• Home
  • About
    • Personal Posts
  • Privacy
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Checkout
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Sawdust Girl®

Sawdust Girl®

Renovation, cabinet building and woodworking plans and tutorials. Build like a Girl®

  • My Home
    • Clinton TN House
      • Clinton TN House in Progress
    • Maryville TN House
      • Maryville TN House Tour – Completed Rooms
      • Maryville TN House in Progress
        • Basement
        • Basement Storage Closet
        • Bedroom Office
        • Craft Room
        • Dining Room
        • Entry
        • Garage
        • Guest Bedroom
        • Hallway
        • Jack and Jill Bathroom
        • Kitchen
        • Kitchen Entry
        • Laundry Room
        • Library
        • Living Room
        • Loft
        • Madison’s Room
        • Master Bedroom
        • Master Closet
        • Pantry
        • Porch
        • Powder Room
        • Wes’ Office
    • Illinois House
    • Calderwood Cottage
  • My Workshop
    • Clinton Workshop
  • Build & Breakfast
  • Cabinet Making 101
    • Cabinets
    • Doors
    • Drawers
  • Projects and Plans
    • Countertops
    • Beds
    • Benches
    • Bookshelves
    • Desks
    • Gift Ideas
    • Holiday
      • Christmas
      • Halloween
    • Home Accessories
    • Kids
    • Kitchen Cabinets
    • Lockers
    • Nightstands
    • Organization accessories
    • Recipes
    • Sewing
    • Tables
    • Vanities
    • Wardrobes
    • Woodworking
      • Wood Finishing
    • Workshop
    • Workshop Storage and Organization
  • Remodeling 101
    • Baseboard and Trim
    • crown molding
    • Demolition
    • Door and Window Casings
    • Door Installation
    • Drywall
    • Electrical work
    • Flooring
    • Home Maintenance
    • Painting
    • Plumbing
    • Resources
    • Safety
    • Tile
    • Wall and Ceiling Treatments
  • Sawdust Squad
  • The Sawdust Diaries
    • Andrea
    • Ava D.
    • Beckie F.
    • Cara C.
    • Courtney B
    • Fawn T.
    • Jenn D.
    • Kelly C.
    • Kristy K.
    • Lara T.
    • Malisa B.
    • Marnie D.
    • Robin C.
    • Val F.
  • Tools
    • Products
    • Tool Reviews & Overviews
    • Inspiration & Ideas

Three Tier Shelf

All Posts, Projects and Plans

I accepted a group challenge from my friend Jen of House of Wood to create something with a single 1x8x8 board.  I almost took the single board (one of the three I bought) and made a sign that read, “Pro-cras-ti-nate: verb  To delay or postpone action; put off doing something”. Instead I decided to make a three tier shelf.

Three Tier Shelf

Three Tier Shelf

  • One 8′ 1×8″ Cedar plank = $25.

one board challenge

It’s smooth on one side but very rough on the other so I cut it down and ran the pieces through my planer.

rough cut

I decided to make a box with mitered corners using Festool Dominos to strengthen the joints .  I LOVE this machine!

domino

I started out by cutting pieces for my box sides.  Then I mitered all the ends on my table saw.

mitered ends

The Domino is sort of like a biscuit joiner … but way faster and easier to use, more precise and creates a stronger joint.  I marked the location where I wanted to drill the mortises and also marked the boards so I could figure out which end of which board went where after all the mortises where drilled.

mark

I drilled all 8 ends at once so I made sure to use different markings on each end.

marked for dominos

mortised

I used wood glue, inserted the Dominos and closed up my joints.

mitered corners with dominos

I tried electrical tape to keep the ends together because my painters’ tape was upstairs and I didn’t want to run up and grab it.  The electrical tape has a lot of stretch and I decided it was not going to hold my joint so I didn’t bother taping any other corners.

tape

I grabbed some clamps and carefully manipulated them to put pressure where needed to close up my joints.  I didn’t use much pressure…I really need to get one of those strappy clamp thingys that I’ve seen but never thought I’d need.

Three Tier Shelf

OK!  Once all my “boxes” were set.  I started playing around with stacking them.  Once I found “the right design” I marked where one box crossed the other and went to the table saw.Three Tier Display Shelf
I made a couple passes…
cutting out slots …and then the tab broke out very easily.
breaking out slots

Then I marked and notched the other box to fit over the first one.
marking for cutout
grooves cut I used glue but my grooves were not tight enough to hold the shelves in place so I flipped the whole thing over and put a screw into each joint.

Three Tiered Display Shelf

It’s FAR from perfect but it’s done.  And it’s kinda’ cool!

Three Tier Display Shelf

Three Tiered Display Shelf

I didn’t put any finish on it because … you know, I procrastinated too long for any frufru on this project.  But when I have a spare moment and am bored or something, I’ll wax or oil it.  Maybe hang it on the wall by the bathtub and put a candle on it.  And a little sign that says:

Anticipate — then Initiate!

