Hansen Global makes the iconic socket trays that you’ve probably seen before. If you’ve never heard of them before and keep your sockets all jumbled together in a drawer, you owe it to yourself to check them out (price check).
Hansen also makes a couple of other plastic tool organizers, but I think their socket rails are the brand’s most recognizable product.
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Well, this might change in a few years, as Hansen has come out with a new tool organizer system that might just take off.
The Hansen ToolHanger system is like an evolved pegboard system. It consists of a gridded backer board and “twist and lock” hooks. Once a hook is engaged in the tool board, it should stay engaged, which addresses the major complaint many users have about pegboard systems.
Each panel measures 11.5″ x 18″ and can be mounted to the wall (or another stable vertical surface) horizontally or vertically. There are pre-drilled mounting holes, and tabs on the side that allow you to interlock multiple panels together neatly and securely.
The tool panels are made from plastic, polypropylene specifically, making them suitable for indoors or outdoors use. So are the tool hooks and hangers.
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As of now, there are 6 different types of tool hooks and hangers:
- 4″ hangers (packs of 6)
- 3″ hangers (packs of 7)
- 2″ hangers (packs of 7)
- Hooks (packs of 3)
- Rectangular hooks (packs of 4)
- Oval hooks (packs of 5)
Tool panels are sold individually, and there will also be an 11-piece kit that comes with 2 boards and 9 hangers.
Like Hansen’s excellent socket rails, the ToolHanger components are all made in the USA.
Where/When to Buy? Sorry, Hansen never responded to our inquiries. We’ll let you know if we ever find out.
First Thoughts
The Hansen ToolHanger tool storage system looks like a very neat idea. Pricing information is not yet available, but unless the ToolHanger components are outrageously priced, the system has the potential to become popular.
What I like about the Hansen ToolHanger hooks is how they can be oriented horizontally or vertically. Because they “twist and lock” into place, there’s no limit as to how they’re used. Like pegboard, the ToolHanger board can be installed in a horizontal or vertical orientation.
Unlike pegboard, you can install the hooks and looped hangers horizontally. When using pegboard, there is often just one proper way to install most types of hooks and accessories.
Hansen’s website doesn’t have much info, and I couldn’t find any stocking dealers yet. Hopefully the system components will be available soon and from popular online retailers.
pete
I never liked peg boards over my tool bench, mainly because I like a tall bench and a big bench so leaning over the bench to the wall behind isn’t something I would like to do often lol. But this does look pretty cool.
SteveR
pete–I think you’ve hit the nail on the head about this. I never gave it much thought, but a pegboard (or any type of hanging system over the workbench) limits how DEEP the bench can be (i.e., it’s working width, from the wall outward, is limited). This problem is more pronounced the shorter you are. I imagine most people would like a workbench that’s at least 24″ deep, which would force you to reach further to grab a screwdriver, wrench, etc. off the wall. As such, the TALLER the pegboard (or other mounting system), the HIGHER you have to be able to reach, as well.
This would be less of a problem if you have a stand-alone workbench in the middle of your garage or other workspace. However, many of us don’t have that luxury, sharing that space with cars and junk accumulated over our lifetimes.
This would force some of us to mount the board somewhere off to the side (not directly over the workbench) in order to easily reach a given tool, which somewhat negates the advantage of the pegboard or other hanging system. That may be one reason why rollaway storage toolboxes came into being. They organize things better, can store more of them, can keep them out of sight/locked up when you’re gone and are usually easy to access when you need a particular tool.
I agree, it may be a nice alternative to the plain pegboard. For the reasons I just stated, though, it’s not something I would be able to use to my advantage.
KL
Looks proprietary and expensive. I shy away from systems like this, same with specialty air systems. If they can keep it affordable and available at Home Depot on a Sunday evening I’ll consider it.
Brian
That’s my first thought as well. The nice thing about a peg board is it’s easy to find pegs for next to nothing when stores are closing or at a flea market.
BikerDad
Talon hooks are da bomb for pegboard. The problem I’ve had with every “improved pegboard” system isn’t the cost of the hangers, it’s the cost of the board. When 2 sq feet of newfangled “board” costs as much as a 4’x8′ (32 sq feet) sheet of pegboard, it’s really hard to justify.
If they want this to fly, then what they really need to do is come up with an easy way of mounting your OWN customized tool holders.
This may, of course, do quite well with the guys for whom the fitting out of their garage/shop is as much a hobby as actually working.
Mustkeem
Very nice tools