How to Make a Kitchen Counter Book Shelf
Most folks would do more experimenting in the kitchen if their cookbooks were at hand when the inspiration to conjure culinary delights strikes them. As it is, by the time we head to wherever it is we keep our cookbooks or look up a recipe online, we have lost the urge. A simple kitchen counter bookshelf, based on a design in "Build It Better Yourself," installed in your kitchen can allow you to put your cookbooks on display and start cooking those gourmet meals in no time. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 1 board, 1 inch x 12 inches x 48 inches long (3/4 inch x 11-1/4 inch actual size)
- 1 board, 1 inch x 1 inch x 45-1/2 inches long (3/4 inch x 3/4 inch actual size)
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Carpenter's square
- Saw
- Sandpaper (assorted medium to fine)
- Drill
- 3/32 drill bit
- Carpenter's glue
- 8, 1 1/4 inch flathead wood screws
- Screwdriver
- Paint or stain
Instructions
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1
Measure the 1 inch x 12 inch x 48 inch long board for two 12 inch pieces (sides) and one 24 inch long piece (shelf). [Note for novices: To measure, hook the end of the measuring tape over one end of the board and measure down the length. For this step, make a mark at 12 inches, then another mark at the 24-inch point on the measuring tape. The remainder of the board should be 24 inches long if you started with a 48-inch long board. To make straight lines from those marks using a carpenters square, align one edge of the square with the side of the board to be marked, then use a pencil to draw a line along the second side of the square, perpendicular to the edge of the board. Those will be your cutting lines.
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2
Measure the 1 inch x 1 inch x 45-1/2 inches long board and mark for two 10 inch pieces (supports) and one 25-1/2 inch long piece (back brace). (Please see Step 1 for explanation of how to measure a board--substituting the measurements in this step for those in step 1-- and how to use a carpenter's square.)
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3
Cut all pieces to length with a saw.
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4
Sand the flat surfaces and the ends of all pieces except the shelf---sand only the top and bottom face of that piece. Start with medium grit and work through to fine, until the surface is free of rough patches and smooth to the touch.
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5
Lay the two 10 inch supports together (sides touching and ends square); measure and make a dot with the pencil one inch from each end, and in the center of each piece (at 5 inches from either end).
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6
Turn the supports ¼ turn clockwise (to the right) and make two more dots, this time at 2 inches from each end.
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7
Measure and mark a penciled dot 3/8 inch in from the ends of the 25-1/2 inch long back brace piece.
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8
Drill all the way through the supports and back brace at the dots.
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9
Turn the shelf board over and run a thin bead of Carpenter's glue along each end (all the way across).
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10
Set the two 10 inch supports on the ends of the overturned shelf board, on top of the glued area, and aligned with the ends of the board. Center them in the shelf board so that there is approximately 5/8 inches of space on either end. (IMPORTANT: Make sure that the sides of the supports with two holes face up--with three holes on the sides.)
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11
Screw the supports to the shelf board using 4 flathead screws (two on each end).
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12
Lay the side pieces side by side and draw a straight line across both pieces 3 inches from the bottom edge using a carpenter's square to keep the lines straight.
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13
Run a bead of glue about ¼ inch away and along the lower side of this line on each piece.
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14
With one side piece flat on your work surface, position the shelf board with attached supports so that the upper edge of the shelf board aligns precisely with the line, (the glue bead should be covered by the shelf board and support).
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15
Screw the supports to the side board using 3 flathead screws.
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16
Repeat the previous two steps with the other side.
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17
Turn the assembled shelf on its face and position the back brace 2 inches down from the top of each side piece. Screw in place with one screw through each end.
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18
Wipe any excess glue from the shelf. Paint or stain as desired.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Bookshelf 8 image by Tomasz Nowicki from Fotolia.com
