Toolbox or Pegboard?

[ITSANSS]

Got a new shop and am wondering whether or not I should keep the toolboxes I have all my tools in or if I should put up some pegboard and put the tools out on display.

I've got a pretty decent collection of tools. Screwdrivers (flat tip and Philips), sockets (1/4", 3/8", 1/2"), ratchets (1/4", 3/8", 1/2"), combination wrenches (standard and metric), Torx drivers, nut drivers, etc. etc.

The toolboxes I have are Craftsman brand, and they're not terrible boxes, but they are NOT the ball bearing kind. So, the heavier the drawers are the more they have to be lifted as they are pulled out and pushed back in, which pisses me off.

The shop I'm movin' into came with a roll around cart. An idea of mine is to hang all the tools on pegboard, etc., sell the toolboxes (money!), hang the tools up (be easier to get to and to see and would look cool in my opinion), and just use the roll around cart to throw in a few things and roll it over to where I'm workin'. If I don't know exactly what I need, I can throw a bunch of things in there 'cause the cart is big enough and is recessed to where nothing'll spill over the sides or nothin' like that. Plus, even if I have to make a couple trips to the pegboard, it ain't far. The shop is only 20' x 60' so everything's real close to where I'd be workin'.

What's ya'll's experiences with this?

Thanks!

 

[stangfromhale]

The only drawback I see is that if the tools are on display, it makes them easy pickins for potential theft. At least with boxes you can keep an honest person honest and make it harder for thieves. Just my .02 though.

 

[rickairmedic]

I have both and honestly I dont think I could get 1/3 of my tools up on pegboard . I have a section of pegboard that is 2' tall and 12' long and it is full and I still have a full 14 drawer craftsman stack plus several other drawers around the shop full of tools. I am not a Pro Mechanic and still I would have to pegboard my whole garage and still dont think I could pull it off.


Rick

 

[mdbeck1]

I keep mine in the toolbox. I don't like people driving by being able to see tools hanging on the wall it invites thieves. In fact One of my garage doors is ALWAYS closed and my toolbox is in front of it. If you look hard from the outside you can see the top of the box but that's it.

 

[e-tek]

If you like peg-board (I don't) then use both. You won't get much for the boxes - and then they are gone. I have a non-bearing drawer full of body-tools - I know what you mean about lifting them!!

 

[ITSANSS]

Hadn't thought about it being on display for the crooks. However, I kinda' think that it'd be easier to take tools that are boxed up and ready to go. I can see hanging tools being more inviting, but boxed tools being more convenient. Haha

There's a few pawn shops around here I've seen that have full size toolboxes plum full of tools and the backs of the toolboxes are scraped to piss. More than likely when a couple guys Jesus lifted it into a pick-up and hauled it to sale. lol

Also, I should mention that where I live there ain't really any traffic driving by. So even if I were to have my doors open, no one would be able to see in from the street. Only way it could be seen is if someone pulled in and drove down my private drive. They wouldn't see much before I open fired, though.

rickairmedic, sounds like you've got a lot of tools, man. I do have quite a few when I think about each little piece, but I'm still not so sure that it would be impossible to put up on pegboard. There are some things I wouldn't bother trying to hang up on pegboard but rather put on a shelf of some sort. For instance: circular saw, reciprocating saw, etc.

To me, this just looks kinda' **** and very accessible and easy.

edit: e-Tek, I know what you mean about getting rid of something [for practically nothing] and then it's gone. ***** how that works. Get rid of somethin', wish ya' hadn't a year later, and then gotta' pay full price to get it back. lol Interesting point....

 

[crewchief888]

only place i have any pegboard is in my basement workshop/reloading room.

it was there when i moved in, and use it for larger stuff, hand saws, framing squares, ect.

 

[Radio Flyer]

I am just switching over from boxes to pegboard. Right now i do not have room for a workbench. But if I hang some tools, I can get rid of one box and put the other one under a bench. Not sure how it will work out, but I'm going to try it.

 

[wornoutoldman]

I would want my tools locked up tight every evening. My vote Tool Box!

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Got a new shop and am wondering whether or not I should keep the toolboxes I have all my tools in or if I should put up some pegboard and put the tools out on display.

