Cube Text Shelves

This is a design to help you create any word you like as shelves using a simple cube and diagonal half cube. 2 small shelves, with an alphabet of possibilities. The shelves are designed to hang on a wall, but suggestions are included if you would like to set them on a flat surface.

I will suggest how to make the cube and half cube - but this could depend on the overall size of the word you are creating or what you are putting on the shelves.

The critical tool needed is a way to bevel the wood to a 45 degree angle.

For the rest of the supplies you will need to work backwards - as explained in the steps below.

Using cardboard, or some other stiff paper you can draw on, writing out your word in the cube form at the approximate size you would like.

To do this start by drawing or printing and cutting out the template above the number of 9x9 squares to equal the number of letters in the word you are writing. Use a spacing of 1/2 of a cube width between letters. If you don't know what size of object you are using chose a 9x9 cube size that feels right. The spacing between letters should be 1/6 the width of your 9x9 cubes.

In my example I am writing LEGO so will need 4 of the 9x9 squares. However, I am being a little more complicated as I want to put Lego mini-figures on my shelves, with theirs heads around the middle of each box. They are 35mm from toes to the middle of their heads so I want 70mm for the width of the internal size of the box. The walls of the box are approximately 1/10th the size of the box so the middle is 8/10ths so the width of the walls is the width of the internal size of the box divided by 8 - in my example 70mm/8 ~ 9mm (in inches I would use 1/3 inch). Note this is only a starting point - the actual width and size of each box will depend on the size of the wood you can get - although I recommend trying to stick to the width of the box edge (the thickness of the wood) is 1/10th the size of each box.

So my boxes are 90mm wide so the width of my 9x9 cube is 3x the box width (270mm) and the gap between each letter is 1/2 the box width (45mm).

For those who like algebra:

Internal size of box, a

Width of box, b = a/8 x 10

Width of cube, c = 3 x b

Gap between letters, g = c/2

The recommend width of the walls is 1/10th the size of each box, if the width of the wood is known:

Size of each box is 10 x the width of the wood.

The size of each cube is 30 x the width of the wood.

The spacing between letters is 5 x the width of the wood.

With the size of boxes, 9x9s and the spacing the word can be laid out as in step 1. Using the strip guide with the 45 angle at each end to form the diagonal blocks. Note that the point end of the strip matches into the corner of the box to get the desired shape.

Of course you could just print out the above guide at the size you need an cut out the letters.

As with any project it is always good to stop and test what you have before carrying on. Cut out your laid out word and temporarily mount it on the wall where you planned to put it. Make sure the size is going to work. If you can, also add the depth to the sign you are planning - the width of the wood, especially if you are planning to make actual cubes. They can stick out further from the wall than you might expect.

If it doesn't work, try a different size. Repeat until happy.

Now you have everything to make your words - width and thickness of the wood needed, and the length of the wood needed. Cut out your wood pieces and make your word!

If you plan to stand your letters on another shelf, then you will fins the F and P, and potentially the T and Y, can get top heavy and want to tip over. I can only suggest using pieces of dowel from the corners t the shelf, but happy for other ideas in the comments.

The X is easy to mount if the top 2 sections are mounted as well as the main body. However, if only a couple of mounting points are used, the top two diagonal pieces will likely want to part ways with the main body. What I suggest is a loop of fishing line around the edges of the X as shown in the picture. All edges will need to be done so it all stays in tension.

The image shows where the fishing line should go. Note that small holes will need to be drilled through each piece of wood so the line passes through it and then tied off on the outside with a knot big enough that it won't be pulled back though the hole.

In my LEGO example, the backing board is the same colour as the boxes, but they can be any colour, or any material. You could use coloured card or even fabric. Just remember when mounting the letters that they will need to be mounted at the edges where there is the strength if using a light weight backing.

Your cubic word shelf is now ready to mount and load up with your favourite items.