Hold-Everything Tool Rack

Get organized fast with easy slat construction and versatile hangers.

Whether you have an exquisite collection of antique tools or the latest in high-tech gear, this versatile wall rack stores them all within easy reach. It’s easy to build and adapts to fit virtually any wall space. The 48 in. by 48 in. rack shown here is made from poplar, but any hardwood or combination of hardwoods will work. Each tool hanger has a bottom groove that allows it to slip snugly onto any of the slats. This nifty feature makes the hangers easy to move, so you can rearrange your rack to accommodate newly acquired tools.

The biggest­—and most fun­—challenge this rack presents is figuring out how to modify the hangers to display your unique collection of tools.

Build the Rack

Cut and plane stiles and rails for the rack’s frame to 1 in. thick and 1-1/4 in. wide. Their lengths depend on the size of the rack you plan to build. Internal stiles can be spaced up to 24 in. on center. Dry-assemble the frame and drill pilot holes through the rails and into the end-grain of the stiles. Then screw the frame together (Photo 1).

Cut and plane the horizontal slats to exactly 1/2 in. thick and 2-7/16 in. wide. Leave one slat about 1/2 in. oversize in width—plan to attach this slat last. Cut the slats to length to fit your frame.

Make a jig to assure that the slats are consistently spaced, so the 3/4-in.-thick hangers will easily slip between them: Simply glue 13/16-in.-thick blocks flush with the edge of a straight 3-in.-wide board.

With the frame squared and clamped to your bench, align the first slat with the bottom and sides of the frame. Pre-dill pilot holes and then fasten this slat with #6 by 1-1/4 in. screws. Use the jig to position rest of the slats (Photo 2). Regularly check the frame with a square (Photo 3).

Mark the width of the last slat and cut it to fit (Photo 4).

Apply an oil finish and set the rack aside to dry (finish seals the wood so the rack is less likely to get dirty or stained).

The method you use to mount your rack depends on your situation. My shop has wood framing, so I could drill holes through the rack’s frame and screw it directly to the studs. If you have concrete block or brick, you’ll need to use wall anchors.

Create custom tool hangers

The hangers are nothing more than pieces of 3/4-in.-thick hardwood with a bottom groove cut to fit snugly over the 1/2-in.-thick slats. Use spacers with your dado set, if necessary, to achieve the desired friction fit. Make the grooves about 7/16 in. deep. Most of the hangers you’ll make will be less than 2-3/4 in. wide, so you can harvest a pair of long slotted blanks from a 6-in.-wide board (Photo 5). I made the hangers for this rack from an 8 ft. length of 1×6 poplar.

To create custom-fit hangers, start by laying all your tools onto a large table, then group them according to the types of notches you think they’ll require.

Sawing slots, installing dowels, drilling holes, chopping mortises or adding lipped edging will accommodate most tools. Rounding the corners makes the hangers more user-friendly.

Calculate the spacing for hangers that will hold multiple tools, such as chisels or wrenches, before you start drilling or sawing. You’ll find yourself using Forstner bits, files and all kinds of saws to create suitable notches.

Don’t be afraid to experiment: I even tried ripping blanks in half and gluing them back together after cutting the notches. Once you’ve created a couple successful hangers, you’ll get all sorts of ideas (Photos 6-8).

 

 

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