Mark Katz
03-03-2020, 2:07 AM
I had a bunch of melamine, left over from a project, that has been hanging around the shop taking up space for at least 15 years. I got tired of tripping over it or lugging it around to get behind it so I decided to turn it into more workshop shelving. I made the shelves 9 deep as I find deeper shelves accumulate more hidden stuff. Besides, I only had enough melamine for 9 shelves.
The basic construction is nothing special - Butt joints with dominos and Titebond Melamine Glue. White oak edging, with an oak ply back panel.
The thing I want to highlight here is that I decided to build it with wide shelves and adjustable vertical partitions, rather than the more typical horizontal adjustable shelves.
Borrowing the idea from a piece of Scandinavian-style furniture Ive had for about 40 years, I used these wire shelf supports to hold each partition in position: https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/hardware/storage-and-organization/shelf-supports/40191-hidden-shelf-supports. You cut an 1/8 groove in the top and bottom of each vertical partition to slide over each wire.
This meant that I needed to make the equivalent of shelf pin holes along the top and bottom of each shelf. I have shelf pin jigs of various kinds that I can use for 1/4 or 5mm holes but nothing to drill a series of 1/8 holes needed for these wire supports. After scratching my head for a bit, I came up with a solution.
I found these spacers on Amazon which I ordered as 1/4 outside diameter, .140 inside diameter and 15/16 length. I would have chosen a slightly longer version but that was the only length that was in stock - otherwise it would have been a 2 to 3 month wait. Also, when I bought these I got a package of 25 for about $12. They seem to be a lot more expensive now.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YLJD90/ref=twister_B00DIHVKQ0?th=1
I placed these spacers into the 1/4 bushings in my Kreg shelf pin jig and found them to be a nice fit for a 9/64 drill bit. I was supposed to be drilling 1/8 holes but I found that 9/64 holes worked just as well so I was in business. This photo shows the process of drilling the holes. A second 9/64 drill bit, shank down serves as a registration pin for extending the series holes.
427273
Then here is the set of components with all the holes drilled.
427274
Heres a three views of how the partitions are installed.
427271
427275
427272
And finally the shelves are partially loaded up. I plan to find other containers to organize things better but for now I just put my existing bins on the shelves.
427276
You might also notice the set of feet that I built to raise the completed unit above the electric baseboard that I use to heat the shop. These are upside-down J-shaped assemblies. The rear leg of each assembly is 1 1/2" shorter than the front one because it sits on the bottom plate of the stud wall.
More shelving, no more melamine in the way. Win, win!
The basic construction is nothing special - Butt joints with dominos and Titebond Melamine Glue. White oak edging, with an oak ply back panel.
The thing I want to highlight here is that I decided to build it with wide shelves and adjustable vertical partitions, rather than the more typical horizontal adjustable shelves.
Borrowing the idea from a piece of Scandinavian-style furniture Ive had for about 40 years, I used these wire shelf supports to hold each partition in position: https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/hardware/storage-and-organization/shelf-supports/40191-hidden-shelf-supports. You cut an 1/8 groove in the top and bottom of each vertical partition to slide over each wire.
This meant that I needed to make the equivalent of shelf pin holes along the top and bottom of each shelf. I have shelf pin jigs of various kinds that I can use for 1/4 or 5mm holes but nothing to drill a series of 1/8 holes needed for these wire supports. After scratching my head for a bit, I came up with a solution.
I found these spacers on Amazon which I ordered as 1/4 outside diameter, .140 inside diameter and 15/16 length. I would have chosen a slightly longer version but that was the only length that was in stock - otherwise it would have been a 2 to 3 month wait. Also, when I bought these I got a package of 25 for about $12. They seem to be a lot more expensive now.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YLJD90/ref=twister_B00DIHVKQ0?th=1
I placed these spacers into the 1/4 bushings in my Kreg shelf pin jig and found them to be a nice fit for a 9/64 drill bit. I was supposed to be drilling 1/8 holes but I found that 9/64 holes worked just as well so I was in business. This photo shows the process of drilling the holes. A second 9/64 drill bit, shank down serves as a registration pin for extending the series holes.
427273
Then here is the set of components with all the holes drilled.
427274
Heres a three views of how the partitions are installed.
427271
427275
427272
And finally the shelves are partially loaded up. I plan to find other containers to organize things better but for now I just put my existing bins on the shelves.
427276
You might also notice the set of feet that I built to raise the completed unit above the electric baseboard that I use to heat the shop. These are upside-down J-shaped assemblies. The rear leg of each assembly is 1 1/2" shorter than the front one because it sits on the bottom plate of the stud wall.
More shelving, no more melamine in the way. Win, win!