Take your scrap wood, one on top and one on bottom, and tape it (masking tape) around , then clamp the whole assembly to the miter box. You can build your own garage shelves from scrap 2 x 4s and plywood… Place the bottom shelf at the height you prefer. This step is optional but if you choose not to do it you will have to be creative on hiding the screws with trim or by painting it (thats how I did the first version of this shelf for my wife's craft room) Remove all the dust and then go over it again with tack cloth just to be sure. After checking the fit, take the plywood off, put some glue on it (spread the glue around for better coverage) and place the plywood on it again (best side up) try to position it so that the front will be flush, because it will be seen more than the back anyway. Thank you for posting! After you put the screws in you can remove the clamp (if you have a limited number of clamps) and move your clamp to the next spot to be glued up. (because there are 5 gaps between shelves between the top and bottom) Each shelf will be composed of a frame topped with plywood. (1) 48" x 14" plywood for the top It measures 7 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 1 foot deep. because 46.5 + 0.75 + 0.75 = 48 which will make it line up nicely with the plywood backing. 2x4 Shelving the best way to fit 2x4 at corner, screw, wood, shelf, end, no glue: Saved by My Spring Valley Home Taking your Finishing nails (1.5") nail the plywood down with at least 2 nails on the short side and probably 4 or 5 on the long side. Thanks!!! Ensure that the top is flush with the top of the sides and that the bottom is flush with the bottom. This plan shows the bottom shelf … First position the 1x6 in the shelf as it will be when its finished. Each shelf section is made up of three elements: 2x4 frames, 2x4 brackets and 3/8” plywood shelf toppers. on Step 18. Great instructable, well written and descriptive. If either side (or both sides) need adjustment then plane or sand it down some more till they both fit for all the frames. Giant Shelves Made From 2x4s and Plywood Step 1: Design and Limitations. If this were a conventional bookshelf with 1" x 12" or 1" x 6" such a wide span for each shelf would sag when fully loaded with books, however since this one has a 2x4 frame under each shelf you can boost the width. Now just repeat this step till you get all the shelves in. After you draw it out and are happy with it (if your not happy thats why they invented erasers), cut out the paper template with scissors and an exacto knife. Thanks so much for watching my newest video on building a 20' long garage storage shelving unit! You might need to call a friend for this step, it is really heavy DON'T hurt yourself. on Step 18, How much would you estimate your project to cost? Scissors Each sawhorse consists of seven 2x4s cut to two different lengths. (1) 4' x 7' for the back of the bookcase How to Build a Shelf for the Garage WOAH THIS IS LIKE SUPER GENIUS!!! Measure, mark, and cut 3/4-inch plywood bottom shelf to size. Why 46.5 you may ask? It is easily scalable if you want to make it smaller. pre-stain treatment (I used Minwax brand for all of the stain treatment) For this project I used 3 kinds of joinery Half-lap, Screws and Nails. Each of these shelves is the same thickness, length and width. For extra support if you are really careful you can screw 2 drywall screws in the sides straight through to the frame but do it so that it will be hidden by the trim (less than 1/2 inch away from the edge). Set your combination square to 1 and 1/4" Now take one of the frames, put the pocket holes you just drilled on the bottom. Pencil Easy and inexpensive, but sturdy and functional. One other way that would make this cheaper is to make it 3 feet wide instead of 4, I'm pretty sure that would save 1 sheet of plywood. (2) 8' sticks of trim (at least 2" wide) Sand the whole bookcase, if its really rough start with a course sandpaper like 60 grit and work up to 220 so its nice and smooth, no splinters etc. Who couldn’t use a little extra storage space in their garage? It is a larger version of one I built for my wife last year (4' x 4' x 1'). You can use this formula to scale down this bookcase if you want. Wood glue Lowes will rip cut the 8×4 ft sheets of plywood for you to save you some time. Joining them with wood glue and 2 ½-inch screws. Place them on top of the bottom shelf and put the next shelf on top of them. Consider building your own utility shelves to fit the exact space you have available. A Half-Lap joint is where half the wood is removed on the bottom of one piece, half the wood is removed on the top piece where they will overlap so that they fit together flush. I chose a water based stain because its easier to clean up and very easy to work with. Most Lumberyards … 20" or 24" Crosscut saw Measure the inside of the case from top of the bottom shelf to the bottom of the top shelf. Once it is positioned, clamp the plywood down to the frame in all 4 corners. I did this to try and challenge myself. 