How to Build a Cheap Wood Shelf Unit
Shelving units are excellent for storing things. You can use shelves as storage space for various items such as books, bins, collectible items or even food. Buying a shelving unit at a furniture or department store can be expensive. You can make your own shelving unit cheaply by using inexpensive pine boards. You can stain the wood to lok like oak, cherry or whatever you like once the unit is built.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Pine boards
- Tape measure
- Straight edge
- Marking pencil
- Circular saw
- Finishing nails
- Hammer
- 1 sheet of 1/4 inch plywood
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide how wide and how tall you want the shelf to be. Decide how deep you want the shelving unit to be. Use a tape measure to measure the boards according to those measurements. Use a straight edge and a marking pencil to make cut lines on the wood. Use the height measurement to make 2 sides. Use the width measurement to make a top, bottom and shelves.
-
2
Use a circular saw to cut the pine boards where they have been marked. Make sure to use eye protection. Label the boards lightly with a marking pencil that can later be gently erased. This will help you to know which piece goes where.
-
-
3
Take all of the pine boards to the room where the shelving unit will be. Lay out the boards according to what they are. The top of the shelf requires the top board, the bottom requires the bottom board, the sides go on the sides and the shelves can be placed at even intervals or various intervals. How far apart the shelves are is up to you. Place them according to the height of what will be stored on each of them.
-
4
Have a friend help you to hold the pieces firmly. Use a hammer and finishing nails 1/2 inch from the edges of the boards, every 3 inches. Put nails through the top down into the sides, up through the bottom into the sides, into and through the sides into the shelves. If your shelves will be supporting heavy objects be certain to cut 1 inch strips and nail or screw them under each side of the shelves for added support.
-
5
Put on eye protection. Use a circular saw to cut 1/4 inch plywood to the height and width of the shelving unit. Attach using a hammer and finishing nails 1/2 inch in from all edges. Insert a nail every 4 to 5 inches.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Measure and mark the side boards carefully when making marks for shelf placement to avoid shelves that are not level.
Use eye protection, care and caution when using a circular saw.
