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This is about as simple as a wall shelf gets: two 1x8 sides screwed into a bottom/back piece, with a strip of flat metal stock across the front standing in for a wood lip. The metal rail is a nice detail — thin enough to stay visually quiet, but effective at stopping jars or books from sliding forward.
Note for anyone comparing against the source listing: the shopping and cut lists here consistently call for 1x8 boards (7-1/4" actual width), even though some source titles for this plan say "1x6." Build from the 1x8 dimensions below — they're what the actual cut list requires.
Cut the metal bar with a jigsaw fitted with a metal-cutting blade, and don't expect it to add real structural strength — its job is just to keep small items from tipping off the front edge, not to carry load.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine, 1x8, 8 ftSides and bottom/back — buy two boards for clean offcuts and to allow for knots. | 2 each |
| 3/4"-wide flat metal stock, 41" lengthHardware-store bar stock, cut to length. | 1 each |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 2 oz |
| 2" self-tapping wood screws or 1-1/4" pocket hole screws | 1 box |
| Wall-mounting screwsChoose for your wall type — 2-1/2" screws into studs through drywall is typical. | 1 each |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom/backPine 1x8 | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 39 1/2" |
| SidesPine 1x8 | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 8" |
| Front railFlat metal stock | 1 | 3/16" × 3/4" × 41" |
Buy 3 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Attach the two 1x8 boards together edge to edge with screws — either pocket hole screws or 2" self-tapping screws — placed about every 6–8" along the joint. This forms the L-shaped bottom/back of the shelf.
Glue and nail the two side pieces to the bottom/back assembly. These sides are the main structural piece holding everything else up, so make sure they're square and firmly fastened.
Cut the flat metal stock to length with a jigsaw fitted with a metal-cutting blade — wear safety glasses, metal cutting throws sharp filings. Predrill it with a metal drill bit and attach it across the front edge; a single 1-1/4" screw at each end is plenty. It's meant to stop things from sliding off, not to bear weight, so don't over-engineer the fastening.
Locate studs with a stud finder and screw through the back of the shelf into them. On a typical stud-framed wall with 1/2" drywall, 2-1/2" screws are a solid choice.
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