Our new pocketbook, “Smalls: 18 Well-designed, Easy Projects for an Afternoon in the Workshop,” is in the hands of Kara Gebhart Uhl for a copy edit. I’ll get it back from her next week, make the final changes, then upload it to the printer. After that, it’s usually about six weeks until it’s in the store.
As the title indicates, the book presents 18 projects that will make good use of all those little pieces of wood that were too good to throw away, but too small for most furniture projects. Each project includes a short explication of the steps, plus a cutlist and plans, elevations and any tricky details. Plus, you’ll find chapters on technique basics so that even if you’re new to woodworking, you’ll learn what you need to cut the rabbets, dados and grooves, how to use cut nails, how to fair curves and more. In short, the info you need to build these projects.
Here’s a project preview, a simple hanging bookcase in cherry. (And if you skip the curves, it’s simpler, still.)
This hanging bookshelf or display shelf is dead simple to make; It’s just four pieces of wood, four dados and eight nails. And because this piece is a little larger and not as delicate as some in this book, you can use 3/4″-thick stock without making it looking too bucky (a common challenge with smaller projects).
Cut all four pieces to width and length, then lay out the curves on the ends of the sides – in this case, an arc of a 2-1/8″-radius circle that starts and ends 5/8″ in from each edge. Cut and fair the curves.
The shelves are captured in 1/4″-deep dados that start 3-1/2″ in from each end. Cut the dados, then pull the shelves tight to the dado bottoms with clamps. Shift the clamps up or down as necessary so that you can drill pilot holes for cut or square-shanked nails into the center ends of the shelves, then remove the clamps and drive the nails. I used 50mm Rivierre nails, because they hold like the dickens and the prominent black nail heads look nice against the mellow cherry.
The finish is soft wax.
The hanging shelves end up being reversible up and down and front to back – so choose the best face and hang it up and out!
How do you typically hang a shelf like this?
I could see an entire series of books with little projects like this one.
I love it! I don’t see where I can click to pre-order.
We don’t do pre-orders; sorry (but we’ve ordered plenty)
What a fun book.
There are options – small sawtooth hanger(s) on the back of the top shelf; D-ring hangers, or you could simply drill parallel holes (one on the back of each vertical piece) and hang it on nails
Will this be available to buy as a downloadable PDF? Bit easier for international customers than hoping LV picks up a title (still haven’t gotten the Milk Paint book yet which I am quite looking forward to) or doing the main-forwarding thing.
Yes i am hoping for pdfs of this and the milk paint book too.
Adding my name to the requests
Smalls probably will be; the other one, that’s up to the author.
You’re killing me…
Can’t wait!
Way cool. Maybe worth considering putting together a little companion hardware package? 8 fancy nails for this project, etc. Might make a couple bucks to get a bulk deal and divvy up. Or might be a headache, but it’s a thought.
On small things like this I’ve used picture hanging wire or French cleats. The latter adds two more sticks and requires beveling.
This little shelf takes me back to 8th grade shop class. Mine did not look this good! 🙂
Is “bucky” supposed to be “bulky” or is that just a term I don’t know?
If “bucky” isn’t a valid adjective, it should be….
Bucky…like teeth that are too large for the mouth that contains them
Ok. I’ve certainly heard of buck teeth, but never “bucky” as an adjective. Must be Cincinnati slang. Or from Shakespeare.
Is there glue in the dados or the nails suffice? thank you Megan!
No glue.
Likewise. No one is bringing LAP books to India yet, so PDFs is all I can manage… Milk Paint and Smalls… I’d buy the PDFs in a snap
The world’s most exxagerated cloud lift!
I think Nick Kroll, the author, might have a stash in Europe, you should reach out to him. Try substack that’s where I think I saw him mention it
For what it is worth, I emailed Lee Valley and Milk Paint will be carried (online only but free ship-to-store) as of May 22nd.