Essential Skills: How to Put Up a Shelf and Buy a Drill
Because everyone was a carpenter, including Jesus: how to put up a shelf in nine steps, and what to look for when you buy a drill.
Because everyone was a carpenter… including Jesus.
How to put up a shelf
Kit: Drill, spirit level, screwdriver, tape measure, hammer, 2” wall plugs, pencil
1) It’s best to mount shelves on brick walls as they’re much stronger. If you’re planning on putting anything heavy (20kg+) on the shelves, it has to be on brick.
2) Hold the shelf against the wall in the place you want it. Use a pencil to mark the ends of the shelf on the wall.
3) On the wall, divide the length of the shelf by four and make a mark a quarter of the way in from each end. This is where your brackets will go.
4) Place one bracket against the wall over the left-hand bracket mark. Hold the spirit level against it to make sure it’s level. Then mark the screw holes with a pencil.
5) Drill holes where you’ve just marked. Use a hammer to tap wall plugs into each hole, then screw the bracket into place.
6) Hold the shelf on top of the first bracket and put the spirit level on top. Place the second bracket over the right-hand bracket mark and adjust until the spirit level shows the shelf is straight. Mark the screw holes with the pencil.
7) Put the shelf to one side and attach the bracket to the wall as you did with the left bracket.
8) Screw the shelf in place on top of the brackets.
9) Put stuff on shelf. Open a beer. Feel manly.
How to buy a drill
A First, decide if you want a corded or cordless drill. Cordless are more convenient, but corded will give you more power and are usually cheaper.
B If buying cordless, look at battery voltage. The higher the voltage, the higher the power, so the easier you’ll be able to drill through harder surfaces. They’ll go from about 12v to about 24v. Higher voltage batteries are often heavier.
C Also look at the battery’s amper hours (Ah). The higher that number, the longer it will last between charges.
D If buying cordless, always make sure to get two batteries. Inevitably, one will run out halfway through a job – like you.
From the January 2011 issue of FHM India.
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