| Before committing myself to a set of bookcase | | | | Although it's possible to build a simple bookcase |
| plans, I first decided to shop around for a pre-fab | | | | without ever picking up a power drill, the no-screws |
| bookshelf, both online and at a few discount furniture | | | | approach to building a bookcase requires that you |
| stores in town. My plan was to look at a wide range | | | | own an insanely large number of clamps to hold |
| of styles and prices before deciding what to buy. It | | | | everything together while the glue dries. Really, we're |
| didn't take me long to discover that I really had only | | | | talking about 20 clamps or more at about $20 each. |
| two choices in the matter; buy somewhat expensive | | | | Ouch. At a fraction of the cost, you can unleash the |
| crappy particle board bookcases with fake wood | | | | same clamping power on wood joints by using wood |
| laminate, or buy very expensive wood bookcases | | | | screws (or even nails) to hold pieces together while |
| that will stay in my family for the next 100 years. | | | | the glue sets up. Of course, you'll have holes all over |
| The good stuff would be nice, but since I can't | | | | everywhere, but most people just fill them in with |
| afford to spend $800 at Ethan Allen right now, I'm | | | | putty and they look fine. |
| really left with just one option: the somewhat | | | | Plywood vs Solid Wood Shelves - Choosing the right |
| expensive crappy bookcases. It's disappointing to | | | | wood for a bookcase plan can be a big topic to get |
| think this is my only choice. | | | | your arms around, especially if you start reading the |
| So now I'm looking at some bookcase plans, which | | | | zillions of articles online about wood species and |
| means I'd have to take on the job of building | | | | wood grades, plywood construction, shelving span |
| something from scratch. I'm starting to like the idea, | | | | calculators, etc., etc. This is all good stuff, but for |
| though. First, it's the only other option I can find to | | | | now, let me narrow down the choices for a first-time |
| buying expensive crappy bookcases, and second, I | | | | bookcase project. |
| like the idea of deciding for myself what level of | | | | Hold off on plywood shelves...this time around - Sure, |
| quality (and expense) I want to put into the project. | | | | plywood is nice for bookcase shelves because it |
| I don't want a bookcase made from the cheapest | | | | doesn't have the warping problems that plague solid |
| materials around, but I don't need the most | | | | wood. But plywood comes in 4x8 sheets, which |
| expensive either. Building my own bookcase will let | | | | means you'll be doing a LOT of cutting to make all |
| me create something between these two extremes. | | | | the pieces for a simple bookcase. For experienced |
| I've done a fair amount of researching on the Web, | | | | woodworkers, this isn't really a problem. They'll first |
| and I've come up with some pretty simple guidelines | | | | cut down the sheet into more manageable pieces |
| for approaching this kind of wood project. Overall, | | | | (usually with a circular saw) and then head over to an |
| the good news is that you don't have to be a | | | | $800 table saw to get things perfectly square and |
| hard-core woodworker to pull this thing off. In fact, a | | | | perfectly sized for the bookcase plan they're |
| bookcase is a perfect starter project for someone | | | | following. Not that you can't do all this with another |
| just getting into building stuff from wood. Maybe it's | | | | tool (like a circular saw or jigsaw), but at some point |
| a little more challenging than making a sawhorse | | | | it just becomes too much work to make a zillion cuts |
| (which is also a good plan to start with), but I think | | | | in plywood without the bigger, beefy tools. |
| it's important for beginners to make something they | | | | Solid Pine Shelves - For first-time projects, I like to |
| can be excited about when it's all said and done. So | | | | use off-the-shelf dimensional lumber from the big box |
| let's get started with some of the basics of building a | | | | stores like Home Depot. Pine is relatively cheap |
| bookcase. | | | | (compared to hardwood) and is precut to |
| Three Tools - I assume that most people attempting | | | | standard-size widths and lengths. That means a LOT |
| their first bookcase project will not have a complete | | | | less cutting for me to get the basic pieces of my |
| set of woodworking power tools in their shop - | | | | bookcase ready for assembly. Woodworkers might |
| things like a table saw, drill press, router table, planer, | | | | point out that dimensional lumber is inconsistent in |
| and all that. What I do think first-time builders might | | | | width and thickness, which makes less-than-perfect |
| (and should) have is a circular saw, a router, and a | | | | woodworking joints without first planning and/or |
| power drill. It's pretty amazing what you can build | | | | squaring the boards on a table saw. They're right. |
| with just a few reasonably-priced tools. | | | | Dimensional lumber is not perfectly square and |
| #1 Circular Saw - A circular saw will cut just about | | | | consistent from one board to the next. But that |
| anything you can throw at it, and with a few | | | | doesn't mean you can't build a decent-looking |
| accessories, some fairly complicated joinery. Even if | | | | bookcase otherwise. Sure, you might have some |
| you decide later to upgrade to more expensive tools, | | | | small gaps in the joinery, and maybe the case isn't |
| your circular saw will always get used in the shop. For | | | | absolutely square and plumb. But more often than |
| a simple bookcase, you'll be using the circular saw to | | | | not, you'll be the only one who knows any different. |
| cut all the boards to length, and to help make the | | | | Save the more exacting work for nicer bookcase |
| dado cuts that hold your bookcase shelves. You'll also | | | | you'll build next year. |
| use the saw to cut down a 4x8 sheet of plywood | | | | Setting up to Cut Boards - It's a little frightening to |
| for the bookcase back. | | | | think about how precarious and unorganized a |
| #2 Router - I'm sure there are plenty of wood | | | | workspace can be when we start cutting boards. No |
| projects being built without the help of a router, but | | | | one wants to spend time moving around tables, |
| my question is, why go to the trouble? Sometimes | | | | setting up sawhorses, adjusting work clamps...just to |
| you can pick up a decent router for under $100, and | | | | cut off the end of a board. Unfortunately, any less |
| considering the extra work you'll save yourself in the | | | | preparation than what I just mentioned will put you in |
| long run, that's a good investment. A router will make | | | | a dangerous situation. Power tools can be evil...and I |
| easy work of cutting the dadoes for your bookcase | | | | mean really evil. And it's not about how much |
| shelves, and with a few accessories, let you try out | | | | experience you have. Go online and search |
| a whole load of professional-style woodworking | | | | woodworking accidents. The most horrific stuff |
| techniques. | | | | happens to people who have been building for 20-30 |
| #3 Power Drill - Everybody has a power drill of some | | | | years without a scratch. Then out of nowhere things |
| sort sitting around in the basement or garage. You | | | | suddenly go wrong...boards go flying across the room, |
| already know how much use (and abuse) this tool | | | | arms and fingers get cut, and worse. |
| gets for literally hundreds of jobs around the house. | | | | |