When it comes to pegboard, you’ve got a lot of options, but it usually comes down to hardboard vs. metal-structured pegboard. Hardboard pegboard is a lot cheaper, and while metal pegboard is theoretically going to be stronger, a lot of people choose it because of how much better it looks. In my experience, metal pegboard is often easier to install, as the better panels offer built-in wall standoffs.
Nearly 2 years ago, I gushed about how I thought Wall Control makes the best pegboard. Craftsman recently came out with new Triton-made LocBoard pegboard, but I’m still of the impression that Wall Control’s has an edge. With the Wall Control system, you can use their proprietary hooks or standard 1/4″ pegboard hooks and accessories. Triton’s LocBoard only works with their LocHooks.
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Scott wrote in, asking whether there’s anything better than Wall Control pegboard panels, but perhaps at a lower price:
I have a pegboard question for you/your readers: Is Wall Control the best option, or is there a less expensive brand that offers similar quality? I appreciate the quality and durability of Wall Control, but for basic DIY/homeowner purposes, is galvanized steel necessary? I will also note that I’d prefer to stay away from the glorified cardboard Triton boards that fray from use.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
If you’ve been looking at Wall Control’s galvanized steel pegboard, certainly don’t look at their powder-coated ones, which are even pricier.
Wall Control’s colored pegboard panel packs are currently $43.50 via Amazon, and for that price you get (2) 32″ x 16″ panels for a total of 32″ x 32″, or 1024 square inches of coverage. The cost breaks down to about 4.248 cents per square inch, or $0.04248.
“Premium” 3/16″ hardboard pegboard is nearly $20 via Home Depot for a full-sized sheet ($19.26 to be exact). So that’s 96″ x 48″, or 4608 square inches. The cost breaks down to 0.418 cents per square inch, or $0.00418.
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Wall Control advertises that its metal pegboard is over 10 times stronger than conventional pegboard, but more importantly it’s going to be longer-lasting. Then again, I have seen some aged and well-used pegboard that still looks quite usable.
Back to the question – is there any brand or model of pegboard that is better than hardboard but cheaper than Wall Control’s metal pegboard? I’m afraid that I don’t quite have an answer to this.
I like Wall Control’s system for a lot of reasons, one of them being their panels look good. But beyond that, they’re of great build quality, and yes they’re stronger and more wear-resistant than hardboard panels.
Wall Control’s prices aren’t arbitrarily set, and so I would assume that it’s going to be tough to find comparable quality at a worthwhile lower price. That’s how it is in so many industries.
If I had to try something else, I would look at Seville Classics UltraHD steel pegboard, which sells for $52 via Amazon. It’s sold at Sam’s club for substantially less – $35. The Seville pegboard is packaged with (2) 24″ x 24″ panels, for a total coverage of 1152 square inches. At the Amazon price, that’s 4.49 cents ($0.0449) per square inch. If you order it at Sam’s Club, the price it’s 3.038 cents ($0.03038) per square inch, not including $12.44 shipping that brings it close to Amazon pricing.
There might be other brands that come close – I’ll leave it to our awesome readers to share their thoughts on this – but I don’t think you’re going to see substantially lower prices.
Tomas
I bought two wall control boards and they’re great, I really have no complaints…. I will say this though, the first set I bought was the regular uncoated grey steel and that was a problem, my garage lights hit that board and caused the worst kind of glare. I sent it back for the white powder coated version which cut the glare to zero. Just something to consider if you’re looking at putting one up in your garage.
Mike
Were they just bare steel or galvanized? Home Depot has galvanized sheets for a pretty good price ($35/pair) but if that’s what you had the problem with I may pass on them.
Tomas
The Galvanized that are up on amazon, this one; http://www.amazon.com/Wall-Control-30-P-3232GV-Galvanized-Pegboard/dp/B001J6FSDS/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1433353351&sr=1-1&keywords=Wall+Control+Pegboard
Mike
That’s exactly what Home Depot carries. Thanks for looking it up.
Jerry
Some years back, I got some steel pegboard panels from Hrabor Freight. They are basically just a steel sheet with pegboard holes punched in it, with the edges rolled down around the outside edges so that you could screw it to a flat wall, and the edges would raise it away from the wall enough to insert and remove the hooks. They are lighter than Wall Control units, and dont have the slots for the locking hooks, but I found if you take a little time and thread zip ties around your hooks using adjacent holes, you can achieve a kind of usable redneck cheapskate version of the same thing.
