How to Make French Cleats | Tricks of the Trade
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- One of those hidden gems in woodworking, the French cleat is so simple, (but so wonderful) that if you're not familiar with it, once you learn you'll be looking for chances to use it!
Hey man, just wanna say I appreciate Star Wars 4, 5, and 6.
HAHAHAHA nice one
hehehhe
🤣🤣🤣
Dude, you win ALL the internet! 🤣
…well, I suppose he does look like George Lucas
This is the simplest and best video on French cleat .👍
Another easy thing to do? Don't make the cleat the exact width of the cabinet, and you have some side-to-side wiggle room to slide it it left or right to get it exactly centered if you're off by a hair. Or even an inch.
you can include a small extra step... with your table saw or a few swipes with a hand plane, rip/ cut a 1/16 or so off the sharp edge of the 45° french cleats... IMO this little extra has a couple benefits, a slightly flattened or blunt edge of the 45° cleat much more comfortable to handle... if you pick-up your cabinet, etc. by cleat, that sharp edge of the 45° can sometimes cut into your fingers. But also, it makes your cabinet, etc. much easier to pop on/ off the wall. especially when hanging heavier things, on that sharp edge on the 45° cleats have a tendency to get wedged slightly under/behind one another, making it a challenge every time you go to lift/ off the cleat. Cut 1/16 or so off the sharp edge of 45° along both cleats, and the cleats don’t get wedged/ jammed behind one another when hanging heavier things such as cabinets, etc.
That's what I do (blunt it with a block plane). It does make a big difference.
45 degrees is too steep an angle , 25 degrees works even better, and blunt the leading edge and you have a very comfortable handle. And never had a cabinet fall off the wall.
Why is it called a “ French “ cleat?
@@paulbadger6336 Other than your desire for a handle, why is 45 "too steep"?
It has worked quite well for me, and 35-45 degrees seems to be the most common implementation. I can't think of any good evidence-supported reason why you need to go with a more shallow angle. I've never had nor seen one break.
I haven't seen a definitive source for why it is named a "French Cleat". Lots of ideas, but no real proof.
@@paulbadger6336 ok. Thought of one. If you are super tight in vertical space (like upper kitchen cabinet with almost no clearance above), a very shallow angle can save you a little vertical space, and might make the difference between hanging the cabinet and not. I think that's a good reason, when you have those situations.
This also means that if your wall cleat collects small amounts of sawdust, the hanger cleat can still drop all the way into position.
Another tip: Trim about 1/8” off the sharp edge off both sides of the cleat, to minimize the risk of debris preventing a solid interface, or glue squeeze out making the attachment permanent.
What about for something that's staying on the wall, such as art? Do you still recommend the trim cut? Thanks
@@leonardodalongisland yes, even if its just art, over time dust/ debris can build up and potentially keep the cleat from fully seating
@@christopherwilliams9639 Thanks
What a breath of fresh air, a well presented common sense really useful tip. Bravo! wish there were more like you on CZcams.
This is the best How To make a French cleat I have ever seen. Thanks for making a complex simple
Short and sweet. I think the big key to French cleats is installing them when you put in the shop before everything is fastened to the walls. I installed strips all around my shop walls when I first built my shop. So handy!
Agree.
I used this method on one of my lamp builds and it worked out perfectly for my first attempt.
Permanent cabinets can receive a screw through back from the inside to hit the lower part of the cleat.
I have a headboard that I want to mount, and I wanted to ask this question. Now I don't need to, thank you!
Great tip. Years back I decorated the garage with a bunch of poster size photos that I have taken over the years. I live in the South and occasionally I have to vacuum the spiderwebs from the walls and corners. The French cleat system allows me to remove and reinstall the frames quickly and easily and they are always straight. The wall portion of the cleats are short and hide behind the frames.
You actually get webs behind the flush-mounted pieces?
Simple and succinct! My wife and I just moved into a new home and our garage is about 2,000 square feet, most of which is being used for woodworking. I love to use vertical space to keep the floor clear, so this presentation shows how I can do that very easily without breaking the bank. Thanks, and happy Independence Day!!
I feel like everything should be mounted with French cleats
TVs should come with a french cleat too. all you have to do to install it is provide the other piece on the wall!!!
@@fadisharif mindblown.gif
@@fadisharif Make your own fit it to the TV job done
depends on how rigid the material is. or if the cabinet is light and you accidentally bump your shoulder up it might unhook
As much as possible. I use it as a go to for heavy items, garage, workshop, etc.
