French Cleat storage wall - GrandPa tribute.

[ktjones]

I was way too young to remember either of my GrandPa's. They both passed before I was 2. I recall from conversation how my Mom and Dad, Aunts and Uncles would remark how much I was like each of them. On Maternal side, GrandPa was a machinist. He was part of the team that built and then maintained the Atomic Clock / Cesium fountain clock in Boulder, Colo. On Paternal side, an Arkansas dirt farmer that eventually sold the land, bought a full service gas station in Monticello, Ark. My Dad kept as many of the tools from both, and passed them down to me (of the three kids and youngest, I was the only one mechanically interested / inclined). I remember my Dad telling me about one GrandPa's "wall". It was a french cleat wall he built by his workshop desk. He had all sorts of interesting ways to store things and keep things in easy reach, I am told. "Fast Forward" 50+ years, I have finally built my french cleat wall in the shop. Left side in 8'x8', right side is 4'x8'. 1/2" plywood screwed to drywall / studs, with the french cleat portions out of 3/4" birch. Less than $150 into it. I have arranged, rearranged as needed. I continue to build different shelves, hanging mechanisms, etc. I am really enjoying it. I keep telling my wife, there is so much room now, I need more tools to put on it!

KJ

[KRB]

That's awesome!!

Very nice and cool tribute to your Grand Pa!!

[JayB]

I love organization but I am not so good At it.

.....and God Bless America.

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by KRB

That's awesome!!

Very nice and cool tribute to your Grand Pa!!

Thank you! Really enjoying it! KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by JayB

I love organization but I am not so good At it.

.....and God Bless America.

Admittedly, I am not the best. However, with more and more things having a permanent home, I am getting better each week / project about putting things back 'home'. KJ

[Leverhunter]

Looks great ! Really impressive work.

[Hoggslayer]

Looks great. I wish I could bring myself to do that. I start off with good intentions, but usually end up with everything thrown in a pile on top of the workbench.

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by Leverhunter

Looks great ! Really impressive work.

Thanks, enjoyed it. I used Dad's Sears RAS for some of it. Fun to use those tools, brought back a flood of good memories working with my Dad.
He would say sometimes to my attention to detail: "Son, you aint bulidin' a pianny (piano)!"

KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by Hoggslayer

Looks great. I wish I could bring myself to do that. I start off with good intentions, but usually end up with everything thrown in a pile on top of the workbench.

That is where I was. With second son (16) now in the shop working with me, I HAD to organize! KJ

[flywise]

I sure wish i was organized like that. Very nice set up

[riverbowman]

Well, I'm officially inspired and know what my next project is. Nice work.

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by flywise

I sure wish i was organized like that. Very nice set up

Not showing ANYONE the other areas of the shop - STILL working those. Start small, I will get there, you can too! Or so I keep telling myself!
KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by riverbowman

Well, I'm officially inspired and know what my next project is. Nice work.

Riverbowman, you ought to get after it! The most time consuming part is ripping the 3/4" birch with this 45 degree cuts. Then, the sanding / painting. Worth it!
KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by flywise

I sure wish i was organized like that. Very nice set up

Thank you, flywise!
KJ

[mchildress]

Nice I like it.

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by mchildress

Nice I like it.

Thank you Mchildress.
KJ

[Paycheck]

Dang my wife saw this and now I have a honey do.

[Big Lee]

That turned out great!!

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by Paycheck

Dang my wife saw this and now I have a honey do.

Sorry Paycheck, there goes some of the paycheck!

KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by Big Lee

That turned out great!!

Thank you, sir.
KJ

[BlessedVeteran0305]

Thought about doing this in my half car garage shop but im renting the house and not sure how the homeowners would feel about the idea of all of the holes when taken down. Looks great

[texashunter]

Sweet. That is my project for the Thanksgiving break, I'm ready to organize the clutter.

