anyone have experience with wooden french cleats?

[purbeast0]

i'm looking to buy/make some french cleats very similar to the ones in this pic.

http://i.imgur.com/zWv1f7Q.jpg

i want to hang some frames on the wall and have them be flush just like that, and i have some space like that on the back of the frame to make them flush. i need them to be .5" thick.

is there anywhere to just buy these? i didn't have luck searching online. and i don't have any tools other than a handsaw, so i doubt i can make these myself from lumber just because of the angled cut. anyone know if home depot will do these kind of cuts on wood? or what is the best way to get wooden french cleats if you don't have access to tools?

 

[Sluggo]

Any reason why the metal french cleats wont work?

http://www.hooksandlattice.com/cleat-hangers.html

 

[boomerang]

I just found them using Google in metal which would not require the depth on the back of the frame. "picture hanging French cleats".

I'd never heard of French cleats. I thought this was going to be some kind of kinky thread.

 

[Sluggo]

I thought this was going to be some kind of kinky thread.

We could make it that. :sneaky:

 

[purbeast0]

Any reason why the metal french cleats wont work?

http://www.hooksandlattice.com/cleat-hangers.html

cause those won't be flush to the wall, i want it flush to the wall so i can just screw the wooden 1/2 of the cleat from the top of the frame so it's "inside" the frame, then just slide that over the part that is connected to the wall.

 

[quikah]

Why not just use picture wire? That is what i use to hang pics flush.

The op pic looks handmade, guess it would be pretty easy to make if you have a table saw.

 

[Sluggo]

Then I would get on a woodworking forum and find someone that would cut the cleats, stuff them in a USPS flat rate box and pay them via paypal.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

How about using something like reducing or threshold moulding?
http://www.lowes.com/Search=wood+tr...&newSearch=true&Ntt=wood+trim#!&rpp=32&page=3
Or, you could use blocks you can cut yourself with a handsaw. The cleats don't have to extend all the way across, just at the outside edge.

 

[Humpy]

I have never seen wooden french cleats available for sale. Only aluminum Z clips.

If you can't make your own I would just get the aluminum ones and shim them as needed to get your thickness.

I don't really like either kind because often times perfectly level doesn't "look" straight after hanging something. Cleats can be frustrating to adjust.

For sound absorption panels ( I thought I saw a thread where you were making those?) they are probably what I would use though. I'm sure you can find some clips that will work just as well.

 

[Leros]

These would be difficult to make well without proper tools.

The easiest way would be with a table saw. I'd just look for somebody with a table saw that can help you.

French cleats could be made with handtools. You could rough it out with either a hand saw or spokeshave and clean it up with a hand plane.

 

[purbeast0]

okay so let me ask you guys this...

exactly what tools would be needed in order to make your own french cleats? maybe i have an excuse to buy some new tools...

 

[drnickriviera]

PM me with the size you want. I have some 1/2" poplar and could rip some for you.

 

[highland145]

okay so let me ask you guys this...

exactly what tools would be needed in order to make your own french cleats? maybe i have an excuse to buy some new tools...

YEAH...:biggrin:

and this

PM me with the size you want. I have some 1/2" poplar and could rip some for you.

Table saw.

Oh, and a router, combo finish nailer/air compressor, cordless drill, glue gun, laser lever, seismic calibrator, ...and more...much more.

 

[Leros]

okay so let me ask you guys this...

exactly what tools would be needed in order to make your own french cleats? maybe i have an excuse to buy some new tools...

A table saw with a good fence is all you need for french cleats. If you feel compelled to do so, you could also buy a miter saw for cutting the french cleats to length.

 

[purbeast0]

A table saw with a good fence is all you need for french cleats. If you feel compelled to do so, you could also buy a miter saw for cutting the french cleats to length.

wow i had no clue how cheap table saws were.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-15-Amp-10-in-Table-Saw-RTS10/202517808#

i might go pick that up tomorrow.

what exactly is the difference between a mitre saw and a table saw? like why would you use one over the other? the ryobi mitre saw is like $70.

 

[Leros]

wow i had no clue how cheap table saws were.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-15-Amp-10-in-Table-Saw-RTS10/202517808#

i might go pick that up tomorrow.

what exactly is the difference between a mitre saw and a table saw? like why would you use one over the other? the ryobi mitre saw is like $70.

Cross cut: cutting across the grain
Rip cut: cutting with the grain

A miter saw can only cross cut, but it can easily do complex angles. It's great for cutting a 2x4 to length, cutting a 45 degree angle for molding, etc.

A table saw can do both cross cuts and rip cuts. Note that cross cutting and rip cutting requires different blades (or a combination blade that can do both). You can use a table saw to cut sheets of plywood, rip a 2x4 lengthwise (e.g. to make a 2x2), etc. Besides basic cuts, a table saw can also cut dados or be used with jigs to cut various joints.

Theoretically a table saw can do everything that a miter saw can do, but a miter saw is probably faster and safer for those kinds of cuts.