Five Pegboard Alternatives That Make Storing Your Tools A Cinch

Five Pegboard Alternatives That Make Storing Your Tools A Cinch

Pegboard is a common sight in workshops and garages everywhere, but not everyone has the wall space or desire to install one. Here are a few pegboard alternatives that provide an accessible and safe place to store (and protect) your tools.

Photos by mtneer_man, Gladiator, Tool Crave

An Open-Top Tool Bag

Five Pegboard Alternatives That Make Storing Your Tools A Cinch

An open top tool bag (favoured by electricians) offers great tool visibility and mobility with plenty of pockets for your most commonly used tools to be stored in. These tool bags take up little space and are favourites of on-the-go contractors and handymen everywhere. They can cost a bit more, but they’re well worth it.

If you tend to need a bucket on the job, the Bucket Boss works on the same principle and makes use of a standard paint bucket to provide the frame for a fully functional tool storage container.

Wall Magnets

Five Pegboard Alternatives That Make Storing Your Tools A Cinch

Magnetic knife strips are often seen in kitchens holding knives and utensils securely to the wall. Install a couple in your workshop, above your work table, and you’ll have an easy way to hang your tools instead of simply throwing them into a drawer. They come in varying lengths and are pretty inexpensive.

Rare earth magnets and Tool Dots also do an amazing job of securing tools to a wall and can be configured in many ways.

Tool Rolls

Five Pegboard Alternatives That Make Storing Your Tools A Cinch

Tool rolls are made of canvas, polyester and leather, and are best used to store wrenches, screwdrivers files and anything else that is long and relatively flat. Chefs often keep their knives and sharpeners in a tool roll as it protects the blades and makes a compact carrying case. You can also unravel a tool roll and hang it on your wall and stick the tools in there.

A Wall Rail System

Five Pegboard Alternatives That Make Storing Your Tools A Cinch

Wall rail systes like the Kobalt Resin K-Rail or the Gladiator Resin Wall System are easily customisable and expandable. Attach the rail to your wall at the height you desire and then attach clips, hooks and shelving anywhere along the wall. This system is best suited for hanging garden tools, but the shelves can hold stacks of hardware organisers.

French Cleat Storage

With a few woodworking tools, you can build a French cleat storage system yourself. French cleats are designed to support a lot of weight, and like the wall rail system, you have the flexibility to hang your tools in an unlimited amount of ways. It’s a bit more work than the other methods, but like pegboard, it offers limitless possibilities.

Lifehacker’s Workshop column covers DIY tips, techniques and projects.


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