Wall cabinets
French cleat
Two 45° strips. The wall piece hooks up, the case piece hooks down.
Use when
- A cabinet has to hang and come down again.
Don’t use when
- Do not hang it on drywall alone. Hit studs or blocking.
- Keep
- Waste, hatched on the drawing
- Dimension
- Long parts are broken. The 1 in bar is true scale.
Stock
Thickness steppers move by 1/16 in, or 0.5 mm. You can type 3/4 or 1-1/8.
- Screws into drywall alone will pull out. Hit studs or blocking.
Sizes
| Mark | Size | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Angle | 45° | 45° on both pieces |
| Cleat thickness | 3/4 in | 3/4 in is the usual stock. Both pieces the same |
| Cleat width | 3-1/2 in | 3 to 4 in overall, before the bevel |
| Screws | 16 in | Into studs or blocking, 16 in on center |
Cut sequence
1Rip both cleats at 45°
Stock 3/4 in by 3-1/2 in. The wall piece hooks up. The case piece hooks down.
2Screw the wall piece into studs
Screws 16 in on center. Drywall alone will not hold it.
Stop when: The case drops onto the cleat and sits tight to the wall.
3Dry-fit, then glue
Close the joint dry. Check that shoulders and faces meet, then glue. If this is a frame or a box, check both diagonals before the glue grabs.
Stop when: Dry-fit is tight with hand pressure, square, and the diagonals match.
Glue
Mostly mechanical
Strength
furniture
Movement
The wall piece hooks up. The case piece hooks down. The bevel is the only thing holding the case.