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Easy in-store ReturnsD.I.Y. lightweight timber shelves
D.I.Y. lightweight timber shelves
Overview
Tools and materials
Tools
Steps
Cut your timber
Once you've worked out how long you want your shelves to be, you can have your timber pre-cut at your local Bunnings*. We cut 3 lengths of 300m from the 185mm x 19mm timber and 3 lengths of 280mm from the 42mm x 19mm timber.
*Not available at all Bunnings stores.
Drill the holes for the shelf support and shelf
Mark where you're going to drill the 3 holes in the bottom of the shelf support. Make sure the holes are in the middle of the timber and an equal distance apart. Then clamp the shelf and the shelf support to a workbench so that their edges are flush and pre-drill the 3 holes.
Join the shelf and the shelf support
Apply some PVA wood glue to the back of the shelf support. Then clamp the shelf and shelf support to the workbench again. Drill three screws into the holes you've already made, driving them below the surface of the timber with a countersink bit.
Apply the putty
Use a putty knife and putty to cover up the screws in the shelf support and to hide any gaps between the joints of the timber. Wait for the putty to dry, then sand it off until it's smooth. You can also give the whole shelf a sand for a nice, even finish.
Stain or paint the shelf
Giving the shelf a stain or paint before you hang it will make it look great. If you're staining it, for a more professional look, wait for the first coat to dry, sand it back lightly and then apply the second coat.
Attach the wall anchors
Now you need to choose where you want the shelf to be. Using a spirit level, mark on the wall the distance of the holes you drilled in the shelf support. Screw wall anchors into these marks.
Attach the shelf to the wall
Line up the holes in the shelf support with the wall anchors. Then drill screws into the wall anchors to secure the shelf.
Apply the finishing touches
You can also putty up the holes, sand it back and apply more stain for the perfect finish.
More D.I.Y. Advice
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.