Feature Four

Supplies Needed:

- Plywood: 51½” x 24” [backing]

- ½” x 6” Board: 168” [shelves]

- ¾” x 6” Board: 104” [sides] – thickness questionable, doesn’t affect size of other boards (possibly backing?)

- Nails

- Wood Glue

Optional:

- Identify which shelves are likely to have entertainment equipment on them, such as DVD players, game consoles, etc. Drill a small hole approximately 1” in radius near the bottom section but above the placement of the shelf board so that cables can be run behind the finished unit.

- Pre-sand the finished sides so that pieces can have distinguishable fronts and backs.

- Round edges of exposed sides to give the wood a softer look.

- Stain or paint the boards before assembly. Make sure not to paint the parts that will be glued together, as that could keep the wood glue from binding properly. Typically there is no need to paint the backing board because it will likely be against a wall.

Steps:

- Cut ½” board into 7 pieces, each measuring 24” long.

- Cut ¾” board into 2 pieces, each measuring 52” long.

- In each ¾” board, cut a ½” notch every 8½”, starting 3” from the bottom and leaving ¼” at the each side. Once seven notches have been cut, there should be a ½” margin from the top.

- On the ½” boards, cut ¼” x ½” blocks from all 4 sides.

- Test the fitting of the ½” boards into the notch in the ¾” board.

- Place a small amount of wood glue into each notch on one side piece. Slip the shelf pieces into the notches, making sure everything is properly lined up one last time.

- Before the wood glue on the first side dries, place a small amount of wood glue on the second side piece and line up with the other sides of the shelf pieces.

- While drying, the unit frame should be flat so that all boards can be seen from above, as such:

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- Once the glue has dried for the specified time (dependant on glue), identify which side of the shelving unit will be the back side. Line the backing board up with the bottom of the unit and make sure that there is no overhang on any sides – if there is, trim accordingly.

- Move the backing board over slightly so that the shelf boards are visible. Carefully mark the places that the shelf pieces line up with the board – this will be where you nail for extra support on the backing board.

- Realign the backing board and begin nailing every 6” on the side boards, and again every 6” on the shelf boards.