

For the future shop. . . I have an idea brewing. I'll do another pegboard system but this time it's going behind some doors. I'll be building a (more or less) stud wall out of 2x6 or 2x8s but with the stud spacing every 48" or 32". Something like that. The pegboard will be anchored to the garage's actual stud wall framing. The 2x6 or 2x8 "wall" or frame will go over the peg board. Then I'll use some of the euro-style cabinet hinges to attach plywood doors to the face of the new stud wall. Figure @ 48" o.c. 2x6/2x8 I could take a 4x8 sheet of plywood and cut it lengthwise in half. Boom, two doors that when shut should keep out a big majority of the dust.

Who knows, maybe I'll put in an order at the local lumber yard for some grain matched birch panels so all the gaining will look good across the whole garage wall.

Anyways, looking forward to setting up the new place.

Can't wait to find it and then get our house sold.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Dust Control
The big issue, though, with the pegboard systems is that anything hung on them gets dusty and they're a pain to clean. So . . .

For the future shop. . . I have an idea brewing. I'll do another pegboard system but this time it's going behind some doors. I'll be building a (more or less) stud wall out of 2x6 or 2x8s but with the stud spacing every 48" or 32". Something like that. The pegboard will be anchored to the garage's actual stud wall framing. The 2x6 or 2x8 "wall" or frame will go over the peg board. Then I'll use some of the euro-style cabinet hinges to attach plywood doors to the face of the new stud wall. Figure @ 48" o.c. 2x6/2x8 I could take a 4x8 sheet of plywood and cut it lengthwise in half. Boom, two doors that when shut should keep out a big majority of the dust...

I too love the tool wall idea, though I use pegboard like a few other poses on this thread.

As for dust, I do both metal and wood working in my shop and I have found a combination of a few things have greatly reduced my dust issues. First I have dedicated dust collection at all my stationary tools, then I have a Jet whole shop air cleaner centrally mounted on the ceiling. Finally about once every two or three months I open the overhead doors and take my electric leaf blower to everything and in about five to ten minutes I'm dust free!

 

[jarhead]

That looks real nice

I especially like the Old tool display wall

 

[HSpencer]

I have had it all and in all ways with tool boards. I like the metal wall control branded ones.
The only tools I want hanging on a wall are those I use the most. I do a combination of often ones used on the boards and everything else I want in specific boxes or chests. I like the snap on wall mount tool boards shown in another post a lot. I think for me costs on that would kill the deal though.

 

[nkachur]

So I did some more work on my home built tool boards as I finally got in the tool clips I ordered.

I got some preliminary layout work done on one of my tool boards. I am sure this is not going to be the final layout but it is much better than the stuff rolling around in a drawer.