Back of a tool cabinet, how to join?

[Emil Karlsson]

I'm a total beginner when it comes to woodworking. I'm building my first cabinet. A simple wall cabinet for my tools. I've dovetailed a frame. Now I can't figure out how to fasten the back of it. I want to keep as much depth of the cabinet as possible.

I don't know how the best way to hang it to wall would be. Maybe a french cleat system? Would the 1/4" be hold it? I would fill it up with a lot of heavy planes but a couple. How would you do a french cleat system with only hand tools? I dont have access to any machines.

The back will be 1/4" birch plywood. I'd love some tips on what to do or where do look.

[Lee Schierer]

Normally a cabinet would have a hanger board across the back at the top and possibly the bottom that connects into the top and the sides in addition to the plywood back. Take a look inside your kitchen cabinets and you will get the idea. You haven't provided any dimensions, nor any information on what is going to go into the cabinet weight wise.

[Jim Becker]

If you used solid stock to construct your cabinet, the back has to float, wether it's solid material panel or a piece of thin plywood. Normally, any back would be inset, either in a rabbet or a groove. If the former, 23 gage pins can be used to contain it or there can be thin wood strips to do the same. A panel in a groove would just float in the groove.

I personally like the French cleat method for mounting things to the wall. It's best to plan for them, however, so that the cabinet sides can be scribed to the wall.

[Emil Karlsson]

Ok thanks. Dimensions is 125 x 80 cm (~49" x 31.5"). It will store 3-4 planes. 5-10 chisels, 2 saws and some spokeshaves and measuring tools.

I don't know if the 1/4" plywood would hold as a french cleat system? I can see the kitchen cabinet way buy I think it would take up space in this case as the cabinet is not so large.

[Mark Gibney]

Hmm... I can't picture why the back would need to float if it is plywood and the sides are solid wood? - if the back was solid wood then I can see it would have to float.

Emil, if you use a French cleat to hang the cabinet and use a 1/4" back I would screw the ends of the cleat into the sides, maybe glue it to the back. The cabinet will sit off the wall the thickness of the cleat and then a little bit, but at least you keep max storage room inside.

[Jerry Miner]

I normally use the hanger strip as described by Lee above. French cleat is viable, but can mean losing some interior space (or exposing the cleat).

Hanger Strip 1-23-16.jpgFrench cleat 1-23-16.jpg

[Robert Engel]

What Jerry^ said.
A couple cleats top and bottom for attaching.

If you're worried about losing space, put the back behind the cleats, not in front.
Your other option is go with a 1/2" thick ply and then no need for cleats.



I disagree re: You don't need to worry about wood movement with a ply back. Put in a rabbet and fit it tight this does 2 things: 1)adds strength to the carcase and 2) squares it u. Attach back with screws and glue. If you use nails, I would pre drill to avoid blow out (depends on grain of wood).