EXPAND THIS SECTION for important information related to this video► ★THIS VIDEO MADE POSSIBLE BY★ Ridge Carbide (Use coupon code SNWJ10): goo.gl/z8TP0k Please help support us by visiting this link website for a quick look around! ★OTHER RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS VIDEO★ -More videos on our website: stumpynubs.com/ -Subscribe to our e-Magazine: stumpynubs.com/browse-and-subscribe/ -Check out our project plans: stumpynubs.com/product-category/plans/ ★FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA★ -Instagram: instagram.com/stumpynubs/ -Twitter: twitter.com/StumpyNubs -Facebook: facebook.com/Stumpy-Nubs-Woodworking-Journal-305639859477973/ (If you use one of these affiliate links, we may receive a small commission) ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHEAP TOOLS★ -123 Blocks: lddy.no/vpij -Mechanical Pencils: amzn.to/2PA7bwK -Lumber pencil: amzn.to/2QtwZjv -Pocket Measuring Tape: amzn.to/2kNTlI9 -Irwin Drill Bit Gauge: amzn.to/2AwTkQg -Nut/Bolt/Screw Gauge: amzn.to/2CuvxSK -Self-Centering Punch: amzn.to/2QvbcrC -Self-Centering Bits: amzn.to/2xs71UW -Angle Cube: lddy.no/10nam -Steel Ruler: lddy.no/10mv7 -Utility knife: amzn.to/3nfhIiv -Center-Finding Ruler: lddy.no/10nak -Bit & Blade Cleaner: amzn.to/2TfvEOI -Digital depth gauge: amzn.to/3mwRf2x -Wood Glue: amzn.to/3mqek6M -Spade Bits: amzn.to/3j8XPtD ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE HAND TOOLS★ -Digital Caliper: amzn.to/384H1Or -Marking Gauge: lddy.no/10muz -Marking knife: lddy.no/10mv0 -Narex Chisels: lddy.no/sqm3 -Stanley Sweetheart Chisels: amzn.to/3y5HDOc -Mini Pull Saw: amzn.to/2UEHBz6 -Gent Saw: lddy.no/ss2x -Coping saw: amzn.to/2W7ZiUS -Shinwa Rulers: lddy.no/zl13 ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE POWER TOOLS★ -Miter Saw: amzn.to/3gqIlQ8 -Jointer: amzn.to/3yc3gfZ -Planer: amzn.to/3mn6BGF -Router: amzn.to/3grD22S -Sander: amzn.to/3DdvD0Y -Cordless drill: amzn.to/3D9ZiIm -Brad nailer: amzn.to/3gsRkjH -Mini Compressor: amzn.to/3mvrmQr -Bladerunner: amzn.to/2Wl0TtJ -Jig Saw: amzn.to/3zetTBY -Scroll Saw: amzn.to/3gq9qDc -Multi-Tool: amzn.to/3muZuMi ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE OTHER TOOLS★ -Drill Bits: amzn.to/3B8Ckzh -Forstner Bits: amzn.to/3kk3wEI -Shop Vacuum: amzn.to/3yfLLLA -Machine Setup Blocks: amzn.to/3gq7kDh -Counter-Sink Bit: amzn.to/37ZukUo -Featherboard: amzn.to/3DeqHsq -ISOtunes Hearing Protection (Save $10): bit.ly/3BHYdH7 (If you use one of the affiliate links above, we may receive a small commission)

The "half width + half thickness" tip is beyond invaluable to people like me who are spatially challenged! Thanks so much.

I’m a professional cabinet guy, and the problem with cleats is that walls are rarely flat. They have humps and bumps, and when a cleat system encounters these, the alignment advantages go out the window, and you spend a lot of time trying to figure out what went wrong. Here’s a simpler way to hang cupboards, if your working alone and don’t have cabinet jacks, etc.: screw a temporary strip of wood along the wall where the bottom of the cabinet will be. This will carry the weight, hold the position while you screw the carcass to the wall.

I've seen dozens and dozens of French Cleat videos over the years. This is the first one ever to explain how to find the middle of a board for an angled rip cut. Before, I've measured and marked the middle, then used my speed square to find the 45° intersection, and fudged around with my fence for the cut. This formula is so much quicker and easier.

