Building DIY shelves is a perfect woodworking task for someone learning about DIY projects. It’s small enough that it won’t take up too much of your time. It’s also not that extensive, and it’s a blast to complete. That said, it can take a lot out of you. We’re here to help. Check out our professional tips for building DIY shelves.
Plan Your Shelves
Planning is the first thing you need to do before starting any project. How many shelves do you need? How much spacing will you put between the shelves? It certainly needs to be enough to fit your books or decorations. The best way to figure this out is to measure your largest book or trinket and use that measurement to determine the length and depth of your shelves. You should also think about space for other knick-knacks you’ll put on the shelves. From there, figure out how deep they should be. They can be any depth, but you must ensure the shelves don’t obstruct anything in the room.
Get the Right Tools
You must have the right tools for your project—a number of them are useful for building shelves. A hammer is ideal for nailing the shelves in place at the sides. An automatic stapler does the same, but it’s not manual, so you might want to invest in one of those. Additionally, a tape measure is useful for measuring the wood you’ll be using. A circular saw is necessary for cutting the wood according to your measurements.
Watch That Sagging Shelf!
Most materials will flex slightly under a heavy load, but it’s usually minor, so you won’t even notice. The cross-sectional shape, width, and material determine the flexion amount. The cross-section is a wide rectangle, so you need to be careful when loading the shelf. Add reinforcements if the shelf needs them. A little bracing never hurt anyone. This addition must be solid. You can also reduce the shelf’s width to provide more rigidity. The shorter the shelf, the heavier the load it can hold. This is a great professional tip for building DIY shelves.
Building something by yourself is fun, and these tips are simple to follow. Check out our selection at Staple Headquarters if you’re interested in getting some tools for DIY projects like this one. We have a wide array of tools for your projects.