Introduction: 9 Unusual Tool Storage Methods for Your Workshop

About: I've been making Instructables since I was 13. Now, I mostly make videos of my projects, however I'm still active here, so don't hesitate to reach out! Sick with a deadly disease called DIY-itis!

Your workshop, Is not a workshop, When it is a mess.

That's why I've put together an Instructable showing 9 unusual methods for storing your workshop tools, Guaranteed to hold every tool has ever existed on planet earth!

In September, 2015, I built The Ultimate Magnetic Pegboard, But since then, I've collected many tools. That means that I had to make another tool holder for them. Here I'll show you some of my favorite holders that I made on my new "Pegboard" holder!

Let's get to work!

Step 1: Kitchen Paper Towel Dispenser? Clamp Rack!

My Grandma gave me a plastic "Kitchen Paper Towel Dispenser".

Because the dowel that holds the paper towel was made out of plastic, It wasn't strong enough to hold the clamps, So I found a metal rod that I salvaged from a printer, Cut it to the right size*, And glued it tightly inside of the holders that were on the side with Epoxy.

I also added some wood to make it a bit farther from the board, Which makes it a lot easier to mount and unmount the clamps.

After that, I screwed everything onto the board, Clamps can be pretty heavy so the more screws you use, The better

I think I can honestly say that this is way easier to use than other "fancy" clamp racks

*I cut the rod to about twice as long as I needed to leave enough space for more clamps because I want to buy a couple more clamps, I'm also going to make a couple soon!

My "Kitchen Paper Towel Dispenser Clamp Rack" holds:

3 6" Spring Clamps

A 4" C-Clamp

A 2" C-Clamp

And a lot more to come soon!

Step 2: Zip-Tie Tool Holders!

Zip-Ties are great for many different uses, Why not use them as tool holders?

I drilled two holes in the board and fastened a Zip-Tie (Size of Zip-Tie depends on tool) through the hole, And slid the tool in. That Simple!

You can also hang a Soldering Iron, A Rotary Tool and many more! Though if you want to hang a heavy tool (such as a drill), A Hose Clamp might be better for the job because it's made out of steel.

My "Zip-Tie Tool Holders" hold:

Big Metal Tweezers (Because they can't be magnetized)

Small Plastic Tweezers

Step 3: Heatsinks

I came up with this idea back in November, 2015, And I've been using it to store my Plastic Tweezers on the wall right over my Magnetic Pegboard. I mounted the heatsink onto the wall in a vertical position with Double-Sided Tape, And put the tweezers onto the Heat-Sink, Using the fins as dividers!

I salvaged this Heat-Sink from a Play-Station 2, And I even have an 'Ible about it: What's Inside? #6: Sony Play-Station. Here's a link to a similar heat sink.


My "Heat-Sink Tool Holder" holds:

5 Different Kinds of Plastic ESD Tweezers (I left out the SMT Tweezers from this $1 set of 7 Tweezers because I don't use SMT)

Step 4: Magnets!

You might have seen my The Ultimate Magnetic Pegboard Instructable, If not, Go check it out!

For my new tool holder, I used Magnets that I salvaged from speakers, And Hot-Glued them onto the board, This is pretty easy to do, But it takes ages to plan where each tool with go on the board.

Here's a link to many different types of neodymium magnets

My Magnets hold (Only on the new tool holder, Not including The Ultimate Magnetic Pegboard):

A Big Rasp Planer

A Small Rasp Planer

Big Needle-Nose Pliers

Wire Cutters

Toothless Needle-Nose Pliers

Curved/Bent Needle-Nose Pliers

Regular Needle-Nose Pliers

A Woodworker's Punch






Step 5: Square Screw Hooks

I prefer using Square Screw Hooks than regular Screw Cup Hooks:

They hold bigger tools better, For example: The big Rasp that is shown in the picture has a big handle, And it doesn't even let even big Cup Hooks hold it.

With a Square Screw Hook, It is way easier to hold tools, Try it yourself, You'll see what I'm talking about

Although not pictured, I added more hooks the the bottom part as locks, Which prevent the saw from falling No-Matter-What!


My "Square Screw Hooks" hold:

A Paintbrush (Not for painting, I use it for other things)

A Big Rasp

A Big File

A Hand-Saw (These have a million different names)

My Homemade Microscope

Step 6: Styrofoam

You might not believe it, But I used styrofoam to store my Drill-Bits on the wall, Styrofoam is soft, Lightweight, And easy to cut, So it's great for hanging small tools such as: Drill-Bits, Files, Small Screwdrivers, Pencils and more!

If you want to know how I made my Styrofoam Drill-Bit Holder, I made an Instructable about it. You can view the 'Ible through this link

If you want to make this out of wood, Styrofoam can work well for planning prototypes too

Step 7: Mini Shelves!

I think French Cleats are pretty cool, But I don't have the tools to make them.

I decided to take a small piece of wood and connect it to the board with a small 90° shelf bracket.


My "Mini Shelves: hold:

My Homemade Magnetic Silicone Vise Soft Jaws (Because I've decided that I don't want them on my Vise anymore)

2 Different Sharpening Stones

A Nail Clipper (Though Snips might be better for cutting nails...)

A Credit-Card Sized Multitool

A "Phone" Flashlight

Step 8: Toilet Paper Roll!

I have to admit that this is a really weird idea...

I drilled a hole into a paper towel tube, Cut it in half, And screwed it to the wall.

I now use it to hold onlyMy Homemade Plywood Mallet. This is a really lightweight mallet so the tube barely even moves, But this wouldn't be good for heavy tools, Obviously...

Step 9: Mini "Hole Shelves"

This idea was inspired by an article that I saw recently.

I drilled small holes into thin MDF, Widened them with a file, Cut them to size with a Hand-Saw , And hung them on the bottom part of my pegboard.

It can be used to hang Screwdrivers, Files, Chisels, And many more tools!


My "Mini Hole Shelves" hold:

6 Different Types of Files

4 Different Sized Chisels: 16mm, 10mm, Small 7mm, & Small 5mm

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Thanks for watching! Make sure to let me know if you make one of these ideas!

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