For those that love to read, taking care of your books is one of the first essentials to keeping the story alive. You will want to make sure each book properly stores in a safe location and can be accessed at any point you feel the desire to dive back into each adventure. Therefore, building a bookshelf is fast and efficient in keeping your books maintained and safe. In the following brief, you will learn a simple process on how to build your own bookshelf that you will be proud to own.
1. Gather The Tools
When first deciding to build a bookshelf you want to get all the materials that are required so the project can be completed faster. Here are the tools you will need: Pencil, Tape Measure, T-square, Wood Glue, miter saw, router, table saw, level, finish nailer or hammer, a lot of finish nails or a box of nails, decorative moldings or thin pieces of wood if wanted for extra design, 3/4in plywood, 1 1/4in poplar, paint or wood stain.
2. Location Choice & Measurements
After you have obtained all the materials you need to then pick out the location you want your bookshelf to sit. Then go and take some measurements down on how high and how wide your bookshelf will be.3. Cut The Wood
Once the measurements are taken, you can then cut the plywood for the top and sides of the bookshelf. Use the table saw to get the accurate measurements for the width of the bookshelf. Once that is achieved, you will then want to cut the length. Using the miter saw cut the top, sides and inner shelves. The inner shelves should be used with the smaller lumber, but make sure that your cuts are precise as possible. You can use a router to get a good rabbet cut. This will allow the shelves to support more weight.
4. Place Them
Once your wood is cut to the proper dimensions, you can then start to assemble the bookshelf. Using the T-square tool, you can align the shelves, sides, and top to the appropriate locations and mark them for easier assembly.
5. Nail The Sides And Top
Using the nailer or a hammer and nails, appropriately align the sides with the top and nail them together. Then take the wood glue and carefully line inner shelves with a small drawn outline of glue. Make sure to not glue the front of the shelf only the sides and the back. Place the shelves in their proper location, usually around 16” apart and then use the nailer to lock them into place.
6. Optional (Adding Front Beams)
If you’re looking to get a professional looking bookshelf, then get a few additional pieces of lumber that are cut about 1” width, and the length of the bookshelf. You might also want to make one for the top and the shelves to give more of a professional look. Using the wood glue, make a small bead on the inside and place it along the edges of the shelf. It will be a border for the shelf and allow books to be more secure. If you do not want the bordered look, you can always add a molded design on each edge of the shelf for a unique look.7. Place and Enjoy
After the full assembly of the shelf, you can then paint or stain it to finish the ultimate look of your bookshelf. Once that is dry, place it in its desired location and enjoy the benefits that it brings to your home.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, building a bookshelf is a great gift idea for your loved one, or for multiple uses in your home. It can be used for not only books but also your collectibles and trinkets. As long as you have your dimensions carefully written down and marked on the wood before cutting, the assembly of the bookshelf will fall perfectly into place. Therefore, try it now to see what you can accomplish by building a bookshelf, you will not regret your decision to do so.