I've got a pretty decent collection of tools. Screwdrivers (flat tip and Philips), sockets (1/4", 3/8", 1/2"), ratchets (1/4", 3/8", 1/2"), combination wrenches (standard and metric), Torx drivers, nut drivers, etc. etc.

The toolboxes I have are Craftsman brand, and they're not terrible boxes, but they are NOT the ball bearing kind. So, the heavier the drawers are the more they have to be lifted as they are pulled out and pushed back in, which pisses me off.

The shop I'm movin' into came with a roll around cart. An idea of mine is to hang all the tools on pegboard, etc., sell the toolboxes (money!), hang the tools up (be easier to get to and to see and would look cool in my opinion), and just use the roll around cart to throw in a few things and roll it over to where I'm workin'. If I don't know exactly what I need, I can throw a bunch of things in there 'cause the cart is big enough and is recessed to where nothing'll spill over the sides or nothin' like that. Plus, even if I have to make a couple trips to the pegboard, it ain't far. The shop is only 20' x 60' so everything's real close to where I'd be workin'.

What's ya'll's experiences with this?

Thanks!

Well, if you plan to sell the old tool boxes anyway, may put that money towards new ball bearing toolboxes

I vote for toolboxes. Makes the garage and workspace look much cleaner and less cluttered. Pegboard attracts impulse stuff. At least with drawers you can hide it all away. Plus pegboard takes up good shelf or cabint space.

That said I do have pegboard up in my work workshop for bigger, particular items and those items only. It does the job. I wouldn't use it for smaller stuff that's better suited to a drawer.

I also echo the don't tease the thieves bit. Peg board displays a lot of goodies. I know nice tool boxes can raise an eyebrow too but I think they can easily be secured and camouflaged with workbenches.

 

[wewiserangers]

I ditched my tool box and now use just the drawers in my base cabinets. I had a small craftsman box on top my bench taking up room and I was glad to see it gone. I don't need to travel with my tools so I have little need for the box.

At the moment I have some hand saws, framing squares and assorted wrenches out on my pegboard along with a set of screwdrivers for easy use. I have always felt pegboard works better for tools you use a lot or items you want to display. I have some of my grandfathers tools I like to keep out on display even if I don't use them everyday. In my opinion there is nothing nicer looking than a well organized peg board.

As for the thiefs it is hard to keep things out of sight since I am near the road and work with the door open most always when its warm out. The best thing you can do is lock your door and shut things up when your gone. Even then if someone wants it bad enough they will get it, regardless of how well you hide it or bolt it down.

 

[69GSCAL]

Both!

I love my pegboard! I put all the cheap tools the wife and kids are likely to need on it so they have no reason to go through my tool boxes that contain the expensive stuff. I love the conveniance of it when I need to a quick fix and think there is a coolness factor to it as well. That probably comes from my PaPa who always had it in is garage.

Keep the toolboxes or sell and get new. The expensive, hard to replace or favorite tools go in there. Locked up everyday after use and no borrowing or loaning tools out from them.

My peg board has the craftsman and chinese hammers, cresent wrenches, cheap screwdrivers, pliers, spare extension cords, funnels etc. The tool box has the snap-on, mac, sk, expensive drill bits, specialty tools and Starrett measurement tools. Nobody, and I mean nobody other than me gets in there.

 

[Ign]

I definitely wouldn't want all my tools on a pegboard.

I used to have all my combo wrenches on pegboard and personally I loved it. Made finding the right wrench much faster than a drawer, and was just easier than trying to store them all in a drawer.

 

[UncleJoe]

Dust and dirt are contributing factors for me. When I work I might be doing auto work one day and table saw stuff the next day. With exposed pegboard tools they collect dust and dirt.
I am currently building a new storage solution that will have some pegboard but it can be closed up when doing dusty work like sanding or grinding and also for security.

 

[frank_c]

toolbox.

we have pegboard everywhere at work, don't want to see it at home.

 

[Lkdelta]

Tool box

Pegboard just eats up wall space without really storing much of a volumn of tools

How about building a set of drawers with roller-bearing guides?

