|
the easy way to install floating shelves
You can build these contemporary, floating shelves for displaying collectibles, photos or books from lightweight, inexpensive hollow-core doors available from your local builder's merchant or larger hardware store.
1. Use a pencil to mark the horizontal location for each shelf using a spirit level as your guide.
2. Cut the door lengthwise. Clamp a straightedge guide to the door. Use a 40-tooth carbide blade for a smooth cut.
3. Measure the space between the outer veneers of the door and cut pine cleats this thickness. When buying your timber, make sure that you get straight lengths for the cleats.
4. Hold cleats level against the wall and drill pilot holes through cleats to mark the location on the wall for the plugs and screws. Use a hammer drill and suitable sized masonry bit to drill holes into the wall. Each cleat must be perfectly level.
5. Cut away the corrugated cardboard cores at least 40mm from the cut edge - see image left. Scrape away the glue carefully without gouging the wood surface.
6. Dry-fit the shelf to make sure the blank fits over the cleat. Check the backside of the shelf and scribe it to the wall if necessary. Use a block plane or sander to remove material from the back edge for a tight fit.
7. Apply Alcolin wood glue to top of cleat and inside bottom edge of the door blank. Slide the shelf over the wood cleat.
8. Nail the shelf to the cleat using a square as your guide. Start at the middle and work your way to each end. Use long panel pins spaced 100mm.
|
