Wood Shelf Question

[Tom Saurer]

My wife would like me to make some shelves for the nursery and the living room. No problem, except I don't like the idea of shelf supports in view. Would it work to make a sliding dovetail cleat? Any thoughts on this?

[Tim Sproul]

you'll need to make the shelf thicker if you're looking at a "floating" shelf. Sliding dovetail is a bit much for this.....french cleat and then screw to the wall studs. You can also do something like a box without top or bottom and install that without a top or bottom skin - install so the bottom sets on the wall.....seen many "shapes" other than your standard box. That method also gives a lot more support and can act as diagonal bracing without looking like diagonal bracing.

I construct floating shelves as open structures similar to a torsion box....leave the top off and install. Then set the top on and add a few screws to secure the top.