That time a client in Denver asked for a built-in with no visible fasteners

I was installing a bookshelf in a tight corner and the client wanted it to look like it grew out of the wall. I was about to use pocket holes and filler, but the homeowner, an old boat builder, handed me a doweling jig. He showed me how to drill angled holes from the back of the shelf into the studs, then glue and tap in dowels. It took an extra hour, but the joint is rock solid and you can't see a single screw. Anyone have a different method for a clean, hidden join in a situation like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

noahchen6d ago

Wow, that dowel trick is genius for tight spots.

sandra7156d ago

That dowel method is great, but calling it "rock solid" might be a stretch for a floating shelf. The strength really depends on the glue and the angle of those dowels. For heavier loads, I'd still want some hidden metal hardware in the wall.

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