DIY Plexi Shelf

When I saw this post over at Oh Happy Day I knew I could use the instructions included to make something fun from some Plexiglas sheets I’ve had laying around. I opted for a little shelf as my first project.

 

First I measured. My plexi doesn’t have the blue protective coating like Jordan’s so I couldn’t use a permanent marker so I used a pencil instead.

 

Then out came the heat gun. This was so cool; I laid the sheet over the edge of my work top according to my measurements and then proceeded to heat along the edge. You want to heat evenly and to avoid bubbles and after a little while the plexi starts to bend. Oh and, this is the laminate work top in my hobby room but do consider where you're doing this since not all surfaces will be ok with the heat.

 

The trickiest bit was to bend evenly and I did mess up my first attempt by getting it crooked. I found the best technique was to quickly move the sheet from the edge of the work top to a wooden board and then using another wooden board to press down hard while bending slightly. You need to be careful though because it’s hot, hence wearing Wille’s outgrown ski gloves for the process

 

After that I drilled two holes using a piece of masking tape as a ruler.

 

And there it is. One piece of DIY’d shelf for fun little knick knacks.

Comments

[Rashmi]

At the risk of sounding silly, I have a question. I don't have a heat gun, can I use a hair dryer?

[Monsterscircus]

So cool! That's a brilliant idea, Thanks for sharing it looks great.

[Zosia]

Neat - the shelf. Cute - the little doll.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I think it might not give off enough heat. A heat gun gets much hotter.

[the spectator]

Nifty.

[paula c]

You have always the best projects. The only thing i can say is that i would have used the shelf all the way around, so the support will be hidden by the things you put on the shelf.

[Sherry]

Nice! I just wanted to say you could probably use permanent marker. I used to work at a facility where we tested products, and they would give them away if they were salvageable or sometimes not even used if we were sent too many. However,they were always marked up with permanent marker with letters and numbers. All you need is a little nail polish remover and a cotton ball. Comes off easy on everything from glass to plastic to metal and I even removed it from a wooden umbrella handle (it was pretty lacquered tho) with no problem.

[Dusa]

Derailing this post to ask about the green rug...details, please! Me likey!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Oh, good to know!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I did consider that. AFTER I already put the screws in way to close for the frame below so I couldn't flip it over...

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It's woven plastic from a local store called Indiska. Very cheap AND cheerful!

[Lisa Flaherty]

Very cool! And I like the green rug, too--thanks for the info!

[elisa]

ah, bending plastic, so fun. i once had the mad idea to bend a plexi box and fill it with liquid. harrowing artschool nightmares. we managed to seal it, but it was so difficult! did the shelf give you ideas for other bent plastic objects? tables!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It did but DIYing a big item like a table would be too intimidating on my own. I'd need extra arms for one...

[Absolute Condos]

I will try this on weekend.

[M.E.]

I have a gazillion "fun little knick knacks" but no heat guns, et al. wonderful idea, though!

[Dusa]

Thanks Miss Benita!

[jja]

I like the carpet!

[Jaimie]

Acetone can be used to "weld" plexiglass to itself, so I don't know if you can get away with using it to remove permanent marker. I may be wrong, but acetone is not safe for many plastics.

[Bernadette @ B3HD]

Seems like such a super easy project. I am going to have to give this a try on some of our colored walls here.

[Tracy]

Willie!

[Tracy]

i often find myself going "she's has everything imaginable lying around the house" when i read such posts from you...hahaha...