Set out the parts, protect the acrylic while you work, and follow the mounting sequence below. Keep the film on until the shelf is secure.
Clear acrylic can be hard to notice. Keep the shelf out of walking paths and away from face or eye level where someone could bump into it. Take extra care around children and pets. Check that exposed edges are smooth and rounded, and do not use a shelf with a sharp or chipped edge.
Check the hardware supplied with your order. The assembly view shows where each part sits. The images below show the parts and tools separately so you can identify each one before drilling.
This close-up uses the actual FreeCAD shelf, screw, acrylic washer, cover cap, and anchor models. The wall is omitted so you can see the full fastener path.
Actual acrylic washer and cover cap models above. The full hardware set includes:
The washer and cap are rendered from the supplied FreeCAD models. Screw drive and anchor type may vary by order.
Use the bit and driver that match your actual hardware.
A square drive or cross drive screw may be supplied. Use its matching driver.
Leave the film on both shelf faces during installation. Peel it back only around the mounting lip, on top and underneath as needed, so the lip can sit cleanly against the wall.
Use a soft cloth to remove dust from the surface that will touch the wall.
Hold the shelf at the desired height. Set a level on it, then mark the wall through each mounting hole. Where shelf length allows, standard holes are positioned for 16 inch on-center studs. Check the actual hole pattern on your shelf. If one hole meets a stud and another does not, use the stud for one screw and a suitable wall anchor for the other.
Set the shelf aside. Prepare each marked hole for the wall and fixing at that position. For an anchor, drill to its required diameter and depth, clear the dust, and install it as the maker directs. For DuoPower 8 × 40, use an 8 mm hole at least 50 mm deep. A screw going into a stud does not use a wall anchor.
Studs are commonly 16 inches on center, but framing and shelf hole patterns vary. Use a stud fixing where a shelf hole lands on a stud. At a hole without a stud, use an anchor suitable for that wall and the supplied screw.
Return the shelf to the wall. Seat the acrylic cup washer in the mounting lip, then pass the screw through its center and into the prepared wall fixing. Keep the screw head inside the cup.
Right before final tightening, blow or wipe dust from behind and under the mounting lip so it sits flat against the wall.
Stop when the washer is seated and the shelf is secure. Extra turns can crack wall paint or acrylic, especially when driving into a stud.
Align the cover cap with the washer and press it over the screw head. If it does not seat, check the alignment instead of forcing it.
Once the shelf is secure and the caps are in place, peel the remaining protective film from the shelf faces and edges.
Use a soft, non-abrasive microfiber cloth, dry or lightly dampened with water. Use a cleaner made for acrylic if needed. Avoid cleaners with abrasive or scouring compounds.
Keep the shelf visible and clear of traffic or play areas. If its edges become chipped or sharp, stop using it until they are repaired.