About

Helping you turn workshop chaos into a precision-engineered gallery.

I spent three years failing at workshop organization, so you don’t have to.

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, when I saw a small laser advertised at a silly low price point.

I had never considered buying a laser—I was actually building a CNC machine at the time—but I was intrigued by the idea of working with a quieter machine. The laser, a Sculpfun S9, was less than $200, so I thought, why not give it a try?

Over the next 12 months, I upgraded it: I swapped the head from 10W to 20W, extended the rails, added air assist, built an enclosure (from an old coffee table I found on Facebook Marketplace), and installed an exhaust fan.

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?

Upgrading to a CO2 laser.

In early 2023, I went to see a secondhand 100W CO2 laser for sale near to where I live. While it was too big for my workshop, I saw firsthand how fast it cut compared to my diode laser. That’s when I decided to upgrade. After some research, I settled on the Gwieke Cloud 50W CO2 laser. I’m thrilled with how it performs—it’s lightyears ahead of my old machine.

Precision isn’t just for robots. It’s for your walls.

Because I’ve spent two decades in digital architecture and engineering, I approach laser-cut plans differently. I don’t just sell DXF files; I sell engineered digital assets. 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.!