Build a Tool Wall From Scraps and Junk

You all have seen it in the background! But what's actually on the tool wall?
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0:00 Intro
1:31 Chisels & Screwdrivers
3:40 Drill bits
5:07 Pliers
6:18 Magnets
8:21 Squares & Router planes
11:22 Hammers
13:53 Cup holders
15:19 Outro

[@AndrewGarcia-do9hu]

Love this book! kzbin.infoUgkxpCNxqmAkyjN6NPx1fyB7QiEFWyO5mUWL it is simply one-of-a-kind! I really love it, because karah explained all tools required to have the job done, not mentioning the fabulous diy pallets ideas. I'm pretty sure this will be a fresh start in my new endeavour. Amazon was great, they delivered on time. Thank you!

[@FarmerRiddick]

For many of us, utilizing space appropriately can be a challenge. Your tool wall concept is inspirational!

[@ArniesTech]

Absolutely. Verticality is too overlooked and neglected 🙏

[@michaelfredieu-ec6we]

I just want to say that I've been watching you for a while and you are a great presenter. It might be your training as an English teacher, but everything is well paced, fluid and easy to watch and understand! Just absolutely well crafted videos. Thanks for all you do!

[@RexKrueger]

I appreciate that so much. Thank you!!

[@davidhester9716]

I have found my next project. Thanks for the great ideas on tool storage. Another great video Rex!

[@wayneprice6918]

Love the tool wall. Built a 9 foot english bench that needs a tool wal. Great info!

[@JasonQuackenbushonGoogle]

Reminds me of my grampas work bench. His go to was to drive a nail in a 2x4 to make a hook, if he needed more support, it was two nails to make a cradle. Lots of baby food jars with their lids hot glued under shelves to hold small parts. He would have loved the cheap neodyn disc magnets.

[@prdeereman]

Rex , I love your program ! I became disabled and retired 10 years ago . I was 30 years in a path that using that BnS tenths scale , it's not weird in that field at all it's pretty standard. I wish KZbin accessibility was a thing back in the 80s and 90s it would have helped me so much. I feel like you are a good bit younger than me .(born in 65 ) I just wanted to state that imo you are the most practical approach to woodworking efficiency I've seen on KZbin yet. For what ever value is in that statement. Keep on keeping on brother !

[@workbenchz]

I like your "not cluttered" arrangement. I found the biggest problem with toolboards is putting a work bench in front of it making you stretch to reach the upper tools.

[@tonyennis1787]

Truth. There's probably about 2', maybe 2.5', of vertical space that's appropriate for tool storage. For more space, one should go wider.

[@Jonalith]

"I rarely work with plywood or do cabinetry anymore because I'm really not that good at it" Perfect reason to show us! You always say you weren't that good at hand tool woodwork when you started the channel too, but you're much better now. plus you may find some technique that could be useful elsewhere.

[@rickbrockthedog8017]

Very timely video as I need to set up a tool board in my new garage! Thanks for the ideas.

[@fgjhham89]

You were an English teacher! Now it makes so much sense why your videos are so good lol

[@ArniesTech]

Awesome. My basement workshops has all the walls covered with plywood. Sooooo much vertical space to use for tools ❤️❤️

[@theidlehandsworkshop3884]

I'm working on getting back out into the shop, you mentioned how life took a drastic turn, same here... I went from no horses, to having two wild mustangs and three others we rescued !!! Not to mention my regular job, can't wait, only like 12 more years until I can retire lol.... if they let me....

[@JoeGP]

that hammer holder looks like someone with a lot of free time made it, I hang all my hammers on 2 slightly slanted nails, does the exact same thing, but I am gonna steal that plier hanger idea, so thanks

[@jerrystark3587]

Props to English teachers everywhere! 👍👍

[@jocke57]

Love that screwdriver holder. You should do one, only with hand tools for a video 👍

[@J.A.Smith2397]

I slowly built my wall collections up. Started with James Wrights file shelf, then my close to a dozen saws that was spread out across the whole wall got combined into a small till... so on n so on lol

[@carlitos8911]

Now I can tell why your English is so clean Regards from Chile

[@smoothbrain8519]

Great to see your solutions here, Rex. Thanks for the walkthrough, gives me some good ideas I’m still building my toolset but I’m also still trying to settle within a workflow and as a person who gets invested in lots of making styles and crafts, it’s hard to know what to dedicate a toolwall for which tools for first order retrievability. I am trying to solve a modular system that can adapt as I rapidly change work. I’ll likely integrate some of your solutions into my mashup. Thanks again!

