If you caught our wooden bookshelf project, you may remember my saying it would be hung on the wall. But how exactly would you mount that sort of thing? The answer – in many cases – is a pair of wooden wedges known as the French cleat. We’ll show you how to use this easy technique to handle some of your trickiest wall hanging challenges. From kitchen cabinets to large pieces of art, French cleats are the simple, reliable solution you’ve been looking for.
Contents
- Je Ne Sais Quoi – That Special Something
- A French Connection
- Make Room For The Cleat
- Glued and screwed – Attaching The Spacer Cleat
- Frenching Your Cleat
- The French Cleat – An Atomic Wedgie For Your Wall
- Taquet Français – That’s “French Cleat” In French (According To Google)
- Finally, Screw The Spacer Cleat To The Wall
- French Cleats – Strength Brie-ond Belief For Very Little Monet
- FAQs
- What is a French cleat used for?
- How much weight will a French cleat hold?
- What is a cleat mounting system?
- Why do they call it a French cleat?
- Part of a video titled How to Install a French Cleat for Hanging Wood Signs – YouTube
- Part of a video titled How to Install a French Cleat for Hanging Wood Signs – YouTube
- Part of a video titled French Cleats – How to hang Wall Cupboards – YouTube
- Are French cleats 45 degrees?
- What’s the best angle for a French cleat?
- What wood is best for French cleat?
- Part of a video titled Home Remodeling Tips : How to Hang a Cabinet using a French Cleat …
- French Cleat Mounting System – A Concord Carpenter
- 5 Tips for Building and Using a French Cleat Wall – Bob Vila
- French Cleats And How To Use Them – Secure Cabinet …
- How to Build a French Cleat Shelf – Popular Mechanics
- What is an Aluminum French Cleat System? | Eagle Mouldings
- Choosing the Right French Cleat System
- The Ins & Outs of the French Cleat (Z Bar Hanging System)
Je Ne Sais Quoi – That Special Something
Ahh, the French! They’ve given us so many wonderful things: like French fries! Oh wait; that was Belgium. French braids, then. Uh-uh, that was Africa. French bulldogs? Nope, England. French curves, French kisses, that red salad dressing? No, non and not a chance! What about the French horn and French manicures? Germany and the good old U.S.A.! Fine, but surely they gave us French toast, right? Pshaw… egged bread was around long before France even existed.
Heck, my surname is “French” and I’m pretty sure the closest tie to France I have is that time my mom visited the cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris. But cheer up, mesdames et messieurs; they actually can claim French bread (only they call it “baguette”) and French doors! And, it seems, even French cleats! So… Oui!
But we’re here to discuss French cleats, a fixture hanging method allegedly thought up by old-time French ship builders. And until someone shows it, too, to be a misnomer, we’ll tip our beret and let them have this one.
A French Connection
Two of the most common ways of mounting large and/or heavy things to a wall are French cleats and “Z-clips”. French cleats are usually a pair of beveled wooden cleats. And Z-clips are essentially their metal “Z” shaped counterparts. You can purchase pre-made metal cleat brackets. But given how easy it is to cut your own out of wood, I’ve never gone that route.
Now that you know what French cleats are, let’s back up a bit and have a look at where we left off on the purple DIY bookshelf project.
Make Room For The Cleat
If you intend to use a French cleat hanging system, plan your project accordingly. You will need room to mount the cleats on the back. Use decent quality plywood (with the face grain running lengthwise) for your French cleats. Solid wood can split; and that would be bad.
To hang the bookshelf – and pretty much anything else with a French cleat– you want to also add a spacer cleat near the bottom of the unit. We’ll start there.
The spacer cleat serves three purposes. The first is that it keeps the unit parallel to the wall, preventing destructive prying forces on the French cleat above. Therefor, the spacer should usually be the same thickness as the French cleat. Secondly – and equally as (or even more) important – the spacer helps support the weight of the unit being hung; especially in the case of cabinetry and shelving. Finally, when screwed to the wall, it ensures that no one (kids, a careless housekeeper, etc…) can accidentally lift or knock the unit off of the French cleat.
In some cases (hanging artwork, for example) the spacer might not offer weight support because you can’t screw through the piece being hung, but it’s still required to prevent prying forces on the wedged hanger cleats, as mentioned above. Sometimes, you may have to attach your spacer to the wall instead. You can also use a second French cleat in place of the spacer; whatever best suits the situation.
