Tool Skool discovered a very neat invention over at the 2012 National Hardware Show – an aluminum bracket designed to quickly create furniture out of 3/4″-thick lumber. These brackets, called 4LTX for their ability to create L, T, and X-shaped joints, can be used to build shelving and furniture of nearly any size and shape.
As soon as I saw the product demonstration video I thought of Rockler’s new I-Semble brackets, which I find to be quite appealing. But unlike that design, 4LTX brackets can be used with different board widths. These brackets are made from 5052-H32 aluminum and can be secured to 3/4″ wood materials with screws or nails.
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4ltx brackets are reasonably priced – $6.50 each or $42 for 8. If you plan on making a LOT of furniture, you can buy a bulk pack of 125 pieces for $500.
First look via Tool Skool
More Info (via 4LTX)
(Check out Tool Skool’s site for additional NHS coverage. There are a ton of great previews over there!)
Blair
Looks great…..wait…..no it looks terrible, I can think of 20 ways to do that in a more aesthetic way, but in a shop, or garage it might be ok, don’t like how the angle brackets obliterate the shelf corners though. Am I missing something here?
Allen
I imagine the brackets could be used in the back. Seem a little costly to me.
Robin
For these to actually be even moderately useful and cost effective, IMO they need to be made out of stamped steel finished with a paintable rust resistant primer, and cost half or less than what they cost now.
Right now, if I want to build a sturdy, freestanding storage shelving unit out of these, say six feet high with three shelves (not including the top and bottom), I’d need a minimum of $60 worth of these, and that is if I’m using a solid piece of 1/4″ plywood as the back of the shelving unit. If I wanted it to be an open style unit such as you see at hardware stores, I’d need $120 worth of these brackets, which could purchase a VERY heavy duty shelving unit… much more heavy duty than some thing made out of 3/4″ wood and aluminum brackets.
IMO these are trying so hard to be useful, that they’re almost completely useless.
Same as the last “DIY furniture” bracket kit I saw posted. They were so darned expensive, that they pretty much eliminated any advantage of using them.
All you end up with is an inferior piece of furniture that is less sturdy, costs more, and takes more time to assemble.
Sorry if it seems I’m being a negative nancy, but that’s just the way I see it on these.
mladen
$80.00 projekt with 4ltx bracket
2 old bookshelves
12 brackets
some plywood
screws
some thinking
http://www.4ltx.com/showroom/mladenlijesnic
Jack
They work like they say they work. I put together four bookcases in about 15 minutes, snug and tight and full of books. This left me more time to read.
Timo
For those of us that live in a city like New York, these are invaluable. When you are trying to adapt to a small living space, prefab furniture doesn’t always fit the bill. These brackets allow you to create customized units that fit the space you have, whether it’s a studio apartment or even the cabin of a boat.
Stuart
NOTE: Mladen is the designer/inventor/seller of these brackets. We’re okay with his comment. But we strongly suspect that Timo is affiliated with Mladen and/or 4TX, the business selling these products. As such, please consider Timo’s comment appropriately.
We encourage inventors and brand representatives to comment about their products, as long as they do not hide their affiliations.
mladen
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-4LTX-Corner-Brace-19070/203898009#.Ulth8mTTXCA
mladen
Timo is my friend but I am evaluating every comment to improve my bracket.
Oakie
Where can I purchase these brackets? My local Home Depot doesn’t carry them.