How to Make and Install Hungarian Shelves

Step 5: Finishing

Once all the sticks are on the wall, assemble the shelves and VOILA! you have it done.

BUT THERE IS STILL ONE MORE THING...

PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS DETAIL WHETHER YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT OR NOT!

The last thing to do is to insert wedges of wood under all the shelves and in every stick untill all the shelves are ortogonal (=perpendicular) (=90 degres) to the sticks.

Comments

[AppalachiaAngel]

I am trying to design shelves that will be wall to wall and floor to ceiling because I am a grafter and have limited space in my bedroom, these look like an awesome idea, but I am such a clutz that I am afraid that I would end up knocking one of these shelves out....

[Rlangg]

Is this slit, where the wedge (or shim) is to be hammered, a deliberate space (as suggested by hand drwn picture) or is it a space that will naturally be there because a cut can't be perfect? Must the wedge go all the way in? Must the hypotenuse of the wedge face down?

[juliofo]

Hi Rlangg, The draw is an exaggeration that tries to represent the space that will naturally be there in non-perfect cuts. But there is a former comment about the tolerances you can get being careful in the cut and is very impressive; if you count with very good tools and experience you can mount selves on the cut sticks without wedges. The ideal would be not to need wedges but in my experience this happens "naturaly" one among 50 cuts or so. (But when happens you can feel the happiness of perfection). Forget about hypotenuses and put the edges as profound as you can. But try the avoid mortices larger in the interior (close to wall) than in the exterior (open space) because in this cases even wedges cannot fix the self properly to the sticks.

[stib]

As a totally unqualified bush carpenter and shed engineer, I'd recommend using hardw0od for the uprights. Pine tends to squash, and the joints will gradually loosen up with use. I don't know what you'd use in foreign lands, but here in .au Tas Oak or Mountain Ash (both are actually eucalypts) is what you'd ask for at the hardware shop. More expensive, but will last a lot better.

[ruis2002]

I saw an article in the most recent issue of Country Living magazine (my mom bought me a subscription) that showed shelves made of 2 x 4 planks of wood on large terra cotta planters turned upside down. They seemed pretty sturdy, and planters are lighter weight than bricks, so easier for someone like me to lift and carry indoors. They would not be as permanent a fixture as these shelves screwed to the wall, but you could paint the terra cotta pots (or leave them plain) to make them look interesting. I thought it was a neat design. Easier to do.

[bbullet]

Very nice, thanks for sharing! I´ll build one!

[juliofo]

Hi bbullet, Thanks for your commet. Please post the photos of your work whenever done... juliofo

[acrstudio]

This is great. It reminds me of a shelf unit that my dad has had since his college days. Very 50's mid century modern. Thanks for sharing!

[juliofo]

Hi acrstudio, Thanks. I would love to see the photo of your Father's one. juliofo

[Don3332]

As a person with more books than shelves, I'm always looking for efficient, wood shelving. This is about the most shelves for the least amount of wood (not counting brick & board shelves) that I've come across yet. I'll second that warning about the wedges, they would really be the KEYSTONE in the system. Thanks

[juliofo]

Hi Don, Nowadays i am planning a selves of 16 meters (53 feet?) side by 2,9 meters (almost 10 feet) high to hold 5000 used books in kind of "salvation army" shop. If I succed I will post.

[musa3d]

Very nice work. I recommend having the shelves chamfered at the sides to prevent injury. This could be important especialy if you have kids at home..Great job, though.

[juliofo]

Hi musa3d Very good advise!!! The one in the photo is sharp because no kids at the apartment and because everything was done in a saturday afternoon (shopping) and next monday morning; not very much time to work the selves. juliofo

[tikimon]

wonder if you can try using the plastic spacer wedges used for laminate flooring. a bag of 50 was under $2.

[juliofo]

Hi tikimon, Sure. I began using the plastic I had bougth, but because of bad counting I finished using wood ones cut by mayself. Whatever acting as wedge will work. juliofo