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Bookcase Plans

Here is a great weekend project for beginning woodworkers. Most

everyone owns books and needs a place to display them. Here is
an easy project that will add beauty and functionality to your home
office.
You can make it out of solid hardwood or use plywood and trim
the edges with edge banding. The finished project is 48" high by
23 1/2" wide by 12" deep. Features four shelves, with three of
them being adjustable. Build this beautiful bookcase and you can
turn your collection of books into a library. Plus, it's an easy
project.
Be sure to check out our corner desk plans for which this
bookcase was designed to compliment.
Copyright 2009 by Robert E. Reedy
Vandalia, Ohio
All Rights Reserved

Revised 2/16/2013

Bookshelf Plans
Table of Contents

Materials List .................................................................................................................................. 1

Notes ............................................................................................................................................... 2
Top and Shelves Dimensions .......................................................................................................... 3
Sides and Back Dimensions ............................................................................................................ 4
Face Frame and Miscellaneous Dimensions .................................................................................. 5
Hole Layout Sides and Back ........................................................................................................ 6
Hole Layout - Face Frame and Miscellaneous Parts ...................................................................... 7
Attach Gussets to Sides ................................................................................................................. 8
Assemble sides ................................................................................................................................ 9
Attach Top .................................................................................................................................... 10
Assemble face frame ..................................................................................................................... 11
Attach face frame ...........................................................................................................................12
Attach back ................................................................................................................................... 13
Assembled Bookcase .................................................................................................................... 14
Face Frame Bottom Cutout ........................................................................................................... 15
Cutout Diagrams ........................................................................................................................... 16

Copyright 2009 by Robert E. Reedy, Vandalia, Ohio

All Rights Reserved

Bookcase Plans

Materials You Will Need

Two 11 1/4 by 96 oak boards
One 7 1/4 by 96 oak board
One 48 by 24 sheet of 1/4 oak veneer plywood
Fifteen pocket hole face frame screws (1 )
Seven #8 flat head wood screws (1 1/2)
Four #8 flat head wood screws (2)
Ten finishing nails (1 1/2)
Twelve metal or plastic shelf supports ( pin diameter)

Item List
Item Name

Size

Material

Qty

Top

23 1/2 by 12

3/4 Oak

Shelves

21 3/8 by 10 3/4

3/4 Oak

Bottom

21 1/2 by 10 3/4

3/4 Oak

Sides

47 1/4 by 11

3/4 Oak

Back

45 1/8 by 22 1/8

1/4 Oak Plywood

Face Frame Side

47 1/4 by 1 1/4

3/4 Oak

Face Frame Top

20 1/2 by 1 1/4

3/4 Oak

Face Frame Bottom

20 1/2 by 3

3/4 Oak

Rear Top Support

21 1/2 by 1 1/4

3/4 Oak

Rear Bottom Support

21 1/2 by 2 1/4

3/4 Wood

Bottom Gusset

10 by 1 1/2

3/4 Wood

Copyright 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Perfect Your Skills With These Essential Tools

Because pocket hoes are such an easy way to make strong and precise joints, this bookcase
uses pocket holes for much of the joinery. If you don't already have a pocket hole jig, please
take a look at the links below. These jigs range in price from about $20.00 to about $140.00.
(US Dollars).
Plus the Kreg company makes their jigs in the USA!

Kreg Mini Pocket Hole Jig

www.rockler.com

Kreg K3 Master System

www.rockler.com

Shelf Pin Jig

www.rockler.com

Bench Cookies
www.rockler.com

Getperfectlyspacedshelfpin
holes!

Route,sand,andapply
finishwithoutclamps!

Kreg R3 Pocket Hole Jig

www.rockler.com

Edge Banding Iron

www.rockler.com
Makeplywoodlooklike
solidstock.

Precision Cuts in Plywood!

Self Clamping Edge Guide

www.rockler.com

Clampingjawsandlockingleverprovidequick,easy
clamping.

Instantedgetoedgeclamping,lowprofilewithno
obstruction.

Optionalrouterbaseplateandsawplateforperfecttracking.

Providesprecisionsawingandroutingofplywoodsheets.

Book Shelf Plans

Top & Shelves Dimensions
Page 3

23 1/2"

12"

Top

21 3/8"

10 3/4"

Shelf
(3 Required)

21 1/2"

10 3/4"

Bottom

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf
Parts Drawings - Sides and Back
Page 4

22 1/8"

Side

Back

(2 Required)

45 1/8"
47 1/4"

1/4"

11"

Cut a dado 3/8" deep and 1/4" wide on the inside edge of each side
piece. This for the back panel. See the detail to the left.
3/8"

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf
Face Frame & Miscellaneous Dimensions
Page 5

1 1/4"

21 1/2 in

Rear Top Support

1 1/4 in

21 1/2 in

Rear Bottom Support

2 1/4 in

10 in

47 1/4 in

Face Frame Front (2 Required)

1 1/2 in

Bottom Gusset

(2 Required)

20 1/2 in
1 1/4 in

Face Frame Top

20 1/2 in
3"

Face Frame Bottom

Cut the opening in the Face Frame Bottom as shown below.

