Replies

1. 
   treadwm | Sep 04, 2008 10:49pm | #1

   I've used that idea for a wall mounted clamp rack. It holds upwards of 100lbs of pipe clamps, etc without problem. And its certainly stronger than the screws holding up most peoples kitchen cabinets. ;-)

1. 
   rmantell | Sep 05, 2008 04:00pm | #2

   Thanks for your response. A Tauton mag article states that lag screws are overkill and to use a 3.5" screw. I want to get some cabinets hung quickly so I get years of stuff organized and off the floor.
   Rick

1. 
   dougmeyer | Sep 05, 2008 04:47pm | #3

   In your case it should not matter, but if you want to be safe, they make screws for hanging things. They look like drywall screws but they are not. Drywall screws are not designed for heavy loads. This is why some housed kitchen cabinets are falling down. The drywall screws fail.  I don't think this would be a problem for you as I do not think you would have that much weight on them. But you may want to check it out. Last time I picked some up they were not that much more then drywall screws.

   Doug M

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Sep 05, 2008 05:07pm | #4

   What DougMeyer said. Look for cabinet mounting screws. They are (I assume) less brittle and they have panheads so they won't pull through the cleat. If properly attached, the weak point will be the cabinet cleat, not the wall cleat.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   rmantell | Sep 05, 2008 05:15pm | #5

   will do...thanks for the tip...hopefully HD stocks panhead panel screwsRick

1. 
   Jemcon | Sep 06, 2008 02:28am | #6

   If you go to Lowes and go to where the in stock cabinets are they have #10 x 2 1/2" cabinet hanging screws. They are black and have a large head.

   Jeremy 

    

    

   Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!

2. 
   rmantell | Sep 06, 2008 03:54pm | #10

   Thanks for your kind help. In this day and age we have to turn to Lowe's and HD. Give me an old fashioned hardware store and a month to poke around ask the "old" guy some questions.Tick

3. 
   Jemcon | Sep 06, 2008 04:15pm | #11

   Isn't that the truth. Those old guys were great. You could walk in with a screw and they would go to the top shelf of the back rack in the subbasement and put there hand on it.

   Jeremy 

    

    

   Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!

4. 
   kreuzie | Sep 07, 2008 05:12am | #13

   I'd walk into one of our local "old-time" hardware stores and tell them I needed a doohickey for a whatchamacallit.

   Their reply?

   "What color"?

    

   kreuzie

    

5. 
   Jemcon | Sep 07, 2008 05:22am | #14

   Just like when you need a left hand finagin pin. They always have it. Even the digital phramastat. Never seems to fail. Unfortunately there aren't many of them left.

   Jeremy 

    

    

   Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!

6. 
   kreuzie | Sep 07, 2008 05:57am | #15

   Yes, I'm afraid those days are long gone...

   Now, if you could FIND someone and ask them for something simple, all you'd get would be a blank stare!

   kreuzie

7. 
   Jemcon | Sep 07, 2008 02:53pm | #16

   Ain't that the truth. 

    

    

   Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!

2. 
   stillfigurinitout | Sep 06, 2008 04:39am | #7

   FWIW.  Here's one small item that may or may not apply to your situation.  My Dad built a set of rather large and heavy wall cabinets hanging on the back wall of the attached garage.  They were each about 3 feet square and 2 feet deep, made of 3/4 inch plywood.  They stretched the length of the wall.  The family den is on the other side of the wall.  A few months after they were hung, Mom noticed a couple of hairline cracks in the wall, one in the opposing wall and above a door, and had them repaired when she had the room painted.  A couple of months later a crack reappeared.  My brother visited, took one look and told Dad the weight of the cabinets had racked the wall frame.  Dad built support under the cabinets.  That was 10 years ago, and no cracks since.  Maybe I should send this story to Family Handyman!

1. 
   Jemcon | Sep 06, 2008 03:01pm | #8

   I would. There are probably alot of people with this problem and don't realize what it is.

   Jeremy 

    

    

   Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!

2. 
   rmantell | Sep 06, 2008 03:51pm | #9

   Good point. The 3x3x2 cabinets are heavy to begin with.
   Thanks

3. 
   dougmeyer | Sep 07, 2008 03:20pm | #17

   What in the world was in those cabinets? I assume this was a 2X4 wall. Even with the junk 2x we have today they should not bow that much if they were attached to a whole wall of studs like you are talking about. Of course the 2' depth is a bit much so the lever action may have been an issue if he had a lot of weight, but if you just build a unit a foot or so deep you should not have a problem.