 

[toytech40]

I was in a small town repair shop years ago(early 80's), it was a 30x30?? building and the guy who ran it said, "All the hand tools he needed fit on a 4x8 sheet of plywood, and didn't need a toolbox". Of course this was a different era in auto repair and no need for specialy tools, or metric etc. Anyway he had a 3/4" sheet of plywood and used nails for his pegs, 2x4(laid flat) frame on the back side to stiffen, and mount pieces of pipe and tubing to to hold screwdrivers, prybars, hammers, extensions, etc along the edges.He had 2 combo wrench sets 1/4 to 1 5/16, full socket sets 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive, a 12' bar magnet to hold small misc items, a couple tin cans to hold other small items, pliers, etc and just about any basic automotive hand tool on there. It was painted white at one time(kind of dinghy when I saw it but still presentable) so tools were visible. It was mounted on the wall with the top just above 7 ft, he was around 6 ft tall, the bottom set away from the wall approx 6 in and a 1 by peice of wood on the bottom to make a small tray to set things if needed again shortly. The tray was small enough that wasn't used to stack stuff on. There was nothing placed in front of it so you could walk right up to it. It was full but organized, and looked great. It was placed in center of one of the sidewalls so was not too far from anywhere in the shop, or outside if he was working on the drive, which he looked like he did quite often. He had a tray out of a carry toolbox he used to put items in to carry tools to and from the board which had it's own place to live next to the board so was always easily accessible. Wish could have taken a pic of it.

I liked the look of it(at the time) and thought it would be cool to do that one day, never did, probably never will as after 25 years of autorepair work in a different era and the wide range of things I have worked on, and having my own business for a few years, my tool collection would never work that way. Plus I have designed, built, redesigned, rebuilt service carts(I am using second generation and revamped 1st generation for use as well at home, but now both are at home sitting next to eachother) that worked wonderfully for me to hold commonly used tools, while big boxes sat with all the rest of the tools in them.

When we bought our home one of the first things I did was put a sheet of peg board on the wall behind where i placed my bench because that is how dad did it in his garage. 16 years later is if overfull and unorgaized somewhat but I can look up there and find what I need/want rather quickly. Someday I need to reorganize it, hopefully it will be when I build my dream shop.

 

[xrdad]

Tool box. Looks so much cleaner and organized.

I did peg board the first time. Handy for getting something quick, but not many projects around here end up being quick. Then, had to put up with the kids taking them and not putting them back, or using the wrong tool and damaging them. Now, the box is locked when I'm not home and the garage has that clean look to it. Large tools in cabinets with doors are on my to do list.

My 2 cents.

 

[TurnipTruck]

If my walls didn't curve, I would probably have a dozen toolboxes and cabinets. But, since they do curve, I went with 28 feet of pegboard above the bench. Ratchets and sockets are in the toolbox stack and everything else is on the wall.

 

[magnusk750]

My vote for pegboards, at least for hand tools used often. Easy to reach and you see what you have at a glance. I dont have much of lockers or toolboxes, keep the not so often used tools there. For me they tend to collect and kind of dust and **** but that might be a matter of personality Might compare to a restaurant kitchen, knives, pots and pans used often hangs or are on open shelves ready to be reached.

 

[onewaydave]

My preference is boxes and boxes. I have new roller bearing chests and still buy Cman non-rollers when a good deal comes up. They are not top of the line by any means but if clean and greased work fine. Overload the **** out of them and they bind and sag. So do I.

Pegboards just never worked for me. Seems every time I reach for something, something else falls off. They aren't as efficient spacewise. They can be dandied up to look nice but still...

JMHO

Dave.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I can't imagine having one or the other only. I really like having pegboard for the tools I use all the time for little household jobs.

Toolboxes hold a lot, though. When you're working on a big job, like a car thing. And a lot of stuff is going to be tough to get on pegboard -- how would you do sockets?

Don't get the cheap pegboard hooks that pull out every time you grab a tool. Either use the kind with set screws built in, or add a small screw to hold the hook snugly in the hole. In my case, I did both.

 

[regguy1]

I'm with Jack, do a combo...don't sell the tool box, you won't regret having some pegboard and tool boxes

 

[marcusicp]

If my walls didn't curve, I would probably have a dozen toolboxes and cabinets. But, since they do curve, I went with 28 feet of pegboard above the bench. Ratchets and sockets are in the toolbox stack and everything else is on the wall.

