What kind of wood bookshelf

But, for light objects, pine will do nicely. Also, you can put heavier loads on shorter pinewood shelves. You can also increase the load-bearing capacity by using thicker planks and providing additional support.

If you are looking at some serious hardwood for your wooden shelves, walnut will provide you with an excellent option. Although neither cheap nor readily available, the depth and grain of walnut is worth, the effort and money spent.

With walnut shelves, you can load on the heavy stuff without compromising on good looks. However, Douglas fir can be found only on the west coast and eastern Asia. Being commonly available and also hard and durable, it plays a prominent role as a construction material as well. It takes paint well, but if you want to enhance the natural beauty of the wood, you would do well to stain it.

Thus, you get the elegance of hardwood, but at a much cheaper rate. So, whether you use it for making shelves in a shed or the interiors of your home, Douglas fir is a suitable choice. Due to its ample abundance, redwood is not that expensive although you might have to pay a tidy sum for higher grades. Redwood exhibits a high degree of weather resistance and can be durable if left untouched. A redwood shelf with black steel supports creates a striking contrast. Keep in mind that you will also need to buy paint or stain, trim and other supplies, which can add to the cost.

The A side is the part that is exposed, while the C side has noticeable imperfections and is used in less visible spots. Both sides will need to be sanded before you paint them, though. The lowest grades of plywood can work well for utility-grade bookshelves. There are higher grades of plywood that are made from poplar, oak or cherry.

Cabinet-grade is usually finished with hardwood laminate, which can eliminate the need for painting. These types of plywood cost more money, however — up to three times more than regular pine plywood. For this project, you will need a paper, pencil, tape measure, masking tape, a few lengths of plywood, power drill, wall brackets with screws, screwdriver, wall plugs, jigsaw or another kind of similar saw and sandpaper.

Lay out your shelves carefully, starting with a scaled-down sketch. When you are satisfied with a design, use the masking tape to mark out the wall where the shelves will go. Peel off the tape and bring it to a home supply store.

Have an associate cut some plywood lengths to match the tape pieces. Otherwise, you can buy the plywood and cut the pieces at home with a jigsaw. Be sure to sand the plywood and make sure that the edges are smooth and splinter-free. Before hanging the brackets, mark their positions on the wall. You can also mark the shelf positions again; use more tape as needed. Now, take out the wall plugs and insert them as directed on the packaging. However, you must be prepared to pay a substantial amount if you are to buy a bookcase made from any of these wood types.

It is not a shocker at all why many book lovers would want a bookcase made of metal. The said material, after all, is resistant to moisture and fungus. Metal bookcases, therefore, can last for a long time. The strength of metal also means that a metal bookcase can hold a significant number of books.

In short, the strength-to-weight ratio of metal bookcases is second to none. Metal bookcases also boast low-friction shelves, which are easy on the bindings of books. However, there are also downsides to owning a metal bookcase.

Another concern is the weight of a metal bookcase. Because of the weight of a metal bookcase, it may be difficult to move it to another room in case of a home remodeling project. Laminate bookshelves create a professional appeal with modern styling. This type of bookshelf is overlaid with a protective layer which may be either vinyl or plastic-based.

This allows the shelves to look fresh and new for an extended period. It can also resist spills and dings. Laminate bookcases can also be tailored into nearly any color. After all, bookcases made of glass provide certain advantages or benefits. One advantage of a glass bookcase is that it looks elegant. It can give your room or home a classy look. Bookbindings tend to retain their attractive appearance when stored in a glass bookcase.

Then there are the inherent positive qualities of glass itself. As a material, glass can contribute to the visual expansion of a room. Thus, a bookcase made of glass can make a room look more spacious. But there are also disadvantages of having a glass bookcase in your room. Glass can attract fingerprints and contaminants. Removing them can be quite a challenge.

Therefore, it can be said that a glass bookcase is a high-maintenance piece of furniture. Glass is naturally more expensive than wood, and thus, you must expect to pay more if you are to get a bookcase made of glass. Now that you have learned about the various types of bookcases available, you might be interested to know how you should choose the right kind of bookcase for your room. The first thing you must do is assess your needs. Take a look at your book collection.

Run its point along the wall so the pencil transfers the wall's contours onto the trim. Remove the trim and cut along the scribed line with a jigsaw. Use 1x trim to create a recessed, finished edge on the front of the shelves. To make sure these nosing pieces will fit tightly between the side trim, hold the 1x trim against the front of the shelves and butted to one side.

Mark the back of each piece where it meets the other side. Cut each strip at the mark. Apply glue to the front of the shelf. Nail the nosing into place with 6d finish nails. Start nailing at one end and adjust the nosing as you move down its length so it's perfectly flush along the top of the shelf. Finish each shelf with nosing in the same manner.

Set all the nail heads and fill the holes with putty or a wax pencil to match the color of the stained wood. Finally paint, wax, or polyurethane the entire bookcase. Making a tight, gap-free fit between the side trim of a cabinet and the wall — a process called scribing— is one of those critical skills that separates the real craftsmen from those of us who rely on caulk.

But it's not that difficult, once the cabinet is plumb and fastened in place. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. How to Build a Bookcase. By Alexandra Bandon. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard. Cut two bookcase legs to this measurement from the ripped-down plywood Measure the width of your space in three places.

Step 2: Attach the Supports to the Legs Photo by Kolin Smith The bookshelf has a kickplate to cover the space under the bottom shelf, so the lowest supports need to be recessed. Step 6: Attach the Kick Board Photo by Kolin Smith Cut a piece of plywood — the same size as the lowest supports on the frame — to act as a nailer for the kick plate.

Attach the trim with glue and 6d finish nails. Cut trim to fit along the top; glue and nail it in place. Scribing Tips to Help With Your DIY Bookshelf Illustration by Harry Bates Making a tight, gap-free fit between the side trim of a cabinet and the wall — a process called scribing— is one of those critical skills that separates the real craftsmen from those of us who rely on caulk.

Decide how you want the trim to cover the gap. Set the compass to the widest part of the gap. Rest its metal point on the wall and the pencil point on the spot where you want the edge of the trim to land on the cabinet. Your trim must be at least this wide. Plumb the trim piece.