How to Build a Hanging Bookcase

Hanging bookcases are best built small. The weight of several board feet of books is enough to tear many shelves right out of the wall, even when mounted securely into wall studs. Other than that, a hanging bookcase isn't substantially different than building a regular bookcase. It's a project suitable for novice to intermediate do-it-yourselfers that should take an afternoon to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Two 1/2-by-10-by-24 inch planks
• Three 1/2-by-10-by-36 inch planks
• 1/4-inch-thick lumber sheet, 24-by-37 inches
• Six wood screws, 2 inches long
• Nine wood screws, 4 inches long
• 17 Finishing nails, 2 inches long
• Power drill

Instructions

1. Drill pilot holes two inches deep in both ends of all three 36-inch planks. Drill them using a drill bit 1/8 inch narrower than your wood screws. Position the screws on center, 2, 5 and 8 inches from one edge.

2. Drill pilot holes through the faces of both 24-inch planks, using a drill bit 1/8 inch narrower than your wood screws. Drill three lines of holes, 2, 5 and 8 inches from the long edges of the plank. On each line drill two holes, each 1/4 inch from either short edge. Drill a third hole in each line, along the midline of the plank (12 inches from either short edge).

3. Drill two lines of holes through the face of your lumber sheet. Position the lines perpendicular to the 24-inch sides of the sheet, positioned 6 inches from either 36-inch edge. Each line should consist of three holes, drilled 2 1/2, 18 1/2 and 34 1/2 inches from one 24-inch edge.

4. Set up both 24-inch planks and two 36-inch planks in a rectangle with the short planks inside the long planks. Screw them in place using 2-inch wood screws, driven through the holes in the short planks and into the ends of the short planks.

5. Slide the remaining 36-inch plank into position in the middle of the rectangular frame. Screw it in position as you did the other planks.

6. Set the lumber sheet on top of the frame you've built, its edges flush with the edges of the frame. Nail it in place with one finishing nail in each corner. Reinforce with two finishing nails, evenly spaced, along both 24-inch planks. Further reinforce with three evenly spaced finishing nails along each 36-inch plank.

7. Mount the bookcase on your wall with the holes in the back plate lined up with your wall studs. Attach with the 4-inch wood screws.

References

• "Step-by-Step Basic Carpentry"; Ben Allen; 1997