In addition to being a good place to store books, a bookcase can add a certain amount of sophistication to a room. This is also an ideal piece of furniture to store objects so that they don't crowd a room and are nicely displayed in your home. Structurally, constructing a bookcase is very simple. In fact, it is one of the easier pieces of furniture to build at home. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Constructing a bookcase
1. Determine the dimensions of your bookcase. Keep in mind that a greater width will add stability. For the sake of example, we will assume that you are building a four-shelved bookcase made out of 1/2" thickness plywood. It will be 4' tall, with the inside measurements for the shelves measuring at 1' deep and 3' wide.
2. Using a table saw, cut the sides of the bookcase. For the purposes of this example, the sides should be 4' long and 1' wide.
3. Measure and cut the wood for the top and bottom of the bookcase. In this example, the top and bottom is 3'1" long and 1' wide. As the inside measurement of the shelves is 3' and the plywood is 1/2" thick, add an extra inch to the length of the top and bottom pieces to compensate for the thickness of the plywood.
4. Cut three pieces of wood, 3' long and 1' wide. This example bookcase has four shelves. The bottom of the bookcase's frame will be the bottom shelf, thus the need to cut three shelves.
5. Apply wood glue to the bottom edges of the bookcase's side pieces. Then, attach them to the bottom piece. This process is most easily done with the frame lying down on the floor, rather than standing up. Glue the top piece onto the top of the frame.
6. Use the nail gun to drive nails into the joints of the frame once the glue has set. Drive the nails straight up through the bottom of the frame, directly beneath where the bottom piece meets each side piece. This will secure the bottom to the sides without the nails showing. Use four nails on each side. The process for the top of the frame is identical, except that you should drive the nails down into the frame.
7. Mark off where you will be installing each shelf. Do this using a tape measure and pencil. Slip each shelf into the frame and, making sure that it is parallel to the bottom and top of the frame, drive three nails through each side of the bookcase's frame, securing the shelves in place. You can now stand up the completed bookcase.
Tags: each side, long wide, bookcase frame, bottom bookcase, bottom frame, bottom piece, each shelf