Why is pegboard so disappointing? Am I doing it wrong?

[JackOfDiamonds]

Pegboard seems to be a common thing. It seems so promising...an entire sheet, maybe an entire wall of places to hang things up. And it's fairly cheap. So what's not to like?

In reality, every time I arrange pegboard it ends up just being empty over time because it's a giant PITA. I think the biggest problems is the pegs just fall out. Or you can't get the kind of peg you need for the tool. Or you buy a multi-pack of pegboard pegs, and it comes with 3 pegs you need and 54 little trinkets that are pointless. But most of all the pegs just ****.

Instead of pegboard, I'm thinking just a sheet of plywood you can drive nails in and/or screw in coated garage hooks seems to be more practical. But why does pegboard stick around if it's so lame? Do other people love it? Am I buying the wrong kinds of hooks, or did I miss pegboard training class at some point?

 

[HPRifleman]

I've never understood the whole pegboard "thing". My preference is to have tools in drawers and out of sight.

 

[tarmy]

You need more stuff…

 

[gmcgeo]

I love the way it looks, i love the idea, i don't love using it

 

[duneslider]

I have a love hate relationship with it too! I mostly just have my bike repair tools on it and it sort of works but I wish there was a better way but I can't figure one out. Sometimes I think a wall of kaizen foam would be good.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

I bought and read "Setting Up Shop" by Sandor Nagyszalanczy. And while this is focused on woodworking, many ideas translate to the garage.

The author says that drawers are far better than wall cabinets or wall hanging for tool storage. I built a workbench with 12 drawers and never looked back.

 

[engineer2]

The two common wire sizes for the hooks, 1/8 and 1/4 need to match the pegboard available. A hot-melt glue gun can help with loose hooks.
I used to have a bigger pegboard, but it was a pain to keep organized. I went to 1/4" and minimized the size to hold a dozen commonly used tools like pliers, screwdrivers, scraper, roll of tape, etc.

 

[PugetDude]

I iove pegboard! Don't like digging in drawers looking for something, much easier to find a tool (and put it back) if it's hiding in plain sight on pegboard. When we moved to this house, I bought the galvanized diamond plate pegboard from HD, a bit spendy but absolutely worth it IMO. You can buy .206" diameter hooks and they wont fall out like the cheapies. (Surprisingly, HF has the heavier U and straight hooks) I have found or adapted hangers for everything I have ever wanted to hang; look beyond your local big box store. I've purchased some specialty hooks (double U bends for exapmple) from a few online vendors that I couldn't find elsewhere.

Buy heavy masonite or steel pegboard, throw away all the cheapie hooks (especially the single hooks with single-point pegs) and replace them with the heavy ones that stay put you'll have a better appreciation for how versatile it is. I'd rather pick up an occaisional hook that fell out that root around in a drawer for a tool that migrates to the bottom, out of sight and out of mind.

It's also made me a lot more organized; I can tell with a glance if something is missing from a well-organized pegboard wall.

Of course, YMMV.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Gawd, I hate that ****!
Im all cabinets and drawers! “There’s a place for everything, and everything in its place”! And , it doesn’t get dirty, dusty, or damaged.

 

[Jagmandave]

You can buy metal pegboard for way more strength, and they have plastic holders to keep the hooks from coming out of the pegboard. I only have one piece of Pegboard in my shop to hold odd shaped things that don't easily fit in a drawer or cabinet

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

Ok, I work in an industry where we really believe in the visual workplace. Hiding things away in drawers is highly discouraged for frequently used tools. I understand not all tools are frequently used and I do have toolboxes for my machinist tooling and so on. But for frequently used tools like pliers, spanners, brooms/rakes, drills, etc. I absolutely think hanging them up in an easy to access way is best. It's not a pegboard vs. drawers discussion because those are too different things. It's more pegboard vs. some better way to hang things up that doesn't ****.

One thing they taught us is the worst way to hang things is like a hammer with a hanging loop or lanyard. Because it takes two hands to hang it back up. Slightly better, is if the hammer has a nail hole in the handle, because at least you can hang it up with one hand, but it's still too fiddly getting the nail in a little nail hole. Ideal is a cradle where you can chuck it back on the wall while barely looking.

So I think my problem is that pegboard promises (hey look it's all on the wall where you can see it and grab it easily!) but fails (it's good for show and looks impressive on Instagram, but it's a PITA to use).

I still don't know what to replace it with. At the stores I see "rail" systems which are way too expensive and limited, and generic hooks with limited selection for holding tools... pegboard has all the cool customized holders and bins and such, but it's still pegboard.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Ok, I work in an industry where we really believe in the visual workplace. Hiding things away in drawers is highly discouraged for frequently used tools. I understand not all tools are frequently used and I do have toolboxes for my machinist tooling and so on. But for frequently used tools like pliers, spanners, brooms/rakes, drills, etc. I absolutely think hanging them up in an easy to access way is best. It's not a pegboard vs. drawers discussion because those are too different things. It's more pegboard vs. some better way to hang things up that doesn't ****.