Because that’s more positive than:  Don’t procrastinate!  😀

——————————

There are 16 other bloggers who took on this challenge so make sure you check out the other projects if you want to see some awesomeness — from a single board!

one board challenge

Jen – House of Wood / Katie – Addicted 2 DIY / Jaime – That’s My Letter / Brittany – Pretty Handy Girl / Brad –Fix This Build That / Jenn – Build-Basic / Mindi – My Love 2 Create / Amy – Her Toolbelt / Pauline – My Altered State / Bethany – Sawdust & Embryos / Kim – The Kim Six Fix / Sarah – The Ugly Duckling House / Elisha –Pneumatic Addict Furniture / Jessica – Decor Adventures / Karah – the space between / Emily – Merrypad

July 17, 2015 · 27 Comments

« Pantry Floating Shelves
Remove Baseboard with the Trim Puller »

Comments

  1. Janet says

    July 17, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    I just went through all the fun projects. Merrypad has a shelf on her site, you have her crossed off. Didn’t know if that was an oversight…

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 17, 2015 at 6:49 pm

      I just fixed that link. Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Timisha says

    July 17, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    This is pretty dope! and I totally need a sign that says Pro-cras-ti-nate. LOL Story of my life.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 17, 2015 at 6:48 pm

      You and me both. LOL I think we should have out signs remind us to be more prepared though, instead of shaming us for NOT. Haha

      Reply
  3. jonathan conrad says

    July 17, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    That looks awesome!!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 17, 2015 at 6:47 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. JAnis says

    July 17, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    I love it. Sort of looks like a shadow box. I really want to make one of this and my bathroom wall would also be a good place to put it. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 17, 2015 at 6:47 pm

      You could make this into a shadow box. That would be really cool!

      Reply
  5. Julia at Home on 129 Acres says

    July 17, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    Love this. I came here from Ugly Duckling House. This is such a creative use of a 1×8. I wouldn’t have thought of this. I love the layout of the boxes. And such attention to detail in the construction. Well done.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 22, 2015 at 9:27 am

      Thank you Julia and thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  6. Janice says

    July 18, 2015 at 2:23 pm

    This is so cute! My daughter wants me to build her something to display a collection of shot glasses on the wall. This would be perfect! Though I’m not sure I’m ready for it skill-wise 🙂 BTW I love your blog. Thanks to you I have crown molding in my bathroom (done by me :). After watching zillions of tutorials, your crown molding templates saved the day! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 22, 2015 at 9:28 am

      Thanks Janice. I’m glad those crown templates came in handy. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Sarah @ The Ugly Duckling House says

    July 19, 2015 at 11:05 am

    Great job, Sandra! I wish I hadn’t procrastinated either. You wouldn’t be able to tell from the looks of yours that you waited as long as I did, ha! I need to make something similar to this in my hallway.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 22, 2015 at 9:28 am

      Thanks Sarah. If you look real close you can tell. LOL

      Reply
  8. Elisha @ Pneumatic Addict says

    July 20, 2015 at 1:11 pm

    I kinda wish you would have made the sign instead, but this turned out so awesome, I’m glad you went with plan B. Perfect as usual! p.s. I’m so jealous of your domino cutter.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 22, 2015 at 9:30 am

      Haha maybe next time. Yeah that Domino is the bomb! Pricey but totally worth it.

      Reply
  9. emily says

    July 20, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    Ahh, Domino, you clever, clever thing. The answer to all of my problems. Gracias!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 22, 2015 at 9:31 am

      Yes, I love it!

      Reply
  10. Pauline says

    July 21, 2015 at 12:39 am

    This is a work of art! Awesome. (And I keep thinking about those perfect mitered corners..)

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 22, 2015 at 9:31 am

      Thank you Pauline!

      Reply
  11. Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl says

    July 21, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    Sandra, I love your project! It looks like a piece of art!

    Reply
  12. Mindi says

    July 21, 2015 at 11:02 pm

    Seriously beautiful! I wish my procrastinated projects looked this good! Love it!

    Reply
  13. Massa Global says

    July 23, 2015 at 6:52 am

    I love it; this is a great way with new technology used in home decor interior design.

    Reply
  14. Katie @ Addicted 2 DIY says

    July 27, 2015 at 1:37 am

    This is beautiful, Sandra!

    Reply
  15. Jerry says

    July 27, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Great looking – I would love to do this one – but where is the cut list?

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 30, 2015 at 12:33 am

      I did not draw up a cutlist. I made it by eye, on the fly and had fun doing so.

      Reply
  16. Daniel says

    July 28, 2015 at 1:06 am

    I have already one self like this one and hopefully it works fine and it increased my reading room beauty. That’s a great one. Thanks

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

New Post email notification signup

You Subscribed!

Legal Stuff

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Disclosure

Recent Posts

  • March 2023 Lodge Update- Moved in
  • January 2023 Lodge Update
  • Lodge Update – Floors, Cabinets, Countertops, and Appliances
  • Lodge Kitchen Cabinet Progress
  • Halloween Mad Gab – Halloween Party Ideas

Disclaimer:

Although it is my intention to provide accurate plans and clear instructions, not all plans have been tried and tested. Using plans or information found on SawdustGirl.com indicates that you agree with the Terms of Use policy and will accept full responsibility for the process and outcome of any project you attempt. All plans are for private use only. Plans and information published on SawdustGirl.com may not be reproduced, republished or distributed in any manner without written permission from Sandra Powell, Sawdust Girl. Actual projects built using Sawdust Girl plans may be published on your own site without instructions or "tutorial" as long as you provide a link to my original post with full post title or "SawdustGirl.com" as link title.

Copyright © 2023 · anchored theme by <a target="_blank"