Trying to use dead space

PapaBuilds · Thursday at 3:24 PM

I have a small 2 car garage work shop, I do a bit of everything so I'm trying to make full use of every inch for storage and infrastructure. I decided to put a french cleat wall next to the stairs so it wasn't just dead space.

I'm trying to hang mostly shallow/ thin things on it so it doesn't choke up the walk way and annoy us (my wife especially). I've whipped up just a few tool holders today.

To save 3/4 of an inch of stick out, I'm mounting the holders and brackets directly to the french cleats and using a locking block pressed in above it to keep them from shearing/popping out. I'll update with another picture of it when its full!

OccupantRJ · Thursday at 3:59 PM

Good idea on the stickout. Every bit counts in that arm rubbing situation. Skin wife's arm and she might skin your ***!

Codyboy · Thursday at 4:01 PM

Is the notched / angle suppose to go on top or bottom like you have it?
What keeps it from pulling the bracket / hanger away?

PapaBuilds · Thursday at 4:38 PM

Codyboy said:
Is the notched / angle suppose to go on top or bottom like you have it?
What keeps it from pulling the bracket / hanger away?

I don't know how familiar you are with french cleats but the two 45 degree angles meet when you slide a holder in, so down. It holds snugly and you have to lift it up to remove it. The locking block I put on top prevents it from raising at all so it can't slide out.

captain14 · Thursday at 7:22 PM

Great space saving idea.

PapaBuilds · Thursday at 7:32 PM

OccupantRJ said:
Good idea on the stickout. Every bit counts in that arm rubbing situation. Skin wife's arm and she might skin your ***!

That was my main concern!

PCustoms · Thursday at 8:22 PM

PapaBuilds said:
To save 3/4 of an inch of stick out, I'm mounting the holders and brackets directly to the french cleats and using a locking block pressed in above it to keep them from shearing/popping out. I'll update with another picture of it when its full!

I really don't see how that locks anything in place.

Can't your "locking block" just pop up/out?

PapaBuilds · Thursday at 8:49 PM

PCustoms said:
I really don't see how that locks anything in place.

Can't your "locking block" just pop up/out?

You would think, but I cranked on it pretty hard. It ain't coming out. Besides, it's light duty. I don't need it to hold 1000 lbs.

PapaBuilds · Thursday at 8:52 PM

PCustoms said:
I really don't see how that locks anything in place.

Can't your "locking block" just pop up/out?

Also the 45 degree cleats are fitted together, these photos may help.

PCustoms · Thursday at 8:59 PM

PapaBuilds said:
Also the 45 degree cleats are fitted together, these photos may help.

Much better.

Before the bottom of the top clear looked to be cut 45 as well, which just seemed prone to popping out

This one looks like a 3/4x3/4 block jammed in square, makes more sense

driftpin · Friday at 8:26 AM

I like your idea, and second the attempt to prevent the wife from barking her elbows on whatever's hanging.

I have Whirlpool Corp./Gladiator french cleats I got w/welded wall-mount cabinets. I just screwed the 12" deep steel cabinets to the CBS wall using tapcons and fender washers. Above the 2' x 8' workbench, w/a 3/16" steel top above a 3/4" plywood cabinet top, I mounted the french cleats to hold a variety of tools including cordless tools battery chargers.

CraigStu · Friday at 8:45 AM

To keep bare arms from getting abraded I think I'd get a can of this or similar and brush it on all the outer edges of shelves, brackets etc

Robot or human?

Ooops, get the yellow version.

PopcornSutton · Friday at 8:53 AM

Those cleats are used often. Most cabinet makers, for commercial use at least, use them to hang the wall units. Makes installation quick and easy. There is also a similar product used in retail stores, the cleats cover the display walls and many types of hangers are available to fit them. Kinda like peg board, many things fit peg board.

PapaBuilds · Friday at 9:24 AM

driftpin said:
I like your idea, and second the attempt to prevent the wife from barking her elbows on whatever's hanging.

I have Whirlpool Corp./Gladiator french cleats I got w/welded wall-mount cabinets. I just screwed the 12" deep steel cabinets to the CBS wall using tapcons and fender washers. Above the 2' x 8' workbench, w/a 3/16" steel top above a 3/4" plywood cabinet top, I mounted the french cleats to hold a variety of tools including cordless tools battery chargers.

Nice, and love your garage set up

PapaBuilds · Friday at 9:25 AM

CraigStu said:
To keep bare arms from getting abraded I think I'd get a can of this or similar and brush it on all the outer edges of shelves, brackets etc

Robot or human?
Ooops, get the yellow version.

Good idea

alwaysFlOoReD · Friday at 9:44 AM

The cleats installed upside down would work too. At least in my head...

PapaBuilds · Friday at 9:48 AM

alwaysFlOoReD said:
The cleats installed upside down would work too. At least in my head...

Hey, give it a shot and let us know how it goes!

Lorydr · Friday at 10:16 AM

A couple years ago I had get some space back to actually park a car, so the walls got filled up. Not shown are the summer chairs that would be hanging over other folding chairs. Now almost all the clutter is hanging on walls or shelves.