"Oh, why would I want to watch a woodworking video..." "Okay, that is literally the best thing I have seen all day. :like:"

I like to trim the point off the cleat, just a couple mm, helps the cleat lock in tighter. The small imperfections in the wall can prevent it from sitting all the way into the cleat otherwise.

This is one of the best carpentry channels on the internet. No stupid fluff just well presented information, explained simply and completely. Thanks so much!

Wow!!! First video on you tube to actually tell you how to cut a cleat down the middle. Thank you so much.

I've been using french cleats for decades and the method continues to be my favorite way to hang cabinets. Don't be afraid to shim the wall cleat out from low spots in the wall surface. This will make hanging and joining multiple boxes much easier. A trick I use is to stretch a string line along a very long cleat to ensure it's nice and straight. Additionally, there are commercially available extruded aluminum cleat systems that have a much thinner profile. The aluminum cleats are used in commercial applications and are great problem solvers, especially in metal stud framed walls. Next time you're on an elevator that has nice interior panels, take a close look at the edge of the panel as the door opens, and you'll see it. Great job, Stumpy!

I have twenty year-old cabinets in my laundry room that are falling apart that I have been avoiding replacing because of the installation. NOW I know what I am going to do. Thank you SO much

As always clear and simple advice with no nonsense and all the relevant information. Many people may know but fewer seem able to teach and that is a skill worth it’s weight. Thanks bro.

That calculation for splitting a bevel cut down the center is super useful

This is golden content. I will never do wall mounting the same again.

I work in construction, many times we have taken down old cabinets and installed new ones for our clients. What I’ve noticed is the millworkers will use 3” strips of plywood without the bevel more than they use the bevel style. It still holds them in place so they can be screwed but I personally would trust the stability of the bevel style. The one benefit of using the non-bevel cleat is to have the cabinets all the way flush to the ceiling.

The French are genius! We Cajuns tried to introduce a similar system using our expertise for crafting things out of whatever is available. However, it turns out baguettes don't hold much weight beyond fried oysters and some condiments... but I digress. Great video James! Keep 'em coming!

If I watch enough of these videos, I may graduate beyond the point of using just a drill, a jigsaw and a radial handsaw. Seems tempting!

As someone who has been hemming and hawing about how to hang my cabinets, this video has come to the rescue!

From a carpentry perspective, even when installing high end custom cabinetry which is dead flat and square, often the buildings surfaces are not square, level, plumb, or flat. French cleats may get you part of the way, but make shimming and tweaking surfaces that much more difficult. Especially in historic homes which have lath and plaster wall coverings, and where custom trim panels and covers are used to scribe the imperfections in the walls. Thank you for the great overview video, great reminder to use these where possible.

I had always thought the French cleats were a Shaker thing. How they mounted their huge wardrobes on either side of the large hallways in the classic shaker houses. They build everything to last and be secure. Well used, French cleats allow change while being secure. A French cleat around a room allows you to hang paintings and make cabinets and shelves safe from tipping over.

I'm always impressed with the fluency of delivery that James Hamilton possesses. Never an 'um' or an 'ah', just perfect clarity of message and the message always worth hearing.

As a professional framer, I have used this method to hang large mirrors for many many years. It's the only way to be safe.

I love french cleats. I used them for the floating bookshelves in my daughter’s room and the floating headboard in our master bedroom.

James you really are the number one woodworking channel for genuinely useful information lately. You have changed my approach to multiple workshop functions in a highly positive way. You are what we Kiwis describe as 'good value'. Even if you still use rods, palms, cubits to measure stuff. 13/64ths of a furlong @ 21 groats per league, worked out on a slide rule, is so yesteryear.

You are an excellent steward of the wood working teacher role

Finishing our kitchen remodel. Never felt confident in how the previous owners mounted the cabinets with the 'ol screw through the back. This new magical way of mounting is going to have to happen.

Just discovered this use for french cleats a couple weeks ago installing cabinets build by a shop in Florida. Was truely a lightbulb moment when I realized what a game changer it really was for me

I install overhead bins and cabinets on walls everyday in the office furniture field. Cleats are mandatory. Our rule is minimum we hit at least 2 studs plus 3 X 250 lbs wall anchors per cleat. That way the only way the cabinet can ever come off the wall is if the actual wall / drywall fails.

