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How to Build a Cheap Shot Glass Shelf

Shot glasses can be fun to collect, especially if you are a traveler, since most American cities--along with others worldwide--offer commemorative shot glasses for tourists. Whether you&'re showing off your cross-country collection or simply keeping your favorite drinking glasses on display, you can build a shelf inexpensively that will hold your shot glasses within easy reach. This shelf is heavy-duty but cheap and easy to build. You can paint it any color or leave it bare wood, depending on your design preferences.

Things You'll Need

1 piece 1 by 3-inch lumber, 4 feet long
Saw
1 1/4-inch wood screws
Drill
Phillips head driver bit
1/4-inch square dowel, 3 feet long
Wood glue

Instructions

- 1
  Cut two 18-inch long pieces from your 1 by 4-inch lumber.
- 2
  Set one of the pieces on its longest narrow edge so the long, wide side is facing you.
- 3
  Place the second piece on top of the first so the long, narrow edge is facing you and the back of the wood&'s underside is lined up with the first piece of wood. If you looked at it from the side, it would form an upside-down "L" shape.
- 4
  Screw the pieces together by driving the screws down from the top. Use the leftover scrap from the lumber to help prop up the front edge while you complete the project.
- 5
  Cut an 18-inch long piece of your dowel and glue it to the top of the front edge of your shelf with wood glue. This will keep the shot glasses from sliding off due to vibration.
- 6
  Measure the distance from the inside of the dowel piece to the back of the shelf (it will be slightly less than 2 1/2 inches) and cut two more dowel pieces that length. Glue them onto the shelf to complete the safety ridge around the sides. The wall will, of course, keep the glasses from sliding off the back.
- 7
  Attach the shelf to the wall after the glue dries by driving screws through the bottom support (the first piece of lumber you cut) into the wall.

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