How to Build an Easy Bookshelf

While three or four books on a coffee table looks refined, a pile of them needs a shelf.

Books need a place of their own. While two or three books might grace a coffee table, a pile of college texts, dog-eared children's books or past issues of your favorite magazines quickly become clutter. Even if your carpentry skills are limited, you can still create a passable bookshelf if you use pre-drilled materials. Personalize the shelf with paint, decals or decoupage and you have an instant library and conversation piece.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pieces 12-by-36-by-1/2-inch melamine shelving stock
• 2 pieces 12-by-30-by-1/2-inch melamine board stock
• 3 bar clamps, 36-inch span
• Measuring tape
• Carpenter's square
• 8 L-shaped 1/2-by-1-inch metal brackets
• 1/4-inch long #6 drywall screws
• 1 piece 30-by-36-by-1/4-inch melamine board stock
• 1/2-inch long #6 drywall screws
• 2 pieces 1-by-2-by-12-inch stock lumber
• 1 1/2-inch-long #6 drywall screws
• Metal pin-style shelf supports
• 2 pieces 12-by-29-by-1/2-inch melamine board stock

Instructions

1. Place two pieces of 12-by-36-by-1/2-inch melamine shelf stock on their 1/2-inch edges between two pieces of 12-by-30-by-1/2-inch melamine board stock, so that the pre-drilled holes in the shelf stock face the inside of the resulting rectangular frame and so that all edges and corners are flush. Melamine shelf stock has pre-drilled holes while board stock does not.

2. Secure the boards to each other using bar clamps so that you can perform accuracy checks. Measure the diagonals to ensure that they are equal and use a carpenter's try square to verify that all corners meet at 90-degree angles. If they do not, adjust the pressure and position of the clamps until the angles are correct.

3. Position 1/2-by-1-inch L-shaped metal shelf brackets in each inside corner of the frame, flush with what would be the back of the unit if it were standing upright. Secure each bracket to the frame using a pair of 1/4-inch-long #6 drywall screws.

4. Turn the unit over and place four more L-shaped brackets in the inside corners, flush with what would be the front of the unit if it were standing upright. Secure each bracket with another pair of 1/4-inch-long #6 drywall screws. This is the basic frame of your bookshelf.

5. Lay the unit on its 1/2-inch edges again. Position the 30-by-36-by-1/4-inch sheet of melamine board so that all corners are flush with the bookshelf frame. Secure it to the frame using 1/2-inch long #6 drywall screws every 3 inches around the perimeter, beginning 1 inch from the lower left corner.

6. Stand the unit upright on one of its 30-inch long sides. Position 1-by-2-by-12-inch pieces of stock lumber on top of the bookshelf frame on their 1-inch sides. Align their 12-inch edges until they are flush with the right and left sides of the bookshelf frame. These are the feet of the bookshelf.

7. Secure the feet to the bookshelf frame using 1 1/2-inch long #6 drywall screws. Turn the unit over to stand on its feet.

8. Insert metal pin-style shelf supports into the set of holes that corresponds to the desired shelf heights for two adjustable shelves. Slide 12-by-29-by-1/2-inch-long melamine boards into place.

Tips & Warnings

• This bookshelf can be assembled in less than 30 minutes. You can omit the back if you like an open unit. But adding the back gives the unit more structural support, making it less likely to wobble when full. If you have small children or boisterous pets in the home, use two additional L-shaped brackets to secure the unit to a wall to prevent toppling.

References

• "Woodworkers' Journal"; Gluing and Clamping with Confidence; Ian Kirby; February 2003
• "Black & Decker Build Your Own Custom Closet"; Gillett Cole and Jim Myers; 2007