Simple and Inexpensive Wood Projects

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Assembly

Assembly begins by nailing the four pieces together that create the outer rectangular shape of the shelves. Have your hammer and nails ready. On the floor, stand up on edge the top piece (a 1" x 6" x 3'9") and a side piece (a 1" x 6" x 5' 11"). Bring the top piece along flush to the top of the side piece so that the end grain of the side piece remains exposed and that of the shelf piece cannot be seen. Nail through the side piece into the top piece using three nails (front, middle, and back). Repeat this procedure with the other side piece and a bottom (another 1" x 6" x 3' 9"). Bring the two pieces together so they make a rectangle—be sure to align them so that the end grain of the longer side pieces remains exposed and that of the shelf pieces is covered by the sides—and nail using three nails per connection as described. Use the carpenter's square at each corner of the rectangle to make sure they are square. If the rectangle is not square, gently move the unit until it becomes square and then proceed.

Measure down from the bottom of the top shelf along one side and make a small mark at 11 3/4". Repeat this along the other side. Use the square and a pencil to make a 90° line through these marks by putting the long edge of the square along the floor next to the side board (make sure the floor is level and the square really is aligning with the surface of the side board.) Fit a shelf board into the rectangle so that its top surface runs exactly between the two lines you have just drawn. Nail the shelf in place. Measure down 10 3/4" from the bottom of the newly installed shelf and repeat the above procedure. It will be 10 3/4" from the bottom of one shelf to the top of the next shelf.

Finally, install the safety strips. Measure up 2 1/2" from the top of each shelf along both sides and make small marks. Align the bottoms of the strips between the marks and nail them there using only two nails per strip, one nail per side.

Flip the whole unit over so the safety strips are down. Take one of the two remaining braces and position it in a top corner so that its 45° edges align with the top and side of the shelf unit. Nail it in place with two nails at each end. Repeat this procedure with the other brace on the other top corner.

Take the bookshelflike unit and stand it against a wall (with the safety strips facing the room, of course). It will need to be fastened to the wall because, even if the shelving unit is full, the weight of the jars will make them top heavy and prone to falling over. I used one nail through each bracket into the wall. If your wall is Sheetrock you will have to either nail through the braces into studs, or find one of many Sheetrock-fastening gizmos available at most hardware stores.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print