---
title: "Plan Wooden Shelves and Cable Holes"
url: "https://millidraw.com/blog/wooden-shelves-cable-holes-before-cutting"
updated: "2026-08-05"
description: "Plan two or three wooden shelves with exact dimensions and cable pass-through holes before cutting or drilling, helping reduce mistakes and wasted material."
language: "en"
license: "All rights reserved"
source_format: "agent-readable markdown"
---

# Plan Wooden Shelves and Cable Holes

> Plan two or three wooden shelves with exact dimensions and cable pass-through holes before cutting or drilling, helping reduce mistakes and wasted material.

Published: August 5, 2026
Read time: 7 min read
Canonical HTML: /blog/wooden-shelves-cable-holes-before-cutting

## Who This Helps

DIY woodworkers, furniture makers, installers, and home-office planners preparing a small set of shelves with intentional cable routing.

## Key Points

- A simple measured drawing should define each shelf's finished dimensions, orientation, reference edges, hole centres, diameters, and hardware exclusion zones.
- Cable openings should be sized from the actual connectors and the selected grommet's specified cutout, not from a universal assumed diameter.
- Finished part dimensions and the cutting layout are separate: the latter must account for the actual saw kerf, material, defects, and waste.
- Testing the grommet on an offcut and completing one dry-fitted shelf before repeating the layout can prevent the same mistake on every part.

## Related MilliDraw Capabilities

- Draw measured 2D geometry on iPad with Free and 90° Lock workflows.
- Edit exact lengths, angles, radii, rotations, and movement distances.
- Add dimension labels, freehand notes, and typed annotations.
- Keep drawings clear enough for clients, contractors, workshops, and installers.
- Export PDF for readable sharing and DXF as a CAD-compatible handoff.

## Keywords

- plan wooden shelves
- cable holes in shelves
- shelf measured drawing
- cable pass-through hole
- woodworking drawing iPad

## Product Context

MilliDraw is useful when a measured drawing communicates better than a list of dimensions, a photo, or a paper sketch. It is especially relevant when a mistake would cause rework, remakes, site revisits, or unclear installer instructions.