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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12. Add the finishing touches

Using a miter saw set to a 45-degree angle, cut pieces of pine bed molding to fit around the front and sides of the bookcase, under the decorative top. Nail the bed molding on with 6d finish nails.

Lightly sand all surfaces with 120-grit sandpaper. Then prime and paint, or stain and varnish the bookcase, as desired.

Once all the parts are dry, install shelf pegs into the holes bored in the bookcase sides, and set the shelves into place; four pegs are needed to support each shelf.