I'm looking for advice on how to cut mitered edges for a French cleat project, but I have a bit of a fear of table saws. I bought one a while ago and it's still sitting unused in my shop. As a retired guitarist who's turned to woodworking and home projects, I'm wondering if there are any other reasonable methods to achieve the necessary cuts without using a table saw. Any tips?
3 Answers
There are definitely several ways to tackle this! If you're not keen on using a table saw, a track saw or even a circular saw with a straight edge can work really well for cutting those miters. Just keep in mind that minor imperfections in the angles won’t be visible once it's installed since they'll be hidden by whatever you're hanging. Alternatively, a band saw with a tilting table is a safer option and can produce good results too. If you don’t have those, you could always cut square edges first and then plane them to get the bevels, whether that's with a handheld power planer or a good ol' hand plane.
You could also consider running the pieces double wide to make it feel safer before making your straight cuts. Just make sure to accurately size them afterward. A circular saw with a guide or a jig saw can also work if you set them up right. Lots of tools can get the job done, it really comes down to what you're most comfortable using!
If French cleats aren't a strict must for your project, you might want to explore other options. Slat walls, shelf rails, or pegboards could provide great alternatives for hanging tools and adjusting as needed. Just a thought, though if you’re set on cleats, it might be worth figuring out how you plan to create the brackets for hanging things on them.
Thanks for the alternative suggestions! I like the idea of pegboards for flexibility.