Kitchen shelves: our next foray into making things from barn wood (previously we made a kitchen table).
These thick beasts were once support beams or studs. We found a few 18 foot lengths in the rafters of our shed and went to work. On this wall I even managed to find studs (in our notoriously stud-less walls) to screw them into so they’re actually pretty secure. Lucky since the shelves themselves are quite heavy.
If you’re interested in logistics, these are made by taking the slab of wood (approximately a 2×6) and screwing it to a thinner back board of the same length with lag bolts (which are these awesome heavyweight hex headed wood screws that my dad introduced me to). The lag bolts are inset so that they finish flush with the wall side of the back board. That’s all that was involved in assembling the shelves; they’re just an L shape. To fix them to the wall I used large wood screws through the back board into studs. The items on the shelf cover up the back board and the screws giving a sort of floating shelf look.
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These look great! What a cool use of old wood you had around. I may have to steal this idea for our cabin.
— Mollie | Jennings Brae Bank Farm31 October, 2012 at 6:18 am
These are really beautiful. I love projects you can see and use every day. They’re very satisfying.
— Cathy1 November, 2012 at 4:55 am
You built shelves with lag bolts? That’s a level of engineering I’m not even sure John A would have insisted on. Wowza!
— cja9 November, 2012 at 3:53 pm
CJA – John A is precisely who insisted on that. I didn’t even know what a lag bolt was. But I was informed that the spare drywall screws I was planning on using shear easily.
— k9 November, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Usually he will settle for a big ole nail at least. Lag bolts are new.
Shelves look great by the way!!
— cja9 November, 2012 at 4:53 pm
They look GREAT! I am envious of that barn wood. There is nothing cooler than a sturdy table and shelves made from salvaged barn wood!
— Nicola30 November, 2012 at 11:08 pm