French Cleat

Basics

• A Method of Securing Things to Walls in a Modular "Quick Swappable" Manner
• Essentially just opposing 45 Degree Bevels on Strips of Wood

Design

Optimal Space Between Cleats

• Main reason for choice is:
  • Cost (More Cleats Means More Lumber)
  • Time (Cut Time can be long ( CNC Table Saw / CNC Miter Saw ? Also just Swarm Builds ), also time to screw them into the wall )
  • What type of wall you have ( Plywood Wall vs Plasterboard / Cement Board etc, Light-Frame Wood Construction vs Concrete Block / Concrete Masonry Unit etc) since holes will need to be drilled in the wall, if you just have Wall Studding you will be limited in hole location and must adjust accordingly
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Specific Love Creations" Titled "What is the Best Spacing between French Cleats?" ( ~7 Minute Watch )
  • They recommend 3, 5, and 12 Inch Spacing, and summarize the advantages/disadvantages of each choice
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "A Glimpse Inside" Titled "Which FRENCH CLEAT Style is Right For You"
  • They mentioned spacing and different cleat dimensions and summarize the advantages/disadvantages of each choice
    • They used 3 + 1/4in, 5in, 9 in high boards made with 3/4in thick Baltic Birch Plywood
  • I'm getting confused on units / what aspects of the parts they are referring to, either way
    • Link to 0:51 in the video where they discuss materials used and cutting method/calculations Link to 6:25 in the video when they discuss the French Cleats Mounted on the Wall
    • I guess it is just due to how they cut the board in half, and the lovely customary system?

Locking Mechanisms

• One of the criticism of French Cleats are that one can bump containers etc off of them
• This can be solved via Screws for permanent fixtures
• For Modular "Quick Swappable" designs, one can insert a "key" to have it's top be supported by the above cleat
• Designs for this method:
  • A Video by the YouTube Channel "Craftswright" Titled "Watch This Before Building A French Cleat Wall!" ( ~13 Minute Watch )(A Square Key that Fills the Above Gap)
    • Disadvantage is that it requires blank space on at least one side to allow removal of the key
  • A Video by the YouTube Channel "Craftswright" Titled "The REAL Key to Locking French Cleats?" ( ~5 Minute Watch )

Making the Top of Modules Another Cleat

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "A Glimpse Inside" "This FRENCH CLEAT Design Change is AWESOME" ( ~12 Minute Watch )
  • They essentially but the same bevel on top of the attachments cleat so you can make stacks that you can take with you as a mobile cabinet of sorts around the shop

Maximum Loading

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Dad it Yourself DIY" Titled "How MUCH weight can they take? | French Cleat Strength TEST! | 2020/11" (~10 Minute Watch )
• An Article by the Blog "Obsessed Woodworking" Titled "How Much Weight Can A French Cleat Hold?"
  • "The short answer is very strong. When the wall cleat is adequately anchored in studs, rather than simply in drywall, a French cleat can support tremendous weights. Drywall anchors are not strong enough to support French cleats to hang a large mirror, for instance, or a painting with a heavy frame.

For proper French cleat strength, the wall cleat should be anchored in at least two wall studs using lag screws. Lag screws are exceedingly sturdy and tough fasteners used to connect woods that are carrying heavy loads.

A single lag screw in a wood stud can bear a weight of between 80 – 100 pounds; two screws can hold 160-200 pounds. The wall cleat should be wide enough to fit two lag screws and span a minimum of two studs. "

• • Seems it is essentially a function of what, and how many, Woodworking Screws / Lag Bolts are used, where they are attached, and the strength of your framing
• Figuring out the Failure Modes and doing some testing with a Universal Test Machine would be neat

Internal Links

• Pegboard

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on French Cleats
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "The Honest Carpenter" Titled "FRENCH CLEATS EXPLAINED...In 5 Minutes!" (~5 Minute Watch ) (Good Basic Summary)
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Popular Woodworking" Titled "How to Make French Cleats | Tricks of the Trade" ( ~3 Minute Watch )
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Stumpy Nubs" Titled "How a French cleat changed everything!" (Essentially on how not only can they be used for modular storage, but also for attaching permanent things like Cabinets or Shelves to the wall in a level manner easily. You can level and attach the french cleat, which is very light, then carry the heavy assembly and place that on the french cleat without needing to worry about leveling it.)