[@JohnM-hd9qi]

You got me thinking - french rail with individual pallet boards on it. Switch to a different project or one of the boards doesn't work for you? Swap it out for another. Install another rail in a storage area and you can setup your tool wall for whichever project you're currently working on, while still having the other boards ready to go for the next setup!

[@smoothbrain8519]

@@JohnM-hd9qi Hey John, wow thats a great idea, thanks for the brainstorm! Where at first just a module wall feels cluttered if everything has to live there, but the separate storage area rail might be key that I felt I was missing. Really great thanks!

[@michaellang9443]

This was really refreshing for me to see. There are so many KZbinrs standing in front of heirloom-furniture-quality shop fixtures (or stacks of green Systainers 😛) that it can make it difficult for the rest of us to chose practical over perfect and/or expensive. Thank you for sharing!

[@clarkwilliams4790]

Your sensibilities agree with me so much, Rex. I'm the first person in the house to say "don't throw that away! I'll find a use for it!" Thanks for sharing all the DIY solutions that worked well for you!

[@DeputatKaktus]

I live in a 530 sq.ft. apartment, and while I do not do much wood work in my space, I do electronics stuff a lot. My living room is basically my workshop. So utilising what little space I have is absolutely paramount.Putting stuff on the wall was the logical choice for me, and it is still a work in progress. I have a floating shelf sitting over my desk/workbench. And I wanted my soldering supplies as well as my screwdrivers, wire strippers, crimping tools, pliers, cutters and whatnot on hand. So what I did was get a couple of aluminium C channels and bolted them to the edge of the shelf. Then I got bunch of M6 T nuts and a bunch of matching grub screws. I covered the grub screws with heat shrink tubing and using the T nuts I then put the grub screws into the C channels. Presto, loads of tool holders for a TON of tools that requires zero extra space and is easily reconfigured if need be. I used the same system using a 90x30 cm piece of 25mm chipboard - which was part of a cupboard I threw out - but I figured I might as well keep the hardware and the shelves. I bolted that to two strips of wood that I put on the wall (it is an exterior brick wall, so I wanted a bit of standoff space between the back of the tool board and the actual wall, because potential moisture buildup and such) I have tried everything from containers with casters to drawers to boxes. But all the tools ended up just cluttering my desk because I could not be bothered to put all my shit away because I figured I would need them again anyway in a day or two. And many tools were spread across different containers, so many projects took twice or three times as long because I was rummaging around for tools. Eventually I was just fed up with that.

[@MoreThanMichael]

My dad is a retired cabinet maker and he has talked about how a handyman can do more than he can. He knows all the rules of cabinet making and how things are supposed to work. An untrained but handy person just makes something that works, unrestrained by the rules.

[@rickkcir9959]

Rex!! Tilt the ruler forward maybe at the top so the pliers can come a little forward then out, like the screwdriver holes.

[@matthewbizzell4601]

Hey Rex, love the story of English teacher-turned-woodworker. I've experienced the same! I'm definitely not a professional (yet?), but it's good to hear there are others who stepped away from the same profession and found woodworking.

[@graydanerasmussen4071]

Thanks for showing us your old work. Shelves, tool boards, racks, store bought... The "right" storage solution is the one that works for you! Whatever a person comes up with, if it works, it's the right way. Exposing oneself to many techniques allows for a broader set of possible solutions, so keep learning!

[@BearWoodWorkshop]

That was fun and inspiring! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@ErikBongers]

Love this walk-through. It resembles my own wall. It's indeed a great beginners project, as long as you don't try to make it perfect, but treat it as an experimenting sandbox. Also, moving your tools from a toolbox to a wall is such an upgrade in accessibility. I'm going to try that screwdriver holder. Better than my block with holes.

[@robertkujawa3504]

Flathead screwdriver is the obsolete name of a paint can opener.

[@johnnyb95678]

Thank you for the great ideas and the journey that got you here. You have given me a ton of ideas for my own shop.

