How to Build a Shallow Wall Pantry

Pass the stud finder over the wall in the space available for your shallow pantry. Mark the positions of all studs along that wall, 72 inches from the floor.

Press the 4-inch face of one of the 1-by-4-by-34-inch pieces of stock lumber against the wall, with its upper 1-inch edge even with the marks on the wall.

Have a helper hold the board in place while you hold a spirit level on top of the board. Use a carpenter's pencil to mark along the left side, top edge and right side of the board.

Don dust masks and wrap-around eye protection. Mark screw positions on the board at each stud, three inches apart vertically. Drill pilot holes using a power drill with a 1/16-inch bit.

Remove the 1/16-inch bit and insert the countersink bit. Place the point of the countersink bit in each pilot hole. Drill straight into each hole 1/4-inch deep to countersink the pilot holes.

Secure the 34-inch board to the wall using 1/8-inch thread diameter, 2-inch-long wood screws to create your first shelf support.

Lay the 72-inch boards on their 12-inch faces, roughest side up. Label one end of the 12-inch face of each board "A" and the other end "B." Snap chalk lines across the 12-inch face of each board, 15 inches from the "A" end. Snap additional lines at 30, 45 and 60 inches.

Set the router to make 1/2-inch-deep, 1-inch wide dado cuts -- which are grooves cut into a board so that it can support a shelf -- across the 12-inch face of each board.

Center the router bit on each chalk line before you cut each dado into the right and left sides of the pantry shelf. Use push blocks to move the shelf sides about 1 inch away from the router bit before your start the router.

Grasp the push blocks and push the wood over the router bit with a smooth, slow, even motion, keeping your hands away from the cutting bit.

Have a helper hold the right and left sides of the pantry shelf on their 1-by-72-inch edges with their dado cuts facing inward, 34 inches apart. Slide the 35-inch-long boards into the dado cuts.

Apply the 36-inch bar clamps at 18 inches, 36 inches and 51 inches from the "A" end of the sides of the pantry shelf unit. Position the shelf unit flush against the wall, with the shelf support you screwed into the wall earlier resting between its "A" ends.

Have your helper hold the unit against the wall while you position the 1-by-12-by-36-inch board across the top of the "A" ends, with all edges and corners flush.

Drill 1/16-inch diameter pilot holes through the 36-inch board, down into the "A" ends of the shelf unit, 2 inches, 6 inches and 10 inches from the wall. Countersink all six holes and secure the top shelf to the unit using 1/8-inch diameter, 1.5-inch-long wood screws.

Remove the bar clamp at the 15-inch mark and slide the shelf out of the dado cuts. Use a 1/2-inch wide paintbrush to apply carpenter's glue in the dado cuts on each side of the pantry unit.

Slide the shelf back into the cuts and wipe away the excess glue. Repeat for the shelf at 30 inches.

Reapply the bar clamp at 18 inches. Remove the bar clamps at 36 and 51 inches, one at a time, to allow you to remove the shelves at 45 and 60 inches.

Apply carpenter's glue to the dado cuts at 45 and 60 inches and replace the shelves. Reapply the bar clamps and allow the glue to cure overnight.

Drill 1/16-inch diameter pilot holes 2, 6 and 10 inches from the wall, through the 72-inch sides and into the 1-inch thick shelves, centered on the original chalk lines. Countersink all the holes and secure the sides to the shelves using 1/8-inch diameter, 1.5-inch long wood screws.

Smooth the entire pantry unit with medium-grit sandpaper on sanding blocks. Apply three coats of enamel paint or clear acrylic wood sealant if desired.