15 Things to Avoid with French Cleats

[@ColinRichardson]

What NOT to do are usually more useful than what TO do. Since this has both, it makes it the far superior video! PS: fashion to the wall! Lol

[@GregoryGuay]

Agreed! Glad my first design fail was cheap pine lol.

[@malhamishery9]

Not sure what I liked best about this video...the information or the positive, good nature of the presenter. Nice Job!

[@CarlyWettlaufer]

Getting ready to put up a french cleat wall in my shop. These are super helpful videos!! Keep them coming!!!

[@williamhammond4263]

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[@murphyrp01]

Glad I found your channel. Got straight to it without 2-3 minutes of fluff that some other videos have. Will be sure to check out your other clear videos.

[@scottcrosier1897]

Revolutionizing my plans for my shop remodel. This guy is like the infomercial for French Cleats! Thanks for your excitement!

[@Thfeyhvfdetyhbvcd]

GREAT VIDEO! Short and to the point Clear explanations Valuable tips Practical tips to avoid potentially catastrophic failures. These tips are obvious once explained but not intuitive enough to come up with without prior experience. Great Job!

[@chrirule]

Long time viewer, first time subscriber... Kudos to the French Cleat King!

[@frogmann49]

Good stuff to know. Your presentation technique has really evolved and become polished. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.

[@Tom_-]

That's a very neat setup, good job!

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks!

[@sadkingbilly]

I love the way you store your battery drills! Actually, I love the entire workshop. Looks so amazingly neat and tidy. (I'm working on a 15x25" space in front of my pc since the cellar is FREEZING at the moment..) Thanks for the video!

[@paulmccabe02]

You are the master french cleat maker...great ideas and I'm watching the rest and taking notes...great work man.

[@awlthatwoodcrafts8911]

Loving your french cleat series. I'm in the planning stages for mine so all this information is good. One thing about spacing that I think you could have made more clear. The minimum spacing would be related to the thickness of the cleats and the size of the cleats used on the back of a holder. If you have 3" spacing between 3/4" thick cleats on the wall, then the tallest cleat you can use on a holder would be 2-1/4". That gives enough clearance to lift the holder off it's cleat and off the wall. So, while you can have whatever spacing you want, there are still things to consider before deciding.

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks and Great info on the spacing.

[@seamansj]

Never heard of french cleats until I saw your videos. That's a cool idea, especially to have the tools that you use most often and some storage for those hard to store tools. I have a lot of my tools in a couple different large tool boxes and have to get them out to use them. With the freanc cleat storage, it will be right there for you to use. Thanks again. 👍

[@SpecificLove7]

So glad to introduce you to this awesome storage. I hope you have a great time building your own.

[@soujrnr]

My wife and I just bought a new house and I have a 2,000 sq. ft. garage that I use for a wood shop. I love utilizing vertical space for storage and so I've opted for a French cleat system. Your tips are great and just in time because I'm going to start putting the system up later this afternoon. I'm going to check out your other videos first, I think. I don't like having to re-invent the wheel, so I'm going to glean all I can before I dive in to building this. Thank you so much for the great information! I look forward to watching more of your videos!! Happy Independence Day!

[@PowerScissor]

Another tip for heavy or awkward sizes: Cut a block of wood that fits perfectly between the top of your hanging item and the next highest cleat....then you can "lock" it in place if you're worried it will ever come loose.

[@rallen7660]

One thing that you might want to do is put a removable wedge/toggle/pin that protrudes UNDER the wall cleat. This prevents it from being knocked off the wall because you're in a hurry, or as we've seen in California/Nevada/Utah, earthquakes. Just trusting your tools to hang on a passive surface is usually okay, until it isn't. Not many videos point this out.

[@allotherstaken3]

Good idea I use a screw through the cleat when I have them where I want them if I have to move it there would be a little hole though.

