A Wall Worth Looking At

Time for a change

The tool board needed sorting. I knew it. Anyone who's stood in the workshop knew it.

Leatherwork uses a lot of small tools. Edge bevellers, stitching chisels, awls, creasers, punches, mallets. Each one has a job, and each one goes missing at the exact moment I need it.

So I've upgraded. New board, new hooks, and a new rule that everything goes back where it lives. We'll see how long the rule lasts.

What went up

It's a black metal pegboard kit from INCLY. The panels cover 48 by 36 inches of wall, which is a lot more space than I had before.

The kit came with 226 pieces. Most of that is hooks in different shapes and lengths, plus bins for small bits and cups for things that stand upright. I haven't used all of it yet. I'm not sure anyone ever does.

I went for metal because it's sturdy and won't sag under a mallet. I went for black because it looks smart. That's the honest answer.

Why it matters

A tidy wall isn't really about looks. It's about time.

When every tool has a spot, I can see what I need from the bench and reach it without looking for it. Less hunting means more making. It also means your order gets my full attention rather than half of it going on searching for a 4mm punch.

It's kinder to the tools as well. Edges stay sharper when they're hung up instead of knocking about in a drawer. Good tools last a long time if you look after them. Same as good leather.

The best part is that pegboard moves with me. If I pick up a new tool, or change how I work, I just move a hook. Nothing is fixed.

That's it for now

It's not the most exciting update I'll ever post. But a well-organised workshop makes better work, and that's what you're paying for.

If you're ever at Daisy's Milkshed Farmers Market, come and say hello. I'll happily talk tools for longer than you'd like.