[@nobuckle40]

I appreciate this video. It's down to earth. Thanks for sharing your humble beginnings with us.

[@jensaarnaes150]

Love this! I have been using the heck out of my decade old scrap-based tool wall. I use hot glue to place my holders and have moved them several times to optimize their location. All this takes is a heat gun and a spatula.

[@dianemoore2945]

Know wonder I listen to you …you’re a teacher!! You always have a clear precise way of explaining things and you keep me engaged. I loved going down memory lane on your tool board very enlightening. Looks like I need some reorganization on my tool wall😂 Thanks Rex

[@RobertSababady]

Brilliant - such a practical solution! Rex - you really have out your heart and soul into this tool wall and I love the way you ignore the word "organizer" and explain why you made the holders the way you did.

[@JamesWilliams-en3os]

I love this. Thanks for making this one, Rex. 👍👍

[@10pmixupuk65]

The amount and variety of tool storage solutions that we all use always amazes me.

[@jimmcnett]

Love the way you approach a problem. This was very enjoyable. Thanks for sharing.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

I like the screw driver, magnetic ruler holder and chisel holders. Going to steal them for my tool wall set up. Thanks Rex.

[@keithreay]

Another great video Rex… thanks for the tour of the tool board.

[@ODonnchadhaBrian]

I've been thinking of making a shadow board for my tools for some time. This might just have been the inspiration I needed to actually do it.

[@clemoniii]

I really enjoyed this video. Wood working is a pending hobby, and i do NOT know the right ways yet. Thanks for this.

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic tips, Rex! Thanks a bunch! 😃 I still need to start making organizational things like that... But it's been too hot here in Brazil. 😬 Next week is looking to be colder... We shall see. Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@ikust007]

No80: in love with this one

[@jeffandthings77]

A lot of great ideas I hadn't seen before...and I'm setting up a new shop in my new garage! Thanks.

[@darriandorr4228]

I am 13 and i love woodworking

[@mercoid]

Do it as much as you possibly can. Also remember…, it is possible to take something seriously yet still have it be fun. That is very important not to lose sight of. Woodworking is a good wholesome activity and has potential to make YOU an invaluable person in certain situations. That’s for life.!

[@MCsCreations]

Welcome and have fun. 😊

[@JackCliffordWilliams]

Hi Darrian! 🙂👋

[@tomrund-scott7879]

I'm glad to hear that, Darrian! I was about that age when I started to love woodworking, too. What things do you like to make or work on?

[@devinnelson9386]

werd

[@gizmophoto3577]

Hearing that you were an English teacher goes a long way to explain why you communicate so clearly.

[@chiblast100x]

I really feel with you on the nostalgia for the getting started phase in making stuff. Last year I finally replaced the last of my original cheap bookcases I made in my early twenties, and was honestly amazed they'd held up near twenty years of use when I made them from cheap MDF and screws from Lowes. Now I'm looking to remodel my bathroom and considering whether solid wood floating shelves on french cleats is worth consideration for towels and toiletries.

[@robertlunsford1350]

I am looking at the wall in my shop where all my planes are mounted on French cleat holders made from scrap plywood from a boat trailer plant down the street mounted to a 6x5 crate side with the writing still on it.

[@ga5743]

And I think your tool wall looks great on camera. Nice job Rex.👍

[@ikust007]

5:31 bravo ! Thinking out of the box is your strength

[@ianpearse4480]

Nice ideas Rex, cheers for sharing.

[@user-qg6fy4yp8t]

Love your setup!

[@eugenetswong]

Rex, your tool wall seems so perfect; especially those 2 loops.

[@glencrandall7051]

The idea's presented here may not be directly applicable to everyone but they certainly form a base for individual solutions. I know there are a couple of points here that I may be able to use in my shop. 👍👍 Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@c.a.g.1977]

Hey, didn't know you were an English teacher as well! Nice show and tell, Rex!

[@tonyennis1787]

2:30 I made an insert for a cavernous toolbox to turn it into a functional tool box. The tray with the chisels includes doodads that prevent me from touching the edges. Recommend you do the same.

