How to Build a Small Bookcase

By: Joseph Truini, This Old House online

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. 3/4-inch cabinet-grade birch veneer plywood for the case and shelves. One 4x8 sheet will make the whole bookcase

2. 1/4-inch-thick birch veneer plywood for the backing. One half-sheet will cover the back of the bookcase.

3. 8-foot piece of pine bed molding to trim around bookcase top.

4. 1¼-inch pan-head pocket-hole screws

5. 6d finish nails to attach the bed molding.

6. 3d box nails for fastening the plywood back.

7. 1/4-inch-thick x 3-inch-wide hardboard strip used to mark arches onto toekick and side pieces.

8. 7/8-inch-wide heat-activated birch veneer edge banding, used to conceal edges of plywood.

9. 1x pine, for making hole-routing template for shelf pegs.

10. 8 metal shelf pegs

11. 120-grit sandpaper

12. Primer and paint, or stain and varnish

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Measuring tape
- Circular saw and guide
- Spring clamps for holding saw guide
- Plunge router fitted with 5/8-inch-diameter guide bushing, ball-bearing-piloted rabbeting router bit, and ¼-inch-diameter straight-cutting router bit
- Speed square
- Hammer
- Jigsaw for cutting arches in toekick and side pieces
- Iron for adhering iron-on birch veneer edge banding to plywood
- J-roller for adhering iron-on veneer
- Double-sided veneer trimmer
- Utility knife
- Drill/driver fitted with 5/8-inch spade bit
- Pocket-hole jig for boring angled holes for pocket screws
- Miter saw (or miter box with hand saw)
- Paint brush
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Introduction
Overview
Steps:
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1. Rip the bookcase sides

Using a circular saw, rip a piece of ¾-inch birch plywood into a 12½-inch-wide strip. To ensure straight, accurate cuts, clamp a straightedge guide to the plywood.

TIP: Use another piece of 8-foot plywood as your saw guide.