Cheap Storage Shelves creative usage

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    Food Living Outside Play Technology Workshop

    Cheap Storage Shelvesby drcj on July 6, 2013

    Table of Contents

    Cheap Storage Shelves .........................................................................................................

    Intro: Cheap Storage Shelves .................................................................................................

    Step 1: Materials & Tools ....................................................................................................

    Step 2: Cutting the Lumber ...................................................................................................

    Step 3: Measure ...........................................................................................................

    Step 4: Build a ladder .......................................................................................................

    Step 5: Start on the shelves ...................................................................................................

    Step 6: Putting it all together part 1 ............................................................................................. 1

    Step 7: Putting it all together part 2 ............................................................................................. 1

    Step 8: Attaching plywood .................................................................................................... 1

    Step 9: Finishing touches .................................................................................................... 1

    Related Instructables ........................................................................................................ 1

    Advertisements ............................................................................................................... 1

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    Intro: Cheap Storage ShelvesOur kitchen was getting too cluttered with not enough counter-space, so I decided to make some cheap heavy duty storage shelves.

    Total cost was around $55 not including tools. Each of the 4 shelves are 21"x 45" and the assembled structure stands 78" tall.

    Step 1:Materials & ToolsI got all necessary materials at Home Depot. Luckily, my local Home Depot cuts all lumber for free which significantly cut down on the total cost of this build. Some lumyards charge up to 50 cents per cut, so that would have gotten expensive very quickly. I certainly had the capability to cut my own wood, but it is just so much faster aeasier to transport in a sub-compact if you get the store to cut it for you.

    Materials:10 * 8' 2 x 4's @ $2.59 each = $261 * 4' x 8' sheet of 1/2" thick plywood = $20-$3080 * 2.5" exterior screws = $5 (just buy a 1 lb box)1" finishing nails

    Tools:PenPower drill

    Set of drill bitsLevelMeasuring tapeHammerClamps (optional)

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    Image Notes1. Does anyone else have a cat that lays like this?2. This was one heavy shelf

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    Step 2:Cutting the LumberYou are starting with 10 2 x 4's and one 4' x 8' section of 1/2" plywood.

    The plywood will go on to become the shelves, so it will need to be cut to dimensions of 21" x 45". You will need 3 of these sheets and one sheet of 21" x 48" for the toshelf.

    4' x 8' plywood --> 3 * 21" x 45" plywood + 1* 21" x 48" plywood

    Each shelf consists of two 4' boards with three 18" boards sandwiched between them. These shelves rest on four vertical 78" boards.

    Four boards should be cut at 18" --> 4 * 78" boards + 4 * 18" boardsFour boards should be cut at 48" --> 8 * 48" boardsThe remaining two boards should be cut into 18" sections until the total number of 18" sections is 12.

    Image Notes1. three sandwiched 18" sections per shelf

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    Image Notes1. cut sections of plywood2. Eight 4' boards3. Four 78" boards4. Twelve 18" boards5. scrap wood6. cat

    Image Notes

    1. 78" tall2. 48" wide3. 21" deep

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    Step 3:MeasureLine up all four 78" sections and mark off lines at the point where you want your shelves to lie.

    Measuring is the most important step, so make sure you are accurate or else the shelf will not be level.

    Each shelf height is up to you, but my suggested measurements can be seen in the image.

    Image Notes1. Units are inches

    Image Notes1. Just using the level as a straight edge here

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    Step 4:Build a ladderLine up an 18" section with your line, ensure it is square.

    Pre-drill 2 holes with a drill bit only slightly smaller than the diameter of your screws. This is necessary to keep the wood from splitting when you insert the screws.

    Screw the two pieces of wood together.

    Wash, rinse, and repeat until you basically have a ladder, then build another ladder which wil l make up the other side of the shelf.

    Image Notes1. lining up 18" segment with l ines drawn in previous step2. board used to ensure the end was square3. These middle boards served as spacers and support. very useful4. Make sure BOTH sides are square before drilling5. I didn't clamp, I simply kept my weight on the 18" board to make sure it didn't goanywhere6. Make sure ends are in line or the shelf won't be level

    Image Notes1. Making sure the ends were flush and square before drilling

    Image Notes Image Notes

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    1. Drill holes, THEN insert screws2. Use two screws on each side to prevent rotation

    1. Beautiful isn't it?

    Image Notes1. Tah-dah! its a ladder

    Image Notes1. Use your level to make sure you didn't f-up somewhere along the line

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    Image Notes1. After all that tedious work, make sure you build an identical second ladder

    Step 5:Start on the shelvesThe first part of making the actual shelves involves attaching a cross-beam to four of the 4' sections exactly in the middle. There's no good way to do this, but the bestway I could figure out was to place both boards on a flat table, lined up the best I could, then attach then with screws - taking care to pre-drill holes.

    Image Notes1. What we are building in this step

    Image Notes1. The best positioning I found for screwing the two pieces together2. Always keep a spare battery charged

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    Image Notes1. I measured the mid-line, then eyeballed it with the attachment

    Image Notes1. Well that didn't turn out all that bad now did it?

    Step 6:Putting it all together part 1Now you have all the pieces you need to attach everything together.

    Lay both ladders on their sides with the 18" segments on the insides, then lay the cross-beams built in the last step across the ladders where the 18" segments attach

    Make sure everything is square, then start screwing everything together (after pre-drilling holes) wi th 2 screws per joint to prevent rotation.

    Image Notes1. cross-beams flush with side of ladder2. Attach with 1 screw in 78" segment and 1 screw in 18" segment

    Image Notes1. The joint is made very strong by the perpendicular screws

    Step 7:Putting it all together part 2Now that you have the rough shape of the storage shelves, all that needs to be done is to flip it over and attach the four remaining 4' boards to the other side.

    Make sure to secure the remaining boards to the cross-beams as well.

    You may need straps to hold the sides in as you secure the final boards.

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    Image Notes1. straps used to bring sides in as I secured final boards2. Test fitting 21" x 48" plywood piece on the top

    Image Notes1. Make sure to secure the cross-beam when you at tach the final boards2. Straps can be removed once all boards are secured

    Step 8:Attaching plywood

    Use finishing nails to tack on the plywood sheets to the shelves.

    Because this thing was so tall, I did the top shelf while it was laying down, then flipped i t up to attach the remaining pieces of plywood.

    REMEMBER: the top piece of plywood is the largest piece because it over-hangs the supporting studs.

    Additionally, once you raise your shelves upright, make sure to check to make sure they are level,

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    Image Notes1. 1" finishing nail2. What a joint

    Image Notes1. This thing is BIG2. And heavy3. curious cats

    Image Notes1. Make sure the shelves are level

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    Image Notes1. He thinks its a cat-tower

    Step 9:Finishing touchesMove your shelves into position and add any finishing touches you want, like wood-stain, polyurethane, paint, or kitchen appliances.

    Image Notes1. Its always convenient to have more outlets

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    Image Notes1. So much more storage space!

    Image Notes1. Take pride in your work!

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