20-Volt MAX XR Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless 1/4 in. 1x2's on the front of the sides to cover the edge of the plywood on the front. Just dry fit it to ensure it has a snug fit but not too tight. It was about 150 dollars minus the hardware. Includes video tutorial from ana-white.com. After cutting out most of the waste leaving just about 1/8" go back on the edges with a 1" bench chisel and hammer. Locate and place a dot for each notch. polyacrylic D: Strengthening Plywood and Composite Shelves. What made this over 100 dollars was the trim. I found it handy to keep a paper towel in one hand in case I noticed a bit of drip, and a task light of some kind to let you see the reflection of the clear coat to see what all you have covered. Subtract from that number the thickness of a shelf x 4 because there will be 4 shelves between the bottom and top, then divide that number by 5. I just … The 2" x 4"s don't really matter on quality just so long as they are straight. (5) 12" x 46.5" for the shelves Don't worry there isn't any joinery involved here except drywall screws. These shelf brackets are really strong because of the cantilever design. Coping Saw Allow the first coat to dry per the can's instructions, sand lightly with the finishing pad, tack cloth the whole thing then apply the second coat. Attach the decorative trim you just made (try to place the nails were they will get covered by the crown molding). A job well done. [X - (Y * 4)] / 5 = spacing between shelves. Attach them with wood glue and finishing nails. We have since loaded it down with books and its holding just fine. Then very carefully free hand the arch. 5 years ago The type of plywood you choose will depend on economics, how much exposure to the elements the wood will get, and whether looks are important to you. When you build that shelf, leave out the 2x3 that is on the wall. Shelving Units from 2x4s and other 2x lumber. You can make a few adjustments to my plans so the workbench suits your needs. Nail or screw the plywood to the wall mounted 2x3, and end nail the shorter shelf 2x3's to the wall mounted 2x3. In my case the first notch is 1", 2nd notch 12", halfway mark (not a notch) is 23.25", 3rd notch 34.5" and 4th notch 45.5" Yes I know its not exactly even but its pretty darn close, and it looks nice :-p By most I mean the 1x3's go along the sides to cover where the back of the bookcase would show then one on the front side flush with the edge of the plywood. Allow the second coat to dry then sand lightly with polyacrylic, wipe the tack cloth over it again, and apply the final coat. Position on top of the workbench allowing for a 3-inch overhang on all sides. Once you finish all the joints, try putting them together as a dry run to see how well the fit. After using the finishing pad and tack cloth apply the first coat of Polyacrylic carefully. After its fully cured fill it up with some good reading material :-). Work Surface and Storage in One. 2x4s: Corner posts: Cut four 2x4s down to 6-feet. It leaves a very smooth result and handles these curves wonderfully! They are held together by a half-lap joint. One tip here I wish I would have known... take some scrap wood and cut a few small 45 degree miter cuts to fit against the crown molding and make it more square it is very difficult to clamp a slanted piece of wood while cutting it. Join them with glue and 2 ½-inch screws. There are a few plywood grading systems out there, but most of them follow an A-D classification with A being the best. Now attach most of the trim. synthetic brush Let the whole thing dry as long as the glue bottle says then sand the wood putty spots flat. (4) 1" x 3"Stain: 10 years ago Butcher paper sandpaper Slide into place and attach with 1 1/4-inch wood screws. I LOVE this workbench plan but…when I click on “Plans Download” at the top of the webpage just below the title, the next page says “No content available” Instructions Step 1. Don't nail it all the way down, stop about 1/8" of an inch above the surface and finish driving it with a nail set so that it is just a little below the surface. Build four end shelf supports by positioning the back of the dadoes shelf riser against a 2 -x 4-inch board of the same length. Congratulations you now have a coffin err I mean partially assembled shelf. Make sure the shelf is flush with the sides in the front and screw it together using the pocket holes you drilled earlier. If it needs any adjusting now is the time to do so. (72) 1 1/4" drywall screws Haste makes waste. This step by step woodworking project is about wooden simple workbench made from 2x4s plans. If it looks like it needs another coat of stain to make it darker then go ahead and do so, allow it to dry, use the finishing pad again and tack cloth again. (2) Full sheets of 8' x 4' x 3/4" Plywood and 1 piece that measures 14" x 48" Miter box Clamp the board into a vise upside down so you can cut out the bulk of the waste with a coping saw. tack clothTools: One last tip, Since this will take a while to put together consider buying it in stages to be easier on the budget ex. Use the four 2-foot pieces from the corner post cuts to make the other 4 21-inch end pieces. Combination Square Garage storage and shelving solutions are abundant, but the prices can be shocking. The sides will need to be sanded front and back. On the backing just sand the part that will be the inside of the bookcase. TOOLS USED. Take one of the pieces of plywood (12" x 46.5") and check to see how it fits on top of the frame. Technically a 2x4 is 1.5 in × 3.5 in so this should be 3.5. Minus hardware that is? Building Garage Shelves. on Introduction, 10 years ago Kreg Jig® Mini (can actually be done without this but that means you'll have to be really carefull where the screws go to hide them under the trim) Box of 2" drywall screws Manufactured shelving usually doesn’t offer spacing flexibility and easy reconfiguration. Rubber Mallet This will help the whole thing come out more uniform, no blotching and more even coverage. Cutting, drilling the 2x4s. Also add drywall screws on the back side, be very careful to keep them straight so you don't screw under or over a shelf. Cut the 2×4 brace to the sizes needed (width of the shelf – 3″).Then create 2 pockets, using the Kreg Jig, on both ends of the board (there will be 4 per board).This is how you will attach the brace to … If the sides are short then try to split the difference. This part should be performed with extra patience. If you are making shelves where the color