Glued and screwed – Attaching The Spacer Cleat
In most cases, the spacer will be hidden from view once hung. However, this one extends below the bottom shelf. If you’re not hanging the bookshelf, you obviously don’t need this part – or the French cleat itself (Thanks for stopping by anyway!). But, you know, I am. And I do. And it will be visible, so it needs to match the rest of the bookshelf.
To attach the spacer, I first drilled pocket holes at the ends of it (on the wall-facing side). Then I put glue in the dadoes and coated the ends of the plywood before tapping the spacer into place and securing it with pocket screws. Finally, I drilled pilot holes and counter-sunk for screws into the bottom shelf. It definitely isn’t coming apart!
My cleats and spacer are all cut from 3/4” plywood. Both fit into the shelf dadoes for super solid construction. This isn’t a necessary feature, but the cleat is what will support all the weight (eventually, the spacer will help as well). So make sure they are strong and firmly attached.
Frenching Your Cleat
The French cleat on the back of the bookshelf and its mate that screws to the wall are cut from a single piece of plywood. Cut the piece to length and – if you’re fitting them into dadoes, as I am – shape the ends as necessary. The width should be sufficient to accommodate both cleats and the 45° bevel, while leaving plenty of meat for your screws (for heavy units, like this one, you may want two screws per stud).
The French Cleat – An Atomic Wedgie For Your Wall
Having always resided somewhere along the “nerd – dork” axis (though it’s debatable which end I favor), I somehow managed to elude the proverbial schoolyard wedgie – thus far. Conversely, the walls of my home and shop have been fortunate enough to have received wedgies, in the form of French cleats. I’m no bully; I just prefer my heavy, bulky objects full of smaller objects to not crash down onto the floor.
One thing to keep in mind is that your French cleat should span at least two wall studs. In a garage or workshop with OSB or plywood walls, you can make exceptions. But drywall anchors can only be trusted to support so much weight. This bookshelf will be hung on drywall; so studs are a must. The problem is, the stud locations don’t align favorably with the desk above which the shelf will go.
To get the exact positioning I wanted, I had to hang the bookshelf a little off center (with respect to the wall studs). So the wall cleat was trimmed a bit shorter and mounted a few inches off center. And since the cleat was shortened, I had some wiggle room to slide the bookshelf yet another inch or so as needed. The total offset isn’t too extreme and the majority of the weight is still well between the studs. The mounting is safe and life is good.
Taquet Français – That’s “French Cleat” In French (According To Google)
Level and secure the wall cleat with 2-1/2” or 3” wood screws into studs. Drywall anchors may not by adequate for heavy objects. If you have plywood or OSB sheathing, you can likely get away with hanging it whenever you want – maybe use a few extra screws. But still hit studs if you can.
Finally, Screw The Spacer Cleat To The Wall
I put vertical strips of masking tape on the wall and marked the stud locations. The bookshelf was then hung on the French cleat and positioned where I wanted it, side to side. Next, I marked where the stud centers fall on the bookshelf’s lower cleat (the spacer). Finally, the bookshelf was lifted back off of the French cleat and drilled and counter-sunk for screws.
After screwing the spacer to the wall, I painted the screw heads to match the rest of the bookshelf.
French Cleats – Strength Brie-ond Belief For Very Little Monet
So there you have it! French cleats are an incredibly easy and reliable mounting method. And providing your wall is reasonably straight – not bowed or wavy – they can be an excellent option for things you’d have a hard time hanging any other way. (Such as cabinetry. Just remember that they have to be lifted onto the cleat. So leave enough clearance at the ceiling! You can hide the resulting gap with moulding.) You could say they’re the “creme brulee” of the crop!
With another successful project in the books, I think I’ll settle in with a bag of chips and a big bowl of Lipton’s famous French onion dip. Wait, what? It’s actually “California dip”? Sigh, I give up. You can see yourself out. Au revoir!
FAQs
What is a French cleat used for?
French cleats are often used to secure cabinets to walls but can also be used to build modular shelving units that can help organize your workspace. French cleats have been a favorite among cabinet makers to hang cabinets, but they can be used for many projects, even hanging a simple birdhouse
How much weight will a French cleat hold?
A single lag screw in a wood stud can bear a weight of between 80 ? 100 pounds; two screws can hold 160-200 pounds. The wall cleat should be wide enough to fit two lag screws and span a minimum of two studs.
