Introduction: A Shelf With 1 Screw
A simple shelf for a workshop
Step 1: Material
You need a long board for the back and short boards for the shelf
Mark the position for the short boards where ever you want
Step 2: Make Your First Cut
The height of the saw blade is 1/4 of the width of the long board
Step 3: Add a Spacer
and make your second cut.
The width of the spacer = the thickness of your short boards minus the thickness of your table saw blade
Step 4: Remove Material
make so many cuts you need
Step 5: Adjust the Tablesaw
The height of the blade should be the thickness of the long board
Step 6: Make a First Cut in the Shelf
You can calculate, where this cut is to make but it is not important. Somewhere near the centre is good.
Step 7: Make a Second Cut
Use a 2nd spacer
The width of this spacer = the width between two opposite cuts of the long board minus the thickness of your table saw blade
Step 8: Remove the Material Between the Cuts
Repeat this steps for any shelf.
Step 9: Put the Shelfs on the Long Board
use a mallet if necessary
Step 10: Drill a Hole
or 2, if you want.
Step 11: Screw It on the Wall
and fill it with stuff.
Step 12: Look at This Video
for all steps

Runner Up in the
Shelving Contest
52 Comments
7 years ago
VERY NICE!!!
8 years ago
Love the idea, could I adapt it for a plant shelf??? also think Nostalgic Guy's is fabulous any ideas for plant shelves would be appreciated.
Reply 8 years ago
Thank you! For a plant shelf I would prefer this
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-tree-shelf/
8 years ago on Introduction
awesome idea :D thanks for sharing
Reply 8 years ago
You are welcome!
8 years ago
I may make a couple of these myself.
I built this shelving last year, there are 24 screws holding it together but as I have the same problem of having to keep screw holes in the wall to a minimum it's actually held up to the wall with just two 50mm screws.
not bad considering it houses about 150 books two lamps and a bunch of Buddha's.
8 years ago
Voted for ingenuity. I like the fact that, should you need to, you COULD secure each shelf with 1 screw later.
8 years ago on Step 12
Thanks for the idea! The shelf really does make it handy for spray cans.
8 years ago on Introduction
Outstanding project,
Never seen that saw before what is it?
Loved the end of the vid great job
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thank you. The saw is the Festool TS55 (a handsaw) mounted in a tablle (= Festool CMS )
8 years ago on Step 12
maybe should title it "shelf with only 2 (or 3?) screws? current title inaccurate and misleading.
Reply 8 years ago on Step 12
The shelf itself doesn't have any screws at all, but the mount to the wall takes a screw or two. You could tie the screwless shelf to a post with a rope if you like.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
ok, done!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I forgot to mention - great idea and implementation!
I'm definitely going to use it.
8 years ago on Step 7
Step 7 says: "The width of this spacer = the width between two opposite cuts of the long board minus the thickness of your table saw blade"
But shouldnt that be minus TWICE the thickness of the blade?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Stephan is correct. Minus the thickness of the blade, once. You're cutting from one reference side of the blade. For the first pass, the blade kerf is on the inside of the dado. As you step across the width of the dado, the kerf would end on the outside of the dado, so you subtract the width of the kerf, once, for your final pass.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Ok, I'll take your word for it... perhaps it was the wording used that confuses me, i.e. 'the width between two opposite cuts'
8 years ago on Introduction
Isn't that a dangerous type of cut to be making with a table saw?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
It's a cut very frequently made on table saws. A taller 'fence' for the miter gauge is often attached to add stability. A crosscut sled would make it even safer. Safety 3rd!
Reply 8 years ago
I've done way worse like spacing 3 blades out with washers I drilled out for a makeshift dado, or freehand cutting a small plastic squeegee at an angle with my saw. His cut isn't scary.