Wow. Thanks for this clear, SHORT and easy tip!
I am going to ask my carpenter to do this for me in my new studio! SO neat!
Thank you for a brilliant video and such clear instructions!
Nice and clear instructions! I see a lot of folks trying to make headboards. They make them really pretty but don’t know how to attach to the wall. The French cleat is a perfect solution. Of course, you need tools and know-how, but, it’s my choice for a diy headboard project. I’ll be making a few of these in our new home soon.
After watching 900 French cleat videos, I think this is a favorite for all the reasons listed in the comments.
I appreciate the way you explained french cleats! Thank you!
I want to do some pretty floating shelves in my room and I think French cleats will work great for this! Thank you
Very good way to attach a cabinet to the wall. Thank you for the video.
I LOVE this, simple & straight to the point 👍 thank you
Thank you for providing this video. You explain how to hang a cabinet flush to the wall using this method. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you... very helpful guide on the cleat production!!! Will use it on my wall back cushion hang!!!!
No one EVER shows how to cut a French cleat into two equal strips,
until Woodshaped CZcams video on how to cut an angle.
Thank you for saving me A LOT of money.
Thank you for this trick, hope you have a nice day. 😁
Thanks for a clear and informative instruction that was not too long. Straight to my workshop now to make one. Happy New Year.
A very clever and simple idea. Thank you for the video.
quick easy, to the point. no in video ads. the way all videos should be done. sub. liked. favorite.
Great vid, short yet complete. I *love* French cleats! Made a pot and wine glass hanging rack for my wife. Sticks out over two feet from the wall, and is heavy being made of oak, plus all the load it carries. Yet it's literally held up magically by gravity. Would've been a bear to screw to the wall working alone, but w the cleats it went up in seconds. My default method for hanging cabinets, storage bins etc
Great video! Thank you!
Fantastic straight to the point video.
Thank's so much for this! Your video is easy to follow.
Put a handle on that shelf..wow that was eye opening!! Ty
Thank you!!!
Simple and straight to the point.
Wow. 3 things I cannot live without: French cleats, French Drains and French Fries. Just kidding ..
what about ? French women , wine, food
( provided she shaves her pits) LOL
!!Just what I was looking for for my project !! Thanks and greetings from a new subscriber from Mexico
Thank you, great video that got me mounted 👌
Excellent, thank you!
Love it - can’t wait to try it!
Outstanding, thank you.
perfect video explanation 🎉. Thank you 🙏
Thank you very much sire that’s amazing
Great information! Very well presented! Thanks so much!
Great quick tutorial. Happy new year!
Very good tutorial thank you
I love videos like this. Thank you! Sub'd. It reminds me to appreciate other people as we all have the knowledge to share.
Thank you, good information.
Great tip - but regarding a mobile workshop you offered a few pearls- Well said & thank you!
Wow add a handle and it's a tool box 👍🏽💯🙌🏽
I have seen upper kitchen cabinets hung from French cleats with the cabinet cleat built into the cabinets at the top, with very lose of usable interior cabinet space. They used one long cleat on the wall carefully hung to be level and then just hung the several different cabinets to that, making them all level to one another. (Standardize where the cleats are on the cabinets.)
Also you may not always want the cleat sawed in the center. If you had something heavy to hang, cut a 5 or 6 inch board off center and screw the wider part to the wall. Then you should be able to get 2 screws into each 2x4 stud. The cleat on the cabinet could be attached in enough places to hold its part.
Also, make the cleat on the wall shorter than the one on the cabinet, then if you get instructions that it needs to be a little to the left, (not that much!) then you are still in good shape.
Vary the thickness of the cleat material! On some heavy objects you might want to use 3/4 inch material and on lighter objects use 1/4 inch plywood.
Awesome! Love it. Thank you.
I was just about to order the aluminum French cleats online but not anymore. Thanks. Great video.
This is one of the easiest things to do dont let the sound of the blade cutting the wood scare you. I watched my dad do this many times when I would help him making custom cabinets . I'll never forget the smell of saw dust and the smell of hardwood.wish I would've payed more attention to his work
Thank you sir, helped me out.
Thanks man. Brilliant ideas! I hit LIKE & subscribed.
Fair question. Best answer if to cut close to the angle with the hand saw, and then clean up the cut with a hand plane. The good news is it doesn't have to be a very clean cut, or a perfect 45° angle! close is good here as no one will ever see it!