What is a cleat mounting system?
The French cleat has been around for hundreds of years. There are several theories as to the origin of the term ?French? cleat. One is that ?frenching? something is to cut it into thin strips, such as French fries. The other is simply that the process originated through French influence on the world through the years
Why do they call it a French cleat?
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Part of a video titled How to Install a French Cleat for Hanging Wood Signs – YouTube
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Part of a video titled How to Install a French Cleat for Hanging Wood Signs – YouTube
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Part of a video titled French Cleats – How to hang Wall Cupboards – YouTube
A French cleat is simply two wood pieces that each has one edge bevel-ripped to 45 degrees.
Are French cleats 45 degrees?
Cut the Angles
The angle of the beveled top edge of a French cleat is 45-degrees, and if you have a miter saw or table saw, cutting the cleats will be a snap.
What’s the best angle for a French cleat?
Cleats can be made with just about any type of wood. You could use solid wood like 1×4s and 1×6s. Or you could use ½? or ¾? plywood that has been ripped into strips. That said, French cleats are often made from plywood.
What wood is best for French cleat?
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Part of a video titled Home Remodeling Tips : How to Hang a Cabinet using a French Cleat …
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French Cleat Mounting System – A Concord Carpenter
French Cleat Mounting System By Robert Robillard on How To, Remodeling How To Make And Use A French Cleat The French Cleat mounting system has been around longer than anyone can remember. Many think the name French Cleat originated from the 1800’s French shipbuilders who used the cleats to hang items on the ship walls to free up limited space on the ship’s floors or decks. Hanging 250 lb. “Piano Harp” on wall w/ French Cleat Mounting System What is a French Cleat? French cleats were originally made of interlocking wood wedges are used to hold an object securely, while still allowing for easy removal of that object. The two interlocking pieces of wood [or metal] each with matching, interlocking 30–45-degree bevels. The two cleats are then connected together and held in place by its own weight. Once connected, they provide for easy and fast future removal or dismounting. One French cleat is mounted to the wall and the other cleat is fastened to the object you want to hang. As a carpenter, French cleats allow me to spread out an object’s heavy weight across multiple wall studs. “Piano Harp,” baby grand piano guts – hung on a wall French Cleat Uses A French cleat is a strong, simple and inexpensive way to mount heavy objects or create a hidden, removable mount. They are often the strongest and easiest way to install items, such as: Heavy Art Cabinets Securing mirrors Securing radiator covers Hanging tools Hanging window and flower boxes Any object you want to hang Use Plywood For The French Cleat We recommend making your French cleats out of plywood vs. solid wood. Plywood resists splitting and is typically stronger. The heavier the object the larger I make my cleat. On super heavy objects, I try to make the clean wide enough to get two structural screws in each wall stud. Making the cleats are best done on a table saw. Start with a piece of plywood wider than needed. This allows you to cut the beveled edge first and later cut down the cleats to the desired widths. How to Make a French Cleat Mounting System Set a table saw to 30-45 degrees and bevel-rip your plywood. [You will be using both beveled pieces.] Note: 30-45 degree bevel is a good bevel angle, the mating surfaces join on a “equally common plane, so the forces applied to both pieces of the cleat are fairly equal. Determine the cleat width and rip them to size, ensure that the bevel facing the table saw fence. Determine the area to hang your object; mark your center and determine height. In the photos you’ll notice a green laser line. I used the Bosch 360 laser to line art work with the seam of a french door on the opposite wall, in addition to the LED light that was going to illuminate the art. Note – I like to mark the centers of the wall, the cleat, and the item to be hung and reference them all during installation. Blue tape is useful for marking items that you don’t want to place a pencil mark on. Securing The French Cleat To Wall Secure the wall French cleat. To make the installation easier, I mark the height on the wall first. Hold the cleat at that mark, then temporarily “tag” the cleat to the wall with a cordless finish nailer. Pivot the cleat, on that one nail, to level the cleat, and secure that with a second finish nail to temporarily hold the cleat level and in place. Use the Correct Fasteners Attach the cleat to the wall, using appropriate fasteners. Consider the shear strength of your fasteners and compare that rating to the weight of the item being hung. Fasten the other…
