Pegboard Tool Holders

If you have ever been annoyed by pegboard holders that won’t stay put, you might appreciate the simplicity and utility of these tool holders.  They are easy to make and the result is a neatly-organized and functional tool wall. 

Materials

• Short length of scrap plywood 1/2” thick
• 18” Magnetic tool holders (Harbor Freight, about $4)
• #8 pan-head screws 1/2” long
• 5d finish nails 1-3/4” long
• Cable ties (optional)

Tools

• Table saw
• Miter saw
• Drill
• Drill bit 5/64
• Hammer
• Needle-nose pliers
• Phillips Screwdriver

Using the table saw, cut a 2” wide strip from a piece of scrap plywood. Draw a line lengthwise along the center of the plywood strip. Draw a second line 1/4” from the edge of the strip. Using the miter saw, chop the plywood strip into small 3/4” wide blocks. Using the 5/64 drill bit, drill two pilot holes through each block, one hole centered on each of the two lines.

Hold the wood block on the edge of the workbench with the pencil lines facing down and hammer a 5d nail through the pilot hole nearest the edge of the block. Use needle-nose pliers to firmly hold the nail close to the wood block. Bend the nail by pressing the nail down on the workbench while twisting the pliers. The result should be a 90 degree bend 1/4” away from the wood block. Use the cutters on the pliers to clip the sharp point off the nail.

Attach one of the wood blocks to each end of the magnetic tool holder using a pan-head screw. Hold the block firmly while securing the screw and make sure the block is square to the magnetic bar. Tighten the screw so the wood block does not rotate and stays perpendicular to the magnetic bar. With the wood blocks attached, the nails in both blocks should align with holes in the pegboard. If necessary, adjust the distance between the nails by loosening the screws and sliding the blocks as needed in the slotted holes of the magnetic bar.

Use cable ties to define dedicated slots for screwdrivers and similar tools. Tightly attach two cable ties to the magnetic bar for each tool, then slide them to the desired position. The cable ties keep the tools vertical and evenly spaced. They also help to identify when a tool is missing!