Introduction: Floating Shelf #2 - the One With the Sliding Book Ends

This floating shelf is meant for video games and movies and I thought sliding book ends would be cool on a shelf. Once the wall is too full ;) I will be covering the wires.

Step 1: Building the Shelf

So rather than repeat the steps to building the shelf, Floating Shelf #1 will guide you through it. Once it came to to mount the frame, I leveled it and screwed into studs with 3 1/2" screws as well as using toggle bolts for added strength.

Step 2: Adding the Extras

I need to run wires through the shelf so once I had the shelf assembled, I slid the frame inside and clamped them togther. I drilled 2 1" holes side by side centered about 3/4" from the back, then just clean them up with a chisel. This hole will be covered in the end. I drilled 2 holes in the tops of each end board for dowel to hold the outer bookends and used my keyhole router bit to cut a slot starting about 6" in from each end and centered on the top. For the shape of the bookends, I used 2 way tape to hold the blanks together then I just took various cans and other round containers that fit the curve I was going for and traced them out. That way I could play with it easily until I liked it and I could cut them 2 at a time on my scroll saw

Step 3: Finishing

I used 1 1/2" deck screws on the bottom of the sliding book ends and adjusted them so they slid smoothly but the bookend stayed straight and glued and doweled the outer bookends I slid cardboard and paper towel into the slot to keep the finish out. 2 coats of summer oak and 2 coats of polyurethane. I use 400 grit sandpaper to sand between coats.I ran a knife backwards to break the poly first so I didn't chip the edges of the slot and pulled out the cardboard. One light pass with 400 grit smooths out the sticky textured feel.

Shelving Contest 2016

Participated in the
Shelving Contest 2016