Bookshelf

My Daughter requested I make her a bookshelf similar to one I had made for my Son, albeit with some specific differences. In particular, I was instructed to add a third shelf and minimise the gap between each of them to keep the overall height low.

The previous bookshelf was made using only hand tools (saws and planes), and while satisfying to complete, it was a lot more work. This time I used power tools to save on time.

I've uploaded the plans for the three-shelf version I made here, along with the plans for a two-shelf version.

1. Boards
2. Wood Glue
3. Nails
4. Wood Filler
5. Screws
6. Table Saw
7. Chisel
8. Clamps
9. Sander
10. Thicknesser
11. Jointing Plane
12. Hammer
13. Screw Driver
14. Putty Knife

Timber prices being what they are ($30 per metre for dressed pine!), I cheaped out and decided to use some fence palings. The first part of preparing the timber was to leave it in the shed for a while to dry out.

Once the timber was dry enough, I ran each of the boards through the thicknesser to make each board smooth and a consistent thickness.

Since the timber I was using wasn't wide enough, I needed to join two pieces together side by side. I don't have a jointer machine to flatten the edge of both boards, but I do have a Stanley No.7 hand plane, which is a jointing plane. I held the boards in my vise and used the plane to flatten the edges. I then applied some wood glue along the edge of one of the boards and to stop the boards from sliding around, I knocked a few grains of sand off some sandpaper onto the wet glue.

I clamped each of the boards together and left them to dry.

Once the glue was finished drying, I ran each of them through the thicknesser one more time to smooth out the joint. I did this to both sides on each board and took them down to the final thickness.

All the timber was now prepared to make the actual bookshelf. I measured and marked each board to the correct width and length and used my table saw to cut all the parts to the correct size.

To cut the dados and rebates, I set the saw blade to the correct height and cut them into the boards. There was a little play in the saw guide, so I clamped the boards to it and helped hold them in the correct location.

After the saw cuts were made, I used a rebate plane and chisel to remove the waste material.

I used some thin MDF for the backing of the bookshelf. This is pretty easy to work with and well-priced. Once again, measure and mark the board and cut it it size using the table saw.

Due to the size of the pieces you need to cut for the backing, you probably won't be able to use the saw guides. I just carefully freehanded it.

I used an orbital sander to give all the parts a smooth finish. The timber being pine makes this pretty easy to sand, as it's fairly soft. I also gave the edges of the MDF boards a slight bevel to help them slot into the dados a bit easier.

It's worth doing a test fit to make sure all the parts fit together correctly, if any of the joints are to tight you should be able to use a sharp chisel to widen the dados. Once you are happy with everything apply some PVA wood glue and clamp everything in place. I also use a few small nails to help secure it while the glue dries, use a small nail punch to counter sink the nails. Use a damp cloth to wipe off any glue that squeezes out.

Assembling the base it the same process:

1. Test fit
2. Trim if needed
3. Glue
4. Clamp
5. Nail
6. Clean up.

After everything is dry you can glue and nail the base into place at the bottom of the shelf.

I used some pine coloured filler to stop up any gaps and over the nails that were punched in. Once the filler has dried give it a quick sand to make sure everything is flush and smooth to the touch.

I bought some nice wood dye I was planning to use but I was instructed by my Daughter to leave it with a natural timber look. Normally I'd apply a stain and linseed oil and buff it with a paste wax.

The first one I made like this I painted white, there's no right or wrong way to finish it. Just do whatever you like.