Magazine Shelf

Magazine shelves work great in kid's rooms to keep things neat and organized.

1" x 12" poplar lumber (the length you desire plus 24")
poplar trim (length the same as main board)
stain
polyurethane
rag
circular saw
wood screws
wire brads
30,60,90 degree triangle
power screwdriver
wood putty

Steps:

1. Size It Up.
   Determine the length of your magazine rack, and cut the top to size. Cut the trim piece that will be used to keep the magazines from falling off the shelf to the same length as the top. Attach the piece of trim to the bottom edge of the shelf using wood glue and small wire brads.
2. Go At It From Another Angle.
   Using a 30,60,90 degree triangle, draw and cut out the triangular support pieces, one for each end of the shelf. If the shelf is longer than about 42", you may want to create a center support. Remember the hypotenuse of the triangle should be the same as the width of your shelf.
3. Enhance the Support.
   Once you have your triangular supports cut, cut a 2" wide strip a little shorter than the long side of the piece, and attach the edge of the 2" strip to the inside of the support. This is the piece that you will use to screw into and then into the wall.
4. Finish the Pieces.
   Before you put everything together, stain and polyurethane the pieces on all 4 sides for protection and good looks.
5. Attach the Supports First.
   Try to attach your supports into studs if you can. If not, you may want to use wall anchors to insure a secure shelf. Line up the suports using a level, and make sure that the placement is inset a little from the ends of the shelf.
6. On To the Shelf.
   Next, set the magazine shelf onto the slanted edges fo the supports and mark lightly where they are located, then screw the shelf onto the brackets. If you countersink the screws, you can fill up the holes and touch them up when the wood putty dries.
7. Cover It Up!
   All that work, and you're just going to cover it up with the latest edition of Sports Illustrated. Oh well, I'm sure you'll enjoy both!

Magazine shelves keep things near and are also great places to display theater programs, sports programs and memorabilia.