[@brianwhitmore4705]

I like your wall. I solved the same issues with a Dutch Tool Chest. After I built it, I discovered it was just too heavy for me to load up in my truck to take places so I cut the bottom section off and made it a 2 piece (I've since added a third section) Dutch tool chest. Each section is about 50 pounds when loaded which is much easier on my back. I put them on a cart in my shop with a bunch of other tools on it. As I'm working at one of my benches the tool cart follows me around and I can have most of my tools at arms reach no matter where I am. It's been really good for organization as every tool has a specific spot for it. As soon as the tool is used, it returns to its home.

[@hassanal-mosawi4235]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@RobWalsh]

So many insightful ideas, thanks!!

[@athmostafa2462]

Yep , whatever makes your job easier and faster to do , I made mine years ago just glued some pallet wood together and kept hanging my tools with only screws 🤷 and works for me like a charm.

[@melefth]

Excellent stuff, Rex!

[@andyc972]

Thanks for this Rex, interesting as always, a key word here is scraps, this doesn't crop up often enough on "scrap wood" projects but is an ideal use of odds and ends of scrap - but, hang on, with all this scrap I've got I'm gonna need more tools ! 😁

[@Umski]

I neeeed this in my life 😁 - though it won't stop my tools going walkabout as they move from place to place 🤔

[@vikingskuld]

Great video and like always greater information. Thank you

[@upsidedowndog1256]

Sometimes the creative way may not be the best way, but is usually a more interesting way! Nice tool board!

[@timberrecycling]

cool tour, thanks!

[@edharrington4008]

My take on the tool wall was to mount electrician tool pouches to a lath stood off the wall about 1/2 inch. This gives me three dimensional tool storage with multiple configuration choices as they make a million versions of pouches. I am currently looking at "Bucket Buddies" that I will just cut open and screw to the wall.

[@edharrington4008]

A pouch screwed to the edge of the workbench is also very useful.

[@notreallymyname3736]

Using string to hang planes is one of my all-time favorite tricks for wall storage. My entire plane till was designed around it.

[@jan-reiniervoute6701]

Ditto. A length of discarded mainsail sheet screwed in loops of 4-5 inches and about 3 inches apart on top of a 1-1.5 inch square board will hold the front knob easily and you can take off and rep;lace the plane holding it one-handed by the tote.

[@notreallymyname3736]

@Jan-Reinier Voute I over engineered my till compared to what you're describing. My planes are still sitting on a shelf and have a lip to keep them from tipping out. I have parachord loops holding the knob, tote, iron, or horn (I have a pretty eclectic collection) on the top. Works great for me, but I still need two hands to get them off the wall.

[@TomBuskey]

Easy to put back is more important than easy to get. That keeps it off the workbench when you're not using it

[@josefkozenk7971]

I am 5 and love woodworking

[@jeffdmeneff2319]

hey rex, yknow after all these years id love to know more about you, and your backstory! could be a cool video idea

[@ikust007]

4:02 i like that you kept the paper code on the end grain:) proves that the important thing is…does it work:)!?

[@frrapp2366]

a handy tool for people cutting sheet goods is a 48 in t square i am using my 48 in adjustable T square cutting out the plywood i am putting up on the walls of my shop (60 in spacing between the metal studs)

[@kimheaston7574]

My wife loved this. Never throw anything away!😁

[@Vampandamonium]

The only ideas that survive are the good ones. The ones that don't work fall by the wayside. But don't let that stop you from having fun.

[@johnfisk811]

One advantage of mounting things on a board on a wall is that it keeps them off the wall if your workspace has cold walls which promote condensation and rusting. I have just put one up which is a worn pallet which allows me to slip on shelves as well as hanging tools.

[@gofgwoodworking]

Rex, it's your version of a Studley, ha ha. I have built so many different styles of tool holders, the problem I have is my shop is a Quonset hut, I don't have any flat walls! I like the pen holder. Keep up the good work.

[@thomashverring9484]

Great video!

[@SillyMonkeys]

thank you, that was a lovely video.

[@onbedoeldekut1515]

If your pliers rack was angled ever so slightly off vertical (5 degrees or so), the slight curve of the handles should 'work with it' and allow an almost horizontal withdrawl from the rack, letting you use the empty space above.

[@BradsWorkbench]

Great video! I always tell people starting a shop, just throw u stuff in spots because you'll be moving/changing stuff for the next 3-5 years regardless lol

[@RexKrueger]

Doing it this way is flexible. You just move things. Easy.

