How To Make Simple Bookshelves (Part One)

Bookshelves are about the easiest type of furniture to build, and because almost everyone can use an additional place to park books, a bookshelf is a great project for beginning craftsmen. Too, in economical terms, bookshelves can usually be less expensively constructed than purchase.

When you decide to make your bookshelf, first choose a space it will fill. Would you prefer it against a wall or freestanding as a room divider? If you are really short of space, you might even decide to build into a wall.

Most freestanding bookshelves require support across the back. 6mm plywood is one of the best answers to problems of sway and rocking. If you intend to place your bookcase against a wall and would rather see the wall than plywood back behind the books, the supporting members can be nailed or screwed to the wall.

If the bookcase has a back, you can provide support across the back of long shelves by using a wooden cleat made of either spare lumber ripped to size or strips of 6mm round molding. This type of cleat can also be used to support the ends of the shelves. If you don’t want the cleats to show from the front, mask them with a face frame or molding strip.

If you don’t use a cleat among the back for long shelving, it may be necessary to provide added strength by using upright wood supports at the span’s midpoint or spaced at 30cm.or 61cm. foot intervals (a standard 30cm. by 15cm. usually works well)

Where cleats would be impractical and the shelf not required to carry a heavy load, all the support needed may be obtained by dadoing the sides of the cabinet and inserting the shelf; the added strength of glue and nails makes a strong bond. Cutting this type of groove requires power tools, and once the shelf is placed, its position can’t be changed.

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