french

Cleat

A strip fastened to one part to hold it in place or to facilitate the fastening of another part. Examples: cleats on the inside of a blanket chest used to hold a drop-in tray.

A variation of the cleat that woodworker’s tend to use a lot is the French Cleat. A French Cleat is essentially a system for hanging cabinets and fixtures, and is capable of handling a large amount of weight. On cleat is attached to the wall with a 45 degree bevel cut on the top edge (the bevel faces the wall. The other cleat is attached to the back of a cabinet or fixture in a way that allows the two cleats to nest together.

Resources:

• Learn how to make a French Cleat at New Woodworker.com
• An audio slideshow describing numerous ways to hang furniture, including the French Cleat.