Spread your tools over a flat wall area and they use up a lot of space. Build a compact tool rack like this one and you can store over 100 tools in a 2' by 2 1/2 ' wall space.

This 24"-wide, 30"-high tool rack is made of two base pieces of 3/4" plywood, nine solid oak upright mounting supports, and nine pegboard "leaves" with square holes. The leaves are 10" wide. The size of the tool rack and width of the leaves may vary to meet individual space requirements, but it is recommended that the leaves be made no wider than 12". Pegboard with round holes may be used instead of square holes, if you wish.

The tools are held by wire hooks, which can be obtained at hardware and department stores in a variety of sizes and shapes to hold the smallest screw drivers and the largest mallets and wrecking bars.

Cut two 3/4"-by-2" plywood strips in 24" lengths. Bore W-wide holes 2 1/2" apart in the center of each strip. The holes should go all the way through.

Round off corners of each end of front edge (that edge which will face out when each strip is mounted to wall).

Front edges can be covered with wood trim to match wall. Weldwood wood trim was used in this project.

To make upright mounting strips, which will hold pegboard tool holder leaves, cut nine 3/4"-by-l"-by-30" pieces of oak or other hardwood. Cut dowels 1/2 wide and 3/4" long out of both ends of each upright mounting strip. Dowels are being cut here on lathe with a plug-cutter attachment. If dowels are made with hand tools, mark circle for dowel size on end of each piece, cut into each side to desired depth, then cut away excess wood with rasp and file.

Fig. A. The dowels can be made with a lathe with plug-cutter attachment or by hand, as shown above.

Sand smooth in each upright mounting strip, cut a 3/16 -wide, 1/2 "-deep groove in center of narrow edge. This groove is used to hold pegboard tool holder leaves. If heavier pegboard is used, cut grooves accordingly.

Round all tour edges ot each upright mounting strip.

Mount tool holder leaves into grooves, using glue. Make sure that dowels are kept clear. 

To assemble tool rack, mount top plywood strip to wall first, using 3" No. 14 roundhead screws. Then insert dowels of tool holder leaves into holes of the bottom strip. Place all top dowels into holes of top strip.

Attach bottom strip to wall, using 3" No. 14 round-head screws, making sure the entire assembly is plumb and square. A wide variety of hooks can be obtained at hardware or department stores to accommodate various kinds of tools.

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