and grain of the wood is an important part of the design, look for oak, maple, or cherry plywood—these options will still offer durability, but will help keep costs down compared to with non-manufactured hardwoods of the same species. Attach the extra big shelf (14" x 48") to the top. Next reach behind the 1x6 and draw a line against the frame so that you will know where the frame begins (so that you know exactly how much wood you have to work with). Locate studs in the wall and mark. Since you'll anchor it to the ceiling joists and the floor, it'll be sturdier under a heavy load than most freestanding garage shelves. Apply a Pre-stain wash. I would recommend rounding up the lengths where possible (the 46.5" becomes 48") then cutting them again when you get home to their correct length. We used two 2″ x 4″ boards, cut to length, as the actual “frame”. Materials Needed for Between the Studs Shelves. Start by adding 3 foot, 2x4 support boards where the interior cabinet shelves will go, one on each side. Sheets of 3/4-inch Plywood, (1) 3/4-inch plywood @ 54 inches x 27 inches (bottom shelf), (1) 3/4-inch plywood @ 60 inches x 36 inches (top). Then simply use a chain to secure S-hooks to the ceiling and base of the shelf. If this were a smaller half-lap you could do the entire half-lap with a rabbet plane. Very carefully screw the sides into the top and bottom shelves using the 2 inch wood screws drill straight through the sides into the frame of the shelf (trim will cover this later) making sure that the front of the shelves and the front of the sides are as close to flush as you can make them. Measure and cut the Trim for the front and the 1x4 and 1x6. Exacto knife. Set the Kreg Brand Drill bit to 4 and 3/4" from adjustable collar to tip of the drill bit Free plans to build garage shelving using only 2x4s. (2) 1' x 7' for the sides of the bookcase Make sure all the trim nails are counter sunk. The House of Wood is Jen’s creative outlet for all things DIY and design, a place where she documents her adventures in designing and building furniture and tackling home renovation projects. Draft out your design on some scrap paper. Simply cut another 1’x2′ board the length of your shelf minus 3 inches (to accommodate … (1) 6' x 1" x 6" (for the top) These console shelves look like they came straight … I am a self-taught carpenter with a fearless DIY spirit and a penchant for problem-solving. If you are building straightforward shelves, you also need to add wood supports along the back wall of the closet. Remember to countersink them with the nail set. The rigidity of plywood and composite wood can be improved by gluing on solid wood edges or plastic laminate faces (Fig. Now you’ll have 8 full 2x4s, 4 6-foot 2x4s, and 8 21-inch 2x4s. Make sure its snug but not too tight. To maximize space, you can build a shelf from 2x4s, plywood, chains and S-hooks. X = distance from bottom of top shelf to top of bottom shelf Pocket-hole screws hold the 2x4s together, while 1” drywall screws hold the plywood to the 2x4s. 2×2 wall cleat (36″ long) 3/4″ plywood (8×22) 2×6 (about 26″ long) (2) 1" x 2" Your email address will not be published. I drilled 4 holes on one 46.5" side and 2 holes on both of the 12" sides for a total of 48 holes. Next clamp the jig down. Even the smaller version I made earlier 48" x 48" x 12" is very heavy. If this were a shorter bookshelf and people could actually see the top then this would be important. Now do the numbers. Thanks! on Introduction. For this part I moved all the work into the house because my wife suggested it :-) A word of caution though, if your wife isn't tolerant of wood chips, sawdust, the odor of paint or stain then do all this outside and get some very strong friends to help move it inside when you finish, because it will be VERY heavy. Nice job!!! Step 3. (48) Kreg brand 2" Coarse self tapping pocket hole screws Next you will need to make 4 spacers. I'm trying to reduce the overall weight of this since I'll be moving it myself. Slide the shelf assembly over the wall-attached 2x3, secure the front uprights to the shelf with clamps. Back saw You might even want to ask the employee to measure each piece before cutting, he might grumble but this could save you serious time later. I used all scraps and supplies that I had on hand. Step 2. All the wood I used is Pine because its cheaper. Drill the hole and then move the jig down to the next hole. Now that all the cuts are finished you need to assemble the frames. If you don't have a spokeshave get one :-). (1) 6' x 1" x 4" (for the bottom) Required fields are marked *. If its 1/16" or less small its ok. Allow the first coat of stain to dry for three hours then lightly sand (just lightly brush the "Between coat finishing pad" over the entire project. To help speed things along and help with transportation you might consider having the plywood and 2x4's chopped up at the lumberyard/home center here are the dimensions: I also used ½ inch thick plywood for the shelving surface, with the smoother side of the plywood facing up. Build two center supports by positioning pairs of shelf risers back-to-back. Attach to the workbench with 1 1/4-inch wood screws. Repeat this process for all 6 shelves. 3-Speed Impact Driver Step back and enjoy. Very well thought out instructable. Did you make this project? To help speed things along and help with transportation you might consider having the plywood and 2x4's chopped up at the lumberyard/home center here are the dimensions: (12) 46.5" length 2x4's (12) 12" length 2x4's (1) 4' x 7' for the back of the bookcase (2) 1' x 7' for the sides of the bookcase (5) 12" x 46.5" for the shelves (1) 48" x 14" plywood for the top One word of Caution here. Once you have the spacer length figured out, cut four spacers out of scrap wood.