How to Use a Kreg Jig to Make Simple Book Ledges

Repeat after me, “I can build things!”.  You can!  I am going to show you how!  Specifically I am going to show you how to use a Kreg Jig to make these awesome book ledges.  These ledges can be used for so much more than just books!  Frames, small jars of crafts, mugs, keepsakes…the list goes on!

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant.  With the upcoming arrival of another person living in our house we are play “Room Switcheroo” and “Try to get all the things done around the house before the baby comes!”  Fun times.  So Ryan is moving into Michael’s room so that the new baby boy can move into Ryan’s old room.  We added bunk beds to Michael’s room and ran into the issue of no night stands.  My boys LOVE to read.  They read themselves to sleep at night and I love that.  So my solution was to make them each a simple book ledge that we could put at the foot of the bed to hold a few of their favorite books!  I couldn’t find any that I liked in stores….so I made some…and you can too!

Supplies Needed for Book Ledges:

• .5” x 1.5” x 36” board  (I used 36” and cut in half to make 2 shelves…you can use any length that suits your needs!)
• .5” x 2.5” x 36” board
• .5” x 4” x 36” board
• Kreg Jig
• Clamp
• Ryobi Power Drill
• Countersink drill bit
• 1” Countersink screws
• 1.5” Countersink Screws with anchors (for mounting)

Note:  I have lots of steps because I like lots of pictures!  Don’t think this project is difficult because of that – I just like to explain everything and SHOW everything!  Just think I am crazy with the camera :)

Also Note:  You can make these to whatever length you need!  Just measure twice and cut once!

I started off by using my Ryobi Compound Miter Saw to cut each of the boards in half.  This will give me (2) 18” book shelves.  If you ask the kind folks at Home Depot, they will cut the boards to size for you, so you don’t have to have a miter saw!  Great right?   Then I got out my Kreg Jig.  I am going to show you how to use the Kreg for this project.

My Kreg Kit contains the R3 Kreg Jig, a driver bit, a drill bit, an allen wrench and a slip nut.  It also comes with tons of screw packs and pocket hole plugs and an instruction manual in a convenient case that keeps everything TOGETHER….stuff miraculously WALKS AWAY at my house so the case is nice! {Ahem…Michael & Ryan!)

Next I set the slip nut to the appropriate depth of my boards I am using.  This measurement is the width of your board.  Since I have half inch boards, I set it to half inch.  The case has everything you need to get a job done!

Then I adjusted my Kreg itself to half inch using the adjustable sliders on both sides.  Measurements are clearly marked on the back of the Kreg.  I then set the Kreg on my 2.5” board with the edge of the Kreg over the edge of the board and clamped it down tight using a Kreg Clamp.  This will be the bottom section of your ledges.

Next is the fun part!  Insert the drill bit that we set above into your power drill and you are going to drill into the holes on the Kreg Jig.

Continue all the way until the slip nut hits the blue Kreg casing!  Don’t worry it won’t hurt your Kreg one single bit and it also is super easy…it kind of pulls itself in there.  Minimal muscle is required :)

Pull the drill and bit, back out of the Kreg, unclamp and sit back and enjoy your handiwork :)  You now have a pocket hole!  There are projects when you will want to drill in BOTH the holes on your Kreg. For this project we only need one hole!

You will need to repeat this step.  Kreg recommends a pocket hole every 6-8 inches.  I did three for good measure on each side of my 2.5” board so that I could screw in the front and back boards.  So simply drill three pocket holes along one side, rotate board 180 and repeat next on the other side of the board!

Next we get to assemble!  Get your 1” countersink screws out and attach the driver bit to your drill.  It’s really long but you need it like that in order so your drill body does not hit your boards!

Set your back board (4” board) flat and line up your bottom board with the pocket holes.  Screw together.  The great thing about countersink screws is that they “pull” the boards together with minimal muscle power :)  <—again…you can do this I promise!

Repeat with the front ledge board (1.5” board).

Now you have your assembled ledge!  I repeated everything for my second shelf!  Then I got to painting them.  You can stain, paint or leave as is!

To mount to the wall I simply drilled some countersink holes with a countersink bit.  This drills a hole in your board that allows the head of the screw to sit flush with the board instead of sticking up over it!

Here is how the screw will sit in the hole.

We then drilled holes in our wall, inserted anchors and then screwed the ledges to the wall!

Each bunk gets a small book ledge to hold some night time books!

Uses for your DIY Book Ledges:

These are not only for book ledges!  You could features photos on them or use them in a craft room to hold jars of buttons, twine and embellishments!  You can adjust the front height on the ledge and use it for small trophies or keepsakes as well!   These are very versatile in that you can customize the size and length to fit your specific needs!

Thanks so much for building with me today!  If you are interested I also have step by step plans on my site for a DIY weekend Pergola!  That’s right, we built a pergola in our backyard over a long weekend!

I also am in love with my PB knock off Cubby system for the boys’ play room!  I used my Kreg Jig on this project too!  It worked beautifully and I am getting ready to make 4 more of these Cubby Shelves!

 

 

Happy Building Friends!  If you have any questions on this…please leave them in the comments below!  I’d love to help YOU build something in your home!

I’d also invite you to check out all of my DIY Projects!

Stay tuned because I have some amazing flower boxes coming up using my Kreg Jig and these DIY Cornhole Games!  You won’t want to miss it!  You can follow me any of the ways below!