How to remove built-in shelf without damaging

carpentryshelf

I have an angled shelf I'd like to remove from an old built-in unit in the house. However, I can't see how it is secured. It is solid wood and is very sturdy. Appears to be some glue at the seams (last pic). Attached are some pictures. Would like to do the least amount of damage possible.

https://ibb.co/BNXqQQt
https://ibb.co/7pBgcXN
https://ibb.co/8PznNJD
https://ibb.co/D72Ypvn

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Best Answer

You can not remove this shelf without damage

In fact, the shelf itself would need to be destroyed to not damaged the supporting edge pieces. Even then, there will be a 'scar' where the shelf was attached.

To remove it, I suggest cutting a section out of the middle of the shelf about 1 to 2 inches wide to split the shelf into two pieces to create room to work and create pieces that you can leverage on and work off the connection. Then use up and down, and in and out motions to work out the shelf, being careful to minimize the damage to the sides and back.

Once the shelf is removed then it will be able to determine how it was attached which may include glue (we can see some in the picture) and dowels, or screws or similar. It might be necessary to cut off the screws since they can't be pulled through without causing damage.

Then it is about prettying it up as best as possible. The location where the shelf was will have a mark and more than likely that wood is not stained, rather the entire unit was finished after it was built. The options to address this are varied based on more subjective things such as how you want it to look when finished.

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