Creating a Simple Floating Shelf: A Step-by-Step Guide
I'm Bobbitt, and I love making stuff. Today, I'm going to show you how to make a really simple floating shelf that's perfect for any room in your house. I started out by cutting one of my many pallet runners down to about 24 inches. I know it sounds like a lot, but trust me, it's not as hard as it looks.
To begin, I used a punch to knock the nails in flat. This is an important step because it helps create a smooth surface for your shelf. Next, I measured in four inches from each end and made a mark which puts them 16 inches from each other. Ideally, these marks should line up with studs in your wall. You'll want to make sure that you're measuring accurately so that your shelf is level and secure.
Now it's time to measure out the piece that you're going to use for the front of your shelf. Make sure to measure carefully because this will determine the size of your shelf. I like to start with a rough estimate, but you can always adjust as needed. Once you have your measurements, cut the wood according to your design. Remember, the width of the side pieces needs to be the same as the thickness of the top and bottom pieces.
Everything's going to sit behind the front panel, so make sure that it's smooth and even. I ran everything over the belt sander just to knock off anything loose or rough. This helps create a nice, smooth surface without sacrificing any of the rustic look you're going for. If you want a more refined finish, you can always use sandpaper or a power tool.
Attach some Brad's nails to help lock everything together and make it easier to line up the edges. One of the best things about making a floating shelf is that you don't have to be exact when lining up the edges. This gives you the freedom to experiment with different designs and layouts.
I used the same natural stain that I used for my headboard recently because I love how it brings out the contrast in the wood without changing its color. The stain also adds a nice touch of warmth to the shelf, making it perfect for any room in your house. Finally, I hit the shelf with a couple of coats of spray lacquer just to give it a satin finish.
This isn't necessary if you're not planning on using the shelf frequently or if you live in an area where the shelf won't be subject to heavy wear and tear. The spray lacquer does add a nice touch of shine, though, which can make your shelf stand out even more.
Now that we have our shelf built, it's time to attach it to the wall. Start by placing the ledger on the wall and leveling it carefully. Next, make a mark for where the holes are going to be drilled. It's essential to pre-drill these holes so that you don't damage your wall when drilling through them.
In my case, I had to deepen the holes in the wood a little bit because the anchors weren't long enough to go through the 2x4 and drywall. There are many different methods for securing shelves to the wall, but this is just one of the most common ways to do it.
To secure your shelf to the ledger, you'll want to pre-drill some holes on top of the Shelf to secure it to the ledger. Make sure that these holes are in far enough so that no matter where the shelf sets on the ledger, it can connect to the wood. Finally, set the shelf in place and run the screws down into the pre-drilled holes.
If you didn't want a rustic shelf like this one, you could finish it in any way that you wanted. This is really just a box, and with some creativity, you can make anything from a simple bookshelf to an intricate piece of furniture.
The most important thing to remember when building a floating shelf is that the ledger on the wall needs to be secure. The weight of whatever you put on the shelf will rest on this ledger, so it's crucial to make sure that it's sturdy and won't collapse under the weight. With these steps, you'll have a beautiful and functional floating shelf in no time.
Big thanks to my good friend Chuck who shot this episode. He normally works on The Drunken Woodworker channel, but I'm glad he could take some time off to help me with this project. If you've never seen his channel before, be sure to check it out. David over there does some really great woodworking projects and every week he does a wrap-up show that shows the best woodworking videos and talks about podcasts and just kind of the events that are going on in the woodworking community.
And don't forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram if you want to get in touch with me or check out all my other projects and free plans. I'm always happy to meet new people who share my passion for making stuff, and I love getting feedback from readers. If you'd like to support this show, please check out Patreon, which has a video that explains how it works and how the support helps me.