- 1). Measure two 48-inch lengths on 1-by-10 inch pine boards. Line up a carpenter's square with each mark, and draw a straight line across the boards. Cut the boards along the line, using a table saw. These two boards are the bookcase's sides.
- 2). Measure five 32-inch lengths on 1-by-10 inch pine boards. Line up a carpenter's square with each mark, and draw straight lines across the boards. Cut each board along the straight line. These five boards are the bookcase's shelves.
- 3). Select four of the five shelves. Measure 8 7/8 inches across each board's width. Draw a straight line down each board's length. Rip the boards along the lines with the table saw. The board you did not cut will be the bookcase's top surface, and the ripped boards will be the lower shelves.
- 4). Cut 10 1/2-by-3/4-inch parting strips to 12 inches long. Line up the cut parting strips, and wrap masking tape around their edges to hold them together. Between the tape, measure 8 7/8 inches. Use the carpenter's square to draw straight lines across all the strips. Cut the strips along the lines. These will be the shelf-support cleats.
- 5). Create five pairs of 1/2-by-3/4 inch parting strips. Cut these strips to equal the distance between the five shelves. If you space the shelves equally, cut all five pairs the same length. However, if your shelves will be spaced unevenly, cut each pair to the desired length.
- 6). Lay the two side boards from Step 1 side by side, lined up end to end. On one of the boards, measure up three-quarters of an inch from the bottom edge, and place a mark there. From this mark, measure up to the next shelf, and place a mark. Do the same for the next shelf and so on until each shelf has been marked.
- 7). Use a straight edge to draw lines across both boards at each mark. These marks indicate the placement for the shelf cleats' top edges. Apply a bead of wood glue along two shelf cleats, from Step 4. Line up the shelf cleats' top edges with the first line across each side board. Put the cleat's front edge tight against the side boards' front edges. Hammer two 2d nails through each cleat. Move up to the next line, and secure shelf cleats to the side boards. Repeat with all the lines.
- 8). Position the paired strips from Step 5 above the appropriate shelf cleat. If the shelves are equally spaced, it does not matter which pair goes above which shelf cleat. Butt the paired strips' bottom edges against the shelf cleat's back end, so that the two pieces form a 90-degree angle. Glue and nail the paired strips to the side boards the same way you secured the shelf cleats.
- 9). Set the shelves over the shelf cleats on one of the side panels, with the back edges tight against the paired strips. Apply a bead of wood glue along each of the shelves' edges. Lift the other side panel on top of the shelves, and position the shelves over the shelf cleats and tight against the paired strips. Ask a friend to hold the bookcase together.
- 10
Hammer three 6d nails through the side panel and into the shelves' edges. Ask a friend to help you flip the bookcase over so that it rests on the side panel you just secured. Apply wood glue to the shelves' edges. Set the side panel back over the shelves, and hammer three 6d nails through the side panel and into the shelves. - 11
Cut two 1-by-2-inch fascia strips to 48 inches. Apply a bead of wood glue along the side panels' front edges. Place each strip over the glue, and secure it in place with 6d nails. Measure the distance between the two fascia strips along each shelf's front edge. Cut 1-by-2-inch fascia strips to these lengths. Glue and nail the strips to the shelves, keeping the fascias' top edges flush with the shelves' top surface. - 12
Transfer the bookcase's dimensions to a piece of 1/4-inch thick plywood. Cut the plywood to the appropriate dimensions with a table saw. This rectangle will be the bookcase's back. Lay the bookcase on its front. Apply glue over the side panels' and shelves' edges. Lay the plywood over the bookcase, and secure it in place with 1-inch finishing nails. - 13
Apply wood putty over each nail hole with a 1/2-inch putty knife. Allow the wood putty to dry according to the manufacturer's directions. Sand the entire bookcase with a 120-grit sandpaper, followed by 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe the bookcase off with a tack cloth. Paint or stain the bookcase.
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