Helping you turn workshop chaos into a precision-engineered gallery.
I spent three years failing at workshop organization, so you don’t have to.
- Design engineer by trade, used to building precision manufacturing robots
- 200+ plans in one standardized system, from drills to PPE
- Tested on both a $200 diode laser and a 50W CO2 machine
- Makers worldwide, some of whom bought a laser just to build these walls
Hello, I’m Alan,
Like you, I know the frustration of standing in a workshop, looking for a 10mm socket or a specific chisel that you know you own but can’t find.
When I started renovating our near-ruin farmhouse, my workshop was a disaster. I was a design engineer by trade—used to building precision manufacturing robots where everything had its place—yet my own shop was a “clutter villain” that stole my productivity and killed my creativity.
Things took a turn almost by accident. I was building a CNC machine when I spotted a Sculpfun S9 diode laser for under $200 and thought, why not? Over the next year I pushed it hard: a 20W head, longer rails, air assist, and an enclosure made from an old coffee table I found on Facebook Marketplace. I found myself using it more and more.
Soon, I started prototyping French cleats that could hold a variety of tools. These early iterations evolved into a modular system where the cleats not only matched but maximized wall space. I wanted the ability to select a tool holder from a wide range of predesigned options, send the design to the laser, and have it ready to hang within minutes.
While I experimented with other projects like boxes, coasters, and yarn bobbins for my wife (she spins and dyes her own wool), I kept coming back to French cleats. I wanted to raise the bar, especially aesthetically—why shouldn’t French cleats be beautiful?
Adding a CO2 laser.
In early 2023, I saw a secondhand 100W CO2 laser for sale near where I live. It was too big for my workshop, but it got me curious, and I ended up adding a Gweike Cloud 50W CO2 laser to my setup. The real win was learning how differently the two types of machine behave, which is why I design every plan to work on a diode laser as well as CO2. If you’re just starting out, a diode laser is a great way in. It’s exactly where I started.
Precision isn’t just for robots. It’s for your walls.
Because I’m a design engineer by trade, I approach laser-cut plans differently. I don’t just sell DXF files; I sell tested, ready-to-cut plans. Every plan in the Master System is calibrated to “zip” together perfectly, whether you are using a $200 diode laser or a professional CO2 machine. I’ve optimized my designs to work for both because I’ve lived in both worlds.
Why shouldn’t your workshop be a Gallery?
Most people see French cleats as “scrap wood utility.” I see them as the foundation for a workspace that inspires you. My vision for Neat French Cleat is to help you build a “Tool Gallery”—a space so organized and aesthetically pleasing that it actually makes you a better maker. When your environment is precise, your work becomes precise.
Stop Searching. Start Making.
Don’t let a messy shop steal another hour of your creativity. Join our community of makers who have traded chaos for engineering.
Beyond Hacks: Build the Master System
Stop searching for individual files and start building a standardized workshop. The Master System is a unified blueprint that ensures every holder—from drills to PPE—fits your wall with 0.1mm precision.
Transform your workspace from chaos to precision today.