One thing they taught us is the worst way to hang things is like a hammer with a hanging loop or lanyard. Because it takes two hands to hang it back up. Slightly better, is if the hammer has a nail hole in the handle, because at least you can hang it up with one hand, but it's still too fiddly getting the nail in a little nail hole. Ideal is a cradle where you can chuck it back on the wall while barely looking.

So I think my problem is that pegboard promises (hey look it's all on the wall where you can see it and grab it easily!) but fails (it's good for show and looks impressive on Instagram, but it's a PITA to use).

I still don't know what to replace it with. At the stores I see "rail" systems which are way too expensive and limited, and generic hooks with limited selection for holding tools... pegboard has all the cool customized holders and bins and such, but it's still pegboard.

Ok-
Then it’s either a cleat system, or slat wall.

 

[Snapped-off]

I don't care for pegboard in the garage, but a basement or shed is the perfect place for it.

 

[FMB4]

I run smallish sections of peg in my garage (mostly 1.5-2' x 3-4'). No, it's not perfect. But it's cheap and easy to hang. Pegs are cheap as well. Guess I'm just old-fashioned.

 

[M6erfan]

I love my pegboard. My most used tools are on it, in a handy location right above my bench. I use WallControl metal panels and their hooks/accessories.

 

[kerrynzl]

I've never understood the whole pegboard "thing". My preference is to have tools in drawers and out of sight.

That's correct.
You never let your wife see how many tools you have.

 

[aggie113]

Not something I have tried yet, but it is on the short list.

Wall Control: Pegboard System | Metal Pegboard System

Wall Control is the industry leader, highest-rated, and best-selling pegboard system for wall storage and tool organization.

www.wallcontrol.com

They allow use of regular hooks if you have a bunch of those already, but the idea is to use their attachments that don't come out easily when in use.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

It looks like Wall Control is the best answer if you have the money. The question is, do the special slotted hooks stay put or are they just a different brand of annoying.

 

[finn]

Hate the stuff. It’s a little better if you can find the hooks that have the little plastic retainer to keep them in place, but I haven’t run across those for years.

the magnetic bars that screw into the wall are a little better, but the ones from HF are far too short.

Saw some longer ones on Amazon, though.

 

[Rbcsci]

I used to have pegboard in my shop, but I found it to be too restrictive. Tools didn’t align very well in 1” x 1” fixed increments. So this time around, I ditched the peg board and went with 1x6 tongue and groove pine. I used #6 finish nails to hang the majority of the tools and I painted it to hide all the greasy fingerprints that will surely follow. If I ever decide to reconfigure my tools, I’ll simply pull the nails, fill the holes, repaint and start over. Cheap, easy, and aesthetically pleasing IMHO.

 

[Firebrick43]

I used to have pegboard in my shop, but I found it to be too restrictive. Tools didn’t align very well in 1” x 1” fixed increments. So this time around, I ditched the peg board and went with 1x6 tongue and groove pine. I used #6 finish nails to hang the majority of the tools and I painted it to hide all the greasy fingerprints that will surely follow. If I ever decide to reconfigure my tools, I’ll simply pull the nails, fill the holes, repaint and start over. Cheap, easy, and aesthetically pleasing IMHO.

Nice goose

 

[PassnThru]

I have one small piece of pegboard in my garage - about 20" wide by 48" tall. I only hang awkward to store things like levels, long brushes, hand saws, metal rulers, etc. on it. Anything else goes in a drawer or a cabinet.
It's obvious a personal preference but for me, pegboard equals clutter.

 

[Rbcsci]

I have one small piece of pegboard in my garage - about 20" wide by 48" tall. I only hang awkward to store things like levels, long brushes, hand saws, metal rulers, etc. on it. Anything else goes in a drawer or a cabinet.
It's obvious a personal preference but for me, pegboard equals clutter.

You cut me with your words!

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Pegboard has worked okay for me. I paint it white to make it less ugly. Have some with larger holes, and some with small holes. We use it to hang some long clamps, hammers, T-square, level, rafter square. Other stuff.
A lot of stuff just isn't going to store so well in drawers.
You want perfect? Get out your wallet and maybe build a free-standing 900+ SF shop.

 

[thr3squared]

I love my pegboard. My most used tools are on it, in a handy location right above my bench. I use WallControl metal panels and their hooks/accessories.

I have a couple Wall Control panels in my shop. I mostly use them for shelves (easy to move around as needed) and paper towel rolls. Very few tools on there.

 

[65Goat]

I am not a pegboard fan. A friend has it and if you inadvertently bump a tool high on the pegboard it comes crashing down and takes out everything beneath it. As the OP said the pegs don’t fit tight so everything becomes a rube goldberg machine.

