How to Build a Bookcase out of Books
There are many ways to make a bookcase out of books, which is a unique way to use old books that are no longer useful to create a one-of-a-kind piece for your home. All it takes is a little time and a lot of old books. Check out local thrift shops, yard sales, and even recycling centers for inexpensive or free books. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Stacked books with planks
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This one of the easiest styles of book cases. Acquire as many old, hardcover books as you can, the bigger the better.
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Stack two piles of books in any manner that is visually pleasing to you, as long as the piles are sturdy and secure. Alternating the direction of the bindings can make a strong vertical stack. When the books are stacked as high as you want the first shelf, lay a plank across the tops of the piles. Create another book stack on either end of the plank, followed by another plank and more books, and continue to desired height.
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The thicker and stronger your planks are, the farther apart you can put your piles of books. Build the case against a wall to act as a back for your new bookshelf.
Face-to-face bookcase
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Acquire several books that are all the same size. Stack them face to face and make into a single unit by gluing a piece of fabric, cardboard, or other material across the page edges, leaving the bindings exposed.
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You now have beams made of books. You can use these "beams" as uprights and horizontally as shelves.
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Create "floating" shelves by attaching the shelves directly to the wall with brackets.
The end to end style
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Lay books flat, end to end to make a shelf of the desired length. Now lay another layer of books on top, alternating the joints between the books, like bricks.
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Glue all of these books together by taking off the top layer, spreading a thick layer of glue over the bottom layer, then putting the top layer back on. Put some weight on top of the construction and leave it to dry.
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As with the second method, you can use these book-beams as either vertical or horizontal components.
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Tips & Warnings
Only use books that have outlived their usefulness. Worn books, books missing pages and unpopular titles are typical candidates.
