Hidden French Cleats

[Villa Chemist]

I’ve done a couple of sets of shelves (documented elsewhere) where I needed to have a hidden hanging system. I came up with a method that is surprisingly strong and effective, so I thought I’d document it here by way of introduction.

First I use a domino to make a mortise in the vertical supports.



Then I reshape the mortise square and angle the top to approximately 45 degrees.



Then I make the pegs with the corresponding angle.




And screw them to the wall. The shelves are then hung onto the cleats.



My elliptical shelves have held up carrying plenty of weight for the last three years or so.

 

[Malc2098]

Nice.

 

[Mike G]

Neat. Anyone copying this must remember to allow enough room at the bottom of the mortice for the movement of the shelves from high to lowered-into-position.

Blimey, VC, what collection of little things are you going to put in those shelves?

 

[Villa Chemist]

Neat. Anyone copying this must remember to allow enough room at the bottom of the mortice for the movement of the shelves from high to lowered-into-position.

Blimey, VC, what collection of little things are you going to put in those shelves?

Yes, you need clearance to place the shelves flat on the cleats before allowing them to drop and lock into place.

As for the collection, the clue is in the name. It’s a periodic Table to house my element collection. Unfortunately most of it is at school in my other periodic table (can’t have too many)

 

[AndyP]

Villa Chemist, welcome.

Blimey, VC, what collection of little things are you going to put in those shelves?

Looks like the periodic table to me. And the name, Villa Chemist, has to be a clue in there somewhere.

Posts crossed.

 

[novocaine]

I like the elliptic. Its something ive wanted to do for a long time. Only recently have i got a wall flat enough. Unfortunatly ive got a wife who doesnt agree.

 

[Woodbloke]

Only recently have i got a wall flat enough. Unfortunatly ive got a wife who doesnt agree.

So she want's the wall to be unflat? :lol: - Rob

 

[Cabinetman]

Hi and welcome, interesting way of doing it, I was wondering if the cleats might split as you screwed them to the wall, obviously you’d have to be careful or possibly make them out of something like nylon? Ian

 

[Villa Chemist]

I like the elliptic. Its something ive wanted to do for a long time. Only recently have i got a wall flat enough. Unfortunatly ive got a wife who doesnt agree.

I rarely make anything flat and square from wood anyway, so it doesn’t matter that my walls are wonky too.

 

[Villa Chemist]

Hi and welcome, interesting way of doing it, I was wondering if the cleats might split as you screwed them to the wall, obviously you’d have to be careful or possibly make them out of something like nylon? Ian

For the elliptical shelves I made the cleats from MRMDF, for the periodic table I used some ash. I was worried about the cleat splitting too so I made sure I predrilled and didn’t over tighten the screws. Nylon would be a good choice, and I’m sure you could 3D print something easily enough if that took your fancy.

 

[Gregmcateer]

Love em

 

[Villa Chemist]

Here it is properly populated...

 

[Woodbloke]

I intend to give that clear idea a try on the current project. I think I'll try some birch ply for the bit that gets screwed to the wall; that's not going to split - Rob