Keep hand tools at arm’s reach
Designers: Ben Svec, Gary Carter
Builder: Gary Carter
To complement the base and wall cabinets in our workshop and to provide easy access to the hand tools we use most, we designed this perforated hardboard tool storage system to help you stay organized. The system consists of a framed hanging tool board (make as many as you like to the overall dimensions you need) and eight specialized tool holders made from scrap maple and perforated hardboard.
Build the tool board first
1 Gather up the tools you want to place on your easy-access tool boards by laying them out on a flat surface such as an assembly table. This helps you decide how large to make your tool board and if you need more than one. (We created logical groupings of tools for each of our tool boards, placing our measuring and marking tools on one board, and screwdrivers, nut drivers, pliers, and wrenches on another.)
2 Referring to Figure 1, calculate the linear feet you’ll need for the ¾ × 1¼"-wide side, top, and bottom frame pieces, the ¾ × ¾" spacers, and the ¾ × 3½" beveled wall cleats. Then calculate your ¼" perforated hardboard needs. Rip the wood for the frame parts, spacers, and cleats to width, and then crosscut the parts to the desired lengths. Cut the perforated hardboard panel/s to size.
3 Now, glue and nail the frame and panel assembly together, using a nail gun and ¾" nails or brads. Then add the beveled cleat as shown in Photo A.
4 Add the opposing beveled cleat to your shop wall, and hang the tool board as shown in Photo B.
5 Build a variety of tool holders from scrapwood and perforated hardboard, using the eight tool holder designs in Figure 2. Modify the holders to suit your collections of tools, or design a few of your own.
6 Drill ¼" holes ¼" deep on the back side and near the ends of each holder along the bottom edge. Use the perforated hardboard holes as guides. Now, cut ¾" lengths of ¼"-diameter steel rod. Chamfer-sand ends and tap into place.
7 Attach the tool holders to the tool boards using #8 × 1¼" plastic screw anchors and #8 ×1" panhead metal screws as shown in Photo C.
Lower the tool board cleat over the beveled wall cleat. This system lets you relocate your wall cabinets and tool boards wherever you like without hassle.
Align the holes in the perforated hardboard backing of the tool holders with those of the tool board, insert the short ¼" dowels pins for positioning, tap in the plastic anchors at the top corners through the hardboard layers, and drive the screws.