5 Tips for Building and Using a French Cleat Wall – Bob Vila
5 Tips for Building and Using a French Cleat WallOrganize and store tools and other implements neatly by creating a wall of sturdy French cleats.By Glenda Taylor and Bob Vila | Updated Feb 3, 2020 9:43 AM
The French Cleat System For Hanging Heavy Objects
French Cleats And How To Use Them – Secure Cabinet …
French Cleats And How To Use Them – Secure Cabinet Hanging If you caught our wooden bookshelf project, you may remember my saying it would be hung on the wall. But how exactly would you mount that sort of thing? The answer – in many cases – is a pair of wooden wedges known as the French cleat. We’ll show you how to use this easy technique to handle some of your trickiest wall hanging challenges. From kitchen cabinets to large pieces of art, French cleats are the simple, reliable solution you’ve been looking for. Je Ne Sais Quoi – That Special Something Pardon my French, but how the hell are we going to mount this thing to the wall? Ahh, the French! They’ve given us so many wonderful things: like French fries! Oh wait; that was Belgium. French braids, then. Uh-uh, that was Africa. French bulldogs? Nope, England. French curves, French kisses, that red salad dressing? No, non and not a chance! What about the French horn and French manicures? Germany and the good old U.S.A.! Fine, but surely they gave us French toast, right? Pshaw… egged bread was around long before France even existed. Let’s start by pulling back the curtain. These two pieces – with their mating angled cut: that’s a French cleat. Simple, but very effective. Heck, my surname is “French” and I’m pretty sure the closest tie to France I have is that time my mom visited the cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris. But cheer up, mesdames et messieurs; they actually can claim French bread (only they call it “baguette”) and French doors! And, it seems, even French cleats! So… Oui! The part I’m holding mounts to the wall. But we’re here to discuss French cleats, a fixture hanging method allegedly thought up by old-time French ship builders. And until someone shows it, too, to be a misnomer, we’ll tip our beret and let them have this one. The wall mounted bracket (the part I’m holding in place) mates to another piece on the cabinet, like this. This is a heavy tool cabinet that hangs in my shop. A French Connection The French cleat is also a great way to make easily removable, repositionable workshop tool hangers. They sit securely in place and lift off as needed. This awesome French cleat tool storage wall is by our friends over at Family Handyman. Photo – FamilyHandyman.com Two of the most common ways of mounting large and/or heavy things to a wall are French cleats and “Z-clips”. French cleats are usually a pair of beveled wooden cleats. And Z-clips are essentially their metal “Z” shaped counterparts. You can purchase pre-made metal cleat brackets. But given how easy it is to cut your own out of wood, I’ve never gone that route. Now that you know what French cleats are, let’s back up a bit and have a look at where we left off on the purple DIY bookshelf project. Make Room For The Cleat The sides of the bookshelf extend 3/4” beyond the back panel to allow room for the French cleat system. If you intend to use a French cleat hanging system, plan your project accordingly. You will need room to mount the cleats on the back. Use decent quality plywood (with the face grain running lengthwise) for your French cleats. Solid wood can split; and that would be bad. To hang the bookshelf – and pretty much anything else with a French cleat– you want to also add a spacer cleat near the bottom of the unit. We’ll start there. You may remember that the shelf dadoes continue all the way to the rear of the bookshelf side boards. I’m using that to my advantage. Cut one end of the spacer to shape, then cut the other to fit. The spacer cleat serves three purposes. The first is that it keeps…
How to Build a French Cleat Shelf – Popular Mechanics
Build a French Cleat Shelf to Hold Virtually Anything . The term, French cleat, is not the correct answer to the question: What type of footwear does the French national soccer team wear? For your purposes here, French cleat refers to an ingeniously clever and easy way to securely hang items on walls. A French cleat is simply two wood pieces that each has one edge bevel-ripped to 45 degrees. One piece is fastened to the wall with its beveled edge facing up. The other piece is attached to the back of the item you’re hanging on the wall with its beveled edge facing down. To hang the item, simply slip its cleat onto the wall-mounted cleat. That’s it, no glue or fasteners needed. The upper cleat simply hooks onto the lower cleat.Want to make more awesome things at home? Sign up for Pop Mech Pro today!French cleats are often used to secure cabinets to walls, and to hang large mirrors and shelving units. But, they’re also ideal for mounting modular tool shelves in the workshop, as shown here. French cleats are surprisingly strong, and the storage possibilities are only limited by your imagination.To build a basic tool-hanging system, start