Shopsmith Forums

Has anyone stored Special Purpose Tools on a French Cleat Wall?
I'm fitting out a shop in a tiny (12' x 16') shed.
I have a bandsaw, jigsaw, jointer and flatbed sander that I need to store out of the way when not in use on my SS 510.
I will incorporate the SS Mounting Bases on bracketed bases to hang with the cleats.

I store mine on the back wall of my garage, Take note that the jointer is the heaviest and may be difficult to store on a high shelf
Bill V

My setup is similar to BillVan's. I have a shelf on the back wall that holds most of my tools. Originally I had it mounted high enough so my Shopsmith fit under it, but last year, I moved the shelf lower because my back would no longer handle lifting things off and on the shelf that high.
My planer doesn't fit that shelt so I made a rolling cart for it. I can easily roll it into any unused space when not needed and roll it out beside the Shopsmith when I need it.

cobbinetmaker,

First off welcome to the Shopsmith Forum. I didn't respond to your post Sunday when I first read it since I store most of my SPT''s on a rolling cabinet I made. I believe the lack of responses may be due to the specific request of storage ideas using a French Cleat Wall. I am no help there either and I have not used that type of storage. My first thought on using a French Cleat Wall for storing SPT's would be the safe weight capacity the cleats can handle. As Bill said the Jointer is quite heavy. Having a flexible storage system like that would be a plus when things change as additional tools could be added. Something that is more difficult with the rolling cabinet type storage I have.

I share the concern Russ has about the weight, but also about the tool holder staying stuck to the tool and wanting to lift up from the cleat wall when you try to lift it off. You will likely cause back issues trying to lift and separate the tool from the holder in the cleat if you attempt this while removing it. I know there are options for making locking french cleats, but honestly I never have seen a good system online by anyone that makes a french cleat wall really excel at holding tools and being easily reconfigurable and not have the risk of either tools falling off/to the floor or holders becoming dislodged. Even though a french cleat tool wall looks neat, I have been hesitant to try it because of the issues associated with them. IF anyone has come up with a better mouse trap for this please share it, but be warned I have seen pretty much every variation on french cleat locking holders online and all of them have pros & cons...so I am a skeptic in this area.

Secret is LOOSE fit of the posts in the holes. Realize that inserting/removing them is unlikely to be "straight".

Sez one who is merely considering the french cleat approach.

Farmer has been relative silent recently, but he uses this approach.

RFGuy wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 11:16 am Even though a french cleat tool wall looks neat, I have been hesitant to try it because of the issues associated with them. IF anyone has come up with a better mouse trap for this please share it, but be warned I have seen pretty much every variation on french cleat locking holders online and all of them have pros & cons...so I am a skeptic in this area.

I have been wary of this approach also. Yes, neat looking system, but I think for heavy tools it's problematic. This might be a good idea for my handheld power tools but Shopsmith SPTs are large and heavy. I'd be worried about the space needed around them on French Cleats so they don't knock off other tools while taking the SPTs on and off the shelves.

If I were dreaming up something I'd take a length of heavy plank, maybe a 2x12, and mount on legs with wheels at Shopsmith height and drill a series of holes to hold multiple SPTs. I don't think it would take up much more room than the tools hung on French Cleats and you can wheel the tools over to the machine and get a little more time from your back working as a lifting and carrying device.