Farid
Hooks popping off are an annoyance indeed. Years ago, I bought plastic clips that snapped over the hooks. The link below is from Amazon, but I bought mine at a hardware store. Each clip uses two holes: one on either side of the hook. They are not expensive and a lot easier than threading zip ties through the panel.
http://www.amazon.com/Lehigh-Group-Crawford-18025-25PK-Locks/dp/B000BQR7BI
Jerry
Thanks for the info! Wish I knew about those sooner!
Rick Van Winkle
Ace Hardware has the plastic clips in a 25 pack. I got two packs about four months ago for under $4.00 a pack. They had to order them, but there was no shipping charge.
Carl Sampson
The most economical approach would be to buy standard sheet metal along with the regular peg board and then to use the peg board as a drilling template for the holes to make your own metal peg board.
Kevin
You could go the scratch and dent route at http://cheappegboard.com/
I have considered ordering, but have not yet. 8 pieces for $100 with sample images of what to expect.
Farid
If you are not a big hurry, you may keep an eye on Woot (you can subscribe to the Woot tools daily email). They offer the Wall control systems for very decent pricing every now and then, and with fathers day coming up, it may be sooner than later. I bought a set ( 6-panels) this past winter complete with bins, shelves and hangers for a decent price.
I used the hardboard stuff in the past and it worked fine. Using peg keeprs reduces wear and tear on the holes and keeps it looking good for a long time. This time though, I wanted more bins, shelves, and organizational stuff than hooks, and these items can add up quickly when bough individually . So, in the end, the wall control kit did not seems so pricy after all. I looked at the one form Sears too, but did not like as well.
They are very nice, but I still have to hang up them up though 🙂
john
I prefer slatwall
Blythe M
I like it a lot too, really strong and infinitely variable left and right, but the hooks add up in price really fast. My old boss bought a ton for our shop from a store than went out of business. But buying the hooks full price? No way
Dan D
Supposedly the best pegboard on the planet or so they say…
http://diamondlifegear.com/pegboard.htm?my=3#a
That diamond plate pegboard tho! Made in the USA to Boot!
Steve
About a dozen years ago I bought plastic (PVC I think) peg board from Lowe’s in 2′ x 4′ panels for about $10 ea. It was the same thickness and hole layout as the fiberboard version. I bought 4 sheets and mounted them together on a 2 x 2 lattice. 12 years later they look like new. No sagging or enlargement of the holes. I have not seen this product offered recently but, then again I haven’t really been looking either.
KevFrey
I am strongly considering the Wall Control systems. I have one question: Any recommendation on foam or rubberized foam to use to mount the units through (i.e. between the wallboard and the wall itself)?
This would be to reduce the rattling of vibrations of the wall (e.g. subwoofer).
Stuart
So for the outside of the wall, between wall and pegboard?
The first material I’d look at is neoprene, but the stuff I’ve used for dampening machine vibrations have might be too hard. Perhaps a softer neoprene or foam material might be suitable.
You could perhaps try a foam material, or thin gasket material, and work from there.
If in your shoes, I would look into ordering a material sampler pack from McMaster Carr (or someplace similar) for small scale testing.
KevFrey
Thanks Stuart – great advice. I’ll give those ideas a shot.
Ron K
I put these in at a bicycle co-opposition where I volunteer over 3 years ago and they have held up. Only a couple have come loose with 100’s often hurried and not too gentle removal of the tool:
http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/1142/tool-holders
Brad
I realize I’m replying to an old post, but wanted to comment on the topic. I’m impressed with my orange powder coated Wall Control panels. I have three 16×32 and a horizontal 8×32, and hope to add a couple more by the time I finish the workshop setup.
Anyway, the panels aren’t actually that bad for price. I look at what people pay for a tool chest, and these are cheap by any comparison. What gets expensive is the hooks, though. It’s $5 for either a pack of six 7/8″ hooks (83 cents apiece) or four 1-7/8″ hooks ($1.25 each). Most of the other small/medium hooks/pegs are $6 for four.
Kind of hard to hang too many tools when a combination wrench set would run $10. I’ll be trying out some generic 1/4″ diameter hooks, but I’m skeptical of their locking stability.
Any alternatives that would work with the slots would be welcome, as would bulk-priced packs of Wall Control hooks.
Gregg
Hey Brad! any luck finding hook alternatives? I’m about to pull the trigger on 2 sets of orange Wall Control panels as well for a rolling tool cabinet but you got me thinking about the cost of hooks.
Thanks in advance!