Building Three Or Four Bookshelves

[Beretta92FSLady]

I will look at some books. I can get the equipment, from a friend, for dovetailing. I am thinking hard about this, and will likely use real wood, instead of press-board. I have a rather large record collection, and your run-of-the-mill shelving just isn't cutting it (the weight). Also, we have a massive book collection--1000+--and, as with the records, weight.

Thanks for the responses. Hope the video didn't leave to much coffee on the screens.

 

[Jack House]

It all depends on size and use of shelving and the amount you want

Right, shelving.

 

[()pen(arry]

I will look at some books. I can get the equipment, from a friend, for dovetailing. I am thinking hard about this, and will likely use real wood, instead of press-board.

Have a look at The Essential Woodworker. It's a treatise on the basic skills of a hand woodworker, but the design and assembly information holds true for machine woodworking, as well. I recommend a dovetailed maple or white oak carcase with fixed shelves, at least for the records as they're all the same size, and a grooved-in hardwood ply (maple or beech) back. If you fit the dovetails with care and affix the shelves with dado housings, you'll have a strong carcase that will last the rest of your life.

 

[sudden valley gunner]

Right, shelving.

Haha we think alot alike......lol.

 

[georg jetson]

She got me...

I viewed the first few seconds of this and then made my first post... Good one B92SF. You got me... LOL!!!

 

[since9]

The most important thing to consider when selecting wood for shelves is that it's well-seasoned, sometimes called "cured," as this guards against warping.

The second thing is design. Unless you're going for the shrunk look, it's better to go lighter, using box-bracing to prevent sagging. Depends on the weight of your books, though. Heavy college texts will require thicker shelves than dime novels.

As for selection of woods, the term "hard wood" and "soft wood" are misnomers, because some soft woods are harder than some hard woods. Pine is lightweight and inexpensive, even in the finer grades. I still have two pinewood speaker stands I made back in 1983 which are both in fantastic shape, despite having survived more than a dozen moves. No warping or sagging.

I dunno. Probably your best bet is to buy a book on shelf-building from Home Depot.