[@scottswineford6714]

You'll probably use the cabinet scraper plane thingy when arthritis gets to your fingers and thumbs

[@distortedodin]

I loved this video. Thanks you for doing it. Full of content and reflection. I have a ryoba saw I find awkward to store but also keep handy. I keep it in the plastic faux zipper thing it came in because it has a hole at the end that is ideal to hang on a hook. It takes a lot to replace it each time. Can you show us you saw setup?

[@awantamta]

Some great ideas

[@spirov92]

I find shallow shelves are much more convenient, it's easier to grab stuff and put it back and if you space them densely (say, 10cm apart) you can fit a lot more stuff. Also it's easier to rearrange stuff since they're not specialized for the tool. The only downside is if you have 5 screwdrivers with identical handles it can be hard to find the right one. There's also those magnetic strips, they're cheap and can hold an entire row of tools, I use one for all my files.

[@autumn5592]

I am not really a fan of the magnetic strips, as someone that frequently works with metal, the filings stick to EVERYTHING because it all becomes magnetic. For wood chisels, hammers, and maybe some screwdrivers, it's fine. But I would never put a file on one. I keep my files in a custom drawer, right underneath my bench top, so I can easily access them. It has a 'comb' style spacer in there, prevents files from rubbing and keeps it clean, makes them easy to grab too.

[@fasdm]

I would suggest having spur bits instead of the twist drills if you don't have room for both. The spur is invaluable for centering the hole on a mark. Also step drills, just a couple of cheap ones from Harbor Freight will make the holes in sheet metal that even wood workers occasionally need, at almost no cost to the real estate of your tool board. My work space has shelves and I made small tool boards that stand upright and hold my small tools in a way that is easy to reach. My son's 3d printer organizes my small files and hex shank bits in convenient holders that would also work on a tool board.

[@Bartyron]

Move the chisels up is not necessary. If you extend the board with a rim under the cutting side of the chisels, then you use the same space and it is safe.

[@brw3079]

My Dad was an English teacher and woodworker too! Not a common combination.

[@TimRoyalPastortim]

I like that perspective... I didn't know I was supposed to make a tool cabinet with tills, etc... So I took my bandsaw and scraps and just made holders to stick to some ugly white melamine kitchen cabinets that I salvaged from the trash. Each tool holder was custom and my plane till and my saw till (Just a large dowel and some scraps with kerfs) just went between the cabinets... When I ran out of room in the plane till I added magnets and scraps to hold my smaller planes and my 78 etc... It's evolving, but it works. The ugly cabinets aren't so ugly because of the cool stuff on and between them. They also give me a place to hide those shameful power tools!

[@darriandorr4228]

Hi love your videos

[@groermaik]

The smartest thing you said was when you were through with the tool, you put it right back.

[@douglashopkins8070]

I am going to add those angled cups to my shop.

[@velcroman11]

Before metrics came in all folding carpenter’s “rules came with and inches side divided into 10th of and inch. While the other side of the carpenter’s “rule” was divided into 16th of an inch.

[@ikust007]

13:19 yup . They are amazing junk now.

[@kcbeekeeper]

If it's worth it to you to make a new plier holder to reduce the vertical headroom, consider a hybrid using the rail component of the existing holder combined with the leaning feature of your twist bit holder

[@oe4365]

Hello from sweden @rex kruger nice setup, Do you have a video on your plane storage?

[@maty7645]

Thanks for the ideas. One small thing I noticed was that your ball pein hammer has the ball end facing to the right so that a right-handed person would naturally have the ball end facing 'forward' on picking it up one-handed. If you predominantly use the flat face, would it be a small improvement to swap the supports over so the flat face is 'forward' or would it not be worth the effort. Hope this helps, otherwise feel free to ignore. Thanks again for the inspiring videos

[@RexKrueger]

You know, you're right! I think I flip it in my hand unconsciously after all these years. Good eye.

[@freewaybaby]

Ohh, you said “never”! That “ridiculous gizmo” that you never use… It won’t be long, and you’ll need it for something! LOL

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@Karpe_Deem]

OH YOU WERE AN ENGLISH TEACHER? So that's why your communication skills are A+ 🤔