[@Thalanox]

I don't even have any real wood-working equipment, let alone space in the garage to do work in. I'm just super-interested in wood-working stuff and tool restoration videos lately. I also don't even have a real plan for what I'd want my garage or workspace to look like. Just having a ton of these french cleats all over sounds like a fantastic organization system to set up. At least that tool restoration stuff was useful. I was visiting a friend and some of the tricks I observed were helpful in helping me fix his chair.

[@ArcaneTinker]

Freedom cleats! I installed mine top down, but I had made a pair of installation hangers that nest into the previous cleat above and have a shelf to hold the next cleat against the wall in place so you have both hands available for fastening. They look like large capital letter I's or H's on their sides. They're made from three pieces, a top cleat, a vertical spacer and a bottom rest. Hang one at one end and rest the next cleat on the shelf part, lift the opposite end in place and put the second hanger up to support that end. They maintain perfect spacing and are easily whipped up out of scrap in a minute or two!

[@SpecificLove7]

Sounds like another great to solve the issue

[@danalaniz7314]

Really useful information. Loved the bloopers too. Thanks!

[@CeeJayThe13th]

The algorithm just recommended this video to me (because I've actually started doing some and working on organizing my workspace a lil) and it just dawned on me while watching this that you were the one who inspired me (and taught me) to do this a while ago. So, thanks!

[@SpecificLove7]

That's awesome, I'm so glad you are continuing to improve your workspace

[@scottydog1313]

Ive started woodworking over 4 decades ago, have used French cleats before, and still picked up a few tips here I didnt think of.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Love this series!

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks Chris. I really hope it helps you for the rest of your shop build.

[@phunkissartisticcreations2316]

We really enjoyed this one. The tips you gave are not only great for your French Cleat system but also apply to most other wood working projects. 👍

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks and that's a great way to look at it too

[@ravenmadd1343]

Short, compact, to the point and I learned a lot. Why can't the internet be more like this? :)

[@SpecificLove7]

I can't agree with you More.

[@RossMalagarie]

Instant sub. Great video, good info, good editing, straight to the point. Thanks man for the informative video. I'll be checking out the rest of your content.

[@JuliusHiiden]

a lot of useful info, I am planning my 1st French cleat wall now

[@SpecificLove7]

Awesome, have fun building it

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

I love using french cleats for hanging kitchen / workshop cabs... particularly handy if you work alone... hang the carcasses without doors ( to save weight )..... & you even have side-to-side wiggle room if needed 😉 😎👍☘🍺

[@SpecificLove7]

Sounds like a great plan

[@JohnnySpathas]

Why do you avoid wood paneling for french cleats? I wish you would expand on that. Thanks!

[@jdclaverie]

Wood paneling isnt very ridgid and might cause the connection to weaken by bending in or out

[@JohnnySpathas]

@@jdclaverie if you're screwing through to studs as with other wall materials; I can't imagine wood panel being an issue. Right?

[@jdclaverie]

Johnny S always screw into the stud with french cleats. It is still an issue because the force you are concerned about is the shear force exerted on the entire wall surface as what ever you hung on the cleat pulls down and out. The wood paneling he is referring to would be thin 1/8 inch paneling. In this case the cleat is more likely to bend not on the studs but in between the studs where there is only wood paneling. Imagine placing wood studs on the ground and then a sheet of wood paneling on top of them. Then imagine walking over the wood paneling. If you stepped in between the studs the paneling would bend and maybe break. As you load weight on a cleat on the wall the object pulls down and out on the cleat placing shear force along the entire wall in the opposite direction (up and in).

[@lafamillecarrington]

Love the desk-on-a-cleat too!

[@coachpengreen8701]

Thanks for all of the tips on French Cleats

[@NeedsMoreToys]

Good tips. I would add “don’t use drywall screws” to fasten your cleats.

[@SpecificLove7]

Good tip

[@susanmei9980]

Why not? Are drywall screws not strong enough? (I know a lot of ppl use them for stuff like this. I’ve always wondered.)

