Here's a pretty good video: https://youtu.be/lzd0dxziyIs
Here's a pretty good video: https://youtu.be/lzd0dxziyIs
Cheaper in that you can move stuff around "instantaneously" and without needing a third hand for a level. A well designed French cleat system can be an amazing thing as a shop evolves and needs change. My next shop...if there ever is one, such as if we decide to downsize...will have a cleat system for sure.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Cleats are good for the anal mind, John...everything spaced nice and level. Everything has it's place, even if that place changes over time. LOL And yea...a lot less extraneous screw holes. But on a practical sense, the cleats can have a lot of weight holding power, too. One novel way to use them is for interchangeable/movable work surfaces as well as for holding knocked down things on the wall until you need to pull them out in a way that you're less likely to knock them off the wall accidentally. That's what I mean about a well thought out cleat design. Did I happen to mention the anal mind thing?
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Ah, I can see how that would be attractive to some. I guess I'm more of a sloppy "slap it up and use it" person.
For example, my tape storage system is incredibly practical but I'm sure it's a horror to the refined gentleman shop keeper.
Don't know if cleating it could make it any more compact or accessible.
tape-storage.jpg
When I do change up, such as when I acquired a set of Robust tool rests and threw out the old, I make use of an amazing device that will both remove and insert screws.
lathe_toolrests_IMG_5751.jpg
That the wall may end one day end up full of holes doesn't even register on my consciousness. Some people even start with walls full of holes. (I HATE pegboard!) And a 3/4" pine board on steel shelf brackets can hold a huge amount of weight.
But I looked up some french cleat and slat wall designs to see what all the fuss was about - I can see how they would be attractive to a retail store that did a lot of change-about or to someone who likes to redecorate. But the deal-breaker for me is they all appear to require a resource so valuable it's long used up in my shop - empty wall space!
JKJ
Last edited by John K Jordan; 02-11-2020 at 10:46 PM.
A cleat system is definitely easier to implement in a "clean" space, such as a brand new workshop...
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
The first time I hung cabinets (by myself) using a cleat, I swore that I'd never attempt to hang one with a ledger strip, and a deadman again
So it's not really just about being 'clean' and 'neat', it's really about convenience. Besides, since I tend to use offcuts of plywood to make the cleats, it's effectively free.
~mike
happy in my mud hut
CD plywood is unsanded.
Man, thanks all of the replies and your thoughts.
I do plan on going french cleat where I want my hanging tools, but I'm gonna mount some cabinets on the wall as well and have a corner with shelves that I'm gonna make for random storage and to encompass my keezer and my garage fridge (any beer brewers out there?!).
I'm sold on the plywood, and im gonna go half inch. I'm not gonna finish the ceiling yet, just gonna reinforce the runners so that I can use it for storage (got a plan to put my lumber up there) plus I like the look of my subroof, If i'm gonna go wood I figure go all out. I'm not planning on insulating because I live in southern california and it's not really necessary.....Sorry to rub that part in for some of ya...
Thing I'm just not sure yet is the sanded vs unhanded aka, expensive vs less expensive....
Gonna price out at Ghanal lumber tomorrow to see if they can beat the Lowes/HD prices...
Ha! In my experience comments concerning the relative weather in SoCal are often tempered by the relative cost of living.
Compared to around here the overall index is 173.3 vs 85.5 (https://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-l...geles-ca/50000) Maybe your area is better.
HAHA, TRUTH. But I fully understand I live in a super high cost of living state, and a super high cost of living city (Long Beach), but I do love where I live, have a good job as a teacher that pays well compared to the averages that teachers are paid, good benefits, and a gainfully employed wife. So I'll stick to my pocket of southern california until I can retire to an acre in the mountains somewhere that isn't quiet as expensive.
Preach it brother John! Also plywood with screws can be far less random. I watched a LOT of youtube videos on French Cleat and I have yet to see one that it looks more convenient that put a screw anywhere. Maybe it's because my space is very limited, and plywood allows me to cram in as much stuff as is humanly possible. Also I've yet to see a hanger for cleats that couldn't also be screwed into a wall.
Mark, It's too bad those Phoenix birds are protected by the Feds. But I love to see them on clear nights !
+1 on the drywall lift. I’ve put up osb by holding it in place with my head and shoulders while driving screws. It wasn’t pretty. The lift gives you time to position carefully and saves on excedrin.