How to Make a CD Shelf

Use your handsaw to cut the 1-by-8 wood board into two pieces, each measuring 10¾ inches long. Cut one of the pieces to make it 4¾ inches wide and cut the other one to 5½ inches wide.

Cut two additional wood boards using your handsaw to 7 inches long and 5 ½ inches wide. These will serve as the side pieces of your CD shelf.

Get the side pieces of the CD shelf that you cut and make a mark an inch up from the boards bottom surface. Draw a line across the wood board from that point to the adjacent corner at the same end of your board. Cut through the pencil line using a handsaw to come up with the bottom end of your CD shelf. Do this to both side boards.

Use a pencil to mark a point from the board's longest side down 4 inches and over 4 inches. Use a ruler to make sure that you get the exact measurements. This will serve as your compass' reference point. Do this to the other side board as well.

Create a 4-inch curve at the top of the wood boards using a compass. Cut through the curve of the wood boards using your coping saw.

Cut a new piece of wood board measuring 4 ¾ inches long and 4 ¾ inches wide using your handsaw. Mark a point 4 inches down and 4 inches over from the edge of the board. Make a 4-inch curve on top of the wood and cut the curve with the coping saw.

Use your sandpaper to sand all the board surfaces and to smooth the edges. Polish the wood boards with a paintbrush and some varnish.

Nail down 4 ¾ inch wide board onto the edge of the 5 ½-inch board using four nails and a hammer.

Position the 4 ¾-by-4 ¾ inch wood board with the 4-inch curve at the center of the partial shelf. Nail it with a few nails and a hammer.

Nail the side boards onto either ends of the board using a hammer and a few nails to finish making your CD shelf.