Whenever I’m installing cleats for closet shelves, I cut down the amount of ladder time with the little trick illustrated here. First I draw a level line to mark the top of the cleat’s location. Then I probe along this line with an 8d finish nail to locate the studs. Once the studs are found, I drive a pair of nails along the line, one each into adjacent studs. Next, I push the cleat up from below until it encounters the protruding nails. I can now nail it home, knowing the location of the studs and that the cleat is on the layout line.
Mark Tiley, Creede, CO