[@OlivierSuire]

To the point and excellent advice. Subscribed !

[@jchan3358]

What's a good depth to height ratio to stick with? For example, if I want to make a shelf that is 14inches out from the wall, how far down should the backing go?

[@SpecificLove7]

At least 14 inches. You want the length down (and braced) to be at least as far as it comes out from the wall.

[@hectorFISIO24]

Thanks so much for yours videos. I'm from Spain, And sometime can you write also the sizes in centimeters please? Thanks again, and see you

[@billyblackie9417]

Very good ideas great job

[@warrensmith2902]

Some cleats i made long, so I could put a stop bar underneath the bar on the wall. It does not interfere with sliding the item, but it keeps item from popping off the track. And if you want to move the item to another row, you just have to unscrew the stop or locking bar a the bottom of the holder.

[@pdubs7069]

You are the KING of cleats!!

[@jessejohnson159]

In my opinion, you said more by having your items in the background for me to see! I did learn a few thing's to take into consideration AND I saw a few ideas I had not thought about. I work in metal more and have used a metal cleat style hanger for some wall mounted tables to keep the floor clear underneath. I'll move on to the wood cleats soon for future projects. I'll use your words and examples to do a better job! Thanks! 👍👌😁

[@SpecificLove7]

So glad it helped you

[@BirdmanNorfolk]

Really like your ideas here, I will adopt some for my workshop, also like you included your bloopers!, when you said Impoitent, you sounded like Seth Rogan doing Peter from Family Guy!

[@rickc2078]

Useful tips, thanks.

[@oldmarine312]

Great list of things you might not think about.

[@williambranham6249]

Good suggestions. It's always the little things.

[@rmhutchins7]

Very Helpful Video. Thank you!

[@SW-zx3op]

Oo-la-la! Great video on French Cleats monsieur!

[@MrBobo64]

the desk is brilliant

[@joonyaboy]

Clear and Concise! Thanks

[@CorentinHarbelot]

Great videos and advices. From a French guy :D

[@EricHartwigExcelConsulting]

Another great video! Thank you so much for creating and sharing these videos! Keep up the great work!

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks Eric

[@melc-centex1091]

Very Im-poytent! 🤓 I’m going to be using a French clear system in my workshop. Thank you for your videos!

[@shaynesabala]

😅I giggle when I hear about glueing your stuff to the wall because that one of those DUH! Moments I would definitely have. You’re the second person that has mentioned it. Thanks for the video.

[@markadamarnold]

Always great ideas from this channel! Thanks for continuing to provide new ways to french cleat!

[@SpecificLove7]

Thank you very much. It has been a very enjoyable series.

[@muth1997]

really enjoy your style. had no interest in french cleats but your charisma and explanation has me rethinking. keep up the good work.

[@8thsinner]

For part 8 you should add a cleat brush scraper. A long brush between two cleats with a box surround shelf so that when you get to the end it doesn't all just fall to the ground. Does that make sense?

[@the_kestrelstudios]

Very nice! Thanks!

[@spye3141]

Thank you for this video. This is some essential information!

[@jbotnik]

Excellent information

[@tallguy276]

loved it including bloopers thanks

[@jayalmightyful]

Good tips! Thanks!

[@malfadors2]

Loved your videos!!!

[@kotatape]

Awesome work, loved and watched everything! Thumbs up.

[@SpecificLove7]

Thank you

[@luisestevesirvent2990]

¡Qué buenas sugerencias acerca de los tacos franceses, me han parecido muy útiles! ¡Gracias por compartirlas, Internet es una hermosa herramienta!

[@lonniec2116]

Thank you for sharing some your experience and knowledge. I've been planning a french cleat wall in my shop and I'm pretty sure I would have done at least 4 on your list. The first one you listed made me- D'OH! I need to rethink it a bit. thumbs up and sucribed

[@SpecificLove7]

I hope your French cleat wall turns out great. Have fun building it.

