4 | I transfer my tools to French Cleat and show you the cool holders I built | Polidact Woodworking

In Part 1, we built the wall. Now we have an empty wall with stripes of wood on it. It’s time to fill it. The beauty of the system is the Custom Holder. Instead of generic hooks, you build a "house" for each specific tool.

Here are the designs for the first 3 holders I built.

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The Universal Cleat

For every holder, the back is the same: A piece of 3/4" plywood with a 45-degree bevel cut on the top edge (pointing DOWN and IN). This hooks onto the wall.

• Pro Tip: Glue and screw the cleat to your holder. It takes a lot of stress.

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Build #1: The Cordless Drill Station

Drills are the most used tool. I needed a station for my Impact Driver, Drill, and Charger.

• Design: A shelf with "slots" cut in the bottom. The handle of the drill slides into the slot, and the battery pack hangs underneath.
• Top Shelf: A flat surface above the drills for the battery charger and drill bit cases.
• Execution: I used a jigsaw to cut the U-shaped slots. I sanded the edges round so the drills slide in smoothly.

Build #2: The Hammer Rack

I seemed to have multiplied hammers. A framing hammer, a trim hammer, a mallet, a sledge...

• Design: A simple "Comb" design. Two horizontal arms sticking out with a gap in the middle.
• Usage: You drop the hammer head on top of the arms; the handle hangs down.
• Capacity: It holds 6 hammers in a 12-inch space.

Build #3: The Tape Measure Tower

Tape measures always disappear. I wanted them in one spot.

• Design: A vertical tower with a thin horizontal bar.
• Usage: The belt clip of the tape measure clips onto the bar.
• Capacity: I can clip 5 tape measures vertically. I also added a pencil cup to the side of this holder because where there is a tape measure, there must be a pencil.

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The "Micro-Adjust" Advantage

After hanging the drill station, I realized it was too high. I couldn't reach the charger easily. With a normal cabinet, I would be unscrewing from the studs, patching drywall, and repainting. With the French Cleat: I lifted it up, moved it down one row, and dropped it back on. total time: 3 seconds.

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Conclusion

Building holders is addictive.

1. See a loose tool.
2. Imagine a box that holds it.
3. Build box from scrap wood.
4. Attach cleat.
5. Hang.

My bench is finally clear of clutter. The floor is clear. And I look like I know what I'm doing.