Pegboard for Benchwork?
Question
I had a thought that I wanted to run by the experts: why not use pegboard (the kind you have behind your workbench to hang tools on) for the decking on a layout benchwork instead of plywood?
In all the layouts I’ve seen, it is always plywood, but the pegboard is lighter, and with the right support system underneath should be sturdy enough, plus all the pre-drilled holes would make wiring busses, accessories, etc. much easier. You can buy big sheets of it at any Home Depot/Lowe’s (or equivalent) hardware store.
Thoughts? What am I missing here? Tom.
Answers ( 4 )
Pegboard for the larger scales could be an option but for smaller scale N it might limit the positioning of wiring and consequent accessories without drilling. An alternative could be an even lighter thin aircraft plywood with bracing underneath. Attached picture shows one possible construction with a piano hinge to allow access to wiring. The whole assembly is designed to fold up into a box on the wall.
I’ve been searching for a cheap underlayment for a proposed layout for over a year
I’ve always used 1/4″ plywood but since Covid haven’t seen it offered in 4×8′ sheets at Home Depot or Lowes.
1/8″ is too thin and to difficult to nail roadbed and track. The alternative is 3/8″ plywood at about $25 a sheet.
When I saw Tom’s question about pegboard, I thought it was the answer to my problems.
Unfortunately, checking prices revealed the thin pegboard at the same cost of 3/8″ plywood. In my opinion the extra cost of bracing the thinner pegboard would bring the total project cost to more than using plywood.
Just FYI–the last time I bought 1/4″ plywood it was $4.00 a sheet. Ahh memories !!
Peg board is Masonite, which is heavier than plywood of the same thickness. Even with holes drilled in it.
Tom: Pegboard is an attractive idea from some pionts of view, but since it’s Masonite, it’s really hard, and you may have troubles trying to put nails and tacks into it. Also, since it’s Masonite, nails and other fasteners can tear out of it more readily than plywood.