Build a Miniature Shelf

Everybody needs shelves.  1/12 scale people need them too and I thought I’d show one way of creating a small shelf unit, quickly, accurately, and show how to use dados to facilitate assembly.

Choose a piece of wood that is a bit more than twice the depth of the shelf sides.  In this case I was building a 10″ deep shelf (2″ in 1/12) and 36″ high (3″ in 1/12) so I used a piece of 1/16″ cherry that was 2″ x 6″ wide.

Step 1: Cut 1/16″ dados across its width at each place where you want a shelf.  Once that’s done, cut the piece in half along its length.  This will produce two pieces, with identical dados on each side.

Step 2: Stack the two pieces such that the dados face one another and are lined up perfectly.  Ensure that the back of the sides are also lined up.  Tape them together and use a scroll saw or jeweler’s saw to cut whatever profile you like, keeping in mind that a shelf will fit into each of the dados.

Step 3: Cut some shelving from 1/16″ stock.  You choose the length of the shelves but this sort of shelf looks best if they’re 18-36″ (1 1/2″ – 3″ in 1/12 scale) long.  You should end up with parts that look like this:

Step 4: Because of the dados, assembly is very easy.  Lay a bit of glue into each of the dado slots.  On a flat surface (I use a magnet board) place the sides with their backs to the surface and stick the shelves into the slots.  Use something with a 90-degree corner to set the relationship between one side and either the bottom or top shelf.  Let the glue dry.  You’re done.  The cool thing is that not only do dados make such pieces self-align during assembly, they really look nice, add strength, and they add a nice scale element to your pieces.

Cheers — Larry

larry@woodnbits.com