An upright shelf or vertical shelf is a traditional style of wall shelf that was often used to hold a candle, lamp or even a decorative vase. It is an ideal type of shelf to use in traditional style homes as well as cottages and cabins. You can build your own upright shelf for your home as a DIY project. Select a hardwood such as maple, ash or cherry for the shelf to create a durable, long-lasting piece for your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Place the 1-by-6-by-18-inch board on the table of a drill press with the 6-by-18-inch side resting flat. Drill a 1/8-inch diameter hole through the center of the board 1-inch in from one end using a drill press equipped with a 1/8-inch drill bit. This is the hole to hang the shelf on a nail in the wall.
2. Form a graceful curve on the end of the board with the hole using a flexible curve ruler. Trace the line of the curve onto the board with a pencil.
3. Guide the board through a band saw along the pencil line to cut the curve on the end of the board. Move the board through the saw just fast enough to allow the blade to cut through the wood until the cut is complete.
4. Lay the 1-by-6-by-18-inch board on a work surface so that it is vertically oriented with the curved, drilled end at the top. Apply a bead of wood glue to one 1-by-6-inch end of the 1-by-6-by-3-inch board. Align and press the end with glue on top of the 1-by-6-by-18-inch board so that it is positioned 6 inches up from the bottom end. The glued end should rest flat against the surface of the 1-by-6-by-18-inch board. This is the shelf.
5. Hold the shelf in place while you turn it over so that the back side of the 1-by-6-by-18-inch board is facing you. Drive three evenly spaced trim head screws through the back of the 1-by-6-by-18-inch board into the end of the 1-by-6-by-3-inch shelf to secure it in place using a screw gun.
6. Sand the entire shelf assembly with a fine-grit sanding pad in the same direction as the wood grain. Wipe off the sanding dust with a tack cloth.
7. Brush two even coats of wood finish onto the shelf assembly with a natural bristle paintbrush. Allow the finish to dry at least four hours between coats. Wait 24 hours after the final coat before you hang it on the wall.
Tags: 1-by-6-by-18-inch board, assembly with, board through, board with, curve board, drill press