with 3/4-inch plywood cut into a strip that’s 5 inches wide by at least 30 inches long. This piece will become the mounting cleat that gets attached to the wall. Of course, you can cut the strip as long as necessary to suit your needs, but be sure it’s long enough to be anchored into two wall studs, which are typically spaced 16 inches on center. Bevel-Cut the Mounting Cleat Next, bevel-cut the edge of the mounting cleat to 45 degrees using a table saw, circular saw or jigsaw. If necessary, use a straightedge guide or fence to produce a perfectly straight cut along the length of the plywood strip. Cut a shorter plywood strip for the cleat that gets attached to the back of the tool shelf. Bevel-cut the edge of the cleat to 45 degree, just as you did for the longer mounting cleat.[How to Build a DIY Welding Cart] Make the tool shelf by screwing together two short pieces of plywood. Then, screw and glue the small cleat to the back of the shelf, making sure its beveled edge is facing down Secure the Mounting Cleat Now, simply position the tool shelf anywhere you’d like along the length of the mounting cleat Check the Cleat for Strength When you view the profile of the French cleat, you’ll see the two beveled plywood pieces fitting tightly together and the tool shelf will be resting flat against the mounting cleat.[Build This Customizable A-Frame Toolbox] We tested the strength of our French cleat by hanging a box filled with 10 pounds of screws. The tool shelf and cleat held fast and are plenty strong enough to support a tool. If necessary, you can reinforce tool shelf by adding side supports, which provide additional strength for holding heavy items, like pipe clamps. The supports also keep items from falling off the shelf.[How to Make the Perfect Box] Here is another example of French cleat shelves that incorporate dowels. These are used to hold a hammer, pliers, and screwdriver In this example, French cleats are used to secure power tools against the wall for easy access. Timothy Dahl DIY Editor Timothy is a lifelong DIY enthusiast who is fixated on smart home tech, beautiful tools, and wrenching on his FJ62 Land Cruiser. Joseph Truini Joe is a former carpenter and cabinetmaker who writes extensively about remodeling, woodworking, and tool techniques.
What is an Aluminum French Cleat System? | Eagle Mouldings
What is an Aluminum French Cleat? A French cleat system features a product used for mounting and joining items together by using a minimal amount of materials, with minimal damage to the wall. The method is simple, and dates back many hundreds of years, showing the value of this method of mounting items. By mounting one diagonally-cut piece of wood to the wall, another can be slid into it, using gravity to hold it safely in place. A french cleat is two pieces of material that interlock, one piece is mounted on the wall and the other attached to the item you are hanging. The upper cleat is attached to the item being mounted, and the lower cleat will be attached to the wall. The upper and lower cleat are joined together for a secure mounting. When hanging heavy casework like wall cabinets or shelves, it can be one of the best methods used for a strong and secure hold. French cleat systems are great for securing mirrors, pieces of artwork, shelving units, cabinets, or other objects to a wall. The extruded aluminum versions of the French cleat, such as the Eagle Z Clip, are a modern substitute for the wooden French cleats. The aluminum z clips are stronger than the wood French cleat versions. Since the aluminum z clip is much thinner than a wood French cleat, there is less stand-off or space between the product and the wall. What Are The Benefits of Using an Aluminum French Cleat Over Other Methods? Other methods, such as nails and brackets, require additional installation time which is often not ideal. In addition to this, many nails will need to be driven into the wall which will later need to be filled to bring the wall back to a decent appearance. The use of a french cleat, or Eagle Z Clip, allows for pre finishing without the time-consuming face nailing or on-the job finishing. Minimal Fastening With Aluminum French Cleats Keyhole hangers or keyhole slots are other methods used for hanging objects but need special tools or router bits requiring modification of the wood item you are mounting. An aluminum french cleat only needs a few screws to hold it in place and is known to be significantly stronger than many other mounting methods. Simple Adjustments Once the French cleat is secured to the wall, the object can be simply placed and lowered onto it for final installation. Adjustments to the lateral position of a mounted object can be easily moved to the left or right for the optimal position with ease. Cabinet Maker Favorite French cleats are often used to secure cabinets to walls but can also be used to build modular shelving units that can help organize your workspace. French cleats have been a favorite among cabinet makers to hang cabinets, but they can be used for many projects, even hanging a simple birdhouse. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We’ll assume you’re ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Choosing the Right French Cleat System
