How To Build A Bookcase

Need to know how to build a bookcase? Building a bookcase is one of the easiest furniture building projects and does not require a vast array of wood-working tools or complicated techniques. Just follow the steps below and you'll be able to build a sturdy bookcase in no time.

To build a bookcase, you will need:

• Your choice of wood
• Screws or nails
• A saw (hand or electric)
• A tape measure
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper
• Wood stain or paint

1. Set down on paper the way you want the bookcase to look when you are done. Do you want three shelves? More? Do you know how tall, how wide and how far apart you want the shelves to be and what color you want them to be? Are you going to secure your bookcase to the wall for safety? Be as specific as possible. Doing so will minimize extra trips to the lumber yard.
2. Purchase the required items. Most lumber yards will cut your wood to your specifications. If this is your first project, you may want to utilize that service. If you want to save money, cutting it yourself will reduce your overall cost. Cut the wood to the measurements you specified in step one.
3. Lay out all of the pieces on the floor to be sure you have everything that you will need to complete your project. Marking the boards in relation to each other will ensure that the bookcase goes together correctly when it is time to screw or nail it together.
4. Sand down any rough edges. Re-mark the wood if needed.
5. Screw or nail together the boards according to your plans. When nailing or screwing the wood together, it is a good idea to prep the contact points with wood glue to create a very good bond.
6. Wipe away any excess glue before it dries. If you wait until the glue is dry to remove the excess, you will need a jack-hammer to get it off.
7. Stain or paint the bookcase in a well-ventilated area for safety reasons. Allow it to dry for forty-eight hours. Once it is done drying, you are free to enjoy your new bookcase!