Tool for making simple shelves?

[swbsam]

This is probably a stupid question, but I'd like to add shelves to our kitchen. There's already a nice section of the kitchen that's about 4 feet wide and separate from the main area, so I really just need to cut out grooves for the slabs of wood.

What tool would I use? I'm guessing a chisel would work but there must be a more precise tool for the job.

Thanks!

 

[SonnyDaze]

Let me see if I am picturing this correctly.....you are wanting to cut grooves into the wall to mount shelves?

 

[lxskllr]

Wood, or drywall?

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Let me see if I am picturing this correctly.....you are wanting to cut grooves into the wall to mount shelves?

Yep, there's a "main" wall, then a 4 foot wide portion of it that's indented about 3/4 of a foot - i'd like to add a few shelves to that section (mostly for small nick nacks, nothing heavy). I'd like to cut grooves into the sides of the indented wall to mount shelves

 

[lxskllr]

what's the wall made of?

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Wood, or drywall?

Drywall, but I was thinking of adding a wood frame along the perimeter for added strength, unless drywall's strong enough (which I doubt it is).

 

[orakle]

Redneck kitchen remodeling at its finest. Put down the chisel, pick up the phone and call a professional.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: orakle
Redneck kitchen remodeling at its finest. Put down the chisel, pick up the phone and call a professional.

Ha - i don't think it'll be that difficult, honestly. Am I totally underestimating the tast at hand?

 

[lxskllr]

You'd have to cut it, or grind it out. I'd have some concerns over the long term durability though. You'd be better off putting wood up on each side, and using that to support the shelves.

 

[Homerboy]

I can't even picture WTF the OP is talking about.... grooves? for shelves?

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Let me see if I am picturing this correctly.....you are wanting to cut grooves into the wall to mount shelves?

Yep, there's a "main" wall, then a 4 foot wide portion of it that's indented about 3/4 of a foot - i'd like to add a few shelves to that section (mostly for small nick nacks, nothing heavy). I'd like to cut grooves into the sides of the indented wall to mount shelves

You don't want to cut grooves in the wall for this. It won't be sturdy enough. In your case I would use a bracketless shelf. It uses a metal bracket that mounts on the wall and the shelf slides on the metal bracket. You have a shelf but no visible bracket.

Like this.

 

[orakle]

I would recommend putting up some wood supports, screwed into the studs, on the 2 (or all 3) sides, and mounting your shelves on those. No gutting of your walls required and the shelves will be much sturdier than if they were just sitting in sheetrock.

Or, as SonnyDaze said, buy a floating shelf. Almost the same effect and much cleaner.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
You'd have to cut it, or grind it out. I'd have some concerns over the long term durability though. You'd be better off putting wood up on each side, and using that to support the shelves.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking too - in case we go with the cutting drywall option, what tool would you recommend? A standard saw seems like it would require quite a bit of skill to use for a n00b like me. Would a dremel work? Not that I own one, but I probably should get one.. hmmm.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
I can't even picture WTF the OP is talking about.... grooves? for shelves?

Think of notches in a bookcase, where the shelf bottom slides in. I think that's what the OP's talking about.

 

[d4mo]

Wouldn't a router do the job?

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: Homerboy
I can't even picture WTF the OP is talking about.... grooves? for shelves?

Think of notches in a bookcase, where the shelf bottom slides in. I think that's what the OP's talking about.

Exactly, sorry for being vague - I'm not a very handy person!

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: lxskllr
You'd have to cut it, or grind it out. I'd have some concerns over the long term durability though. You'd be better off putting wood up on each side, and using that to support the shelves.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking too - in case we go with the cutting drywall option, what tool would you recommend? A standard saw seems like it would require quite a bit of skill to use for a n00b like me. Would a dremel work? Not that I own one, but I probably should get one.. hmmm.

I'm not sure tbh. A dremel's too small. You could go to Home Depot and see what they have for hand tools. Keep in mind that the cut would be very rough, and would require finishing after you were done.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: d4mo
Wouldn't a router do the job?

