Ditch the Peg Board – Go with Cleat System!!

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RSnyder

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Location
Madison, AL
I have an interesting shop tool organization system that you may be interested in...

I've been working to try to get my garaged organized for some time now.. and still not even close. I have a small, one and half car workshop, and was jumping from one project to another and things got out of control! So, I decided to start with the organization of my tools. I was looking for a system that allowed me to utilize my entire wall space above my bench, because all the other walls are taken… hanging shelves, floor shelves, compressor, table saw, band saw, etc.

Cluttered Bench and Peg Board
Bench Before.jpg



Like most of you, I had one small piece of peg board with tools hanging among. Tools were accessible, but no organization and clearly not enough room for all my tools! On any one project, I would have to go to two, three or more places for the tools in need… I would dig through my toolbox, look on shelves, de-box items for that's how I stored them… then retrace my steps to put everything back (well sometimes). That's when things went sour, when I didn't get things back! I had tools everywhere, couldn't find what I needed, and clutter all over my bench! Maybe some of you can relate!

Then I found this system... it's called a French Cleat (some call it a closet cleat from closet organizers)!! Ever seen it? From all my web searches, its mostly used in the Woodworking community, more so than shade-tree mechanics. It's actually a very simple, very ingenious design, and yet, very, very strong! It's basically two mating pieces of wood that are cut at 45. This wedge is the premise of the system... it works based on gravity and back-pressure!
frenchcleat1.jpg


I simply took a 1x4, and with a 45 cut, ripped the board into two long pieces.. one around 2 ½“ (long-side) and the other 1 (short-side). This actually creates both pieces of the French cleat system that you'll need, all from one board. You need to mount the wider piece securely to the wall studs (with the 45 angled down and into the wall), and the other smaller section is what you use to hang your Hangers (Whatever you want to call them- shelves, hangers, boxes, wall cabinets, organizers, parts bins, etc.).

Mounting Bottom Cleats to Wall Studs
Bench During.jpg


Here is the BEST PART!. Everything is fully movable! They are not fixed to the wall-side cleat in any way, they just simply sit into the wedge and hang, and you can rearrange your Hangers anywhere you want! You can match your workflow, by project, or by tool grouping. I have my most used tools closer at hand and to my bench and my least use tools higher on the wall, still accessible, but not taking up prime real estate .

New Wall Organization - Cleat System
Bench After 2.jpg


The fun begins by being creative with your Hangers. There are endless possibilities.. I grouped my tools together so everything is together.. drill and drill bits, grinder and discs, you get the idea. Here are some samples of my Hangers which have all been built with scrap lumber sitting in my shop:

  • Cordless Drill Organizer (Holds 3 drills, 1 impact drill, 2 Circular Saws, Battery charger, and shelf for drill bits (see underneath))
dirlls.jpg

  • Sandpaper Organizer (organizes 8x11 Sheets, various grits of 6" discs, and even rolls of emery cloth)
Sandpaper.jpg

  • Die Grinder Support (Holds 2 grinders, their key/wrenches, and an array of Discs (flapper, strippers, grinding)) with dowel rods
grinder.jpg

  • Shelving (these can be of any length and width and are very strong)
Shelves.jpg

  • Tape dispenser (holds multiple flavors of tape and has a hacksaw blade mounted on box to tear tape)
Tape.jpg

  • Wall Cabinet (Yes this big wall cabinet and all of its contents are hanging from the cleat system... I can relocate it if need be!)
cabinet.jpg

  • Dremel Organizer (holds my dremel, all the cutoff wheels, and misc bits)
  • Stapler/Nailer (This holds 3 Staplers (an air nailer/stapler, an electric & manual staplers) and a shelf for the staplers/nails.
  • Screw Driver Organizer (both phillips and regular)
  • Pliers Holder
  • Wrenches (ratcheting and open end)
  • Magnetic strips (got these cheap from Harbor Freight and seems to be the catch all… any metal of course)
  • Hammers Holders
  • Pry-Bar Holder
  • Parts Bins and Trays
  • Spray Paint Can Cabinet – Currently In work (will hold 56 cans in total (7 rows, 8 Cans across) and you'll see the caps of each to determine color and easily remove without disrupting the others)
Search the internet- you'll find some very clever tool holder designs. It's not that expensive to do. I did my entire wall with 1x4s separated 3 ½" for a total of 8 rows, all under $70 including mounting screws.

Feel free to share your garage organization techniques or any comments to the French Cleat System.
 
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that is frickin sweet. The best part is with all the empty storage space it will give me a good excuse to buy more ****!!! "but honey, I have space for 4 cordless drills and I only have 1"
 
That's a mighty sweet setup!! I'm not sold though, and need you to come and install it in my garage and organize all my tools and stuff before I'm convinced!! Heck, I'll even hold one end for ya!!!LOL!!

Thanks for sharing, I'm looking to do some organizing of my own and am a carpenter by trade so the cleat system looks right up my alley!! Geof
 
As usual, I'm the stupid one. Can you give a close up of the cleat? From the drawings, I cannot visualize it. I know, I'm a dumbass.
 
Rsnyder is pretty obviously a carpenter. Good job. If my shop wasn't full of boats and I actually had studs in my walls, I'd do this system. I tried to make a basic board across 3 metal studs in the wall to hold pipe clamps. It fell off. Maybe it was not meant to hold 600lbs worth of clamps...
 
Very nice!

Stupid me for not yet using this system in my own garage. The French Cleat system is the same way I hung the oak mantle over my fireplace in the living room.
 
Thank you! I know yall all thought I was stupid, but I only have one eye and heve extremely limited depth perception. I was having trouble making out the drawing. I got it now. That's really smart. Thanks!
 
Looks great! I like the idea of being able to slide stuff around and I really like how you have your cordless drills setup.. I might steal that idea!

What's wrong with peg board? :D

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very nice, I'm with cosig--- not quite up to snuff-- on this so could you swing by & demonstrate on a couple of walls?

I could supply materials & beverages!! Lawrence
 
By the way, you can still use your peg board using this system. Just put it in a frame with the hanger bracket attached.... Then move it alone the wall wherever you want it.

Lets see.... I now have to travel to Mich and then swing by KS.... Looks like I'll have a busy summer!
 
I love the cleat system --- For many things. My tools/shop -- hanging pictures, everything. You can even do it for hanging kitchen cabinets making installation MUCH faster.
 
Thank you Joey for bringing this one back to the top! I’ve never seen anything like it but it’s genius!
 
I seem to remember my dad having a system like this for plastic blue tubs (I believe green tubs were larger)

The cleat was plastic and the tubs just hung from it
 
You guys are funny. Tools do not belong on a pegboard or cleat, they belong in a toolbox. If I removed my tools from the box, the garage would not be large enough to hang each tool, let alone outline it and paint each one. Cleats do not allow efficient storage of odd-shaped pieces. Enclosed cabinets with doors, any doors= wrong. You need to see at a glance what you have. Maybe I'm just weird. Here is what a real work station looks like. The only fault here is that the bench is too small. You can never have a workbench that is too big.
100_2382.JPG
 
You guys are funny. Tools do not belong on a pegboard or cleat, they belong in a toolbox. If I removed my tools from the box, the garage would not be large enough to hang each tool, let alone outline it and paint each one. Cleats do not allow efficient storage of odd-shaped pieces. Enclosed cabinets with doors, any doors= wrong. You need to see at a glance what you have. Maybe I'm just weird. Here is what a real work station looks like. The only fault here is that the bench is too small. You can never have a workbench that is too big.View attachment 1715173895
I agree with all of this .
 
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