How to Make Built-in Closet Shelves

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Supplies:
- Plywood, 1x2 strips, base shoe molding
- Ryobi Drill/driver
- Circular saw
- Kreg Rip-Cut
- Kilz primer
- Minwax poly protective finish
- Magnetic stud finder
- SPAX 2 1/2" screws​
- Construction adhesive
- Ryobi 18 gauge brad nailer
- RapidFuse glue
Cut one shelf to check the size
Mark where each shelf will go in the closet
We used our kreg circular saw jig to make nice straight cuts in the plywood. Our circular saw just slides into the jig and attaches in place. Cut out the rest of the shelves. We made our top shelf half the width of the others. This way we have room to put items on the shelf and the door frame will not get in the way.
Paint the shelves. We used kilz primer then finished it with a clear poly.
Find studs in wall then level the 1x2 board and drill pilot holes for screws.
Attach the side strips the same way
Place plywood on top
Use construction adhesive on the support wood, then place the plywood on top. Use a brad nailer to secure the plywood to the support.
To attach the molding, use RapidFuse glue or wood glue. Cover the screws with wood glue. We also used caulk to cover any seams. Touch up paint and done!
I really like how these shelves turned out. I have room for my books, old keepsakes, travel gear, guest supplies, future gifts and more. It makes me smile to open this closet now and see my organized closet of things!
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Mother Daughter Projects on Dec 02, 2018
Great! You'll be very happy with it. It's simple but effective! ~Vicki
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Frequently asked questions
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What kind of stud finder do you use??????