I was thinking that, but it would be difficult for a noob to use under those circumstances. I prefer the wood side idea, and a router or combination plane would work well for that.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Yep, there's a "main" wall, then a 4 foot wide portion of it that's indented about 3/4 of a foot - i'd like to add a few shelves to that section (mostly for small nick nacks, nothing heavy). I'd like to cut grooves into the sides of the indented wall to mount shelves

After re-reading this I got a better picture of it. I still wouldn't cut into the drywall to mount a shelf though. The drywall will crumble and probably not hold the weight of the shelf.

If you didn't want to use a bracketless shelf you could mount narrow strips of wood on each side (and maybe one in the back center) underneath the shelf to support it. You still shouldn't be able to see your shelf supports in this case either (depending how high the shelf is).

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: orakle
I would recommend putting up some wood supports, screwed into the studs, on the 2 (or all 3) sides, and mounting your shelves on those.

This.

OP also mentioned that he would be willing to put a piece of wood between the drywall and the shelves (i.e. the sides of a bookshelf), in which case he could use a router or a table saw to cut the grooves he wants.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: d4mo
Wouldn't a router do the job?

I was thinking that, but it would be difficult for a noob to use under those circumstances. I prefer the wood side idea, and a router or combination plane would work well for that.

Thanks guys - wood sides would be MUCH easier.

Is there a way to make the wood sides look like part of the dry wall, aside from just paint? Drywall putty is a terrible, terrible idea, right?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: d4mo
Wouldn't a router do the job?

I was thinking that, but it would be difficult for a noob to use under those circumstances. I prefer the wood side idea, and a router or combination plane would work well for that.

Thanks guys - wood sides would be MUCH easier.

Is there a way to make the wood sides look like part of the dry wall, aside from just paint? Drywall putty is a terrible, terrible idea, right?

I'd stain it. You could also use decorative wood panels. Trying to hide something that that would be difficult for someone without experience. Imo, it would be better to show it off, and draw attention to it.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: d4mo
Wouldn't a router do the job?

I was thinking that, but it would be difficult for a noob to use under those circumstances. I prefer the wood side idea, and a router or combination plane would work well for that.

Thanks guys - wood sides would be MUCH easier.

Is there a way to make the wood sides look like part of the dry wall, aside from just paint? Drywall putty is a terrible, terrible idea, right?

I'd stain it. You could also use decorative wood panels. Trying to hide something that that would be difficult for someone without experience. Imo, it would be better to show it off, and draw attention to it.

Actually, that's an outstanding idea!

Thank you - wish me luck!

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: d4mo
Wouldn't a router do the job?

I was thinking that, but it would be difficult for a noob to use under those circumstances. I prefer the wood side idea, and a router or combination plane would work well for that.

Thanks guys - wood sides would be MUCH easier.

Is there a way to make the wood sides look like part of the dry wall, aside from just paint? Drywall putty is a terrible, terrible idea, right?

Once the wood supports are mounted you could paint them the same color as the drywall. It will blend a little better then bare wood.

What would you use the drywall putty for?? If you want to seal the cracks between the supports and the wall you could use a light bead of paintable caulk.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: d4mo
Wouldn't a router do the job?

I was thinking that, but it would be difficult for a noob to use under those circumstances. I prefer the wood side idea, and a router or combination plane would work well for that.

Thanks guys - wood sides would be MUCH easier.

Is there a way to make the wood sides look like part of the dry wall, aside from just paint? Drywall putty is a terrible, terrible idea, right?

Once the wood supports are mounted you could paint them the same color as the drywall. It will blend a little better then bare wood.

What would you use the drywall putty for?? If you want to seal the cracks between the supports and the wall you could use a light bead of paintable caulk.

Paintable caulk added to my list - thanks for your suggestions as well. The bracketless shelves are a bit too rich for me (we need about 10 shelves), but your other ideas are splendid. Thank you!