Build a Tetris DVD (or book) shelf

Step 14: Staining and Finishing.

Unfortunately, at this point I no longer had access to a camera, so I can't show you the finished stained shelf, however, I would still like to discuss it a bit.

You can use whichever finish you like, with a stain and polyurethane topcoat or just paint it, or if you want to be really creative, slap on a few coats of gesso and get out the oil paints and make them into works of art!

If you plan on using stain, the outcome will be tremendous when applied to rosewood, cherry, or oak. The result is mixed with pine and other of the softer woods. Pine is incredibly absorbent to stain, and as a result can appear very blotchy in some areas. There is no telling where this will happen, but the fact of the matter is that it does, so just be aware of this. There are products on the market now that supposedly eliminate this problem, but I have never tried it out. I encourage you to do so though, and report back to me with your results. It can still turn out wonderfully, though. But, if you are nervous about it, and even if you're not, it would be a good idea to test the stain out first to make sure you like it. Remember those several large pieces of scrapwood we had? Now is the time to use them. sand one surface of it down just the same as the other boards, and try out the stain. if you're happy with it, then continue on.

To apply the stain, make sure all of your surfaces are clean of debris and dust particles, etc, as I mentioned in the last step. Then taking a sponge brush, brush the stain directly onto the surface, again going with the grain of the wood. (Don't get too crazy with the stain, you want to apply it very lightly. This is the one case where you would rather have not enough than too much. You can always add another coat.) And just about as soon as you brush stain on the surface, you wipe it off with a clean rag. Repeat, repeat, and repeat. Then allow it proper time to dry, and apply the topcoat.

Throw on some DVD's and voila! You're done! Sit back and enjoy your handy work. Not only does your shelf look classy, it is a throwback to your childhood of playing nintendo. Can you smell the awesome?

Thanks for checking out this how-to! If you like it, please share it with your friends!

Godspeed, and don't forget your goggles.

Comments

[rromero4]

is there any way you can provide CAD design for this

[gruffalo child]

How do you put books in the long vrtical one?

[gnawlej]

You could just turn the unit 90º.

[j3xt3r]

I'd go with glass or perspex shelving thereby enabling the space to be used without taking away from the wonderful concept.

[psyoper22]

if it's wide enough, you can lay DVDs or Books on their sides and stack them up to the top. optionally, i can see that you might be able to add small shelves within the tall one to distribute the weight accordingly...

awesome 'Ible...i think i'll make a mini version to start off, although i might add slotted retaiing bolts or clips to keep the pieces together in the assembled positions...

[KoolAidDisaster]

I can smell the awesome how many dvd's can it fit?

[liketabasco]

I really like this idea, but before i commit my time to making them, iv got to ask a question. Is there an easy way to hang them on a wall? The space in my apartment wont allow me to stack them, and id rather have them floating down from the ceiling anyway. Id prefer it if the hanging implementation isnt too visible so like i said earlier they would look like they were floating. Thanks!

[BonifaceJ]

There are thin metal brackets for making "free hanging shelves" and some interesting support systems for making shelves that look like they are free hanging.  Look and some of those, and you can probably figure a good way to do it. 

I will probably hang them by attaching small flat oval pieces with two holes like you used to get in Erector sets to the back at the top back edge, then screwing it into a stud that way.  It will only show a bracket piece about the size of a screw head if I do it right, and I can always paint or spackle and paint over it if I don't want to see it.  

Just paint your bracket and screw to match your wall first.  :)  Unless landlord won't mind you painting on wall? 

[bullzebub]

you have any spare wallpaper lying around? could be cool to take a big board and put the wallpaper on it. drill holes in it and insert pegs in a matrix pattern and drill holes in the back of the blocks. or screw those L shaped metal brackets to it (also in a matrix). if done correctly you will still have the option to restack the shelves. velcro might work too actually... and since you made a board to hang them on you wouldnt have to drill as many holes in the wall... another sulotion might be to make a "frame" that you insert the blocks into. if you do it like this it could be cool to make a "scoreboard" and " next piece" part of it like in the game :-)

[odecom5]

if you are going to hang them on a wall, it is probably best to connect them together. beforehand. you will also want to only bevel one side of the boards. they make thin metal plates for joining two pieces of wood in this way, i recommend getting those and screwing them to the back every 12-18" or so. there are an infinite number of ways to hang them, but the most important thing is to either find the stud and screw your supports directly to those, or get those drywall screw kits (they are large and plastic). this will leave a bigger hole in the wall, though, probably not ideal for an apartment, assuming you have to fix the hole before you move out. personally, i have never created wall shelves or anything like that, but the main thing is to make sure it's on a solid part of a wall and secured very well. heck, you could even use those same metal brackets, just hanging one of the holes off the board, and screwing the other part into the stud. but as i said, there are many different ways it can be done.

[PlantMan]

Make (right) triangles of wood that fit in the corners, and use these to attach it to the wall. They will also stiffen up your units. Make sure they are thinnish so they don't take up to much space. Also, make SURE the your root dimensions are consistent with the spacing of the wall studs if are going to put any weight on them.

[kakks]

I´m a litte noob on the arts of wood-crafting, so forgive me for the possibly 'dumb' question: why do we have to cut the pieces with a 45 degree angle?

[BonifaceJ]

You probably don't have too, but it does give you a nice aesthetic finish.  If you're worried about finished corners, then the 45 degree cuts make it look very pro.  If you're not, then don't, but remember to account for it when you do your measurements so everything looks right. 

[boris_1981]

I think it doesn't really matters. its just looks better and more professionally, i guess.

[3frog]

That is too cool! I am going to make a couple sets for my nieces and nephews for their rooms. They play tetris all the time, and they would love a set of these shelves! I just might paint them the colors of pieces in their tetris game!

[renambot]

When I have (meaning never), I'll do it with dovetails joins, without nails ;-)

[Dr_Romulus]

That is one of the coolest project I have seen yet. I think I will be making this for my basement since it is finished now since my wife loved it... I may actually make more pieces so I can stack them differently to... I gotta say that is one hella nice shop as well. Gotta be a school shop class or cabinet makers warehouse...

[depayton]

This is sweet! I'm going to build it as soon as I get my hands on a table saw. I assume by your sentence structure and the things in the photos you're a high school shop instructor?