Thanks for that simple formula for ripping a board down the middle with a 45 degree bevel!

My first encounter with French cleats was in museums. I used to work with exhibit designers, and they would often specify French cleats to hang heavy display cabinets and artifacts on exhibit walls. Not only were they sturdy, but they allowed the exhibits to be removed easily for cleaning, updating, or to access wiring and other utilities hidden in the wall. It's no wonder French cleats are so popular. They're really versatile.

*An unmentioned benefit of this* - I was trying to figure out the best way to hang some old 3' by 3' cabinets strong enough that they wouldn't fall apart or pull from the wall when I loaded them up. I was already going to run a 2x3 under the cabinets to take almost all of the vertical weight, but needed a way to keep them from tilting forward - a cleat at the top, 1 ft. down, and 2 ft. down, held with 2 screws per cabinet side (12 screws per cabinet), and 2 more screws per cabinet to the wall to keep them from getting bumped up, will be more than strong enough, and a lot easier than anything else I was considering.

I have reached the end of every Stumpy Nubs video and found myself compelled to give it a thumbs up rating. Now I know that there are multiple ways to do nearly everything, but James Hamilton ALWAYS pick a fine solution to the problem being addressed and shares it so very well.

We had a house built in 1953 with metal kitchen cabinets. There were hung using this technique but with metal plates screwed to the wall. I'd never imagined such a thing but does seem brilliant.

Best French fleet video on KZfaq

Just when I was getting ready to build some cabinets for my shop this video pops up. I have been on the fence about how I'm going to mount them to the wall and now I know exactly what I'll use! The French cleat system is amazing and this video was very informative. I thank you very much for doing it Stumpy! The tip about being able to rip a board exactly in half for a French cleat is definitely a gold nugget!! Thank you again sir!!

I've watched a lot of cabinetry construction and cabinetry installation videos. I've never seen one where they used French Cleats and always wondered why. I thought I may have been overstating the capabilities of French Cleats. Thanks for the information, as always, James.

Ive been working in the cabinet industry (both commercial and residential) for 7 years. I have never hung a cabinet without French cleat. They are such a life saver when it comes to heavy particle board and laminate cabinets. The best thing we have done to hide the French cleat was to dado a ¼" groove ¾" from the back on the inside of the sides and bottom of the cabinet. Slide a ¼" piece plywood of your choice as a backing. Insert cleat between sides of the cabinet with a notch under like shown in this video. No notch for the finished ends, butting right up to cleat on the wall.

This is the first I heard of French Cleats. Wow! Not only useful, it is in my skill level. And my wife has a cabinet she wants to hang. Thank you.

I've used French Cleats and come to the conclusion that ideally the acute angle of the bevel should less than forty-five degrees. Forty or 35 provides a longer friction surface on the bevel and there times - I built a rack for hammers - that the extra works very well. Even with a spacer, the weight of the hammers in the rack caused it to actually "climb" out of position. Believe, there's nothing like a rack full of hammers falling on you to lead to serious thought about the design.

I love French cleats and I use them all the time and didn't think that this video would teach me anything. I'm glad I watched. Even if I don't use anything directly from it, it's getting me to think outside of the box a little bit which is equally as useful to me. Good stuff as usual 👍🏾. This is coming from Grenada, West Indies btw.

I.... cannot believe I've never heard of these before.... Time to redo all my wall space in my shop and shed with these cleats.

I have a very large, and extremely heavy, framed mirror. I've been nervous each time I hung it, because the typical drywall anchors eventually started to work their way out. We're in a new house and I was racking my brain about how to mount it, when I remembered having seen this video a while back and eureka! Thanks for the rescue!

When I moved into my house 8 years ago I put french cleats on two entire walls. It's been fantastic. On the opposite wall I hung two large cabinets that hold a lot of weight. Works great as well. Go Cleats!

I got a massive blackboard for doing my math masters, and I spent weeks trying to figure out how to put it on the wall. I ended up using some Z-bar, but now I know what this mounting style is called. Thanks!

In general, hanging anything heavy on drywall will benefit from a single strip of 1/2" or 3/4" wood in the back. The use of French Cleats is really nicely shown here.