That looks impressive! Any chance we can see a bigger pic?

 

[ITSANSS]

I'm very impressed with the response to this thread! Very awesome.

That looks impressive! Any chance we can see a bigger pic?

x2!!!!! This looks totally awesome! I, too, wish the picture was bigger and more of them. Details, man!

TurnipTruck, I think you meant in your post that if your walls DID curve then you'd be screwed. They look pretty straight to me and having curved walls and all those tools, I can see why you'd have a bunch of boxes, cabinets, etc. I plan to have a pretty long work table like you do, and what you have is pretty much what I was picturing in my head, which looks too cool!

toyech40, Thanks for the input. That's what I was picturing. Have the tools and everything hanging above the worktable(s) and a roller cart on the side of the table that can be loaded with some tools and parts, etc. and transported to the work spot.

Then again, where I'll be workin' is just feet away from the tools. So whether they are in a box, on pegboard, or both it doesn't really make a difference when working on something, I don't think. Even being able to roll the toolbox around, I can't really because I have three boxes total all stacked on top of each other. The top box really ain't all that stable and needs a wall behind it to steady it to be safe. So, I'd still have to use a cart to take tools that are more than what I can carry in hand to the job.

regguy1, I like the pegboard all the way around your shop. You don't seem to be utilizing it too much, but it's there if you need it. Plus, if you have something that'll impede with the pegboard (i.e. go in front of it), who cares? Still plenty of pegboard elsewhere! I may do something like this...

Jack Olsen, I've really been impressed with your garage since I've joined these forums. You know, if I were to hang the same tools you have hanging, that would pretty much eliminate one of my toolboxes, which would (I think) make it short enough to store under the worktable. Pretty much exactly like you have set up. Hmm, something to think about.

As far as hanging the sockets...they are on racks, currently, and I would more than likely just drill a hole in the handle part of the rack and hang them that way. So I can grab a whole rack in about two seconds rather than hang each socket individually and have to pick and choose, especially if I didn't know what size I needed exactly.

Also, as far as the cheap hooks that move around when gettin' to whatever's hangin' on it, I know all about that. The little piece of pegboard above our little worktable here at home has those kinds of hooks that move around. Terrible!

P.S. Why do you have so many grinders?! I see quite a collection underneath your drill press. lol


Well, with so many saying keep the toolboxes, I believe that I will. At least to start out with. I'll plan on using both a toolbox and pegboard. If I wind up liking/loving the pegboard, then I can think about selling the boxes. No need to be hasty, I reckon!

Keep the comments, advice, tips, hints, and pictures coming, ya'll!

 

[TurnipTruck]

TurnipTruck, I think you meant in your post that if your walls DID curve then you'd be screwed. They look pretty straight to me and having curved walls and all those tools, I can see why you'd have a bunch of boxes, cabinets, etc.

Once I figure out how to upload a bigger pic, it'll be obvious the walls are curved:

 

[ITSANSS]

Once I figure out how to upload a bigger pic, it'll be obvious the walls are curved:

Oh! That kind of curved! I see!

 

[baubau]

you could build a longer , sturdy workbench along the wall....and underneath this you could store your tool boxes....and on the wall above the workbench, why dont you just put some plywood, not pegboards?...organize the layout, put some screws in the plywood to hold the tools..

i like storing grab and go tools on the wall over workbench...its quicker and easier..

i have prefer plywood on the wall instead of pegboards..i hate when those hooks come loose and fall down..

steel pegboards are awesome but they cost more money...

 

[Call me the Breeze]

I really like member nkachur's set up, although he used plywood, could easily be pegboard.

View media item 8429

 

[nehog]

I'm both... Two 8 ft boards over workbenches, and a roll around box. I have another 20 ft of pegboard for parts that can hang (and shelves for parts that don't hang). Another 8 ft board for garden tools and the like.

With this setup I have a tool box that moves easily, and easy access to tools on the boards.

 

[porphyre]

I vote for both also.

I've got wrenches (Combo, pipe, adjustable, etc), hammers, saws, tape, and some screwdrivers on the slatwall (so much more attractive than pegboard)

Then my toolbox has all the sockets, ratchets, pliers, drill bits and little things.

Then power tools, liquids, painting supplies, other big stuff goes in my cabinets.