The following types of wood will work well with a floating shelf: Oak Pine Mahogany Solid Walnut Maple If you’re not too particular with the material and just want to get straight into installing a floating wooden shelf, what you can opt to do instead is to buy straight from a manufacturer.
How to build simple floating shelves?
There are three ways (that I know of) to make a floating shelf without any visible brackets:
- Using hidden shelf brackets, such as these
- Building your own brackets like I did for the built-in shelves in our closet office
- With a solid wood board and screws – my preferred method!
What is the best type of wood for a shelf?
- Cherry—strong, lightweight, and easy to handle and cut
- Birch—widely used for cabinets and furniture; an excellent choice if you plan to paint your bookshelves
- Maple—lends itself to a variety of stains, so you can easily match it to existing wood in the room or customize the wood color
How to make a floating shelf?
How to make floating shelves
- Measure and make the cuts. Check out the plans for guides to building your own shelf. ...
- Build the Frame. Set up the boards for the frame – two on each end and others approximately 8-12″ from each other. ...
- Build the box. ...
- Attach the frame to the wall. ...
- Put it all together. ...
How to install wooden floating wall shelves?
- Remove the screws and put the first bracket into place. ...
- Re-insert screws into the brackets and tighten until each bracket is secure.
- When screwing the brackets into place, make sure not to over-tighten them.
- Take a moment to tidy the pencil markings and drywall dust.
Where can you get quality lumber to make DIY floating wall shelves?
Why is my floating shelf angled down?
How to mark a shelf without moving it?
How deep is a 2x6 shelf?
What is a LedgerLok bolt?
How to measure for a shelf?
Do you need to know the edges of a stud?
See 2 more
How thick should wood be for floating shelves?
2-inchesThe ideal thickness for wall-mounted floating wood shelves is 2-inches.
What kind of wood should I use for shelves?
Pine, birch and oak are three common woods used for building homemade bookshelves. Pine plywood is a lightweight softwood that is inexpensive. However, it is prone to knots and splitting. Prepare to work around these potential problems when cutting and fastening your boards.
Can you use solid wood for floating shelves?
There are many great ways to do floating shelves and each of them have their own advantages. The method we used not only seemed the easiest to us but also using genuinely solid wood planks achieved the thick, chunky, rustic look we were going for very authentically.
What can I use to make floating shelves?
For this DIY floating shelf project, I'm using stock boards from the home center, a miter saw to cut them to length, and a drill/driver to assemble the pieces with screws and wood glue. I'll also be using a sander to smooth my edges, but you can also just use a sanding sponge.
How thick does a wood shelf need to be?
Thick Wood Bookshelves Use 3/4-inch thick materials for shelves and bookcase structure. If you're using hardwood solids, it's OK to boost the thickness to 1 1/4 inch for almost unlimited support.
Should I use plywood or MDF for shelves?
When it comes to strength, plywood is the winner. MDF is a softer material than plywood and tends to sag or split under pressure. That's why it's important to reinforce it if you're going to using it to build shelves or other weight-bearing furniture.
How thick should plywood be for floating shelves?
Plywood Shelves Plywood for shelves should be 3/4 inch thick or thicker. Standard sheets of plywood come in 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, 1/2-inch, 5/8-inch, and 3/4-inch thicknesses.
Can floating shelves hold a lot of weight?
TLDR: A floating shelf can hold 45-50 pounds for every wall stud that your floating shelf bracket is attached to. For instance, a 3' shelf that's attached to two wall studs can safely support ~100 pounds. Likewise, a 2' shelf bracket attached to two wall studs can easily support the same ~100 pounds.
Is plywood OK for shelving?
Plywood is the industry standard for shelving, so it's a good choice for bookshelves.
Can you use plywood for floating shelves?
Our Finished Plywood Floating Shelves With just some plywood and scrap wood, it's a fairly affordable project and if you have the right tools it's pretty easy to make these too.
How deep should floating shelves be?
In general, floating shelves should be between five and ten inches deep. However, there are much bigger sizes you can try, spanning from 12 inches up to 15 inches deep. With that said, most floating shelf designs call for longer, thinner dimensions, so you'll have to do some research before making a purchase.
Can you use MDF for floating shelves?
Floating shelves don't have to be store-bought. You can make your own using MDF and your choice of pine or poplar wood.
Is plywood OK for shelving?
Plywood is the industry standard for shelving, so it's a good choice for bookshelves.
Is pine or poplar better for shelves?
