EASY STEPS TO YOUR WALL SHELF UNIT

Build custom shelves with curves in all the right places.

2021-12-09 -

Gather your supplies

• 2440 x 1220 x 18mm marine plywood

• 2200 x 600 x 25mm rubberwood panel

You’ll also need Circular saw; scrap ply for saw guide and curve template; pencil; jigsaw; sander; clamps; white interior paint; small bucket; paint roller; soft lint-free cloths; tape measure; drill; 3 and 13mm drill bits; PVA glue; countersinking drill bit; 65mm screws; furniture wax; hollow wall anchors; anchor setting tool

Here’s how

STEP 1 Use circular saw to cut components out of ply and rubberwood panel. Make a saw guide from ply to allow quick, straight cuts.

STEP 2 Use scrap ply to make a template for the curve. Draw curve on template with a radius of 120mm. Cut out using a jigsaw and sand smooth.

STEP 3 Place template on one end of shelves and trace curves.

STEP 4 Clamp shelves to bench and use jigsaw to cut

curves. Use blade made for thick timber and don’t rush. Also trace and cut curve on backboard and top divider.

STEP 5 Use sander to remove cutting scars from cut edges. Also sand 1 face and all edges of backboard.

STEP 6 In a small bucket, dilute paint by a quarter with water to create a whitewashing mix.

STEP 7 Use roller to apply whitewash mix to all components. Immediately wipe off excess with a damp cloth, going along the grain. Finish with a dry cloth to smooth out the finish.

STEP 8 On backboard, lightly mark where shelves will butt into it. From top of backboard, shelves are at 340, 800 and 1240mm, with the bottom shelf flush with bottom of board. Drill 3mm pilot holes through board for screws. You will use 4 screws for each shelf.

STEP 9 With backboard upright, spread glue on back edge of bottom shelf and hold in place. Sit on a 25mm thick block to allow for space to edge of the board, as shown. Predrill and countersink through pilot holes in backboard, then screw them together

using 65mm screws.

STEP 10 Install divider under shelf 175mm from top edge of board. Predrill and screw through shelf into divider. Install the next shelf, and repeat process until unit is complete, staggering dividers to either side of the board.

STEP 11 Use a cloth to apply 2 coats furniture wax. When dry, buff to a shine.

STEP 12 To hang, use a split batten. Cut both lengths in half on a 45° angle. Screw two halves to back of unit towards top and bottom. Make angled cuts face backing board and bottom edge of batten.

STEP 13 Screw remaining batten halves to wall to suit desired height of unit and location of batten halves on backboard. To do this, make angled cuts facing wall and batten top edges. Try to screw into wall studs with 65mm screws, but also use anchors. Drill pilot holes through batten into wall for them, then enlarge holes with a 13mm bit.

STEP 14 One at a time, put anchors in setting tool and insert in wall. Pull trigger to tighten anchor against wall. Remove screw from anchor.

STEP 15 Drill countersink holes for screws from anchors in face of split battens for wall at pilot holes. Hold battens against wall and insert screws from anchor through batten and into anchor. Tighten screws.

STEP 16 Lift wall unit and position so halves of split battens interlock together.

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