Screw the bracket onto the wall using a screw, but only tighten it to the wall slightly. Use a standard level to make sure it’s placed in a straight line, then lightly mark the wall with a pencil on both ends. 29. But if you want to avoid drilling holes, use an adhesive glue to support your shelf. If mounting a shelf that could have up 75 lbs in total weight, need to know how many brackets to support that weight safely. 4. Installing these shelves on the wall typically involves drilling holes in the wall -- which provides maximum support. How to put up a shelf with brackets (without any dramas) ... then take a look at the location of sockets and taps on either side of the wall and make sure you're not going to hang the brackets where any pipes or wires might fall. Mark the site at which you want to hang the object on your wall with a pencil. So ever so carefully, I drilled a pilot hole in the pencil marked spot where the bracket has a hole. Have someone help you hold the shelf against the wall. Hang Bracket from Top Hole. I didn’t want to just set the shelf on the brackets with nothing holding it to them… I was a little concerned it could too easily flip off. Weight-bearing shelves support heavy objects, such as mirrors, vases, books and picture frames. It's often sufficient to simply "eyeball" the location. Wrought Iron Shelf Brackets If you are into metal processing and welding, you can create beautiful shelf brackets from wrought iron in your workshop. To support the shelf, I'm using two cherry concave 8 shelf brackets from Tyler Morris Woodworking.. One shelf bracket is mounted to a wooden stud and the other is attached to drywall only using Toggler drywall anchors. Hold the shelf bracket up to the wall at your marked line. Standard shelf brackets are a great solution because they are easy to install and, depending on their dimensions, can withstand large loads. ; Position the shelf brackets against the wall along the bottom of the shelf. Mark inside the holes so you know exactly where to insert the screws. Tighten it enough so it can’t swing freely, but not so tight that you can’t rotate the bracket. Place the shelf bracket back on the wall and align the top hole with the hole you just drilled into the wall. Ever so careful so that the drill bit didn’t come through the top of the shelf. Secure floating shelves without clunky brackets or braces. (2) Size of brackets - some of the large solutions like French cleats, etc, seem to be 3 inches in width (top to bottom), thus if the part you are connecting it to is only 2 inches wide, not really an option because part of the bracket would be visible. Drive screws through the pilot holes you created on the bracket and into the wall studs. But if you're putting up several anchors to hold items at precise locations (a series of shelf brackets would be a good example), you'll want to measure the locations carefully to be sure they're at a consistent height. I will show you how to mount a shelf measuring 3/4" X 10" X 36". You may want a partner to help with this step. Everyone needs a single shelf somewhere in their home. Mark out the position of your shelf.