Finding the true center of the board to cut the bezel was slick, all this time I have been marking it and eyeballing the blade point of contact. Subbed just for that.

I had no idea there was any other way to hang a cabinet. How would the whole "hold 'er up, I'm tryin' to get 'er level" thing work? Seems like a good way to start a fight

I remodeled some shop cabinet system using French cleats a few years ago. And you are right! Very few (I found none at the time) mentioned the gap or ways to deal with it. After a few mishaps and problems I added the bottom spacer you showed now. Much better results. You have probably saved someone else from picking up his items from the floor. Thanks

The best way to hang cabinets. So many advantages. Easy to run wiring for under cabinet lights.

You save my day in the retrofit of some old kitchen cabinets. Thanks buddy.

Great technique, I've been using this for years installing cabinets and things like large framed mirrors etc. I think I got it from Norm Abrams.

Great video. The most sincere complement…. I was disappointed when it ended! Thanks again for useful information that I will use!!

Dude. Listen. I just want you to know I think your content and delivery are both absolutely spectacular. You ROCK. Keep it up.

I started my apprenticeship in the early 70's. I was given the task of demoing a floor in a high rise in Calgary. I started and was shortly introduced to French cleats. Thank you, Patella Millwork. Guess how long I've been using employing FC..

Hello James, I just want to say thank you for these amazing contests. I'm a new woodworker myself and really helped by your channel 👍👍 Keep up the awesome work!

Always fun seeing my French cleat wall make a cameo in other videos!

Thank you, Mr Nubs, sir. A gold star from NZ.

A needed a french cleat once to hang a heavy mirror. I'm wood-working-challenged, so while at the big box store, I had great idea: Shiplap! I bought one piece, cut it in half, and used it as a french cleat! Worked like a charm.

I used French cleats to hang a murphy computer desk in my room just the other day. It makes hanging things up on the wall just so much easier.

I've always hung cabinets with French cleats. I wonder about the sanity of those that don't use them.

As a professional cabinet maker I would dado in my back panels 3/4” in from the back of the cabinet to hide my construction rails. When doing wall cabinets I just simply replaced the top constitution rail with a 45 mitered rail for use as a dovetail cleat. Then I would include an additional dovetail rail 3/4” shorter in length to mount on the wall. ( the 3/4” difference is to allow the cabinet to be shifted side to side on the wall allowing for a better fit.) Pro tip: One simple screw thru the back panel into the cleat mounted on the wall will lock the cabinet into place and keep it from shifting and coming off the wall. Perfect for use with small light cabinets in high traffic areas.

Lots of Europeans when moving take their cabinets with them as we take our couches and chairs. This makes it easy.

Oh whoa, I only knew about French cleats for cabinets haha - I love this cleat wall idea

When making kitchen wall cabinets I cut the mating shape into the 2 sides of the cabinet. This is incredibly strong, the strongest way I can think of hanging wall cabs

I used French Cleats to hang my cabinets in my workshop months ago. Pretty cool seeing this video now.

For Christmas I received a nice piece of art. I instantly knew this is how I would put it on the wall.

The strip at the bottom is good. It gives you the channe to shape it with with a belt sander, to make it conform perfectly to the wall with no gaps.

Absolutely love the computer setup at 2:22

In the 90s I worked for a cabinet company and that was the way we hung all of our upper cabinets. Most of what we did was the office laminate-type cabinets but we did do some wood veneered cabinets. One time I was loading a solid wood door onto our truck and dropped it. It hit right on the corner and smashed a good inch of that stained finished door in. Thankfully our finish guy was able to fix it like new and I didn't have to pay for a door. Anyway, back to the French cleat topic. In the field, the installers would use liquid nails then the cleat and screw it into the wall.

I have a kitchen where no surface is flat and level ... I have despaired of ever getting a fitted kitchen that is not all out of square ... now I think I see a way! Thank you, sir.

I used to install art at large museum and we used french cleats for all kinds of things, even large sculptures!

This is the Best Explanation of not only how to make and use French Cleats, but also how to rip them! Stumpy Nubs Is THE BEST!!!!

I recently hung (hanged?) a floating media cabinet with a French cleat. They're dead useful.