[@genevelis6075]

How do you make two parallel strips of French cleats on the wall and the item so they fit together perfectly? Do you think hanging kitchen cabinets on the French cleats would be better than mountain to the wall studs ? If yes how to do it?

[@andrewdreasler428]

Interesting that you mention cabinets, that was the first thing french cleats were used for. 1. You put the cleat along the back of the cabinet at the top, and put an equally thick strip of wood along the bottom of the cabinet. 2. You mount the matching cleat on the wall, making sure it is level (SO MUCH easier than trying to hold up an entire cabinet and try to level it). 3. Drive screws through the back of the cabinet, through the cleat/spacer, and into the studs. Oh yeah: 0. locate and mark the locations of the studs. (This should be step 0 on ANY cabinet mounting; it generally goes without saying. If you're mounting multiple cabinets in a row, make the wall cleat long enough to hold them all. That way they are not only all level, they are all even as well.

[@genevelis6075]

@@andrewdreasler428 Thank you so much! I’ll read a few more times to understand the details. If I will have questions, I’ll let you know.

[@NeedsMoreToys]

French cleats will cause a manufactured cabinet to sit off the wall unless the cabinet is built specifically to recess the cleat and then you lose 3/4” depth in the cabinet. Great for garage or shop cabinets but I wouldn’t use for kitchen cabinets as a general rule. Also mounting your upper cabinet must allow for raising it high enough to set on to the cleat so this doesn’t work for a flush mount at the ceiling, you must have a crown mold to cover the gap otherwise.

[@genevelis6075]

@@NeedsMoreToys Make sense. Thank you.

[@can5projects563]

Thanks for your video

[@drewc4204]

Hey hey! I am thinking of making my dad a french cleat system for his kitchen. Prior to watching this video, I thought it would be a good idea to make him a small-mid-sized cutting board unit with a hole in it (so the scraps could be swiped into a garbage below it) Do you think its a good idea to have any cleat-units where there may be pressure on it like that? I guess what Im asking is: "how much force would a cleat unit be able to tolerate/handle?" Im thinking of making that cutting board unit with 2 cleats like your drill-charging station for more suppert, what do you think, if anything? Im off to watch the other cleat vids!! Thank you!

[@SpecificLove7]

Since a cutting board usually gets wet during use, I'm not sure how well the cleat would hold up. I've never tested it before.

[@mrcolesenglish1401]

How necessary is the bottom set of cleats? I use French Cleats for hanging my TVs, and on ones that I want to angle down, I just let it rest against the wall on the bottom (I use 2X4 wood to create this effect). Do I need to add a second cleat on the bottom? I've never had one fall, but I don't want to create a problem that will break later if it's an issue. Thanks!

[@SpecificLove7]

As long as the cleat holding the TV is resting firmly into the wall cleat, then it should be okay, BUT if the holding cleat is twisting at all, then I would suggest adding a small spacer block between the bottom of the TV and the wall.

[@nathangoddard7757]

Great video, thanks for sharing! Question: If I wanted to make a long french cleat-mounted shelf on the wall, would it still be strong if I used 3-4 separate cleats on the studs instead of one long wood cleat along all 4 studs? Thanks!

[@SpecificLove7]

I think that could work. Make sure the downward support is longer than the shelf is coming outward. I'm one to always have more support than most would use.

[@nathangoddard7757]

@@SpecificLove7 Sounds good. Thanks for the help!

[@vernonwankerl9079]

I have added long shelves to my french cleat walls by attaching the metal shelf brackets to 1x3 or 1x4 scrap wood strips with a cleat at the top. I have an 8 foot shelf, 16 inches deep with 4 or 5 12 or 14 inch shelf brackets attached to the scrap wood cleats positioned at stratigic locations. As always be to pay attention to the weight you plan to store on the shelves.

