I just finish another job~

[Leon]

I started this project near the end of last month. My customer wanted simple red oak book cases that would hold loads of books and hot have any sagging shelves.

The finish is Old Masters Gel Varnish, my new varnish of choice. The cases are 120" wide and have to fit a wall that is 10'-2" wide. I hope I measured correctly! Lots of shelves with 690 holes for adjustments. There are 6 shelf hanger hooks for each shelf, 2 on each side and 1 each for the front and back center stiles. Each end cabinet is setting on 6 adjustable feet , adjusted through the bottoms of the cabinets and each foot is good for 300#'s each so each cabinet should be good for at least

1800#'s. Over all height is 80". I was lucky to get a great grain patter for the back panels, too bad they will be hidden behind a bunch'a ole books. ;!)

I again used my preferred method of choice construction, front and back face frames with 12 dado joints on each cabinet. This makes 13 cabinets that I have built this way since October last year. These things are extremely rigid.

Comments welcome!

Nailshooter! you would be proud, follow the link to a series of "detailed pictures"

older at the top for the series.

[Z3Driver]

Only one word: gorgeous.

[FrozenNorth]

Those are beautiful, love the grain on the backs, but yeah, once it is loaded that will be lost. My wife has a butt load of books and wanted some shelving in the basement for them, I went to Ikea. :-)

[Leon]

Thank you!

[Leon]

Thank you! Ikea huh? ;~)

[ericgelman1]

very nice! i hadn't seen the "front and back face frame" technique before.

[FrozenNorth]

No Ikea stores in Texas? Cheap Swedish knock down build it yourself stuff, but it is in the basement.

[Doug Winterburn]

Pronounced Ick-e-a

[Leon]

Yeah we have one, I visited once about 10 years ago and again recently only because I forgot that you have to go through a maze to get out.

[Lee Michaels]

First off, very nice looking bookshelves. Those books will have a first class home! Mary will be proud to show off her books and the bookcases.

Some comments, questions, etc.

With the adjustable feet, each cabinet can support 1800 lbs. Are you sure this is enough? I think each cabinet should support at least 3,000 lbs. LOL I just had to kid you a little on that one.

Are the shelves doubled? What are the shelves made of?

Also, are the shelves notched in the back?

That extra set of adjustable center supports, front and back, on the end cabinets is totally slick. I have seen it done on the back, but not on the front as well. That will definitely increase the working load on each shelf and prevent sagging. Good idea, good design, good execution.. I am sure that some folks will think it is overbuilt, but I have always been accused of overbuilding things. Those extra supports not only support the shelves, but increase the strength and rigidity of the cabinets as well. It not only looks good, it works good. Beauty AND function. It doesn't get any better than that.

I remember some book shelves I built for my sister. The comment she made (and everyone else who knew her made as well) was that the book cases were "really solid". Implying anything else she ever had wasn't. Those things are just as solid now as the day I built them, over 20 years ago. Quality furniture is not rickety and fragile. It is durable, strong and looks good. You obviously build quality furniture.

One other comment. I saw those pictures on top of your table saw. How do you cut any wood with those pictures on the top of your saw? Has your wife been decorating your shop?

[Han]

Leon wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Gorgeous, Leon!

[Leon]

I first use it here on this link about 6~9 months ago

again here about 3 months ago.

[FrozenNorth]

My wife likes their candles and some of the other stuff sold near the exits, we we break in through an open check-out line and go for what she wants instead of taking the scenic tour. :-)

[Leon]

Thank you Han!

[Bill]

Yes, non-simply beautiful.

Bill

[Leon]

I think that will be enough, maybe. I try to build for the person that might inherit the furniture and use it to maybe store their gold bars or lead fishing weights. LOL

Single thickness, 3/4" red oak veneer plywood with a 3/4" x 3/4" piece of solid red oak on the front edges. That piece is attached to the plywood shelves with a spline joint.

No.

The center hanging section is done that way too. It is little more effort to put the supports in the front center stile also. Kind of a no brainer. This really reduces the need to add extra support to the shelves them selves to prevent sag. I did this on my previous 3 book cases and the pantry that I built for our new home.

That will definitely increase the working load on

Exactly!

Good idea, good design, good execution..

Thank you! Thank you Sketchup! That program has really helped me design better furniture.

I try to overbuild, I don't want a problem at a later date. I am sure the center stiles add something but the front and back face frames that have dados to accept the bottom, top, and sides of the cases really adds rigidity. FWIW I moved the cases with out the shelves and backs by picking them up by the center front stile.

During the dry fits of the prior 10 cases that I built this way I had the unit laying on its back glued up face frame and the top, bottom, and sides fitted into the back face frame dados and the top glued up face frame fitted on top of all of that. I could lift one corner and the case would pivot from the opposite back corner. No sag any where.

I often say that quality built furniture always looks good and never goes out of style. I am sure you and your sister would agree about the piece you built for her. Basically well built continues to look well built. Cheaply built looks less than desirable after a few years.

It is hard keeping the dust out. ;~) My grand mother painted thos, and about 10 others that I have had, in the mid 60's. I finally inherited the rest that you saw. I have reframed all of her paintings with like frames and they all hang in our den.

Thanks again for the kind comments!

[Larry Jaques]

"Icky, eh?"

-- Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. -- Abraham Lincoln

[Leon]

Thank you Bill!

And may I remind you that I used Old Masters Gel varnish? ;~)

[Larry Jaques]

Those are oddly shaped, very colorful pushsticks, huh?

-- Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. -- Abraham Lincoln

[Puckdropper]

Leon wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Beautiful grain on the back of those cases. Since most books are shorter than the shelf distance, you'll still be able to see some of it after the case is loaded up.

The center shelf pins make perfect sense. Good idea. I'll probably copy it if I do adjustable shelves.

Puckdropper