French Cleat Storage System

A French cleat is as ingenious as it is simple. It involves securing a strip of wood with a 45 degree bevel to the wall, and then securing an opposing beveled strip on the back of a cabinet or anything you want to hang. Its incredibly strong and versatile. Its a great way to hang cabinetry and as you'll see in this video, it can be used to make an awesome modular wall storage unit.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• woodworking
• french
• cleat
• storage

[maddogguitars]

awesome, thanks! I need to hang 8ft x 4ft 12mm MDF on the wall (they are large paintings to go in galleries). What glue would you recommend using to glue french cleats to the back of it with as screws can't go into the MDF far (being only 12mm thick)? Would this support the 40kg weight of the paintings? It could be ideal if a glue is strong enough. Also, what material for the actual cleat? Would 2 x 4 pine work? Thanks again, awesome vids

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@maddogguitars Pine would work and regular wood glue would work too. But I hesitate to make any recommendation concerning valuable paintings and weight capacity. I don't know how much weight it can handle. I am more concerned about the MDF than the glue bond itself. MDF in and of itself, has no structural integrity. So it is possible, in theory, that the cleat could someday pull off and just take some mdf with it.

[LloydChristmas777]

Not gonna do this because I'm simply a layman and have no need, but useful, creative, and awesome!

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@LloydChristmas777 haha love the name!

[bazza94]

mate ive watched all your vids and your amazing, Im 15 and i have a setup a workshop from watching and being inspiared from you, keep up the good work,

[cattnipp]

Your videos are great and totally professional. You are a very clear communicator and I hope that you are able to continue.

[gelswifteye]

ROund your corners! IT's mechanics!

[666alikat]

so I totally thought this was going to show me a better way to store my cleats...

[pmwallacedesigncafe]

@CragarShinoda

Very cool! thank you

[pmwallacedesigncafe]

Great video! nuf said.

[rlholo]

Best organizational item I've discovered.. clear plastic covered bins. They range from small parts organizers up to the big ones your wife stores sweaters in. I installed industrial shelves floor to ceiling all along one wall and stack the bins on them. I can see everything at all times. Dustless moveable storage. Bins are organized by task so you can get the appropriate bin to do an operation. Just set the bin on the end of the bench and everything you need for that task is at your fingertips.

[CragarShinoda]

I have done the same thing on the back of my shop wall, with one change. I took another piece of wood the same length as the cleat rail and attached a hinge and latch on either end, and a pair of standoffs the same height as the attachments' cleats. I then screwed this to the top of the rail. This makes the cleat frame sort of like a rail road crossing arm which opens up to add attachments and then locks them into place.