![]() ![]() As you work on your bike(s), pay attention to which tools you use, and how often you use them. Over a few days/weeks, do some bike repairs/maintenance using the tools on your cardboard-covered bench. For now, lay these tools flat on the piece of cardboard you placed on your workbench/table.ģ. This includes bicycle-specific tools and regularly used household tools, like pliers, screwdrivers and scissors. Dig through your garage, basement, car, bicycle bags, etc., and find all the tools you use for your bike. It only needs to be large enough to lay out the tools you own currently (read on).Ģ. Most bike shops will give you a bike box, and cutting one side off will work for this. Place a large piece of sturdy cardboard on top of your table/bench (even if you only use a makeshift table as a workbench, it will work for this step). If you don’t have lots of tools to hang right now, you can easily follow these directions to update your toolboard as your tool collection grows.ġ. This approach to toolboard design will work for anyone. You don’t need to be an expert mechanic or even have lots of tools. Note that the step-by-step instructions below assume you’re using plywood and nails, but I do describe at the end how pegboard differs.Īnyone can make a toolboard and benefit from having one. Plus, you have to follow the pegboard spacing, which means you can’t end up with perfect spacing for oddly shaped tools, which nicely sums up many bike tools. With pegboard you buy the appropriate pegs and tool holder gizmos to hang your tools. With plywood, you hang your tools on 6-penny finishing nails that you drive into the wood wherever it works to hang and space your tools. Remember, these are FUTs, so you’ll be retrieving and replacing them often during your bike work.įor materials, I much prefer plywood to pegboard. It’s best for it not to be any taller than you can easily reach, and not too long, to avoid having to walk, or stretch, or stand on something to reach the tools. Or, if you have a work surface, table or workbench, it can be attached to the wall above it. Typically, your toolboard will be placed on the wall close to where you work on your bike. The rarely used items should stay in a drawer or toolbox so as not to clutter your board, making it more difficult to select the right tool and/or take up all your space. You only need a size large enough for your FUTs (Frequently Used Tools). Common materials are plywood and pegboard, and anything that makes it easy to hang tools. Protects tools: bike tools can be costly, and hanging them on a board prevents them from getting beat up by other tools in a box or a sliding drawerĪ nice toolboard impresses your cycling buddies: just beware the tool borrower - better to fix it in your cool shop than let them take your tools with themĪ toolboard is just a place to hang your tools. Keeps the workbench clean: again, as long as you put the tools back, your bench stays available for whatever you’re working on Helps prevent lost tools: as long as you put them back, your tools are always right there, and at a glance you can tell what’s missing and go look for it But first, let me list a few reasons why so many bike shops use toolboards.Ĭonvenient and efficient bike repair: a good toolboard holds frequently used tools right at hand you never have to search to find the right one Self-promotion alert: I even wrote a popular e-Book that’s sold in RBR’s bookstore about how to create your own shop at home titled Your Home Bicycle Workshop.Īs I was building our new shop I was thinking how useful even a basic toolboard is, and thought I would explain more how to make one. This was one of my responsibilities at the bike shops I managed and also at Bicycling magazine, so I enjoy it. We have a few bicycle workstands.įortunately, we found a corner to turn into a pro bicycle work area and I got to design it. It’s plenty big enough for any bicycle project but not the best approach since it has to stay clear for meetings and office work. For a workbench, we’ve been using a giant oval table made for staff meetings. Over the years in that office we collected a good basic assortment of bike tools, and those that fit are neatly stored in a variety of different size toolboxes. I was there to set up a bicycle workshop. It came to mind as a good topic because recently I was working in our remote office instead of my home office here in Santa Cruz, California. It's on toolboards and tool organization, so it's great for dialing in your home shop for more efficient bicycle maintenance and repair. For you mechanics out there, here's a popular subject I covered in my Jim's Tech Talk column in RoadBikeRider. ![]()
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