There is a difference in density, texture, and stiffness between the two, so your choice depends on what you want to make. Pine is beautiful, easy to work, and takes finishes better than poplar. Poplar is easy to work but harder than soft pine, making it a better choice for weight-bearing structures.
Can you use 1/2 plywood shelves?
Also adjustable shelf standards that are inset into the sides are difficult to mount on 1/2" stock. For drawer carcass stock, 1/2" seems fine for the sides, if you glue 1/4" plywood across the back to strengthen against racking.
Is plywood strong enough for a shelf?
Is plywood for shelves a good idea? I personally think plywood for shelves is ideal. The smooth feel and appearance is attractive, it maintains a straight line over a long span when properly supported, and can hold more weight than the same size solid wood board.
Wood Thickness for Floating Shelves
As mentioned in our answer, the ideal thickness for a floating wooden shelf would be 2 inches. Anything less, and there’s a higher possibility that your shelf may snap when loaded with objects. Note also that it’s assumed that the wood you are using is made out of hardwood.
What is a Floating Shelf
A floating shelf, as the name implies, is a shelf without any visible supports. This is the defining characteristic of floating shelves as they give a minimalist look and can easily be added to any wall. Floating shelves can either be solid or hollow, depending on what you need out of it.
Design for floating shelf
In this section of the article, we’ll briefly cover the designs for floating shelves and their implications.
How is a floating shelf installed?
Floating shelves are installed in two parts, you have to prepare the shelf itself and the wall for installation.
Conclusion
Floating shelves are great for spicing up the look of your rooms. They offer a minimalist look and are great for displaying objects. They can easily be installed in a DIY and can be also easily customized. The wood for a floating shelf should be hardwood and at least 2 inches thick to make up for the lack of supports for it.
Where can you get quality lumber to make DIY floating wall shelves?
If you don’t have a Woodcraft, you can check out a local lumber yard which will carry oak and douglas fir.
Why is my floating shelf angled down?
At this point, your shelf will more than likely be angled down towards the wall because you drove the bolts in at this slight angle downward. Once you’ve put all your stuff on it, the floating shelf will be level.
How to mark a shelf without moving it?
Set the shelf on the wall and fold it down flat against the wall. Carry your marks onto your shelf at exactly the same position, marking them all without moving the shelf.
How deep is a 2x6 shelf?
So let’s say I went to Home Depot and bought a Pine or Spruce 2×6. The actual measurements of a 2×6 are 1.5” x 5.5”. So I divide my 5.5” deep shelf by two and I get 2.75”.
What is a LedgerLok bolt?
These bolts are designed to connect roof trusses to walls in new residential construction. They’re super strong when it comes to sheer strength. Sheer strength is essential in a bolt like this to prevent the bolt from snapping in half — and these LedgerLok’s have a very high sheer strength.
How to measure for a shelf?
Set level up on this wall and mark (VERY lightly so you can erase it). If you don’t have a level, measure from the floor to your mark. Then take that measurement to the left and right and mark each point approximately where you think the edges of the shelf will be. Find something straight and mark a continuous line between the two outer marks you just made.
Do you need to know the edges of a stud?
As I showed you in the video with the stud finder, you need to know the edges of the stud so that you know you’re sinking your bolts into the center of the stud.
How to make a shelf out of plywood?
plywood on three or four 2x4s laid across sawhorses (photo above). Measure and mark the plywood for each of the shelf parts and use a circular saw and cutting guide to make your cu ts. The cutting guide will help keep your cuts perfectly straight and minimize chip-out.
How to make a shelf with veneer?
Cut along the line with a pair of scissors and then cut the strip of veneer into three pieces for the front and two sides, leaving them long enough so there’s 1/4 in. of overhang on each end. Apply the veneer to the sides first, being careful to keep the veneer aligned with the shelf. Don’t peel and stick more than a few inches at a time, and rub a block of wood over the veneer to press it on. Cutting the pieces slightly oversize helps in case you don’t get it on perfectly straight.
How to scribe a shelf?
Hold the shelf over the cleat and firmly against the wall and drag a pencil along the wall to trace a scribe line onto the shelf. Scribing and sanding (next photo) allow shelves to fit perfectly against wall contours, but you can skip these steps if you don’t mind a few gaps.
How to hold a shelf in place?
Holding the shelf over the cleat and tight to the wall, drive 1-5/8-in. wood screws through the pilot holes that you drilled earlier and into the wall cleat. Drive one of the middle screws first to help hold the shelf in place while you drive the others.
How to make a shelf look darker?
