I'm working on building a modified RIO shelf (inspired by Steve Ramsey), which will be installed on the wall using a French cleat system, similar to upper cabinets. I'm curious about the width of the two parts of the cleat. If the cleat attached to the wall is 6 inches wide and the one on the shelf is 5 inches wide, will that affect anything? Does it need to be a specific width or can they be different sizes?
3 Answers
It shouldn't matter much! As long as you can secure them properly, you're good to go. I usually use cleats that are about 2.5 to 3 inches wide. Just make sure everything is attached safely and securely.
Honestly, I don't see why the width would be an issue once you're over a couple of inches. Just make sure they fit well together and are sturdy enough to hold your shelf!
From my experience with cabinet work, using French cleats is a big time-saver for installation and leveling. We typically ripped ours to about 4 inches, and it worked great. The exact width really comes down to personal choice and what looks good for your setup. Just a tip: be careful not to install them upside down—that's a common mistake!