Reliability of cleats

Have you ever seen a cleat fail??

What were the circumstances that caused the fail? Was the piece too heavy? The wood of the strainer too degraded? Screws not long enough? :confused:

Hi all - I have used cleats extensively in my art handling career, and generally prefer them over d-rings when it comes to hanging framed items. I usually use z-bar cleats, however, the current exhibition I'm working on involves an entire gallery of framed textiles that are quite large and heavy, over 60"x60". I'm starting to wonder if the z-bar cleats are strong enough. We don't have a scale to weigh the pieces, and the cleats I buy off McMaster-Carr are not weight-rated. Presumably I'd have to go by the load capacity of the screws and anchors I'm using. Just wondering what others have encountered in their careers! What kind of cleat do you usually use for large, heavy frames? Do you buy from a specific supplier that you know to be reliable?

Thanks!
Xander

Hi Xander,
I have never had a cleat fail in my 19 years of museum work. I prefer to make my own cleats out of 3/4" MDO for heavy objects. I will sometimes use Z-bars and 1/2" MDO cleats for thinner, lighter weight objects. If you are worried about a failure, use larger fasteners in the wall. Best of luck!