Shelving Unit

DIY this trendy ladder style shelves for under $110

I had one of those crappy flat pack bookcases in my living room for too long before I made this shelving unit because I thought it would be too expensive and difficult. Guess what?! It’s easy! And cheaper than a flat pack too! My lumber $75 and hardware (brackets and screws) were $10 and stain$10 and clear coat $12

material list:

3 8ft boards pine shelving 1ft wide 3/4 thick

4 2x4's

24 corner brace 1-3/4"x1"

72 #6 3/4 length wood screws

small tin (236ml) of wood stain (I used a dark stain)

small tin of clear coat

1. At the hardware store they have pine shelving. I used three 8ft boards that were 1ft wide ¾ thick and for the legs I used four 2x4’s. It doesn’t hurt to mention to them that it’s for a bookcase/shelves and ask for nice straight pieces. The guy at my local store was really nice and let me O.K each one before we loaded them up. They don’t cut the boards at my local store but luckily I have a lovey father in law that has a compound mitre saw that made quick work of the cutting. (If you don’t have access to one of those a circular saw would be fine too or a trusty old hand saw would work as well. It will just take a long time).

2. My shelves were cut in decreasing 0.5ft. So longest board was 5ft, next was 4.5ft then 4ft, 3.5, 3ft and 2.5ft at the top.

1. The legs were cut at a 10⁰ angle at the bottom to get that leaning ladder type shape

1. Once everything was cut give it a sand and clean all the sawdust off.

2. I already had wood stain but you can buy a little tin fairly cheap. It’s up to you which color but being fairly rough timber I used a dark stain (Varathane Kona). Once everything is stained leave overnight to dry.

3. So your wood stain is dry? Great but it will rub all over everything if you don’t clear coat it. Believe me its messy. I didn’t clear coat mine and when I went to put it together I was covered in it. I used Varathane interior water based gloss. Once that’s coated leave to dry again. Give it a few hours and it should be fine.

4. Assembly! Because of the angle of the 2x4’s it’s gonna be a little fiddly, I used my dogs leashes to tie them to the curtain rod so I could lean the beams and the 10⁰ angle I cut was flush to the floor. I used these little metal brackets and started by screwing one into the height I wanted my shelves to start with a little level to make sure it wasn’t going to end up crooked. Then with a board sitting on that bracket and the other end propped up with books I put the level on the board and found where the bracket needed to be positioned on the other 2x4 (I’m doing one side at a time. So front and back of the left side first). Then do the same to the other side(right side) one 2x4 at a time keeping a level on the shelf and checking between the legs and in the middle of the shelf constantly. (The first one is the hardest! It’s all downhill from here) I was using a drill but you could use a screwdriver, you’ll be there for a lot longer. I think you can get battery operated screwdrivers fairly cheap too as an alternative if you don’t have a drill. I was using self-taping wood screws so I didn’t have to go around pre-drilling holes too.

1. Once the bottom shelf is in the rope (or dog leash) at the top of the boards will be pulling them together so when you go to put in the next shelf it will be tight and hold it in place for you. Yay! I jammed the next shelf in and checked everything with the level, then checked it again. And screwed the brackets in under the shelves

1. My distances between shelves was 1ft 2inches then 1ft 1inch for the next two then 1ft in the middle then another 1ft 2inches. I didn’t really measure this as I went I just put them where I thought they would suit me best my only real concern is that they were level. At each level I loosed the ropes at the top until I didn’t need them.

2. My shelves are sitting on carpet so they were a little wobbly so I put a bracket on each side on the back of the 2x4 and screwed it to my wall hiding it behind one of the shelves. That thing is solid as a rock now.

This shelving unit is very big but the concept can be adjusted to any size.The 10⁰ should work for smaller sizes you will just have to reduce the size of the boards, or leave them wide and have a bigger gap between the 2x4’s at the top. They’re your shelves!

#diy #shelver #ladder #bookcase #woodworking #timber