Introduction

In this set of instruction we are going to cover how to assembly the Miniature Display Shelves.  In the pictures we are going to show an equivalent MDF version of shelves made with wood glue, rather than the clear acrylic shelves with epoxy resin.  The only reason for this is to make the work more visible as the wood glue and the MDF show up more clearly than clear acrylic and epoxy in photographs!

Equipment and Preparation

To assemble the shelves you will need:

• Wood glue/PVA, ideally quick drying with a fine nozzle on the bottle.
• Clear 2-part epoxy resin glue, ideally quick drying.  For ours we used Gorilla Clear Epoxy
• Piece of card, or something to protect your work surface.  In case get glue on it!
• Microfibre cloth – for polishing
• Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol – optional, but allows you to clean up mistakes!

Assembly Jig

There is a jig included in your kit to help hold all of the acrylic pieces during assembly.

1. Lay out the pieces of the jig as shown. 
2. Take one of the side pieces and run wood glue along between the slots
3. Continue until both sides have glue on them
4. Insert the supports into one of the side pieces
5. Line up and slot the other side on the top.
6. Wait for the glue to dry, then the jig is complete!

Shelf Assembly

Some of the picture shown are in MDF using wood glue, such that the assembly process is visible, everything here still applies to assembling the acrylic version.

1. Read through this guide.  Run through the whole assembly process without using glue to ensure that you have identified where everything fits.
2. Sort all of the parts, there are many identical pieces. 
3. On the side panel, peel the protective film off only the insides.  We’ll peel the film off the outside once all of the glue has dried.
4. Peel the protective film off both sides of the shelf pieces.
5. Switching to MDF and wood glue for visibility. Take the top four pieces, place them onto the top of the jig, then slot them into the left hand side.  Don’t glue these pieces at this point, we are just using them to hold the side piece up, whilst we start from the bottom.  The top shelf pieces can be identified as the large pieces of which there is only one included in the kit, then the second shelf down draws parts from the two large piles of shelf pieces.
6. Take the bottom two pieces and put them together.  Test fit them to ensure you have them the correct way round, then put glue on the end as shown.  The central tab does not need to be glued, it just provides support for the shelf.  We apply epoxy resin by dabbing it on with a cocktail stick from a container where it has already been mixed.
7. Slot the bottom shelf into the left side piece.
8. Repeat for further shelves.  Once a few shelves are done, the top shelves providing support can be removed.
9. Complete the top shelves and then leave for the glue to dry fully, this takes about an hour for our 5-minute epoxy.
10. Roll the shelves carefully onto their side, keeping the jig in there to help support the individual shelves.  Apply glue to the ends of each shelf as you did previously.  Take the other side piece, then starting at the bottom front corner, work the side on, by applying pressure onto the side whilst lining the shelf pieces up one by one.
11. Once the side is on, leave it in that position for the glue to dry.  Once dry, any excess glue or mess can be cleaned up with isopropyl alcohol, and then buffed off with a microfibre cloth.

Finished!