How to Design an Upright Bookshelf

Series Summary

So you think those piles and piles of books stacked up all over the house make you appear smart? That may have been the case in high school or even college, but you’re all grown up now and still buying book after book after book until they need a separate room. Now you just appear confused and overwhelmed, someone who doesn’t bother to organize their precious archives. Why? Perhaps because you haven’t watched these videos from Expert Village to find out just how easy it is to build your very own bookcase.

In this series of free carpentry videos from our woodworking expert, you will learn how to build that bookcase you’ve been needing for so long. Jon Olson demonstrates each stage in the creation of your new bookcase, from drawing out the plans to putting on the final coat of finish. And this is not just any bookcase, but a extended project for the home carpenter. You will learn how to make trim, router the sides and add a kickplate to the bookcase and even how to make a story pole. Best of all, Jon talks you through each step, from rabbeting the back to cutting shelves, with his signature style of clear and concise demonstrations.

Video Transcript

"Hi! This is Jon on behalf of Expert Village. In this video clip, we will be formulating a design. In this series of video clips, we are going to be designing a simple set of bookshelves. The bookshelves are going to be placed right next to each other. Now my overall opening is 44 inches which means that each book shelf will have to be 22 inches wide. The height I am going to have 6 feet and my depth is going to be 10 inches. Inside of my bookshelves, I am going to have adjustable shelves running all the way up and down my bookshelves. This way if I have some larger books I can adjust those shelves so that they will fit a little bit better and if I have smaller books, I can maybe put in an extra shelf in there. At the bottom of my bookshelf, I am also going to add kind of a kick plate and this is just going to help the bookshelves stay upright and at the top of my bookshelf along the back section of it, I am going to place a gord so that I can screw it to the wall with maybe a few screws just so that it doesn't tip over.l "