Making shelves. AKA. Three RSI inducing weeks of my life

(photos on my phone, sorry for poor quality)

 I Started out with a big length of untreated radiata pine, which was then machined into 6mm thick slats, which I routed to give a bullnose edge. This gives them a slimmer appearance, whilst maintaining structural integrity of the 6mm thickness.

I then experimented with aesthetics - comparing the slotted through version with the on top version - it became obvious that the wood would take too much of the vial out of the equation - so I set about drilling 1100 grooves using a 5/8ths drill bit for the vials to slot into (20 shelves, 2 back ups)  I also would have preferred to keep the wood natural, as it was quite beautiful, but experiments showed that the vials just absorbed the colours/texture of the wood, and this is about displaying water - so the final product needed painting.

Experiments with wire suspension failed, so I had to look at other alternatives - eventually deciding on a slotted shelf option:

Setting up for routing- required lots of custom bracing/tracks. I had lots of help from the wonderful Lee Elliot during this process. He told me after that the possibility of causing an 'irreparable fuck up' during routing was very high - and that I hadn't was really good. I'm glad he only told me afterward!

Uprights - alternating sides grooved - apparently this way is stronger than doing it all on one side, and reduces bow in the upright.

 Putting the first slat in. A couple developed  hairline fractures due to the tightness of the joint.

Every other slat in place

 Assembled

 Painted with a few vials slotted in to see final effect. (many hours involved in painting also)
Still haven't quite worked out suspension- but pretty close.

Generally I'm pleased. I think it's gonna look great once I get the 1000 vials in there.

Farm Pond (Manawatu) - still and agitated

Trials