How to Make a Bookcase With a Ladder

If you have an old 25-foot ladder, you can easily make a rustic bookcase. It can make two shelves, or one tall one. The ladder rungs support the planks. Using old planks will give you that rustic look, and you won't have to paint it.

Things You'll Need

• 25-foot wooden ladder
• 6 4-foot-by-3/4-inch-by-9-inch pine planks
• Wood saw
• Drill
• 1/8-inch drill bit
• Phillips screwdriver
• 1 1/2-inch wood screws
• Sandpaper 60-grit
• Sandpaper 150-grit
• Paintbrushes
• Paint

Instructions

1. Cut the 25-foot ladder in quarters with a wood saw. Do this by cutting the ladder in half, then use half and set the other one aside. Then cut this half in half. This will give you two sides with six rungs each.

2. Place both sides down on the ground to assemble. Lay the top pine plank across the top with the plank laying flat against the top rungs, each side being 4 feet apart. Pre-drill four holes with a drill and 1/8-inch drill bit. Two holes should be on each end about 8 inches apart. Make sure the drill bit goes into the rungs.

3. Position the other five planks across the remaining rungs and pre-drill the holes, again with two on each end.

4. Secure the planks with 1 1/2-inch wood screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Again, two screws on each end should be 8 inches apart.

5. Sand the planks and the ladder sides with 60-grit sandpaper. Sand everything again with 150-grit sandpaper.

6. Paint the shelf in the color of your choice.

References

• Use an Old Ladder to Make a Bookcase