[@ivancespedes4624]

Can I install cleats right onto brick wall or cinder block wall/cement with tapcons

[@bluebubblepremium5204]

Great video! Thanks!

[@Beacuzz]

Have you ever heard of anyone making a bookshelf with french cleats inside? I wanna make one and I'm trying to understand as much as possible so it works. My current idea is a 4'w x 8't x 18"d with a permanent shelf in the middle (3'-4' high). With shelves of variable sizes. I'm thinking 1' - 4' wide by 6" - 15" deep. So I can adjust and move the shelves however I want. Any recommendations on the cleats (how big or small they need to be, the min spacing, other tules that might apply especially to this kind of project)?

[@loicdu43]

I loved your many french cleat ideas !! It helps a beginner like me. A question (don't know if it will be read coz it's bit old but ... in case...) My question is about the measures: how deep is the wood to make the cleat ? How wide are they on the wall? And what space vertically between the cleat on the wall ? Thanks if you can answer.

[@SpecificLove7]

For thickness, I try to stick with three-quarter inch boards. For the width, that depends on your wall space. Just make sure they are secured to the studs of the wall. And for the spacing, I just chose 5 inches, but that is also up to you.

[@TheLightHouseLady]

Great tips!

[@SpecificLove7]

Thank you

[@madamebutterfly712]

So I’m trying to hang a 100 pound mirror on a long wall. If the studs aren’t enough support, what can I do to reinforce my wall?

[@tomwilson5822]

Love the show

[@Kirt2323]

Great tutorial....

[@jameschippett2177]

Really useful.

[@philipsawyers719]

Very good thanks

[@adviavan]

nice video dude but how much is the maximum load the french cleat can stand?

[@Mannin_Watch_Time]

A lot!

[@pacificprospector]

How do you stop the hanging object from being dislodged from the cleat as you go to removed an item? ie. you are hanging tool on some hooks but the tool catches the hook, lifting the backing and the cleat loose. Do you maybe use a screw to prevent the backing/cleat from being lifted up and out of the wall-cleat?

[@SpecificLove7]

Try this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJmzqIN8a5arfbc

[@court2379]

Good video, but I don't understand why a bevel cut is used instead of a rabbet (or really two pieces one on top of the other). It would be more secure. You don't have to deal with the sharp corner or any wedging action (Though that probably makes them tighter to the wall. Does it matter?). Some other thoughts. Put a saw kerf or better yet a routed groove about twice as wide, on the back, vertical, every 6in or so. Then you can sweep any debris into them to fall down the wall. Put a rabbet top and bottom, then you can make locks that guaranty cantilever.

[@Bapuji42]

If you use long screws, just make sure there's no wiring or piping passing through the studs where you're screwing.

[@mymemeplex]

I’d add that you should try to avoid putting things that stick out and to which a lot of ‘momentum ‘ can be applied at the top of a holder.

[@alvinporter1283]

Pro trick: watch series on kaldroStream. Been using them for watching a lot of movies recently.

[@christopherasher5564]

@Alvin Porter definitely, have been watching on KaldroStream for years myself :D

[@bowenrylan5873]

@Alvin Porter yup, I've been using kaldrostream for since november myself :D

[@darkeindzel4005]

Does the type of screws you use matter? I'm using 1 inch thick cleats made from scrap pine 2x4's. I'm going to screw into the studs behind the sheetrock. I was originally going to use drywall screws since they work fine for my diy shelf supports, but I wanted to do something with a nicer look so I was thinking about using kreg pocket hole screws instead and just countersink them. I thought they would give it a nicer look. What are your thoughts?