PapaBuilds · Friday at 10:32 AM

Lorydr said:
A couple years ago I had get some space back to actually park a car, so the walls got filled up. Not shown are the summer chairs that would be hanging over other folding chairs. Now almost all the clutter is hanging on walls or shelves.

Very nice!

Codyboy · Friday at 1:23 PM

PapaBuilds said:
I don't know how familiar you are with french cleats but the two 45 degree angles meet when you slide a holder in, so down. It holds snugly and you have to lift it up to remove it. The locking block I put on top prevents it from raising at all so it can't slide out.

Not familiar at all really.
Just looking at the geometric shapes working together it seems it's all upside down.

If the angle were at the top it would eliminate the locking blocks. The weight would sit on the squared edge(bottom) and act as a kicker.
The angle on top would in no way be able to pop out until the wood broke.
However I can see with my idea if the fit was tight enough but with just a little slack , then they would have to slide in from the ends.

But if it is working for you good job! More ways to hang stuff is always good!

PapaBuilds · Friday at 1:25 PM

Codyboy said:
Not familiar at all really.
Just looking at the geometric shapes working together it seems it's all upside down.

If the angle were at the top it would eliminate the locking blocks. The weight would sit on the squared edge(bottom) and act as a kicker.
The angle on top would in no way be able to pop out until the wood broke.
However I can see with my idea if the fit was tight enough but with just a little slack , then they would have to slide in from the ends.

But if it is working for you good job! More ways to hang stuff is always good!

True, there's more than one way to skin a cat

Beerhippie · Friday at 5:05 PM

Lorydr said:
to actually park a car,

Park a car in a garage? Talk about a waste of space!

PapaBuilds · Friday at 6:04 PM

Beerhippie said:
Park a car? In a garage? Talk about a waste of space!

Yeah thankfully my wife has never even attempted to bring up the horrid idea!

firebirdparts · 2026-06-20T07:23:48-0400

PapaBuilds said:
To save 3/4 of an inch of stick out, I'm mounting the holders and brackets directly to the french cleats and using a locking block pressed in above it to keep them from shearing/popping out. I'll update with another picture of it when its full!

Good idea. If somebody wanted to copy that, I think could be made more secure, but it would be a lot more work. Probably pretty strong as it is.

Upside down cleats is also a good idea here.

Smilodon · 2026-06-20T12:35:05-0400

driftpin said:
I like your idea, and second the attempt to prevent the wife from barking her elbows on whatever's hanging.

I have Whirlpool Corp./Gladiator french cleats I got w/welded wall-mount cabinets. I just screwed the 12" deep steel cabinets to the CBS wall using tapcons and fender washers. Above the 2' x 8' workbench, w/a 3/16" steel top above a 3/4" plywood cabinet top, I mounted the french cleats to hold a variety of tools including cordless tools battery chargers.

I'm for overkill as much as the next guy, but don't you think that lift for the bicycle is a bit much? :lol2:

Smilodon · 2026-06-20T12:36:02-0400

I still question the logic of having steps on "Ordinance Road". Sounds like a potentially explosive situation!

PapaBuilds · 2026-06-20T13:15:32-0400

That's what I have this hanging up for!

Beerhippie · 2026-06-20T13:33:10-0400

Smilodon said:
I still question the logic of having steps on "Ordinance Road". Sounds like a potentially explosive situation!

I used to be terrified of escalators. Then I found out there are steps you can take.

mm08822 · 2026-06-20T13:49:53-0400

PCustoms said:
I really don't see how that locks anything in place.

Can't your "locking block" just pop up/out?

I would think a 45 on the underside of the upper cleats and matching angle on the bracket would be needed.
Then maybe a shim under the bracket on the lower cleat.

mm08822 · 2026-06-20T13:51:03-0400

Radius the cut edges of each bracket also.

Beerhippie · 2026-06-20T15:13:58-0400

mm08822 said:
Radius the cut edges of each bracket also.

It's funny how being older and somewhat thin-skinned makes me a bit obsessive about easing edges on everything.

PCustoms · 2026-06-20T15:30:11-0400

Here's how I did mine:

Cleats are 12" vertical spacing IIRC, 12' along the upper half of the wall. I make these mounts and then screw shelves, hooks or brackets to them and I can move everything around on the fly.

PapaBuilds · 2026-06-20T15:32:43-0400

mm08822 said:
Radius the cut edges of each bracket also.

I knocked them down an 8th of an inch with my rasp, don't worry

Lorydr · 2026-06-20T18:24:37-0400

Beerhippie said:
Park a car in a garage? Talk about a waste of space!

If the weather is about a hailstorm, then I justify it. Otherwise I park in the driveway, but not before I drive on the parkway.

Beerhippie · 2026-06-20T19:36:04-0400

Lorydr said:
If the weather is about a hailstorm, then I justify it. Otherwise I park in the driveway, but not before I drive on the parkway.

There are still rigs on the roads hereabouts with scars from the Great Wallowa Hail Storm of... well, about ten years ago. Look like they've been thoroughly worked over with a ball-peen hammer. 1-2" hailstones and 100 mph winds. Megaburster event.

No one had time to move a rig into the garage.

Trying to use dead space

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