How to Build a Children's Toy Cubby Hole Shelf

Mark Screw Positions

• 1

  Lay one of the six-foot boards on its 12-inch face on your work surface, with one six-foot edge facing you. Call the six-foot edge facing you the front edge and the six-foot edge farthest from you the back edge.

• 2

  Mark a point 1/4-inch from the left edge, one inch from the front edge. Mark a second point 1/4-inch from the left edge, one inch from the back edge.

• 3

  Repeat these same points for the right edge of the board.

• 4

  Mark a third pair of points 24 inches from the left edge, one inch from the front and back edges. Mark a fourth pair of points 24 inches from the right edge, one inch from the front and back edges.

• 5

  Stack the marked six-foot board on top of the unmarked six-foot board. Insert the 1/16-inch-diameter bit in the power drill.

• 6

  Drill pilot holes at all eight marked positions, all the way through both six-foot boards. Switch to the countersink bit and countersink all eight holes in each board.

Assemble the Shelf

• 7

  Have a helper hold the six-foot boards on their 1/2-inch edges, about 11 inches apart, with the countersunk holes facing out. Position two of the 1/2-inch-by-12-inch-by-11-inch boards on their 1/2-inch edges between the six-foot boards, with all edges and corners flush, creating a box frame.

• 8

  Set bar clamps across the 12-inch span between the top and bottom of the two six-foot-long boards, about four inches from the right and left ends, to keep the 11-inch boards from moving while you insert screws in the pre-drilled holes.

• 9

  Tighten the screws until the heads are 1/4-inch above the surface of the top and bottom of the box frame.

• 10

  Slide the remaining two 11-inch boards between the six-foot boards so that the pre-drilled screw holes fall at the midpoint of their 1/2-inch edges.

• 11

  Insert the remaining screws in the remaining pre-drilled holes. Tighten all 16 screws until their tops lie flush with the surface of the wood.

• 12

  Remove the bar clamps.

Sanding and Painting

• 13

  Sand all corners and edges at a 45-degree angle, using the coarse disk, followed by the medium and fine disks. Repeat sanding, changing angles until you round all edges.

• 14

  Sand all flat faces of the shelf with medium, fine and extra-fine disks.

• 15

  Paint the inside surfaces of the cubbyhole shelf one color and the outside surfaces a second color. Paint the 1/2-inch edges a third color if you wish them to stand out.

• 16

  Allow the first coat of paint to dry for 24 hours before applying a second coat. Give the second coat of paint 24 hours to dry before you apply the first clear sealant coat.

• 17

  Apply a second and third clear coat, giving each coat 24 hours to dry before applying the next one.