How to Build a Bookshelf Out of Soft Pine

Organize and show off your books with a soft pine bookshelf.

Soft pine wood is a practical choice for furniture building due to its low cost, attractive light color and easy workability. You can save considerable money by building your own bookshelf with pine wood and plywood from your local lumberyard and some common tools. Because pine wood is porous and therefore difficult to stain, you can finish the bookcase with paint or clear varnish.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Circular saw or handsaw
• 2 pine wood boards, 1-by-10-by-48 inches
• 1 pine wood board, 1-by-10-by-31 inches
• 4 pine wood boards, 1-by-8 7/8-by-31 inches
• 2 pine wood boards, 1-by-2-by-48 inches
• 4 pine wood boards, 1-by-2-by-29 ½ inches
• 2 pine wood boards, 1-by-4-by-10 inches
• 1 pine wood board, 1-by-4-by-34 inches
• ½-inch parting strip
• Ruler
• Square
• 2d nails
• Hammer
• Wood glue
• 6d nails
• ¼-inch thick plywood sheet
• 1-inch nails
• Soft sponge
• Wood putty
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Oil-based primer
• Natural-bristle angled brush
• Enamel paint
• Polyurethane finish

Instructions

Building the Bookshelf

1. Measure and cut the pine wood boards to size, using a circular saw or handsaw. The 48-inch long pieces will be the sides of the bookshelf, the 1-by-10-by-31-inch piece will be the top of the shelf and the 1-by-8 7/8-by-31-inch pieces will be the shelves. The 1-by-2 boards will be trim for the sides and shelves, and the 1-by-4 pieces will be the baseboards.

2. Measure and cut the parting strip into 20 pieces, each 8 7/8-inch long, to make cleats for the shelves to rest on.

3. Place the shelves side by side on a flat surface. Measure and mark the placement of the cleat placements by drawing a straight line across the width of both boards at 3/4, 10 1/4, 20 3/4, 31 3/4 and 44 1/2 inches down from the top of the boards. Use a square to ensure the lines are straight and even.

4. Attach 10 wood cleats horizontally, 1/2-inch side up, so that the top edges of the cleats are flush with the lines drawn in the last step, using wood glue and 2d nails. Make the edge of each cleat even with one consistent edge of the shelf. This will be the front edge of the shelf.

5. Attach the remaining wood cleats, using wood glue and 2d nails, so they lay at right angles to the ends of the horizontal cleats toward the back edge of the shelf. There should be a 3/4-inch gap between the vertical cleats and the back edge of the shelf.

6. Place the shelves over the cleats and attach them to the bookcase sides with three 6d nails on each shelf edge. Attach the top piece of the bookcase to the top of the shelves, using glue and 6d nails.

7. Place the 48-inch trim pieces over the vertical sides of the bookcase so the outer edges of the trim are flush with the outer edge of each side. Secure the trim in place with wood glue and 2d nails.

8. Place the 29 ½-inch trim pieces over the horizontal, front edges of the shelves so the top edges of the trim are flush with the top edges of the shelves. Secure the trim in place with wood glue and 2d nails.

9. Secure the 10-inch baseboard pieces to the bottom sides of the bookcase, using glue and 6d nails, so the bottom edges of the baseboards are flush with the bottom edges of the bookcase sides. Attach the longer baseboard piece across the bottom of the bookcase so that its edges are perpendicular to and even with the shorter baseboard pieces.

10. Measure the dimensions of the open area of the bookcase back, using measuring tape. Cut a plywood sheet to these dimensions, using a circular saw or handsaw. This will be the back of your bookcase. If you are resting the bookcase against a wall, you can omit this step.

11. Attach the plywood to the back of the bookcase, using 1-inch nails and wood glue.

Finishing the Bookshelf

1. Wash the bookshelf with soap and water, using a soft sponge.

2. Sand the bookshelf in the direction of the grain.

3. Fill nail holes and any cracks and dings in the wood with wood putty and smooth it out with a putty knife. Allow the putty to dry.

4. Paint the bookshelf with a coat of primer. If you don’t wish to paint the bookshelf, you can skip to the last step.

5. Sand the dried primer along the grain in preparation for painting. Apply a coat of enamel paint to the bookshelf. If desired, apply a second coat of paint after the first coat dries.

6. Coat the dry bookshelf with polyurethane sealer to protect the bookcase from moisture, prevent splinters and seal in the paint to prevent it from rubbing onto the books. Allow the bookshelf to dry for 48 hours or longer before adding books and other items.

References

• Popular Mechanics; How to Build a Bookcase; Rosario Capotosto; May 2000
• Artsparx: Furniture Preparation
• The Painted Surface: How to Paint a MDF Bookcase