Use stainless steel shelf brackets instead of wrought iron for a contemporary look.
Wall shelves are an ideal place to showcase a few decorative items on a wall. Add interest and show a bit of your personal style by adding wall shelves to some of the rooms in your home. You can build your own basic wall shelf as a do-it-yourself woodworking project. Select a quality hardwood for your shelf so that it will be beautiful and lasting. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Insert a roman ogee bit into the router table and lock it in place. Adjust the height so that it will cut the full profile into a 1-inch thick board. Adjust the fence so that it will accommodate a 1-inch thick board.
2. Place the hardwood board on the router table with one 1-by-24-inch edge flat against the table and one 12-by-24-inch side flat against the fence. Turn the router on and guide the board through the router to rout one 1-by-24-inch edge of the board. Run the board through in a steady motion and remove it from the table once the edge is completely routed. The routed 1-by-24-inch edge of the board is the front of the shelf.
3. Place one 1-by-12-inch end flat against the table with the same 12-by-24-inch side from Step 2, flat against the fence. Run the board through the saw to rout the edge of the end. Follow the same procedure on the opposite end.
4. Sand the entire shelf board with fine-grit sandpaper in the same direction as the wood grain until the surface is smooth. Clean the dust left from sanding off with a tack cloth.
5. Apply an even coat of wood finish to the shelf with a paintbrush. Allow the first coat to dry at least four hours and apply a second coat. Allow the final coat to dry for at least 24 hours.
6. Place the 1-by-24-inch edge that is not routed flat against a work surface. Align one shelf bracket under each end of the bottom side of the shelf. The top of the shelf has the routed profile along the edges on the front and ends. Position the brackets 4-inches in from each end. Screw the included mounting screws through the holes in the brackets into the bottom of the shelf board with a screw gun.
7. Slide a stud finder along the wall where you want to mount the shelf. Locate two wall studs nearest to where you want the shelf located and mark them with a pencil at the desired height for the shelf. Hold the shelf up to the wall so that the brackets are centered on the studs. Place a level on the shelf and adjust it for level. Mark the mounting holes. Remove the shelf and level from the wall.
8. Center the shelf on the wall and align the holes in the brackets with the marked positions for the mounting holes on the wall. Drive the included mounting screws through the holes in the brackets into the wall studs with a screw gun.
Tags: flat against, 1-by-24-inch edge, board through, holes brackets, that will
