Pegboard

DEAR TIM: Pegboard used to hang in my father’s garage. However, the pegboard hooks would always pull out of the board when you grabbed a tool. Are there different pegboards that eliminate this pesky problem? Do you use any handy pegboard accessories in your workshop? I’m getting ready to install pegboard and want to get one that lasts a long time and looks great at the same time. What else can you share about pegboard storage? Sam T., Vienna, VA

DEAR SAM: I have crisp memories of my own father’s wood pegboard that hung in his tiny storage room under our front porch. He had hooks for pegboard that also pulled away from the board just as you describe. I remember him installing new hooks that had tiny retention clips that helped hold each pegboard hook tightly to the surface. But even these hooks failed over time enlarging the holes in the wood material.

Metal pegboard will absolutely solve the problem of hooks that move if you purchase one that has pegboard hooks that lock into position. I have used this system in my old home and am about to install it in my new house because it’s performed so well. There are plenty of pegboard systems out there, and with little effort you’ll discover plastic pegboard and steel pegboard as well as the standard wood pegboard made from wood fibers and glue.

This pegboard is doing a good job of keeping tools organized and off the workbench. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

What I like about metal pegboard is its ability to create a striking pegboard display. The brand I use comes in a variety of colors that have a glossy powder coating. The vibrant colors allow you to theme your workshop or garage. Every color in the rainbow is available, as well as white, black and galvanized metal for that industrial look. If you choose this pegboard system, your friends and neighbors will be insanely jealous. I can say this with confidence as every person who’s seen my metal pegboard has commented on it.

When it comes to accessories, there is nearly an endless variety. You can get pegboard bins, a pegboard shelf that has a built-in paper-towel holder, other pegboard shelving, and very cool pegboard-organization hooks made for special tools. Believe me, the manufacturers have thought of just about every hand tool that needs to be stored, including gardening tools, and have made hooks that fit the tools perfectly.

I’m a big fan of the special accessories made for groups of tools. For example, my metal pegboard system has special holders that work great for regular screwdrivers, phillips screwdrivers or nut drivers.

Special hooks are made for every imaginable hand tool and even some power tools like a corded or cordless drill. What’s very cool about the metal system I have is that you can convert your wood pegboard to the metal pegboard but still keep all your old pegboard hooks. You can get the metal pegboard that has the regular spacing with the traditional round holes as well as the newer sleek slots for the hooks that will not pull out of the board.

Not too long ago, I got some very interesting magnets made for metal pegboard. These magnets allowed you to place tools just about anywhere on the metal pegboard. If the tool you want to hang has steel or iron in it, it immediately is held to the wall by the magnet. This works only with steel pegboard that allows the magnet to bond to the board.

There’s not a doubt in my mind that my metal pegboard system can last several generations. My son and daughters can use it if they want, as you can remove the panels from the walls in my garage and workshop in minutes. The entire system can be moved to another house or location in minutes. Wood pegboard is probably more affordable, but I can tell you that my brightly colored metal pegboard really gets me in a good mood when I’m in my garage and workshop.

When you first install pegboard, it helps to lay out the tools you want to store on the floor in the manner you want them on the wall. This planning is helpful so that you know how much pegboard to buy.

I always try to sort tools by the type and especially for which ones I use most frequently. The high-use tools need to be placed on the wall in positions where they are easiest to reach. Try not to cram tools next to one another making it hard to grab them.

What I really like about the metal pegboard I use is that it will take both the sleek hooks that fit into the vertical slots as well as standard round hooks meant for wood pegboard. If you have an older hook accessory for your wood pegboard, it can be used right alongside the newer hooks.

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