The Basics of Building a Wood Wall Shelf

0 Comments | Rating: 0 | |

A great project for a beginner carpenter is to build a wood wall shelf. Pine is from the soft wood variety and is consequently a very good choice for beginner carpenters. The easiest type of soft wood to work with is undoubtedly Pine. The only minus to Pine is its attribute of denting easily. This may not be the best choice if objects with sharp edges will be placed on your wooden wall shelf.

Hardwood types are harder to work with but offer more variety. They include Mahogany, Walnut, Oak, Teak, Cherry and Rosewood. The types of choice for professionally made furniture are generally Maple, Oak and Teak. Any of these variations are appropriate for use as a wood wall shelf.

It is always nice to match your wood wall shelving with the same type of wood that your furniture is made out of. This makes the shelves feel as if they are an extension of the furniture. Oak is a very popular material and Oak floating shelves are very attractive in a room filled with Oak furniture.

An important thing for a beginner carpenter to keep in mind is that he should protect his craftsmanship. He should do this by treating the wood wall shelf he makes with a finish or paint. The finish will protect the shelves for years to come.

A benefit to making your own wood wall shelves is that you will be getting an authentic piece of craftsmanship. When you buy shelves in the store, you might be confused by the materials it is made from and end up with an imitation like simulated wood when you actually wanted authentic wood. Some examples of simulated wood are particle board and melamine. They are acceptable choices for wooden wall shelves; being cheaper is an added benefit. However, they aren't as strong or durable as wood. The cheaper types chip easily and don't have as much longevity. They also aren't as elegant a choice. To achieve a classic appearance, wood is the way to go. In general, if you want style, durability and maximum strength, then build wall shelves made from ageless wood.