 

[Rbcsci]

I am not a pegboard fan. A friend has it and if you inadvertently bump a tool high on the pegboard it comes crashing down and takes out everything beneath it. As the OP said the pegs don’t fit tight so everything becomes a rube goldberg machine.

Excellent analogy!

 

[joseywales]

Search as we might, pegboard is the most space efficient solution for walls. Slats and other nice solutions simply don’t use the space AS efficiently.

I still have the hooks, with the plastic clips, but don’t always use the clips.

I have pegboard as a back board for one of my workbench, and I can’t imagine the floorspace I’d lose if I had to stuff it in drawers.

 

[PassnThru]

This was the best use of pegboard I ever had:

 

[Rbcsci]

This was the best use of pegboard I ever had:

Impressive arsenal!

 

[ZRX61]

Gawd, I hate that ****!
Im all cabinets and drawers! “There’s a place for everything, and everything in its place”! And , it doesn’t get dirty, dusty, or damaged.

That! I can't abide the stuff.

However, if you must:

Metal Pegboard Pack - Two 32in x 16in Pegboard Tool Boards

Buy Metal Pegboard Packs by Wall Control. Easy to Install Peg Board Panels. Two 32in x 16in Pegboards for Wall Mounted Storage. Mounting Hardware Included. 30-P-3232PP Durable Heavy Duty Steel. Lifetime Warranty. Made in USA. High Quality. Free Shipping. Fast Delivery.

www.wallcontrol.com

 

[PassnThru]

Impressive arsenal!

That was just the back - here's the front. That was when built - many of those are gone now but many took their place. I have three boys.

Later storage for magazines was added.

 

[Rbcsci]

That was just the back - here's the front. That was when built - many of those are gone now but many took their place. I have three boys.

Later storage for magazines was added.

This is one of the saddest parts of my kids growing up…giving up my Nerf gun collection. I miss Legos too.

 

[IMCA38]

I have a bunch of these on my pegboards. Bought them probably 20+ years ago. I can’t find them listed for sale anyplace now. They were called peg mates. They certainly do help.

 

[PoorUB]

I have about a 3x3 section of pegboard with the common used tools, combination wrenches, screw drivers, Nut runners and a couple hammers.

I have no issues with hooks falling out. I never use idividual hooks, all or double or more. Single hooks don't stay in for anything unless yoy glue them in, the doubles stay in well.

 

[LeeG]

I use pegboard to face most of my cabinets - basically its free space and I need all I can get. This is a panel I have on the front of a set of Systainer cabinets. It is the width of 2 cabinets and slides side to side to allow me to access the systainers behind it.



These are the fronts of two other cabinets. The left cabinet is just a normal cabinet, but the right is double sided pegboard on a pair of overlapping doors with shelves behind them.



If I want to mount heavier or odd-shaped items, I use plastic drywall mollies in the pegboard holes to give me something to screw into without damaging the pegboard. Some of the pegs are things I welded up to hold oddly shaped tools (M18 grinders).

 

[Yankeefarmer]

I share the frustrations about peg board. I use plywood, and a variety of screws, including drywall and SS trim screws, as pegs.

 

[Jinks]

In a previous shop I was young & inexperienced. I thought it would be great to just finish the entire inside in peg board. I could have everything right at hand.......WRONG! Everything was right there alright, & the place looked awful! Then I realized there were things you can't hang on a peg so I put a shelf high around three of the walls. The things that wouldn't hang on a peg set on the shelf. Everything in the shop was out in the open & the place looked like ****! It worked, but looked awful.

When I built the new place I used peg board as wall covering in the parking area, & sheetrock in the shop area. Both got a liberal helping of cabinets. Wall units hung over the peg board in the parking area, base & wall units in the shop area. The base units have drawers at the top. Things that won't hang get put out of sight in the cabinets. Small or odd shaped items go in drawers. Cords, brooms, long tools, items that would be hard to fit in drawers, etc. etc. hang from pegs. I've even configured a couple of shelves that rest on long pegs.

Pegs are easy to find if you don't just grab the first combo-pack you see. 1/8" pegs will work, but 1/4" are better. With a little time you can find a peg style that will hold any tool you can think of, it just takes some thought. Use the right peg so you don't lift it up removing something from it & they'll stay in place.

No single storage method is right for everything. Each kind of item needs storage designed to work with it, that's part of the fun of setting up a good shop!........

 

[Metallitubby]

I am not a pegboard fan. A friend has it and if you inadvertently bump a tool high on the pegboard it comes crashing down and takes out everything beneath it.

That reminds me of Plinko©

 

[CJM8515]

depends on the use. my mechanics tools are all in a roll cab, the pegboard is 3 sep sheets of 4x2 i found at the home center. so its roughly 4x8. i hang my wood working tools and other common items on there. screwdrivers, some pliers, hammers, clamps, etc. it works well b/c those items are used constantly and are easy to hang. i dont like cabinets as they tend to hide things and then you gotta go digging around in there for stuff.