Build your own "slatwall"

[darwyn]

Technically this is not a slotwall I guess, but it performs the same function. I pilfered the idea from a home improvement magazine years ago, thought I would share it here. First I will show some pics of my setup, then give you the specs to build your own.

Here is a shot of part of my setup showing how I have various garden tools, gas cans, etc. organized:

IMG_20130520_171222_467

Here is a box, with a hook on the front, that I use to store my ladder and all of the accessories. Underneath it, where the white string is at, is another shelf I made by cutting a piece of PVC in half. I use it to throw tape rolls in.


IMG_20130520_171255_962

Sorry I didn't get better pics, a herniated disc means I am not going to lifting that ladder for a while.

The whole setup is strips of 3/4 plywood spaced out from the wall, and hangars which fit into the space:

IMG_20130520_171419_213

Here is a closeup of one of the hangars:


IMG_20130520_171451_045

Notice the piece of painters tape, I put that between the aluminum and the plywood so the hangar would slide into the wall easily. Without the painters tape I had to hammer them in.

I just made a bunch of hangars: when I needed to store something I made my storage device and attached to a ready made hangar. Sometimes a simple shelf, for the gas cans, some hangars from Lowe's fro the snow shovel, a small piece of left over pegboard for small implements, etc.

You could paint them to make them look better, mine is thrown together from scraps I had lying about. The next post will show some dimensions.

 

[darwyn]

Here are some diagrams that hopefully will explain how to make your slats and hangars if you're interested.


slat wall

Here are the dimensions. I think on the next go around I might use wider aluminum stock and make the depth of the aluminum on the hangar closer to 1.25" instead of 3/4". I will say the setup has held up well to having a full 5 gallon gas can on that one shelf.


slat wall dimensions

Oops, forgot, the hangars are 3" wide.

 

[kar298]

you could use French cleats which is a little easier to make.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

^^^ French cleats would be simpler, cheaper, and more positive for mounting. Simple 1x4's with a 45 degree bevel on the top mounted to the wall directly, no offsets / spacers needed.

That said, I have never seen anyone actually use such in person.

 

[OldNeons]

Unless you have a whole lot of time on your hands, slat wall is cheap and there are infinite numbers of accessory products available. New around $30 a sheet and used for less of course. Easily repainted to look great too. Not knocking your work, just throwing it out there.

 

[darwyn]

Slat wall prices must have dropped, when I looked at the stuff years ago it was ridiculously expensive. I wouldn't think a French cleat would work for some of this, I've only seen them used for mounting kitchen cabinets, which are then fastened to the wall. I would think that the 3" tall shelf with the 5 gallon gas can would pull a French cleat off?

 

[GGB]

I agree with darwyn in suggesting that just using one point would not be a good idea.The trick to using French Cleats for heavier objects is to make a longer hanger with cleats on both ends to secure it on both the top and lower wall slats. When you lengthen the bracket to hook on both the higher and lower slats, you gain strength.

I recently used a French Cleat system to hang bookcases, and was really pleased with how well they worked. It made it possible for me to easily hang each section by myself. Now I'm getting ready to redo my barn and will use French Cleats in several places. Just a really simple hanging system that gives me a lot of flexibility to change as needed down the road.

GGB

 

[Rewind97]

I might try something like this. I need a place to hang all my yard tools (shovels, rakes, axe, etc.) Right now they stand in a corner and the one I need is always in the back of the pile.

Question........How do you attatch, say, a shovel to the slatwall?

 

[Joe Reed]

French cleats can hold a LOT of weight, provided they are properly fastened to the studs. Years ago I was given a desk that was simply a roll top desk top about 3 feet wide and extended about 2 feet from the wall...with a drawer underneath. It hung on the wall using a french cleat that was lagged into a couple of studs. That thing was solid as a rock....

 

[elm_street]

Question........How do you attatch, say, a shovel to the slatwall?

You make one of the hangers as pictured in the first post (that one with the two pieces of plywood and a piece of aluminum on the back) and then you put some screws or nails or dowels or a store-bought hook on the other side. You can also get creative and make a hook out of wood that holds your tools exactly how you want them. Do a search on YouTube for french cleat and you will find lots of examples.

 

[darwyn]

French cleats can hold a LOT of weight, provided they are properly fastened to the studs. Years ago I was given a desk that was simply a roll top desk top about 3 feet wide and extended about 2 feet from the wall...with a drawer underneath. It hung on the wall using a french cleat that was lagged into a couple of studs. That thing was solid as a rock....

