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A small open shelf box with a flat metal bar across the front edge instead of a lip — just enough to keep things from sliding off.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom/back | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 39 1/2" | Pine 1x8 | ☐ |
| Sides | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 8" | Pine 1x8 | ☐ |
| Front rail | 1 | 3/16" × 3/4" × 41" | Flat metal stock | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Pine, 1x8, 8 ft Sides and bottom/back — buy two boards for clean offcuts and to allow for knots. | 2 each | ☐ |
| 3/4"-wide flat metal stock, 41" length Hardware-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 screws Choose for your wall type — 2-1/2" screws into studs through drywall is typical. | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 1x8, 8 ft, 2" self-tapping wood screws or 1-1/4" pocket hole screws
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.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: Pine, 1x8, 8 ft, Wood glue
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.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set, Jigsaw. Materials: 3/4"-wide flat metal stock, 41" length
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.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Wall-mounting screws
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.