bushwacked Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 My first project .. A shelf for my baby girl supposedly coming next weekend. I am still debating on adding .. Face boards? To the front to give it a cleaner look. With everything glued up now I would probably have to use a brad nailer or something to attach it. I think it would be a pain now to try anything other. Yes the shelves are different sizes do to certain needs. I don't think it looks all that bad with the spacing. But what do I know haha. Now I do have some questions. I routed the front facing shelving but it does kinda look strange since nothing else is routed. Should I sand down the edges and add some front panels to it to cover the ugly MDF? Like inch wide pieces around the edges? Then next question .. Do I use wood filler to place in the cracks and spaces? Then sand to make them blend in? Thoughts on what I can work on and improve ... I mean besides improving on everything. I still need to sand the finish it using Marc's method of basic finishing. Also .. How strong are my glue joints on the shelves? Will they hold together fine or should I add screws or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 My first project .. A shelf for my baby girl supposedly coming next weekend. That's a great first project. I'm worried though that your baby might wiggle around and fall off the shelf. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minorhero Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Your shelve joints are going to be strong enough to hold it together. But if you are about to put 300 lbs of books on this bookshelf then your book shelf will become structurally compromised quickly. If you are going to use it to store diapers and vaporizer then its fine. Since your edges are MDF and are exposed and have been rounded as well. Then frankly I think this might be a good candidate for paint, either spraying or brush. You can also cut some strips of wood to edge band the flat parts, but the rounded shelf front is a lost cause when it comes to putting on edging. If you are worried that the rounded front looks odd, you could always take a file and just gentle the edge of the shelf into the side support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 That's a great first project. I'm worried though that your baby might wiggle around and fall off the shelf.(Sorry, I couldn't resist.) Haha if that happened the wife would kill me!! Your shelve joints are going to be strong enough to hold it together. But if you are about to put 300 lbs of books on this bookshelf then your book shelf will become structurally compromised quickly. If you are going to use it to store diapers and vaporizer then its fine. Since your edges are MDF and are exposed and have been rounded as well. Then frankly I think this might be a good candidate for paint, either spraying or brush. You can also cut some strips of wood to edge band the flat parts, but the rounded shelf front is a lost cause when it comes to putting on edging. If you are worried that the rounded front looks odd, you could always take a file and just gentle the edge of the shelf into the side support. Thanks! Would the strips of wood need to be 3/4 to match the thickness of the plywood or could I do like an 1 - 1 1/2 strips for just a little over hang? The file the rounded edges that will get in the way down in that area to flatten it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 A solid sheet of ply or mdf on the back will add a lot of sgructural integrity. A face frame on the front would add a lot as well, but would be difficult to do unless you flatten those rounded edges. It looks you chose a veneer faced mdf, with intentions of having a woodgrain finish, but unless you come up with a way to cover the exposed mdf edges, my personal opinion is that paint would be a better choice. If you choose to paint it, wood filler or even 'Bondo' , will fill the gaps nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 How would I go about connecting it to the back of it is all connected and glued? Just cut some pieces to size and glue them in? They would not have any jointery to help though. As far as the face frame I think it would be a nightmare for me to try and flatten haha. I may go with the painting approach though. That seems to be the only way to really cover up some of these mistakes. Although I can say this one has taught me a lot already on what to make and do better on the next one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minorhero Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Assuming all pieces in the back are flush, you can attach a sheet of ply by simply putting glue on the back of the book shelf everywhere it will touch the plywood and then lay it down on the plywood. Clamp if needed, but the weight of the shelf will probably be enough. Keep I mind that edge grain to edge grain glue joints are stronger then metal connections. Having a face frame bigger then the shelf will look odd. As for the file, you would just need to be careful if you decide to gentle the rounded edge into the flat sides and try to keep it even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Hah. Funny you mention flush on back. It's not. To get the shelves to where there was no gap in the front from the rounded edges I scooted the shelves a little forward. So it would only contact the sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Are you familiar with stopped dados? They would be a good option for your next shelf like this and will allow that front to not need extra treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 I will look into the stopped dados. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 +1 on painting unless you've really committed to the veneer, due to the routed mdf edges. Rustolium spray enamel takes to mdf beautifully. Is it hanging from the wall or sitting on the floor? If it's a floor case, a heavy bottom and a back will keep it from tipping forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Regarding a full back, even though it will only attach to the sides, it will still add a lot of strength to the box, and prevent racking. A very thin piece of sheet stock will do wonders. If you want to shelves to have extra support as well, you might consider running the box through a tablesaw to bring the sides and shelves back into the same plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minorhero Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 If the shelves are proud in the back and you have no way of trimming them, you can cut your plywood backing to fit between the shelves. As long as you get good contact with the sides it will still prevent racking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 On the back I the shelves there is probably a little less than a 1/4" indent on each shelf. I was thinking about cutting strips and putting them on the back of the shelves. Then each should be flush with the sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 After some thought ... I decided to go the painting route to make this much easier to deal with ... First coat of killz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Looking good. Any fuzz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Looking good. Any fuzz? there is a little ... I assume you are talking about on the MDF? I figured a few coats of killz on it and then a gentle sanding should get rid of it? This wood does love to drink up the killz though ... I did not dilute my first 2 coats so it wouldnt take me 20 coats to cover up the wood. Not super heavy coats at all, but I think 1-2 more and I should be ready to start with my colors ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted October 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Sanded the mdf edges and they are nice and smooth with 220grit ... Applied coat number 3 of killz and going to at least put one more on and see how that goes. Still have some spots soaking it all in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Digging it man...I like that you left the edges of the shelf proud in the front. It takes away from the boxy-ness and is pleasing to the eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted October 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Thanks Vinny! I am going to try and sand those edges just a little to make the flow into the sides a little more natural instead of a hard stop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted October 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Prepped before dinner so I can start painting my colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted October 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 First coat of gray ... Going to add probably 2 more at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Cool green racing stripes Actually, it is cool. I've never seen that color of painters tape before. They've come a long way since the old tan masking tape. I can't believe they still sell that crap. Looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Evidently old tan dollar store (not 3m) masking tape still has a place in marquetry. It has the least amount of non-paper material and bonds to glue. Regarding the tape, I assume you're adding stripes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted October 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Nope. As far as the tape goes it is just keeping the gray off my shelving. They will be another color Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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