Building a Bookshelf: Laying Out the Top

Video Transcript

"Hi! This is Jon on behalf of Expert Village. In this video clip, we will be laying out the top. Now on my sheet of plywood, my top and bottom are going to come out of one side. I am going to go ahead and make these cuts first which go across the entire length so that when I come back and cut these shelves, I can cross cut that and not have to worry about messing up any portion of it. Now the overall measurements are 70 1/2 wide by 10 inches deep. I also want to leave a 1 inch overhang on both sides in the front of my bookshelf. As of right now, my top would be 70 1/2 inches by 10 inches deep. Now my width measurement has to be 70 1/2 inches but my depth can adjust a little bit. So I am going to put that inch overhang in the front which is going to make that 11 inches depth. Whereas on my sides, I am just going to bump in the sides of my shelves so that the book area would just be a little bit smaller. Although my measurement is now 70 1/2 inches by 11 inches, I am going to be putting 3/4 inch trim on the left side, the right side in front so I need to subtract that 3/4 from those side and my total is now 69 inches by 10 1/4 inch. Now my 10 and 1/4 inch piece is going to be cut out right along that one side of my plywood here and I am going to make that cut all the way along the entire plywood. Then I am going to come back and cross cut that off to my width measurement. "