Tabletop Shelf

For my final project, I decided to create a desktop shelf because I saw a need for a practical solution to organize my workspace, which was filled with papers and books since the beginning of my junior year. I often found my desk messy with various irrelevant items, which affect my productivity and focus. By designing and building a custom desktop shelf, I aimed to create a project that enhances my workspace and also improves my efficiency by making me not worry about finding things I need in a huge pile of mess. This project allowed me to apply my skills in design and craftsmanship while addressing a common problem faced by many other people as well.

Originally I had a closed top and a more complicated design of the sliding rail, but they were unnecessary and hard to make with simple tools so I modified them to a simpler design. An open top also provides more storage space and reduces the weight of the shelf.

• 2 cm thick Wood Board:

400mm x 250mm x1 (base board)

230mm x 250mm x2 (side board)

210mm x 360mm x1 (back board)

230mm x 360mm x1 (top board)

120mm x 360mm x1 (drawer front board)

• 3mm thick Wood Board:

360mm x 210mm x1

360mm x 60mm x1

four small square pieces with a height around 30mm

• Wood Glue
• Scroll Saw
• Bar Clamps/Corner Clamps(Optional but recommended)
• Sand paper(Optional but recommended)

Evenly spread one of the 250mm side of the side boards with wood glue, line up with the two 250mm sides on top of the base board, wait for the glue to dry.

Rapidly apply wood glue to one 360mm edge and both 210mm edges of the back board. Carefully slide the back board in between the side boards and line up the 360mm edge with the 400mm edge of the base board.

Tip: use the sand paper to sand one of the 210mm edge if it doesn't fit, but only do it if it doesn't fit, if it's very tight, don't sand it, since you want it tight instead of loose other wise glue won't be able to touch both of the side boards and it affects the durability.

Take two 40mm x 40mm squares, glue the square face to the inner side of the side board 20mm from the edge.

Line the 3mm thick 360mm x 210mm board up with the drawer front board. Line the two edges of 360mm up. Glue them and use bar clamp or corner clamp to hold in place and wait until the glue is dried. Attach the 360mm x 60mm board to the other side, place it roughly in the center and attach it with glue.

Take the other two 40mm x 40mm squares, cut them into two isosceles right triangles and glue between the vertical boards and the horizontal board. See the picture above.

Use scroll saw to cut a 30mm x 30mm square off to form a handle.

Slide in the drawer and add the final piece on top of the drawer, sand the short edge if it doesn’t fit, apply glue to three edges except for the long edge and use a bar clamp to hold it in place until the glue is dried.