- Messages
- 12,488
- Location
- Constantine, MI
I built this shelf for a client a while back
He wants another slightly larger and with a fourth tier.
Hanging a shelf is always a challenge. Ideally you want to have the shelf be able to hold more weight than it will ever be asked to, maintain level, and be flush and perpendicular to the wall. T-slots, eyes, and picture hooks all have their downside and rarely meet these requirements. French cleats do the trick, but having them work on small shelves can be a design/engineering challenge. This led me to this solution, an inset french cleat.
The design of this shelf, being two boards thick, allowed me to hollow out the back of the part that rests against the wall.
Into this hollow I glued a strip of maple with a 40 degree bevel. Shown here from the front of the shelf.
Now looking at the back of the shelf - The mating cleat is cut just wide enough to fit the remaining opening. I cut it a couple of inches short to allow some lateral adjustment when hung. So long as the client hangs the wall cleat level the shelf will meet all of the demands I listed.
He wants another slightly larger and with a fourth tier.
Hanging a shelf is always a challenge. Ideally you want to have the shelf be able to hold more weight than it will ever be asked to, maintain level, and be flush and perpendicular to the wall. T-slots, eyes, and picture hooks all have their downside and rarely meet these requirements. French cleats do the trick, but having them work on small shelves can be a design/engineering challenge. This led me to this solution, an inset french cleat.
The design of this shelf, being two boards thick, allowed me to hollow out the back of the part that rests against the wall.
Into this hollow I glued a strip of maple with a 40 degree bevel. Shown here from the front of the shelf.
Now looking at the back of the shelf - The mating cleat is cut just wide enough to fit the remaining opening. I cut it a couple of inches short to allow some lateral adjustment when hung. So long as the client hangs the wall cleat level the shelf will meet all of the demands I listed.