If you want the shelf to look darker, wait a few hours and apply a second coat. Wait a day or two after staining and then brush on three coats of polyurethane for protection.
How to eliminate gaps in a shelf?
You can eliminate those gaps by “scribing” the shelf to fit the contours of the wall, but this step is optional—skip it if you don’t mind the gaps. To scribe, drag a pencil against the wall and trace a line onto the top of the shelf. The line follows the contours of the wall.
How much does it cost to build shelves?
A pair of shelves cost us about $150 to build. We were able to make two shelves from a single 4 x 8-ft. sheet of 1/2-in.-thick red oak plywood ($40). It can be tough to find locally, so call around before you shop, or choose different plywood.
What kind of wood is used for shelves?
Pine. Pine is one of the most affordable and popular softwoods in the market. This wood variety is easy to use, paint, and stain, so it is ideal for people who are just starting to learn how to make wood shelves. Although pine is a solid wood, you should not use it if you are planning to store heavy objects on your shelves, ...
What is the best material for shelves?
Plywood. Plywood is another good option for people who are interested in making their own shelves. This manufactured wood is available in different grades which determine the smoothness and appearance (or lack) of knots on the surface.
What type of wood is best for a garage shelf?
Another reason why this type of wood is ideal for wood shelving is the fact that it is relatively strong and inexpensive compared to other types of wood. Furniture grade plywood is ideal if you are planning to make a shelf for your living or dining room, while the B/C grade is a good choice for garage shelves.
Why do people use cherry wood for shelves?
Many people choose cherry over other types of hardwood for wood shelving because it has a rich, warm, and reddish color. The unique color of cherry wood becomes even richer and darker with time, making old shelves made from this wood sought-after by antique collectors. This type is a great choice for shelving meant for display.
Is red oak easy to work with?
Aside from being sturdy, red oak is also easy to work with. People who want to make their own shelves will not have any difficulty handling, cutting, and finishing this particular wood type.
What is the best wood for bookshelves?
If the cost of the materials is not a concern, woods like mahogany, African padauk, and koa are considered the best woods for bookshelves, thanks to their durability, strength, and longevity. Unfinished solid mahogany runs anywhere from $6 to $28 per board foot, while koa starts at $15 but can run as much as $140 per board foot. High-end specialty woods like these are typically available at millwork outlets or and lumberyards that cater to woodworkers, but not at your local hardware center.
How thick should a shelf be?
If you would like your shelves to be thicker than the standard 3/4 inch, you can glue and clamp two pieces of wood together and finish the edges with a wider trim. The benefit of a thicker shelf is that the shelf ends up being stronger, so it can support heavier weight loads without sagging.
What is a good lumberyard?
A good lumberyard will cut the wood you buy to size—something to consider based on your project and circumstances.
How deep should a book shelf be?
How deep should the shelves be? Typically, bookshelves are 11 to 12 inches deep, but if you are building your own bookshelves, this is your opportunity to customize your shelves to fit your books. If you have a lot of oversized books, measure the largest one, and add 1 to 2 inches to the depth.
Where can you get quality lumber to make DIY floating wall shelves?
If you don’t have a Woodcraft, you can check out a local lumber yard which will carry oak and douglas fir.
Why is my floating shelf angled down?
At this point, your shelf will more than likely be angled down towards the wall because you drove the bolts in at this slight angle downward. Once you’ve put all your stuff on it, the floating shelf will be level.
How to mark a shelf without moving it?
Set the shelf on the wall and fold it down flat against the wall. Carry your marks onto your shelf at exactly the same position, marking them all without moving the shelf.
How deep is a 2x6 shelf?
So let’s say I went to Home Depot and bought a Pine or Spruce 2×6. The actual measurements of a 2×6 are 1.5” x 5.5”. So I divide my 5.5” deep shelf by two and I get 2.75”.
What is a LedgerLok bolt?
These bolts are designed to connect roof trusses to walls in new residential construction. They’re super strong when it comes to sheer strength. Sheer strength is essential in a bolt like this to prevent the bolt from snapping in half — and these LedgerLok’s have a very high sheer strength.
How to measure for a shelf?
Set level up on this wall and mark (VERY lightly so you can erase it). If you don’t have a level, measure from the floor to your mark. Then take that measurement to the left and right and mark each point approximately where you think the edges of the shelf will be. Find something straight and mark a continuous line between the two outer marks you just made.
Do you need to know the edges of a stud?
As I showed you in the video with the stud finder, you need to know the edges of the stud so that you know you’re sinking your bolts into the center of the stud.
