Building a bookcase

This step by step diy woodworking project is about building a bookcase. If you want to learn more about building a bookcase, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions and diagrams illustrated in the article. Work with attention and take a look over the rest of the related plans. There are many designs to choose from, so make sure you take into account several alternatives.

Before starting the actual construction project, we recommend you to plan everything, as to save money and to keep the costs under control. Adjust the size and the design of the bookcase to suit your needs. In addition, we recommend you to invest in high-quality materials, such as pine, redwood or cedar, as they have a nice finish and are highly durable, especially in a humid environment.

If you don’t have a rich expertise in woodworking field, you should ask a friend to give you a hand with the project. There are many things that you could go wrong, so make sure you plan everything and invest in quality materials. Select the lumber with attention, making sure the components are perfectly straight and in a very good condition. Use a carpentry square to check if the corners are right-angled. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Bookcase plans

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 70 1/2″ long LEGS
B – 8 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 13″ long, 4 pieces – 33″ long SUPPORTS
C – 4 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 33″x13″ long SHELVES
D – 1 piece of 3/4 plywood – 33″x68″ long BACK
E – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 16″x36″ long TOP

7 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Apply several coats of wood stain to the wooden components
Fill the holes with wood filler and smooth the surface

Time

One Day

Bookcase plans

Building the back wall

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the back of the bookcase. As you can easily notice in the plans, we recommend you to attach a piece of 3/4″ plywood to the 2×2 legs. Drill pocket holes along the edges of the plywood and secure it to the legs with 1 1/4″ screws. Add waterproof glue to the joints, in order to create a rigid structure.

Building the front frame

Continue the project by building the front face of the bookcase. Therefore, we recommend you to use 2×2 lumber and galvanized screws. Cut the components at the right size and lock them together with screws. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the horizontal components and secure them to the legs with 1 1/4″ screws. Make sure the corners are right-angled, before inserting the screws.

Fitting the side components

Next, we recommend you to lock the back and the face of the bookcase, by fitting the 2×2 supports. Drill pocket holes at both ends and secure them to the legs with 1 1/4″ screws. Plumb the legs with a spirit level and make sure the corners are square.

Fitting the shelves

Cut the shelves out of 3/4″ plywood and fit them into place with screws. Drill pocket holes along the edges of the shelves and secure them to the frame with 1 1/4″ screws. Leave no gaps between the components in order to get a professional appearance.

Attaching the top

One of the last steps of the woodworking project is to attach the top of the bookcase into place. Cut two pieces of 3/4″ plywood to the size described in the diagram and glue them together. Clamp the pieces of plywood for several hours, in order to enhance the bond of the components. Drill pocket holes through the top of the legs and insert screws 2 1/2″ screws into the top components.

Building a bookcase

Last but not least, we recommend you to take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood filler and let it to dry out for several hours. Afterwards, smooth the wooden surface with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum the residues.

Thank you for reading our project about building a bookcase and we recommend you to check out the rest of the projects. Don’t forget to share our projects with your friends and LIKE us, by using the social media widgets. SUBSCRIBE if you want to be the first that gets our latest articles.

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