Choosing the Right French Cleat System | Sign Bracket Store FRENCH CLEAT SYSTEMS BUYING GUIDEMake hanging signs, panels, and other large objects easy with our French Cleat Systems and Z-Clips. Approved for use on wallboard, plywood, concrete, hollow or grout-filled block, brick, and plaster, you can use French Cleat systems indoors or out. Made from commercial-grade extruded aluminum alloy, each piece is sturdy and weatherproof. These hardware options are the perfect solution to simply and securely mounting mirrors, artwork, headboards, window boxes, and more. Cleat systems are also often used as flush mount cabinet and shutter hardware fasteners. When choosing a size, purchase a French cleat hanger system that measure at least 75% of the width of the item that you are hanging. Features & Benefits Made from heavy-duty, extruded aluminum Durable for indoor and outdoor use Rust resistant Hidden from sight when mounted Options Custom cut or drilled to spec Light Duty French Cleat Hanger SystemsUsing a Light Duty French Cleat Hanger Systems, you mount lightweight items, such as wall art and signs. Sold in pairs and ranging in length from 2 inches to 8 feet, these light duty French cleat system hangers are easy to install, using screws. After installing in the desired location, you can simply slide one cleat into the other for hidden mounting system. When choosing a size, purchase cleat hangers that measure at least 75% of the width of the item that you are hanging.Medium Duty French Cleat SystemsFor slightly heavier items, such as decorative panels or larger signs, you may need to use Medium Duty French Cleats. As the medium French cleats are designed for heavier items, you should ensure that the surface you are attaching the mount to is sturdy enough to support the mount and the item that you will be displaying, and that you have chosen hardware that can handle the job. Any of our French cleat systems can be custom cut or drilled to your specifications. When choosing a size, purchase cleat hangers that measure at least 75% of the width of the item that you are hanging.Heavy Duty French Cleat SystemsWhen attaching large objects to a more secure surface, such as brick or stucco, you may require a Heavy Duty French Cleat System. Designed for larger and heavier items, these cleat hangers are available in sizes ranging from 2 inches to 8 feet. The same rule of choosing a cleat hanger length that is at least 75% of the width of the item being hung still applies to these Heavy Duty French Cleats.As long as you pay attention to the surface where you will be mounting your object, the weight of the item, and the size of the French cleat hanging system you purchase, you can hang nearly anything along a wall with these hidden mounts. Easily hang your wall signs, cabinets, decorative panels, wall art, or even wall desks. Choose from the selection of cleat hangers, cabinet hanging hardware, and z clips available online, or contact our friendly customer service department to place an order today. Always consider the size and weight of the items you plan on hanging or mounting before purchasing French cleat systems. The surface to which you will be mounting also effects which cleat hangers you should use. The light duty French cleat hangers may be installed using standard screws, but with the heavier objects, you will want to use heavy duty or industrial screws and/or fasteners. Additionally, a second cleat system might be required for heavy objects, attaching…
The Ins & Outs of the French Cleat (Z Bar Hanging System)
The Ins & Outs of the French Cleat (Z Bar Hanging System) — Outwater BlogWhat Is a French Cleat? French Cleats are a type of mounting hardware used to secure mirrors, artwork, cabinets, floating shelves and other heavy objects to a wall without glue or fasteners. How Does a French Cleat/Z Bar Work?Also known as a Z Bar Hanging System, the French Cleat is comprised of two overlapping brackets (mounting bracket and wall bracket) that hook into one another to hold an object in place without being visible.The overlapping design provides high torque leverage when hanging cantilevered shelves. How Does It Secure to the Wall?The wall track of our Hangman French Cleat is punched every inch to ensure at least one stud is hit. The design of the Hangman French Cleat also makes it possible to shift whatever you are hanging left or right after being hung until it’s in the perfect position.Official Guide for Mounting a French Cleat/Z Bar: 1. Locate and mark studs.2. With the included lever, mark both end holes using the wall bracket.3. Drill easy toggles into the end hole marks on the wall.4. Align the bracket with the anchors and install provided screws.5. Install screws into all studs.If not preinstalled by manufacturer, use provided screws and a power drill to attach the product bracket to the back of your shelf.6. Hang the shelf so that the brackets interlock, creating a tight and flush bond.7. Adjust shelf right or left until its desired position is reached.