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by Chase0305

Thought about doing this in my half car garage shop but im renting the house and not sure how the homeowners would feel about the idea of all of the holes when taken down. Looks great

I had seen where some folks had expressed the same concern about the multiple holes; concerned about them. They took the size they wanted of 3/4" birch plywood, and actually mounted that to a french cleat. They had QTY for holes with 3/8" lag bolt. When they moved, they took all the cleat and tool holders off. Then removed the 'french cleat wall' portion of the birch ply, then removed the back cleats. They only then had 4 holes to patch per 'panel'. Just a thought. KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by texashunter

Sweet. That is my project for the Thanksgiving break, I'm ready to organize the clutter.

Cool - share pics and ideas you come up with! KJ

[bobc]

That is very cool. I think I have located a place in my garage to rip off your design. Thanks man!

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by bobc

That is very cool. I think I have located a place in my garage to rip off your design. Thanks man!

Hit it! I rip off'ed many other folks I found from pictures and thoughts shared.
KJ

[glpoe1]

Very nice work young man. Keep it up.

[BlessedVeteran0305]

Originally Posted by ktjones

I had seen where some folks had expressed the same concern about the multiple holes; concerned about them. They took the size they wanted of 3/4" birch plywood, and actually mounted that to a french cleat. They had QTY for holes with 3/8" lag bolt. When they moved, they took all the cleat and tool holders off. Then removed the 'french cleat wall' portion of the birch ply, then removed the back cleats. They only then had 4 holes to patch per 'panel'. Just a thought. KJ

Thats a great idea i think i will have to do that

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by glpoe1

Very nice work young man. Keep it up.

Thank you, sir. For the double compliments on the work and.... the young man comment. I am not young, per se, but sure felt good the old man ego! KJ

[AlaskaFlyerFan]

That's way too organized! I'd never be able to find anything!

Looks awesome. Nice work!

[coachk]

Nice job and a cool tribute! Now i might need ya to come do that in MY shop!haha

[Royal21973]

wow! You got talent. I view that as a work of art.

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by AlaskaFlyerFan

That's way too organized! I'd never be able to find anything!

Looks awesome. Nice work!

Thank you. To be honest, it has taken me a few weeks to "recover" from the organization. And. More weeks to TRAIN myself and son to put things back home! KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by coachk

Nice job and a cool tribute! Now i might need ya to come do that in MY shop!haha

CoachK - while all the compliments received are much appreciated, coming from you? Wow. Happy to talk sidebar. My tools and I travel! KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by Royal21973

wow! You got talent. I view that as a work of art.

Royal, thank you - very much appreciated. KJ

[hunterburch42]

Use a table saw for the angle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by hunterburch42

Use a table saw for the angle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hunterburch,
correct. I first cut down the 4x8 birch into two foot wide strips with table saw. Then I cut 4" strips out of that. Then, set the blade angle at 45 degrees to make the cut.
Honestly, with my small table saw, the cutting of the plywood was the most time consuming part.
KJ

[hunterburch42]

Originally Posted by ktjones

Hunterburch,
correct. I first cut down the 4x8 birch into two foot wide strips with table saw. Then I cut 4" strips out of that. Then, set the blade angle at 45 degrees to make the cut.
Honestly, with my small table saw, the cutting of the plywood was the most time consuming part.
KJ

Are you using a 8 or 10 inch saw?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by hunterburch42

Are you using a 8 or 10 inch saw?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hunterburch,
10" table saw is what I used. The issue was just handling the large plywood sheet on the 2'x'2' (ish) table of the table saw. Once I made the first cut, not so bad handling that by myself. KJ

[hunterburch42]

I see a work table for the saw in your future!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BURTONboy]

Thats a very interesting wall and something I need to look into doing. Thanks for sharing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by hunterburch42

I see a work table for the saw in your future!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What I would really like is the Festool Plunge cut track saw. At $699+, it is out of the price range for now. Still have some kids to get through college. I do keep looking for good used table saws. The $99 Ryobi from the big box store just does not cut it. Pun intended. KJ

[ktjones]

Originally Posted by BURTONboy

Thats a very interesting wall and something I need to look into doing. Thanks for sharing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

BURTONboy, thank you, enjoyed building it. I really like the versatility. I have another portion of the shop that I am building similar to this one, only more horizontal length versus height.
KJ