   Doug

1. 
   stillfigurinitout | Sep 08, 2008 05:27am | #19

   Hi Doug:

   I called my brother to reminisce about the matter and he reminded my the cabinets were 2 foot deep by 4 foot wide with two 2-foot wide doors on each cabinet.  Five cabinets hung on the wall.  Dad was the frugal sort and decided it was wasteful to cut off a foot.  Made construction alot easier only having to cut a 4x8 sheet of plywood in half and then taking a 4 by 4 half and cutting it down.   One middle dividing shelf per cabinet.  All held together with stud 2x4s.  They were not pretty by any standard.  He painted them gray.  They butted up against the ceiling and he stored a generator, lawn mower and other stuff in the open space underneath.  The wall is of 2x4 construction and is a bearing wall.  Dad is a barnyard carpenter.  Whenever I buy a tool, he'll say "what in the world do you need that thing for".  He's 86 and just retired this past summer.  I really don't want to get started, most would not believe me anyways.  He is one of a kind.

    

1. 
   dougmeyer | Sep 08, 2008 05:31am | #20

   I dont know about that I would say that My 77 year old father is of a kind with yours. And MAN those shelfs had to have a LOT of weight in them.

   Doug m

1. 
   stillfigurinitout | Sep 08, 2008 06:40am | #21

   yea, they don't make them like that any more.  we are the lucky ones.  very high standards to live up to.  made something out of nothing.  hard life no complaints. 

2. 
   dougmeyer | Sep 09, 2008 01:55am | #22

   Yeah I am building a small shed (about 8'x8' and about 12' to the peak) and I had just put up the first sheet of sheeting for the roof when the old guy climbed up on the roof (at 77) he wants to go Wight water rafter next summer when he is 78.

   Doug M

3. 
   flairwoodworks | Sep 06, 2008 09:44pm | #12

   I'd cut them at 30-degrees.  It's a little stronger and you don't have to lift whatever you're mounting quite so high to get it onto the cleat.  So they're minor details, but why not?

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   rmantell | Sep 08, 2008 03:33am | #18

   Thanks Chris. I'm going to try the 30 degree bevel on the next set of cabinets( 36x24x12)Rick

4. 
   bilyo | Sep 09, 2008 07:42pm | #23

   Mantell,

   I've hung several cabinets in my shop and house the same way (I beleive this is called a French cleat; correct me if I'm wrong).  I don't know how much actual weight is in them but nothing has come crashing down yet.  A couple of suggestions:  You will need a horizontal strip near the bottom of the cabinets the same thickness as the cleat  in order to keep the cabinet plumb.  I always put screws through this into the studs to provide extra support.  Also, be sure to use clear, straight grained wood for the cleat.  A knot located between studs could be a a serious weak spot.  I recently retired myself.  Fun ain't it?

   Good Luck,

   Bill

1. 
   rmantell | Sep 10, 2008 03:25pm | #24

   Hi Bill:
   I think securing that bottom cleat to the stud is a good point.Retirement is interesting. There is no rush to finish a job because I have to go to work. Retirement is a gift..Let's keep our health and enjoy each dayRich

1. 
   bilyo | Sep 11, 2008 04:15am | #25

   Rich,

   Have you noticed that the days seem to go by faster and you have trouble remembering what day it is?  But then, why do you need to know what day it is?

   Enjoy,

   Bill

1. 
   dougmeyer | Sep 11, 2008 03:04pm | #26

   They sell a retirement clock. It looks like a normal clock but instead of 1- 12 it has Sunday - Saturday on it so you can tell what day it is.

   Doug M

2. 
   heartwould | Sep 11, 2008 03:11pm | #27

   A retired friend of mine says that his week consists of six Saturdays and a Sunday. About the only time I really know what day it is would be Sundays (I preach) and either the days that the grandkids are here or whenever My Young Bride has something special for me to do. (Just in case, I still keep my Daytimer going so that I have something to remind me of appointments).

1. 
   bilyo | Sep 13, 2008 04:34am | #28

   Appointment?  What's an appointment?  On second thought, I think I used to know but I don't want to know any more.

   The retirement clock is a clever idea but I have no need ;)

   Bill

5. 
   santana | Sep 13, 2008 10:24pm | #29

   More than sufficient.  Enjoy your shop