FRENCH CLEATS EXPLAINED...In 5 Minutes! (There's More To French Cleats Than You Think--3 Main Uses!)

Check Out Our FREE GUIDE: 25 Must-Have Carpentry Tools...Under $25 Each! https://www.thehonestcarpenter.com/ AFFILIATE TOOL LINKS: French Cleat 18" Metal Brackets: https://amzn.to/3fJ8KIv Hangman Heavy Duty 30" Picture Hanger: https://amzn.to/2TZoi39 Dewalt Brushless Drill/Driver Kit (Best Seller!): https://amzn.to/3AmVH7o Irwin 24" I-Beam Level: https://amzn.to/2VEgrbW Dewalt 20V Max XR Multitool (W/ Battery): https://amzn.to/3s0RdR4 Bosch 12" Compound "Glide" Miter Saw: https://amzn.to/3CrK6Wz (These are affiliate links. When you shop through these links, we receive a small commission at NO EXTRA CHARGE TO YOU. We greatly appreciate the support!) FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:   / thehonestcarpenter   FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN:   / thehonestcarpenter   Be Sure To Visit Us At The Honest Carpenter Website!: www.thehonestcarpenter.com Also, Check Out Our Other Woodworking Videos: Best Plywood Storage Cart:    • How To Build a ROLLING PLYWOOD STORAGE CAR...   Don't Use 3/4" Plywood...Try This:    • DON'T USE 3/4" PLYWOOD If You Don't Need I...   FRENCH CLEATS EXPLAINED...In 5 Minutes! (There's More To French Cleats Than You Think--3 Main Uses!) There are about a million french cleat tutorials and project idea videos here on YouTube. But this video is different...this short video from The Honest Carpenter will explain the underlying principles of the french cleat. It'll discuss WHY carpenters use them so often, WHERE we use them, and HOW you can use them in your projects as well! FRENCH CLEATS are simply a method of mounting, suspending or hanging things from a vertical wall. They consist of a board or slat with a 45-degree or 30-degree bevel across the top, mounted to a wall or stationary surface. This mates with an opposing bevel mounted to the back of another object. By hooking the two bevels together, the second object can be hung from the wall. The reverse bevels trap each other. They prevent the mounted object from falling downwards, and also from PULLING AWAY from the wall. FRENCH CLEATS ARE EXTREMELY STRONG! Only engineers can determine their exact strength. But, as a rule of thumb: If you use 3/4" plywood for your cleat, and 2-1/2" deck screws to attach the ply to studs at every stud location, the cleat can typically hold 80+ lbs. If you stagger two screws vertically, spaced out by an inch or more, at each stud location, then you can DOUBLE the mounting strength. And, you can also use MULTIPLE CLEATS, one spaced high, one spaced low, to mount a single object, adding even more strength. In a full wall system, french cleats can create a blank canvas from which to hang many tools or materials. And, this creates VERSATILITY, because you can always change or move mounts however you like. French cleats also allow you to DISGUISE YOUR MOUNTING METHOD. French cleats are often used to hang very heavy cabinets. Carpenters will hide a cleat on the back side of the cabinet, firmly attached to the structure. The cabinet itself will then hide a french cleat mounted to the wall. And now, custom metal hardware performs the same function as the french cleat! It can be attached with just a drill, cutting out the carpentry phase. Thanks for watching! The Honest Carpenter