Quick, Cheap, and Easy Tool Organizer

While in the process of setting up my new shop, I needed some way to organize and store a bunch of small hand tools. A length of PVC pipe and a few screws solved the problem.

Comments/suggestions and ratings are always welcome, and almost always responded to.

Step 1: Fabricate Components

Using PVC (or ABS) pipe of a diameter appropriate for your storage needs (I used 1-1/2") cut sections with one square end and one sharply angled end.

I cut the sharp end at 62 degrees because that is the steepest angle my saw can be set at.

Making small tick marks on the base of the saw itself and aligning the pipe to them (rather than measuring every individual piece) greatly speeds up the process. Cut each end of your pipe at the angle, reset the saw to square, and then cut off the sections. Repeat.

A note on using salvaged pipe- if the pipe has been around for a while, it may be a little brittle. When you are cutting pipe with a power saw, it may shatter. Take appropriate precautions.

Step 2: Assemble

Using a punch, nail, or awl, make a divot about 5/8" up from the point of the pipe section and start a wood screw into it.

Make a level mark on the wall to align the points to. Screw each piece to the wall, snugging the screw up firmly.

Step 3: Utilize

Fill er' up!

A few notes:

Experiment with sizes.

If you are putting anything edged in the holders, you should cram a piece of foam in the bottom of them, as part of the screw is exposed inside.

I did this against a fairly rough wall (painted OSB). Smoother walls may require a dab of hot glue at the top of the angled cut to keep the holders from rotating. On the OSB, even with some heavy cold chisels in them, mine stay put well.

"Nesting" the holders against the row above adds a lot more stability, too.

Comments

[thoughtfission]

Shouldn't step 3 be called uToolize? ;)

[JenHarVick]

Thank you. The details and photos helped tremendously. Here I go...🤞

[aeray]

How did it go?

[aeray]

Good luck. Post some photos.

[twilightrider]

Have you noticed any issues with the top of the holder pulling away from the wall due to the weight of whatever is in it? (No screw keeps it against the wall at the top, only the bottom.) Either way, this is a great idea and much more efficient than merely hanging tools from a pegboard... I'll be sure to implement it. :)

[JohnM623]

Try drilling a hole the size of a #6 or #8 Robertson screw through the PVC, and then drill a hole the size of your #6 or #8 screwdriver, on the outermost side of the pipe, thus allowing you to use the screwdriver to fasten the pipe to the board Also countersink the inside hole, so that the screw does not scratch any items that are being held in place by the PVC pipe. I would use a 5/16" drill bit for the countersink bit, this should be very close to the diameter of the #6 screw head.

[aeray]

Nope, haven't had.a problem yet, and some of them are really loaded down.

[gwairbrush]

I absolutely detest pegboard. I installed it my garage (before i knew better). Hooks would come out with the tool you grab and invariably get lost. Plywood and a screw...BOOM done! PVC can be cut to hold darn near anything.

[W MichaelC]

I came across the pvc idea on pinterest - i must say it is far superior to pegboard and rings. i wanted to further this idea by color coding the pvc sections for easier to type identification - perhaps paint them or use colored tape around the top

[soubal]

For something a little safer & cleaner to cut the PVC with, use a cutting disk designed for metal or masonry in your mitre saw, rather than a timber blade.. ie use an abrasive disk (like a big version of what you'd normally use on an angle grinder) rather than a toothed sawblade. That way there's nothing to 'catch' on the brittle PVC and break it up.

[aeray]

Agreed. If I had a dedicated metal-cutting chopsaw, I would use it. I don't want to use an abrasive blade in my saw, though, because I don't want to get abrasive bits all over the same saw I use for trim/finish carpentry.

[ArtsyFartsyGirl]

Cool! Curious tho, why so many plumbbobs?

[aeray]

I think you are looking at the chalklines, which are shaped like plum bobs, but don't work well for that purpose. From left to right: Thick black, for heavy permanent lines, like on concrete foundations; thin black, for precision permanent lines (used most frequently); red, for permanent corrections of black lines; blue, for temporary lines that need to be erased eventually (like wall lines on a concrete slab that will be exposed, or on beams and logs); white, for lines on tar paper for roofing, or for handrail lines on staircase walls that already have the finish paint on them (it wipes right off).

[Blue Hawaii]

If you use powered concrete dye, the chalk lines become permanent.

[ArtsyFartsyGirl]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I used to paint commercial signs, sometimes on walls and i've used those chalklines, but I guess my old instructor probably referred to them as plum bobs and it stuck. I have used it to make sure of a vertical line too. My instructor said everyone has some astigmatism, and I know I surely do. I can look at the edge of a building sometimes and see a curve! Guess I'd make a horrible carpenter! lol!
Caio

[Bosun Rick]

Like most DIY'ers, I have multiples of most tools, and thought about using PVC pipe to store my surplus sockets in. making a pipe for each size, I could just cut a small opening at the bottom, (sort of like the picture of the dowel rod storage)and pull out the desired socket, use it, then drop it back in the top of the tube when finished.
Taking it a step further, connect the tubes in a circular pattern, and set them up to rotate like a 'lazy susan' type thing. This would take up less wall space, but more benchtop area. Has anyone tried this?

[RangerJ]

I like this. Very good idea.

[bvsmanya]

good storage idea.better if mounted on 3/4" plywood board and attached to the wall.

[aeray]

The wall itself is plywood, OSB really.

[guy90]

Great idea, somewhat heavy duty as well- which will definetely come in handy for storing craft blades!