LED Floating Shelves

Instructions

1. 1Cut Materials to Size

   Working off the cut list and building plans cut the sides, top, bottom, and back to size

   Tip: Try to match the grain pattern/direction when cutting out your pieces from the wood if you plan to stain. This will give the project a professional look when complete

   

2. 2Route Channel for LED strip - 1/2" Channel - top piece

   Using a router and router table, route a 1/2" channel as noted on the plans 3/8" deep on the top piece. This is where the LED strip will sit.

   Tip: Using Kregs router table guides will let you stop at ends and prevent over router the channel

   

3. 3Route Channel for LED strip - 3/4" channel - top piece

   Using a router and router table, route a 3/4" channel as noted on the plans 1/8" deep on the top piece. This is where the acrylic lens will sit. You can adjust depth of this cut depending on your acrylic's thickness. Or you can delete this step and just leave the LED strip exposed.

   

4. 4Route channel for backing

   Set you Router table fence and route all the groves for the backing to sit in. The channel can be the entire heigth of the sides. For the top and bottom leave about 1/8" at the ends of the channel

   Tip: Add Pocket Holes Add the pockets holes to both sides, noting the orientation of the piece (no pocket holes at the back to avoid LED wring and key holes).

   

5. 5Add Key Holes

   To easily and securely hand this on the wall you can add key holes to the back. Note the orientation of the pieces as the keyholes need to have the correct way (and at the back). You can ignore this step if you wish to hang the shelf in an alternative way.

   

6. 6Paint LED Strip Channel

   Optional step - you may want to finish or paint the channel the LED strip goes in ahead of time as it will be more difficult to finish once the LED strip is installed.

   

7. 7Add LED strip

   Secure your LED strip. Ours had double sided tape. Once installed cover you strip with painter's tape to prevent finish from getting on the LEDs.

   

8. 8Add Pocket Holes

   Add four pocket holes to each side

   

9. 9Assembly - Part 1

   Glue and screw the two sides to the top of the shelve. Ensure the wiring is in the correct placement and the key holes point the right way.

   

10. 10Drill hole for LED strip controller

    If your LED's have a controller and switch. Add a hole to the back (noted in drawings for the linked LED kit) to allow the remote to active and control the LED lightning.

11. 11Assembly - Part 2

    Add glue and slide the backing into place, ensuring the hole for the LED 's controller is in the right position.

    

12. 12Assembly - Part 3

    Add the bottom to the shelf and glue and screw into place with the pocket holes

    

13. 13Fill Pocket holes

    Using Kreg's wooden plugs, fill the 8 pocket holes

14. 14Sand

    Fill and cracks, nicks and sand entire box to prep for finish

    

15. 15Apply Finish

    Add your desired finish, we primed and painted the shelf black

    

16. 16Add Acrylic

    Add and secure the Acrylic lens in place using silicone or glue. You can install by bending the middle up, inserting the ends under the shelf's sides. You can use hot glue to secure the lens into place.

    

17. 17Add LED Battery and Hardware

    Secure the LED hardware and battery to the back of the shelf. Have the controller's "eye" go through the hole of the backing. You may need to slightly modify to have it sit flat.