See Page 15 for details.
Face Frame Bottom

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf Plans

Hole layout - Sides and Back
Page 6

For the shelf supports, drill 1/4" diameter holes on the

inside surface of the sides as shown below. These holes
should be 1/2" deep. Use a drill stop to ensure you don't
drill through outer surface of the sides.
Drill two pocket holes at the top. Holes are 1 1/2" from
edges.

Drill the back panel mounting holes with a

5/32" bit as shown below.
These holes are 3/16: from the edges.

4"

7 1/16"

7 1/16"

1 1/2"

Side

7 3/4"
7"

1 1/2"

7"

Back
7"

7"

7"

2"

2"
7"

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

4"

Book Shelf Plans

Hole Layout - Face Frame & Misc Parts
Page 7

Drill a 3/16" hole through each end and center

of the edge of the Face Frame Front.

Face Frame Top

2 1/2"

Drill a pocket hole on each end of the

back side of the Face Frame Front.

2 1/2"

Face Frame Top

Drill two pocket holes on the back side

of the Face Frame Bottom. These pocket
holes should be about 1/2" from the top
and 1/2" from the bottom.

Face Frame Bottom

Drill a 3/16" hole through each end & center of

the edge of the Rear Top Support.

Rear Top Support

2 1/2"

Drill a pocket hole on each end of the

back side of the Rear Top Support.

2 1/2"

Rear Top Support

Drill two pocket holes on the back side

of the Rear Bottom Support. These
pocket holes should be about 1/2" from
the top and 1/2" from the bottom.

Rear Bottom Support

1 3/4"

Drill two 3/16"holes through the front side of each

Bottom Gusset. These holes should be 1 3/4" from
each end and centered from top to bottom.

1 3/4"

Bottom Gusset

Drill two 3/16"holes through edge of each

Bottom Gusset. These holes should be 1 1/4"
from each end and centered from top to bottom.

1 1/4"

1 1/4"

Bottom Gusset

Drill three pocket holes on the underside of the

Bottom as shown.

Bottom
3"

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

3"

Book Shelf Plans

Attach - Gussets to Sides
Page 8

Apply glue to mating surfaces and attach a

Bottom Gusset to the bottom of each side
as pictured below.
Be sure the end of the gusset is flush with
the front edge of the side.

Edges are flush

2 1/4"

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf Plans

Assembly - Assemble Sides
Page 9

Step 1. Apply glue to mating surfaces and attach the Rear Top
Support to the sides with pocket hole screws as pictured below.
The Rear Top Support should be flush with the top of each side and
flush to the inner surface of the dado.

Step 2. Apply glue to mating surfaces

and attach the Rear Bottom Support to
the Sides with pocket hole screws as
pictured below.
The Bottom Support is flush with the
inner surface of the dado.

Apply glue to mating surfaces and attach the

Bottom to the gussets with two inch screws as
pictured above.
Be sure the end of the Bottom is flush with the
front edges of the sides.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf Plans

Attach Top
Page 10

Position the Top so it is flush with the rear

edges of the sides and centered from side to side.
Apply glue to mating surfaces and secure the
Top to the sides with pocket hole screws and to
the Rear Top Support with 1 3/4" flathead
screws.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf Plans

Assemble Face Frame
Page 11

Apply glue to mating surfaces and assemble the

Face Frame with pocket hole screws as shown.
Check to make sure the assembled frame is
square. If not, clamp it in a squared position
before tightning the screws.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf Plans

Attach Face Frame
Page 12

Apply glue to mating surfaces and position the

Face frame so it is flush with the Top and
centered from side to side.
Step 1. Secure it to the Top
with three 1 3/4" flathead
screws.

Step 2. Secure it to the sides

with 1 1/2" finishing nails as
shown.

Step 4. Using a nail set,

countersink the finishing nails so
they are below the surface of the
wood and fill the holes with wood
putty.

Step 3. Secure it to the

bottom with pocket hole
screws using the holes
already drilled in the bottom.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf Plans

Attach Back
Page 13

Position the Back so it is inside the dados on the

sides and flush with the underside of the Top.
Secure the back with 3/4" #6 pan head wood
screws as shown below.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf Plans

Assembed Bookshelf
Page 14

After the glue dries, you're ready to sand and

finish the assembled bookcase and the three
removable shelves.
Insert the shelf supports into holes for the
desired locations of the shelves and your
bookcase is good to go.

ck
Ba

Side

Completed Bookcase

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf Plans

Face Frame Bottom Cutout
Page 15

Cut the opening in the Face Frame Bottom as shown below.

The grid line spacing is 1/4".

Face Frame Bottom

1"
2 1/4 "
1 1/2 "

2"
3/4" Radius

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Book Shelf
Cutout Diagrams
Page 16

11 1/4 "

11 1/4 "

7 1/4 "

Bottom Gusset

Top (1st Half)

Bottom Gusset

Two 96" by 11 1/4" by 3/4" boards.

One 96" by 7 1/4" by 3/4" board.
One 24" by 48" by 1/4" plywood.

Shelf

Top (2nd Half)

Shelf

Side

You'll need:

24 "

Rear Bottom Support

Rear Top Support

Face Frame Side

Face Frame Top

48 "

Face Frame Bottom

Face Frame Side

Side

96 "

Shelf

96 "

Bottom

96 "

Copyright (c) 2009 by Robert E. Reedy

All Rights Reserved

Back

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