Many thanks.
Great video. Loved the tips.
Thank you. And you have beautiful hair =)
Thank you! Simple, easy to follow video! Would also love some plans for the cabinet shown in the example
Elvis, you don't need plans for that cabinet. It's a pretty simple set up, just work up a set for yourself that are similar.
French cleats are the best cleats
How did you come up with cutting the 3 in.board at 1 1/8 in. to get equal widths and how thick is the material. also are you counting the blade thickness in the measurement.
If you really want to know where you need to start cutting to make it even on both sides, then make a vertical line at the midpoint for the width and then make a 45-degree line cross that at the midpoint for the thickness... The kerf of your blade would have to split that 45 degree line... Why worry about the distance from the edge?
Thanks got a new subscriber look forward to see your other ideas.
great video. nicely explained. thanks for sharing :-)
Confused about the 1 1/8 bit and when I went back to watch the fence is set to 1 3/8
Let's say you have one half of your cleat mounted to a wall. If you attach a board at a 90 degree angle to the other half of the cleat, so that when the cleats are joined it makes a shelf, will the shelf sit level?
How about the weight? My cabinet is very heavy and I'm hanging it up on a concrete wall. Will it be able to hold?
Genial!!! 👍👏
I've used this on bed heads in the past
Helpful thank you, love this system. I'm new to woodwork and basically teaching myself with the shelf of these types of videos. Just made my first long, narrow shelf in my kitchen to store tea caddy etc. I suspect there is no wall support and that is the reason its not staying put. Any ideas?
Fabulous video. Does the strength increase, using a thicker Piece of plywood? I am going to use this trick to mount a tv cabinet.
Thanks
These are just called 'cleats' where I live. No, I'm not in France. Not sure what is 'French' about them.
I also add a second cleat to the lower section. Makes it real sturdy, especially for workshop storage.
Great job
I would be adding handles to the ends of that cabinet IMMEDIATELY.
Good job l'artiste
Big up Amigo !!!
Hi David>
I think you forgot to add 1/2 the thickness of the blade to your equation as seen in your rip shot. Devide the board width in half minus 1/2 the board thickness minus 1/2 the bade thickness . At any rate, your method beats the heck out of tilting the balde back and forth. Good example. And, as stated below, break the sharp edge of the point and it will fit better.
Thank you.
Chuck
2021 CLEAT GANG GANG
Question: Will this technique also work in Italy?
Due to tariffs, unfortunately no
Real-life Paul Timberman's Workshop
I plan on making and mounting a french cleat system in my garage. My question is this: I have concrete block walls, can I mount the cleats directly to the walls? or should I still mount to a plywood base? or first mount 2x2's to the walls then mount either plywood or cleats to them?? Thank you
How thick is that plywood?
How much weight can a French cleat like that hold you think?
Great
How do you make it so when you cut it on a 45 degree angle that both pieces are the same size?
Nice!
Im a little slow but i didnt get the total size of cleat or the 1 1/8 part
I'm assuming that it is important that the piece that is screwed to the back of the cabinet be level as well. Otherwise, regardless of how level the piece on the wall is things just won't line up.
Great video. Thank you! I am thinking of doing this for an IKEA Billy Bookcase. Their product kit comes with a metal L bracket. I really hate seeing those L brackets in my house. Is there any reason why a french cleat would not work for a bookcase?
What if you don’t have a table saw?
I made a French cleat with a 2x2 piece of left over I had but it doesn't seem sturdy. All it is is a 1x4 screwed to the opposing french cleat which I filled holes in for my screw drivers but it's real wobbly when I set it on the French cleat which is on the wall. Any ideas why?
Thank you for the helpful video. What do you recommend to prevent the cleat from splitting when mounting to the wall? I keep running into this issue. I was hoping you would show that part.
Pre-drill holes.
if you're not using plywood for the cleats then try that. usually shouldnt be an issue since each ply alternates the end grain
Can you provide the link to the storage box your using?
dude bevel the shelf side cleat edge so if debris gets down in the corner everything still sits flush
Hi
Can I use French Cleat from your video for a tv console cabinet floating wall?
How much weight will they hold
I know it’s a simple cabinet but I would like plans. Are they available? I checked the website but haven’t found it so far.
What type pf plywood was that made with? Thanks!
Oh goodness, I don't have all of these fancy tools 😂
You don't need fancy, and you can always find a friend that will cut your board for you.