French cleats are surprisingly strong, and the storage possibilities are only limited by your imagination. To build a basic tool-hanging system, start with 3/4-inch plywood cut into a strip that’s 5 inches wide by at least 30 inches long. This piece will become the mounting cleat that gets attached to the wall.
How much weight will a French cleat hold?
A French cleat is strong enough to hold heavy items like artwork, cabinets, mirrors, and even tools securely on the wall, supporting over 75 lbs (34.02 kg). You can use this 30-45 degree molding as a pair or cleat that mounts to the wall alongside a matching edge cut into the item you are hanging.
Why do they call it a French cleat?
Although it is difficult to say for sure, many think the name French Cleat originated from the origin of France when in the 1800s French shipbuilders began building wooden ships. Once the main ship was built, details were added. One detail was the french cleat.
What is a French cleat and what is it used for?
A French cleat is a way of securing a cabinet, mirror, artwork or other object to a wall. It is a molding with a 30–45 degree slope used to hang cabinets or other objects. French cleats can be used in pairs, or with a cleat mounted to the wall and a matching edge cut into the object to be hung.
Can you use 1/2 plywood French cleats?
If building a French cleat wall in a home office or kitchen and hope to avoid a bulky appearance, ½-inch plywood will provide a leaner look while offering adequate support for items like pots and pans.
What is the best size of wood to make a French cleat?
You can make your own French cleats out of pretty much any long, narrow piece of wood. I’ve used 1”x 3”s, 1”x 4”x and strips of ½” or ¾” plywood. But you could also use thicker pieces of material, especially if what you’re hanging has a deep recess.
What is the best angle for a French cleat?
All you really need are two 45 degree angles that can lock in to each other. Cut down to the size that is needed. When cutting the cleat on the chop saw, be sure to keep the larger surface area on the bed of the saw. The wall mounted cleat should be just a slightly longer.
How thick should a French cleat be?
How Thick Does a French Cut Need To Be? As for the thickness of the plywood to use, choose at least ½ inch, although a ¾ inch plywood will serve you better. This will give you a strong and secure hold that can handle great weights subject to the number of studs you attach the cleat to and the style lag screws you use.
Can you hang cabinets with French cleat?
Using a French cleat is probably the easiest way to hang a cabinet on the wall when working alone. You secure one half of the cleat to the wall and the other to the cabinet and then simply set the cabinet onto the cleat. Done!
Can you use a 2×4 for a French cleat?
With plywood coming in at $50 per sheet, use 2×4, or maybe even 1x3s to make an easy and cheap French Cleat system.
What kind of wood is used for French cleats?
You could use solid wood like 1×4s and 1×6s. Or you could use ½” or ¾” plywood that has been ripped into strips. That said, French cleats are often made from plywood. When making french cleats look for a quality plywood that is relatively free of voids and knots.
Can you hang a French cleat on drywall?
As others have pointed out since your walls are already covered with drywall just attaching the French cleats to the studs will work just fine and save a lot of cost. They will hold up just fine and the paint color behind the cleats will show up.
Will MDF work for French cleat?
You can use medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for a French cleat, but they may not be as strong and durable as plywood. Plywood has better stability and better resistance to moisture than MDF. It’s best to work with plywood if you need to hang heavy-duty equipment.
What are the plywood grades?
There are four grades of plywood: A, B, C and D. The grade refers to the quality and appearance of the plywood’s face and back veneers. A has the highest quality and is the most expensive, and D is the least expensive. A-grade plywood features a smooth, sanded surface without knots.
How much space do you need between French cleats?
Space the cleats with a 2×4 block and secure them with a pair of 1-1/4-in. trim-head screws spaced every 16 in. Keep the screws 1 in. from the top and bottom of the cleats.
