Preview of Make it: a shelf that is level

Make-it project · The Crooked Shelf

Make it: a shelf that is level

A small shelf on a practice board, hung the way June hung hers. With a grown-up for the whole project.

Ages 6 to 8 · 2 pages · free for personal and classroom use, not for resale

Download PDF, A4Download PDF, US Letter

You need

  • Practice board
  • Shelf board
  • Two small shelf brackets with short screws
  • Tape measure or ruler
  • Pencil
  • Small level
  • Screwdriver that fits
  • Safety glasses
  • One marble
  • Small squares of paper for shims

Steps

  1. Glasses on. Clear the bench. Radio low.
  2. Stand the practice board upright, bottom edge on the bench, held steady by a grown-up. Measure up from the bottom edge at the left end. Make a pencil mark.
  3. Measure up from the bottom edge at the right end. Make a mark. Do not say "about there."
  4. Measure both ends again. Do the marks match? Hold the level against the board across them. Bubble in the middle? Draw the line. If not, rub out the higher mark, make a new one lower until it is, then draw the line along the level.
  5. The grown-up starts a screw hole at each bracket spot, top edge of the bracket on your line, board steady, every hand clear of the point.
  6. Turn the screws, grown-up's hand over yours. Stop when each bracket is snug.
  7. Set the shelf on the brackets. Level on the shelf. Bubble in the middle?
  8. Marble test on the smooth shelf, a grown-up watching. If it sits, you did it. If it rolls, measure both ends again. A shim (a folded paper) can work in a pinch.

A grown-up stays for the whole project. Read the safety notes on the sheet before you start.

Sources

Story VIN LB-pops-workshop-the-crooked-shelf-printable-012. Printables licence. All printables.