Quick and Easy Shelf Techniques?
9 Comments Published by Joel June 19th, 2007 in Ask Dethroner, DIY. Share ThisToday I am building shelves. Let the excitement begin!
We need two sets of shelves: one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen. I’m not doing anything ornate as we just rent. (Our landlord would probably shit a brick if I did anything more than screw them into the walls for support.) I don’t have a plan for materials, though, and am just planning on running over to Lowe’s and seeing what strikes me.
What has been your experience with shelving systems? I know there are piecemeal systems available at the big hardware stores, complete with finished lengths of particle board. The last time I looked at those they seemed to be really expensive. I’m also not sure the boards will be in the depths or lengths I need—I’m going for shallow and slender—and there’s nothing that looks junkier than cut particle board.
I’m not opposed to doing some actual cutting and painting, although I don’t have the equipment to route out slots for shelves to fit into, so I’m not sure about buying only lumber and trying to build it up from there. (I’ve got a drill and a circular saw and a saws-all; I don’t want to buy any more tools at the moment.)
Any suggestions?
Check these out…
http://www.instructables.com/tag/?limit%3Atype%3Ainstructable=on&q=shelves
no matter how ornate they are, they typically always are mounted to the wall in very simple ways that are easily landlord friendly.
but as to what your looking into, the thinner your making this the more support you will need to prevent bowing. While for the bathroom I can see you not needing anything overly deep, the kitchen might be a problem if you decide to put up cookbooks, pots, dishes, or anything else heavy.
Grab hardwood planks at home depot and use bricks for vertical support. Cinder blocks give a solid loft look, garden ornamentals offer something smoother.
Looks good, lasts forever, no wall damage at all, and very cheap.
Oh shit, it is on: http://www.instructables.com/id/EE28IW9UQ5ES84ILEL/
Check out the sag calculator. I’ve bookmarked it, but cannot verify firsthand it’s use. I likely will in the very near future, though.
http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm
Oh damn – I’m so throwing out my cheap particle board bookshelves and building hardwood and wine bottle ones.
If you want to get fancier but don’t want to buy tools, see if there’s something like this available to you:
http://northportlandtoollibrary.org/
This library has taken care of over 90% of my tool needs in the last 2 years. The only things they don’t have are really big/heavy things because they’re located in a basement with kind of narrow stairs.
I have always found these very cool and versatile. I am definitely going to make something like this someday.
http://www.wardsweb.org/audio/rack.html
those shelves look like they’d be great with a 6 pack or so of bombers from Rogue…..
Great find Joel