How to Make a Shelf Drilling Jig

Use a brad-tipped bit for shelf jig drilling.

Shelf drilling jigs can be used in the construction of cabinets with adjustable shelves. These jigs consist of a small strip of plywood with holes drilled lengthwise at regular intervals. The holes can then be used as a guide to drill holes in the sides of cabinets where small pegs are inserted to support shelves. Cabinets with adjustable shelves are quicker and more efficient to build than fixed shelf cabinets because of the added flexibility it lends to cabinetry.

Things You'll Need

• Plywood strip, 1/4-by-1 1/2-by-24 inches
• Tape measure
• 1/4-inch brad-tipped drill bit
• Drill press
• Hardwood block, 3/4-by-3/4-by-2 inches
• Cordless drill

Instructions

1. Lay the plywood on a flat surface. Stretch a tape measure from one end and lock it. Use a pencil to make a mark every inch down the center of the plywood.

2. Place a 1/4-inch brad-tipped bit in a drill press. Drill holes through the plywood at each mark.

3. Place the 3/4-inch piece of hardwood centered under the drill bit. Hold onto the hardwood and drill straight down through the hardwood until the bit can't go any deeper because it hits the drill chuck. Let go of the hardwood and let the bit spring back up with the hardwood stuck on the bit.

4. Remove the bit from the drill press with the block still stuck on the end. There should be approximately 3/4 inch of the sharp end of the bit protruding out from the end of the block.

5. Insert the drill bit with the block into a cordless drill. To use the jig, stand it upright in the corner of a cabinet. Use the cordless drill to drill into each hole until the block stops the bit from going any deeper. Do all four corners on the inside of the cabinet.

Tips & Warnings

• The measurements here are for a typical 4-inch drill bit. Depending on the length of your drill bit or your shelf peg, you might have to adjust the length of the block to accommodate the correct depth for the peg hole. Make several jigs for efficiency. If your cabinets are extremely tall, you can make a longer jig or stack another jig on top of the first one.

• Wear safety glasses when drilling wood.