Lip service: raising the front of a curved shelf

When I build a shelf, I like to raise a lip on the front edge to keep items from sliding off. That’s easy on a straight shelf, but more difficult on a curved piece. I came up with a method, shown below, that works well for me.

First, I cut the shelf to shape, but oversized to also include the width of the lip. Next, I rout a decorative profile on the edge of what will become the lip piece, then bandsaw this piece from the front of the shelf. Now, without sanding the second cut, I reglue the lip piece to the shelf, raised slightly to create the lip.

—Joe Barbish, Euclid, Ohio

Bookcases, Shelving & Wall Unit Plans