To start off this project on How to easily build a floating shelf for heavy items, you will need the following;
- 2 x 4s
- Screws
- Glue
- 1 x 6 lumber
- cedar fence boards
- Polyurethane
- Wood filler
- lag screws
Most of the floating shelves you may come across in peoples homes are decorative floating shelves that will carry a few decorative items like picture frames, lightweight books, etc.
If you want a floating shelve that will carry some heavy weight items you may have to search for long. So, how about build one yourself. This is what we are going to do right now.
Watch the video and use the supplies list above and the written instruction below to complete the project.
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1. Firstly you can start with making the bracket. It’s constructed entirely of two by fours and screws, and you can make it whatever length you want; this one is 56 inches long, but you can make it any length you like.
2. Cut one piece to 56 inches in length, and then cut five sections to seven inches in length each.
3. Indicated the locations of the outboard studs by marking four inches inboard from each edge, and then mark two more areas 16 inches on center in between the original marks for the other studs.
4. To complete the assembly, use several 3-inch screws and some glue to hold everything together.
5. After that, cut the top and bottom covers of the shelf out of some 1 by 6 lumber. You can get these on amazon.com If you look here.
6. Then glue the 1 by 6s together to form the top and bottom covers.
7. Afterwards, let the pieces dry overnight after cleaning away any leftover glue.
8. Use cedar fence boards for the front and side coverings.
9. Then put all current parts together to figure out how broad the cedar boards that would ultimately be used to construct the Shelf should be cut.
11. Cut the two widths into a reasonable size.
12. Measure the width of the shelf so that you can figure out how short to cut the cedar planked front panel.
13. After that, measure and cut the side covers from leftover cedar boards, and now you will have all of the shelf surfaces lined out in the configuration that you want them to be.
14. After that, nail, screw, and glue the front side top and bottom coverings together, and then fill up the gaps with wood filler.
15. After that, begin the time-consuming process of staining and applying polyurethane to the shelves.
16. During the drying process for the final paint coat, punch some pilot holes into the back bracket. The holes should be made in the upper third of the rear bracket to counteract any downward force from anything put on the shelf. This will assist to retain the shelf’s structural integrity.
17. Then mark the studs on the wall using a pencil. When mounting, often use tape so that you don’t have to paint over any lines. It is critical to use the correct screws when mounting.
18. In order to install the bracket, use three-eighths inch by five and a half inch slotted lag screws.
19. After installing four of these lag screws, the bracket is robust enough to carry some heavy items.
Finally, If you want to keep the shelf from moving, you may insert a screw on either the top or bottom of it.
…and there you have it: a floating shelf that can carry the weight of a 180-pound man.
Author: Saleh Ibrahim
