 Reader's Digest DVD holder |
Buying wood
We used contrasting woods—walnut and maple—for the knife rack and stool, and Philippine mahogany (aka “lauan”) for the DVD tree. Most home centers carry a small selection of hardwoods—like maple and oak—in 3/4-in. and 1/4-in. thicknesses. Some offer a wider selection that includes cherry or walnut. For a huge selection of wood species, shop online. Just search for “hardwood” or go to woodcraft.com.
To get started, cut the trunk and shelves to length. Bevel one end of each shelf by tilting your miter saw or table saw blade to 5 degrees. Mark the notches in the shelves and trunk.
Measuring from the top of the trunk, center the notches at 8-1/2, 11-1/2, 17-1/4, 20-1/4, 26-1/4 and 29 in. Cut the notches using a 5-degree guide block and a pull saw. Assemble the shelf.
 Reader's Digest Using a bevel gauge |
 Reader's Digest Measuring for the shelves |
1. Set your bevel gauge at 5 degrees using the miter gauge and fence of your table saw.
2. Mark the notches on the edge of the trunk using the bevel gauge. Mark the face of the trunk with a square.
 Reader's Digest Attaching the shelves |
3. Test-fit each shelf and then glue it into place. If a shelf fits so tightly that it’s hard to remove after test fitting, just leave it—no glue is needed.
 Reader's Digest Hanging up the shelf |
Fast finishing
Brushing a clear finish onto these
projects would be difficult. So we sprayed on two light coats of clear
lacquer ($5 per aerosol can). Sand lightly with a fine-grit sanding
sponge between coats. Lacquer dries very fast, so the whole process
takes only about an hour.
