How to Build a Strong Bookcase
Building a strong, sturdy bookcase depends on two main factors: the strength of your materials and the quality of construction. A strong bookcase is important; after all, who wants a wobbly shelf they are constantly afraid will come toppling to the floor? Concentrate on sturdy construction and appropriate weight support and you will finish your project with a strong bookcase that can hold hundreds of pounds of books.
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Things You'll Need
- 10 wood pieces, 1-by-16 inches
- Tape measure
- Miter saw
- Carpenter's straight edge
- Carpenter's wood glue
- Hammer
- 2-inch nails, smallest available gauge
- Nail set
- Wood putty
- Sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- Wood paint or wood stain
- Paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Cut the wood pieces into the following lengths and quantities: five pieces measuring 6 feet; two pieces measuring 4 feet; three pieces measuring 3 feet,10 inches. Use the straight edge tool to ensure that all pieces have right angles; re-cut pieces if necessary to ensure 90-degree angles.
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2
Lay three of the 6 foot pieces on the floor. Attach the pieces along the two interior seams by applying carpenter's glue. You may need to use concrete blocks or other heavy objects to keep the pieces pressed tightly together as the glue dries. Leave the glue to dry as you construct the bookcase frame.
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3
Sit the two remaining 6 foot pieces on their narrow sides, approximately 4 feet apart. Sit the 4 foot pieces at the ends of the 6 foot pieces. Use the wood glue again to attach these four pieces in a rectangular frame. Allow glue to dry for a few moments and then drive nails at the corners to further assemble the bookcase frame. Remember to leave nail head sticking out between 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch and to place nails between 2 and 4 inches apart.
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4
Set the nails with the nail set. Do this by sitting the tiny, narrow end of the nail set directly on the nail head, then hammering the wider end of the nail set. Hammer until the nail head sits no deeper than 1/8 inch into the surface of the wood.
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5
Lay the three glued together pieces onto the frame, to close off the entire open side of the frame. Drive nails down through the glued pieces and into the edge of the bookcase frame. Place nails approximately 3-inches apart and set the nails as described in the previous step.
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6
Turn the piece over so the open end is facing up. Place the three remaining pieces approximately 1 1/2 foot apart inside the open bookcase frame; these pieces will create the shelves. You may apply the carpenter's glue to all but the outer edge of these pieces. Once the glue dries a bit, drive nails in on both sides and in the back and then set the nails; drive the nails through the outsides of the shelf and into the narrow ends of the shelf pieces.
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7
Fill all nail holes with wood putty. Sand the wood putty smooth, as well as the edges, corners, and rough spots on the bookcase. Remove dust with the tack cloth and paint or stain the bookcase as you desire.
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