The floating shelf hardware that one can purchase online is inadequate for supporting 12” deep shelves that will carry dishes and pottery. And that same hardware provides no means for installing the rods perfectly level and parallel. Our strategy was to build a jig that would align the rods in the studs and then become part of the shelf.

West Roxbury, MA

Click on the first image for detailed explanation of the process.

  • We began by laying out the position of the shelves.
  • This alignment jig is used to drill the holes perpendicular to the wall, and into the studs in the wall.
  • Eight holes for two shelves.
  • Four, 5/8” threaded rods, are mounted into the studs, using expanding polyurethane glue. The alignment jig is then bolted to the wall.
  • These are the frames for the shelves. The back face of the frame is open to accept the jig that is mounted on the wall.
  • The shelf faces are glued to the frames, and held under pressure with dumbbells.
  • Shelves are stained, and ready to mount. The slots in the rear of the each shelf will be lathered with glue, and slid over the mounted jigs.
  • The shelves installed.
  • The floating shelves in use.