Drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood with your screws.
Mission style furniture--also known as arts and crafts or craftsman style--emphasizes clean, strong lines and sturdy construction. The movement partly began as a backlash against the mass production of furniture, so it makes sense that many fans of this furniture style would be interested in hand-constructing pieces. The plans for this bookcase create the classic mission style bookcase silhouette, which is short and somewhat wide with open slats on the sides. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut your oak into four posts measuring 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches and 32 inches long. Cut your oak into three shelves measuring 3/4 inch by 11 inches by 40 inches long. Cut more oak into two center slats measuring 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches and 32 inches long.
2. Finish the cutting part of this project by sawing four slats from your oak which measure 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch by 32 inches long.
3. Mark each of your four posts in the center of the posts in these places: 3 inches from the bottom, 12 inches from that marking and 12 inches from that marking. Make similar marks down the sides of all slats.
4. Drill five pilot holes, equally spaced, across the edges on both short sides of the three shelves. Drill pilot holes through your posts and slats where you made your markings.
5. Attach with screws one edge of a shelf to the bottom-most pilot hole on a post, using the outer-most hole on the shelf's edge. Attach another post to other outer hole on the same shelf's edge. Attach a center slat to the middle hole on the shelf's edge, using the slat's bottom-most pilot hole, and attach two more slats to the remaining pilot holes in the shelf's edge, using the bottom-most holes on the slats.
6. Repeat with the other side of the shelf, attaching all posts and slats with screws; the bottom portion of the bookcase is complete.
7. Using the next set of pilot holes on all slats and posts and another shelf, attach the shelf to the slats and posts using screws and pilot holes.
8. Using the top set of pilot holes on all your posts and slats, fix the top shelf to the posts and slats with your brass screws and the pilot holes you previously drilled, to finish your bookcase.
9. Fill in screw holes with wood putty. Sand and stain the bookcase to complete the project.
Tags: pilot holes, inches inches, inches long, posts slats, shelf edge, inches from