Neat Little Job: Make a Mini Wooden Wall Console

A wall-mounted console can be useful in many ways, from just being another location to put down stuff to being a charging station for both phones and tablets. It fits next to a bed on a wall. Consider this project something that creates a little space where you might not expect it.

Chris Hill

This computer keyboard measures 12 inches wide, 3 inches high and 6 inches deep.

Materials:(1) 1-by-6-by-4 pine board(1) 1-by-2-by-4 pine board(1) 3/4-inch square dowel3-inch wood screws#18 x 11/4-inch bradsWall anchorsWood gluePrimer and paintTools:Table sawMiter sawJigsawDrill3/4-inch Forstner or spade bit, and a #12 countersink bitHammerMeasuring tapeSquareLevelPaintbrushes

Chris Hill

Make the Top Shelf

by means of a table saw, split the 1-by-6 board to 41/2 inches broad. Use Figure 1 as a guide for cutting the top shelf to length (12 inches) and for cutting on the mitered corners. Cut the corners at 45 degrees.

Chris Hill

Make the Bottom Shelf

Cut the bottom plate from the ripped 1-by-6 board to 12 inches. Drill a 3/4-inch hole (using a 3/4-inch Forstner or spade bit) 6 inches from the end and 1/2 inch from the border as shown in Figure 2. Use a jigsaw to cut at a 1/2-inch-wide slot leading to the hole. This slot is going to be utilized as a pass-through for strings for electronic equipment. If you do not intend to utilize the console this way, you can skip this step.

Cut the 45-degree miters on the corners onto the opposite side of the board from where the hole is situated. .

Chris Hill

Assemble the Shelf Cleat and Ends

Cut the shelf cleat from the 3/4-inch square dowel to 9 inches. Cut the endings from the 1-by-2 board to 31/2 inches. Position the components as shown in Figure 3 after applying glue to the ends of the plate cleat. Attach utilizing 11/4-inch brads.

Sand the inside edge of this shelf cleat till it is slightly rounded.

Chris Hill

Attach the Top Shelf

Apply glue to the edges of their endings and wall mounted cleat. Position the top plate centered on the plate cleat assembly and flush against the wall cleat (there will be a 3/4-inch overhang past the endings) as shown in Figure 4, and attach it using 11/4-inch brads.

Prime and paint this assembly (with the exclusion of the bottom edge of the endings) and the bottom shelf.

Chris Hill

Attach the Bottom Shelf

Apply glue to a 2-inch section on the endings farthest from the trunk (where the wall cleat is situated). Position the bottom plate 11/2 inches from the rear of the assembly (on this glued area) as shown in Figure 5, and attach it using 11/4-inch brads.

Chris Hill

Assemble the Wall Cleat and Wall Cleat Support

Cut the wall cleat from the 1-by-2 board to 23/4 inches. Cut the wall cleat support from the 1-by-2 board to 12 inches. Apply glue to an edge of this wall cleat, place it as shown in Figure 6 and then attach it using 11/4-inch brads.

Sand the top border of this wall cleat till it is slightly rounded. This will help with placing the shelf assembly on the wall cleat assembly.

Prime and paint this assembly.

Chris Hill

Attach the Wall Cleat Assembly to the Wall

Select the desired location for the console. Use a #12 countersink bit to drill pilot holes for 3-inch screws in the wall cleat support.

Position the wall cleat assembly on the wall and then use a level to be certain it is level. Slowly push the 3-inch screws through the wall cleat support till they just input the wall, creating small divots. Remove the assembly and drill pilot holes for wall anchors for the screws. Insert the wall anchors in the holes and then attach the wall cleat assembly to the wall by driving the 3-inch screws throughout the assembly and into the wall anchors.

Now you can put the shelf assembly onto the wall cleat assembly. If you find it a bit tight, then back the screws out slightly until it fits.

Chris Hill

If you are placing charging wires with broad connectors (like for iPods) in the assembly, insert the strings from the slot before placing the shelf assembly onto the wall cleat assembly.

Chris Hill

Here is the completed console in activity.

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