Neat Little Project: Build a Mail and Message Center

Despite fewer and fewer bits coming from the email today, there are still enough to warrant a special place to maintain the bills and magazines that arrive. Add the demand for a centralized location for family notes, the occasional voucher along with a paint swatch or 2, and you have got a reason to create a message centre shelf.

Chris Hill

Measuring 271/2 inches long, 123/4 inches high and 31/2 inches deep, this shelf will fit to a small section of wall near the kitchen or front entrance.

The left side, with cork backing, measures 12 inches wide and 111/4 inches high. The right side steps 111/4 inches wide, 111/4 inches high and 11/2 inches deep.

The best is 31/2 inches deep and 271/2 inches long, giving you enough space for many supplies and a couple of small decor items.

Chris Hill

Tools

You’ll need a handsaw, miter saw or circular saw for cutting the components, a set of 24-inch or larger knobs along with a hammer. Also make certain to have a drill for attaching hanging hardware on the back along with also a utility knife for cutting on the cork tile.

Materials1-by-2-by-2 plank 1-by-3-by-2 board1-by-4-by-6 board1-by-12-by-2 plank1/4-inch by 3/4-inch screen molding 12-inch-square cork tile using self-adhesive backing (1)4d finish nails (23)#18 by 3/4-inch brads (4)Keyhole hangers (2)
For a painted version, use something such as poplar or alder. For a stained version, go with something such as oak. It is possible to use #16 by 11/2-inch brads instead of the ones listed above. You will also need some wood adhesive, primer and paint (or stain and polyurethane). And paintbrushes and rags.

Chris Hill

The rear of this project is your 1-by-12 board, so you do not have to cut on it. Cut the shelf’s endings from the 1-by-3, making every bit 111/4 inches long. Apply glue to the ends of the back, position the end bits as shown at Figure 1 and attach them using 4d nails. Clamping the assembly here and can help.

Chris Hill

Cut the stiles from the 1-by-2. Apply paste to one edge of one of the stiles, position it 12 inches from 1 end as shown at Figure 2 and attach it with 4d nails.

Apply glue to one edge and one face of another stile and position it flush against the back and end as shown in Figure 2. Attach it with 4d nails.

Chris Hill

Cut the top and underside from the 1-by-4 using Figure 3 as a guide. Be sure to cut on the mitered corners too (you can skip this if you want to keep the corners intact).

Chris Hill

Apply glue to the edges of the back and ends of the stiles and the end bits, and position the top and bottom parts as shown at Figure 4. Twist the top and bottom to these parts using 4d nails.

Chris Hill

Cut 2 rails from the screen molding to 12 inches long. Position them 2 inches apart as shown at Figure 5 and mark in which the rails touch the stiles. Remove the rails, apply paste to the marked areas, replace the rails and attach them with 3/4-inch brads.

Chris Hill

Prime and paint the assembly and allow it to dry.

Use a utility knife and a straight edge to reduce the cork tile to 12 inches by 111/4 inches. Depending upon your cork tile, then you might need to simply remove a paper backing to reveal the self-adhesive side, or you may have to apply non-metallic padding within the packaging. Make certain to check fit the tile prior to eliminating the self-adhesive financing.

Chris Hill

While this project is shown using all the cork tile on the left, it is simple to switch the side during fabrication by altering the rails and flipping it over. To create the whole bit vertical, you can add stiles adjoining to the top and bottom and attach rails to them.

Customize it by incorporating cup hooks to the underside or ends in holding keys etc..

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