Yup, I can see it if the object is tall enough. I'm going to get the opportunity to install a new system soon, and will have to look at French cleats more closely. Did a little bit of research, and there are some nice looking garages out there using French cleat walls.

Honestly, with a table saw and a chop saw, either one can be made pretty darn quick. That whole setup, shelves and all, is just a few hours investment.

How would the French cleats perform with say just a hook for a shovel? Seems like if you didn't fasten it directly to the wall, taking the shovel on and off the hook would unseat it?

 

[elm_street]

How would the French cleats perform with say just a hook for a shovel? Seems like if you didn't fasten it directly to the wall, taking the shovel on and off the hook would unseat it?

The hanger part of the french cleat system has to look a lot like the hanger you made except without the aluminum part and with the shorter piece of plywood cut at a 45 degree angle (with the short side of the 45 against the longer piece of plywood). So the longer piece of plywood prevents the whole cleat from tipping forward off the wall. Also even if the cleat does lift off a little bit when taking something off as long as it doesn't lift more than an inch or so the hanger will just drop back onto the cleat attached to the wall. I think the hanger doesn't actually more that much though, there is enough friction between the actual 45 degree cut and the longer plywood piece of the hanger to keep the hanger on the wall.

 

[smedly]

Here is how I addressed the cleat falling off issue. Gotta wiggle them on just right, but they will not fall off. I have quite a few without the bottom block and they don't fall off unless you are completely ham fisted in getting the item off the hook.

 

[GGB]

Thanks smedly for this picture-I'd seen this design before but had forgotten about it. I'll try to remember it for the barn redo project.

GGB

 

[Rewind97]

Here is how I addressed the cleat falling off issue. Gotta wiggle them on just right, but they will not fall off. I have quite a few without the bottom block and they don't fall off unless you are completely ham fisted in getting the item off the hook.

Great idea!!!!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I see a few damn good ideas here. I like the OPs but I think it might be a bit more labor intensive to build than a french cleat. The "modified" french cleat with the block on the bottom is one of those

 

[Big-Foot]

Nice job Smedly!!!!

Thanks for sharing. This looks like a very secure alternative!

 

[darwyn]

Have to say I am liking the simplicity of Smedly's approach!

 

[smedly]

Thx! In my thread I have more shots of the cleats and holders I made. I may have gone overboard, but the ideas kept coming and I had the parts.

My first plan was to do the op's idea as that did look more secure, but cost and my laziness prevented it.

 

[Regnar]

For those that are wondering how it can look and how to make here is a article by Family Handyman.

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-P...rage/customizable-garage-storage/Step-By-Step

 

[mike_81]

For shovels and other yard tools a couple 2x4's and some 5" nails do the trick.

 

[skiingman]

^^^ French cleats would be simpler, cheaper, and more positive for mounting. Simple 1x4's with a 45 degree bevel on the top mounted to the wall directly, no offsets / spacers needed.

That said, I have never seen anyone actually use such in person.

I was at a ~4000 square foot tile store recently where all of the sample boards were retained to the wall with French cleats. It was a nice and elegant solution.

 

[05r50]

I used French cleats on my wall hung cabinets in my shop. Very sturdy. Been up there about 7 years.

Only the mounting rail is attached to the wall. The cabinets have a mating cleat at the top and just ride on the lower cleat. Any time I want to re-configure I can just pick up the cabinet off the rail and move it.

Also did the same with holder for woodworking clamps.

Only expense was the costs of some 1x4's.

 

[darwyn]

For those that are wondering how it can look

My first reaction was hey wait a minute! Then I looked at the article, that is some nice work there!

 

[NUTTSGT]

For those that are wondering how it can look and how to make here is a article by Family Handyman.

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-P...rage/customizable-garage-storage/Step-By-Step

Those open wood tool boxes on a french cleat system, pretty dam slick.

 

[burtonry]

Here's my french cleat wall http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=429287#post429287 post #5. I installed it 4 years ago and never had one fail. The possibilities are endless with this kind of setup.

 

[Regnar]

My first reaction was hey wait a minute! Then I looked at the article, that is some nice work there!

It was by no means meant to be disrespectful, but now that I re read my post I sound like and ***. Meant to say what a whole wall would look like.

 

[mike_81]

Here's my french cleat wall http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=429287#post429287 post #5. I installed it 4 years ago and never had one fail. The possibilities are endless with this kind of setup.

I'm totally using this. thanks!!

 

[Beowulf]

I'm thinking about taking this idea a step further. How about drilling out the bottom block and insterting a bolt. Once you have the cleat where you want it just tighten the bolt so it pulls the top portion down and would make it extremely hard for it to be accidentally ripped off.