I never thought of this hanging method. What a great idea! Thank you.

half its width and half its thickness... so simple and yet would save me a profound amount of time and head scratching!

What an excellent video! I began woodworking back in the early 70's. Later, in the 80's I got a job that required a lot of travel. My love of cabinetmaking had me admiring different kinds of furniture on the road. My first exposure with the French Cleat system came from the way hotels hung headboards for their beds.

This is so powerful. There are basically limitless applications for this. Now if only I was actually a wood worker/carpenter.

Cleats, toast, and kissing. The French have brought us so much!

Build commercial cabinets, we only use french cleats! Great information! Also, GO REDWINGS!!!!

I could listen to this guy's voice all day

This man is a national treasure. Keep posting fantastic videos, and I’ll keep watching.

I clicked for the lulz in the title and stayed for the great piece of info. Thank you!

We was taught this in highschool back in teh early 80s in woodshop class. But our teacher called them a French bracket So i have been using them now for over 37 years it sure makes it easy to hang things even photos.

i like how these videos get STRAIGHT TO THE POINT efficiency 100%

You can buy aluminum French cleat material that is only 1/4" thick which helps get around any gap issues when using 3/4 ply. They're plenty strong for hanging cabinets. I have a concrete and walnut headboard that's probably 400lbs that is hung on aluminum cleats. The biggest issue with using cleats for cabinet installation is that it doesnt really allow you to properly level a cabinet if the wall is out of plumb. If the wall is leaning out at the top, you can't easily shim behind it to get it back to plumb. If the wall is twisted, the cabinets will follow that shape which can lead to door alignment and adjustment issues. Besides tool walls, imo, the best use for French cleats is on things like large artwork or framed, heavy mirrors where screwing the item itself to the wall isn't an option. French cleats have their place, but it would never be my go-to choice for nice cabinetry. Ymmv.

The trick for cutting down the middle is one I’ll use in the future for sure. Thanks!

Subtract half the width and held the thickness -Brilliant!

your concise clarity and accuracy with language always impresses me

I made a flatscreen wall mount out of scrap i had laying around using french cleats. Easy project that saved me a little dough

I only discovered these because in breaking down an old shelf at my work I saw how they mounted it with a cleat. I built several shelves for my finished garage wall, and did as you showed in one example here. I inset the cleat flush into the back of the shelf (a slightly narrower cleat on the wall) so when it hung it was perfectly flush. Never considered doing it another way actually, LOL! The only thing I didn’t know how to do was rip the cleat board at 45 degrees perfectly in half, so only eyeballed it to get it close. This formula (1/2 width, 1/2 thickness from board width) is very helpful for next time I rip with a bevel, thanks!

Nice topic. 2:30 The obvious & much used method is to move the backpanel inward [the thickness of the cleat] to make room for the cleat to slot into the back of the cabinet. Now attach the matching half to the wall, without the need for spacers.

This dude is like the Engineering Guy of woodworking

Lot's of good advice. All of them are simple common sense, yet very effective.

It never occurred to me to use plywood! Thanks!

I didn’t even know these things existed, now I think my world has just changed 🤯🥳 thank you :)

I had a client with two large hardwood framed mirrors to hang. They weighed a ton! Ripping two sets of hardwood cleats made short work of the situation, along with some heavy gauge screws.

The OG Woodworker Norm Abram used french cleats hidden in a rabbet joint that also strengthened the cabinet when the back was installed. I have build all my garage cabinets this way. Search for the episode of New Yankee Workshop when he made custom garage cabinets. The design is ingenious.

I live in a very old house. Several of the original horse hair plaster walls have survived, but at one time the house was moved so nothing is square, plumb, level or flat any more. French cleats are excellent for this situation as it is also much easier to shim the cleat than to shim the whole cabinet (just as levelling is easier as mentioned in the video).

I was considering using a French cleat to hang a cabinet in my office just a few days ago, and after watching this video, I will be using that method for sure. I didn't know what it was called, but I should have realized that there was a pre-existing method. Funny how the right information can come along at just the right time.

That's such a simple and useful middle finding trick. Thank you!

You are the master of pointing the most obvious and simple stuff in a really useful and pleasant way