It’s appropriate that I am in rehearsal for Shakespeare’s most potent of rough magic magi. Why? Because it will help establish a special theme to my promised article about the “Ledges of the Mystical Pyramid.”

This project is for the more advanced carpenter . . . or the purely intuitive one . . .

Here at the beautiful and bright East Carolina University in Greenville NC, I am playing Prospero in “The Tempest.” I say he is the most potent of all the Bard’s lads and lasses for a good reason . . . he has mastery over all of the elementals. So with his background and experience he should perform quite to point: the Shelves of a Magus.

The Problem

Haven’t you ever wanted to have a shelf in your living area to display all the trophies and certificates of knowledge acquired during the course of your life experiences? But of all the different types of hardware or kits available, none of them touches the magus in you. You could use metal stanchions with wobbly brackets . . . remember the shelving system your Dad installed in the basement playroom? NO not that one! How about those ornate wooden shelf brace? No too clunky and pretentious. What you want is something that looks like Dumbledore or Gandalf flicked it on the wall. "Ye Elves of Hills Brooks Standing Lakes and Groves!" I'll deliver all:

MATERIALS

The materials I used: three pieces of 2X2, six pieces of 1X12, a length of 1X2, a length of 1X6 ripped down to 4" (can't use a 1X4 it's actually 1X3+1/2,) a level, 4” screws, and a handy electric drill.

STEP ONE

Build three long narrow boxes with the backside open. Notice that the 1X2 is inside the box, creating the void where the 2X2 will fit. The trim around the shelf will have to be ripped down from 1X6 to exactly 4". I will leave the specific lengths of the 1X12 to your own heuristics:

STEP TWO

After looking up heuristics and applying this word's special magic, install the three lengths of 2x2 onto the wall location where this floating shelf system will go. This will work best if you have wall studs to install the 4” screws securely. Take the trusted level of your length and carefully mark your location before attaching. Be sure to pre-drill the 2X2s. A hollow wall will need a 3/8” toggle bolt into some substantial wall covering (not 1/2” sheet rock.) As for the other wall composites out there . . . at this time let’s save those installation issues for a future blog, or to quote the Magus, “At this time I will tell no tales.”

STEP THREE

Slip your narrow boxed shelves over the 2X2s. Then attach at a 45-degree angle through the top of the narrow boxed shelves the 4” screws into the 2X2 that are attached to the wall studs. Be sure to pre-drill and counter sink!

You can paint or stain to whatever pleases you. Look at this picture and tell me you’re not thinking, “I scarcely think my eyes do offices of truth!”

Let me know how it floats for you . . . meanwhile check out ECU: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-studentlife/mcginnis/OnStage.cfm