[@ShoukatAli-yk1tt]

Good job 👍

[@fishrrelaxing9361]

I would add to this make sure you space your wall cleats 1/2” apart from the size of the cleat itself. Otherwise you’ll be building a lot of spacer blocks or over sizing the back panel for heavier items to make sure it has a resting place.. imo the easies and best setup is to just use the 5” plywood rips ripped in half and space them accordingly. I started off with larger spacing like you have at 7-8” and I can tell you I’ll be tearing it out and spacing them cause they really do make it more of a hassle designing the holders. You end up using more material then is needed if you space the cleats too far apart trying to spread the weight. Some scrap for spacer blocks works to a point but if you have other concerns then sometimes you can’t place things where you want because of the spacers. Like at the bottom of a wall where you need a double spacer for the panel and the cleat. Now that piece can’t be relocated anywhere but a bottom wall cleat. Keep it simple till you know exactly what you need and just do 5” half rips and use a 2x4 for a spacer for 3-1/2@ spacing between them. You’ll be great full later. The minor added cost in the additional cleats from the narrow spacing pays for itself later in tool holders, time and the versatility you gain being able to move anything anywhere you want

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks for the info

[@christineagnew7372]

dude! I'm liking the channel!

[@stevemichaels7556]

Which wood do you prefer for cleats, solid or plywood?

[@jaimegenovajr3257]

Hi I hope you can still read this, I just wanna ask can I use 1/2 thick of plywood for cleats in a 40” long cubby

[@SpecificLove7]

I would stay with 3/4" or larger for the strength. It might be possible, but I would not do it.

[@jaimegenovajr3257]

Specific Love Creations thank you so much

[@DarrinSK]

How do you have them in the studs where they but up against each other and meet on the wall? Wouldnt one of them be driven into the stud and the other be forced to go just into the drywall?

[@SpecificLove7]

The ends of the boards should rest over the middle of the stud and then angle the screws slightly in.

[@Aias90]

Is it possible to use plywood cleats straight on a concrete wall?

[@ParleysWoodedJourney]

First time viewer. I was thinking about mounting my scroll saw to a plywood panel, and then hanging that on the wall when I'm not using it. It weighs about 70 lbs. What would you recommend?

[@johnvodopija]

Keep them coming. Thank you 👍😎🇦🇺

[@StudioKeta]

great man, thanks

[@rayweeks944]

Gr8 suggestions I saw in the first example you had 2x4s on a cement cinder block wall. My garage is similar, I dont have sheetrock or studded wall. Would you recommend adding studs to the wall or mounting a piece of plywood then add cross pieces (parallel to floor) for part 1 of the french cleat?

[@SpecificLove7]

Part of the French cleats strength is securing to the studs in the wall. I would frame it and then add a layer of plywood.

[@faridmelendez9560]

Could I make an entertainment center using French cleats? I’m not going to be adding too many things on there but I was just wondering

[@SpecificLove7]

Maybe, if made correctly

[@Gorango27]

just found your Channel. Good stuff!! Can you make a vid on how to install french cleats on to concrete block? My garage is all concrete/cinder block. I want to do a french cleat system but there arent many videos on how to do it that are of good quality.

[@SpecificLove7]

Interesting idea, I will give it some thought.

[@MorhaMaek]

You are a French Cleat Master!

[@Natalieforpope]

That was a bit of a checklist video... Yep done that, and that, and that.... Live and learn 😂

[@DeViLEyE890]

Would a makeshift table/cabinet hold a computer set and tv if bolted to a cemented wall?

[@SpecificLove7]

If done correctly, it should

[@DUCKemz]

Is there a way to make French cleats work on unfinished walls? My garage is unfinished. We plan to move sometime soon so I don’t want to bother finishing it. Thanks for all the great advice! Love the videos!

[@SpecificLove7]

It would be best to add some kind of backing first. Even some cheaper OSB board will work if you can get it about 3/4 inch thick.

[@DUCKemz]

Specific Love Creations Could it work if I space them so that the mounted cleat on the wall supports the top and bottom of the holders?

[@marknu3327]

You are smart and give a lot of information - thanks for it! (Like 9549)