Building a slat wall . . .

[Teken]

I am in the middle of doing the reno's in my new garage and quite honestly cannot afford the slat walls that are being sold.

The ones that are priced reasonable, the sellers will not ship to the 51st state (Canada) stupid pricks!

Anyways, I have decided to build, and design my own slat wall out of MDF. What I need to know is what is the router bit they are using to create the lip and edge of the slat wall.

As always I appreciate everyones contribution in my persuite of knowledge.

Regards

EVIL Teken . . .

 

[rieferman]

yikes, that's going to be a lot of work, possibly frustrating work to make it look great. Personally, I'd sacrifice the functionality of the slat wall system by just using different hangers that could be screwed to a painted plywood wall. I guess that's not that helpful sorry!

 

[Teken]

All I got is time, my man! I agree though if the first one comes out like **** I will go the route of hangers.

But, nothing good ever came easy . . .

 

[Jack Olsen]

Might make more sense to do it in pieces -- wider strip on top of narrower strip, in parallel rows.

Still, it's a little like drilling your own pegboard.

I'll give you the dissenting take on slatwall -- that it'll make your garage look like a yuppie bicycle shop from the 1980s.

(Full disclosure edit: I actually kind of like the look of slatwall -- but not enough to make my own.)

 

[porphyre]

Jack's on the right track.

1) Buy the type of hanger you will using so you'll know how big to make the slats.
2) Buy 1x4. Use a round-over type router bit on 2 corners.
3) Cut routed 1x4's to length
4) Build a drilling jig so the 1x4's are uniform.
5) Drill pilot holes using the jig
6) Attach 1x4's to a sheet of 3/8"-1/2" plywood at intervals as required by your chosen hangers.


OOOOR

Find someplace that's going out of business. I bought 5 sheets of 24"x60" for $6 each from a Blockbuster Video that was shutting down.

 

[Aberdale]

If you decide to move forward on making your own slatwall, you might want to reconsider using MDF. Although some of the commercially available slatwall is MDF, it's not all that strong and will get even weaker if not kept in a climate controlled environment (like the store at the mall.) If your garage space is not heated, and gets condensation as the climate changes, MDF will get weak and break out.

Jack's idea of making your own by stacking a wide piece on top a narrow piece is a good idea, and won't require a bunch of routing/machining. If you are going to go through the trouble, why not stack a piece of 1/8" X 3" aluminum bar stock over a 3/4" pine strip could look awesome and be pretty darn strong too.

Dale

 

[Topper]

Lets see if I can do this right as it is my first post. Been lurking for some time and just reading and viewing. Some amazing places here.

Check out rockler.com they have a router bit to make slat wall. These have 1/2" shank on them so you need the appropiate router. Their part number is 22602. Try this link and see if it gets you to the right page. Don't know if they can ship to you or not.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11061

 

[UncleJoe]

I read about a guy that did it once and if I can find the article I will post a link. He had to route each grove twice once with a straight bit and once with a T bit.

I might rip some 1/4 ply 3 inches wide and some 1/2 4 inches and glue and screw them to the wall. If you stack the 1/4 on the wall fisrt and then the 1/2 with a half inch gap you would have the beginnings of a slat wall

 

[Teken]

Lets see if I can do this right as it is my first post. Been lurking for some time and just reading and viewing. Some amazing places here.

Check out rockler.com they have a router bit to make slat wall. These have 1/2" shank on them so you need the appropiate router. Their part number is 22602. Try this link and see if it gets you to the right page. Don't know if they can ship to you or not.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11061

First post, and what does he bring? Knowledge, links, and information!

Each and everyone of you, thanks . . . I will have to consider all of the above to balance costs, and benefit . . .

I was not aware that MDF would deform in cold weather . . .

Perhaps what Jack has suggested along with the other GJ member of using some metal bar could work out better?

Hrmmmmmmmmmmmm options, options . . .

 

[Corvette Cave]

DIY


http://lumberjocks.com/Chipncut/blog/8690

 

[erda]

How about a cleat system? Some people refer to them as "French Cleats". Very common for hanging cabinets.
Where in Canada? There are at least a couple of garage specialty stores in Cowtown that sell slat wall.

 

[boiler7904]

I'm planning to use this system on a couple of walls in my garage:

American Woodworker Garage Organization

 

[Teken]

I'm planning to use this system on a couple of walls in my garage:

American Woodworker Garage Organization

Boiler,

Thank you that is amazing, and simple at the same time. The other link provided above has also given me other idea's as well.

Keep bringing in those idea's, this project might get done this week end now with these very simple idea's.

 

[rsanter]

DIY


http://lumberjocks.com/Chipncut/blog/8690

now I like this idea

bob

 

[rieferman]

wow, that american woodworkers link is amazing. that really got my gears going.