Tuesday 12 May 2015

Wall mounted Plane and Tool Cabinet - Part 9 - French cleat and hanging the cabinet

The methid of hanging the cabinet is to make use of the French cleat system. This is where a board has one edge ripped with a 45 degree angle. This board is fixed to the back of the cabinet and there is another board (again with an opposing 45 degree angle) fitted to the wall. The cabinet cleat then simply locks into the wall cleat.
As the cabinet full of tools could potential weigh 200 to 300 pounds both of the cleats need to be mounted firmly to the both the cabinet and the wall.

The wall in my shop is a combination of brick and concrete blocks. First of all I had to mount a vertical cleat to the brick work to make it up to the same level as the blockwork.
I used Rawlbolts (expanding sleeve wall bolts) to mount to the brickwork.


French cleat mounted to the wall
The lower board is not a cleat but
acts as a spacer for the bottom of the cabinet 

The cleats on the wall are made from 3/4" baltic birch ply.


I mounted the mating French cleat onto the rear of the cabinet using glue and screws from inside and outside for added security.
Cleat mounted on the rear of the cabinet

Finishing

Before I mounted the cabinet onto the wall I gave it many coats inside and out of Arm R Seal. The doors also got the same treatment.

Hanging

Then it was a simply matter of lifting the carcass without doors onto the wall cleat.
Carcass hung. The hinges were pre-fitted.
Note the electrical breaker panel above has sufficient
clearance for access.
I then added the doors.

Inner door closed

Cabinet open with drawers in place



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