Custom Bookshelf Build
Building Custom Matching Bookshelves
One of the things I love about working with clients on designing and building their own custom pieces is the joy they get by knowing that the piece we designed together is going to be exactly what they want, and need, for the exact space they need it for. In this case, I worked with a repeat client to build a set of “matching” bookshelves for their living room. I am using quotes when I say “matching” because, although the two bookshelves are the same style, they are different widths. Each is designed to fit perfectly in the place the client wants them, on each side of a large window. This is how I built them...
Materials and Design
In coming up with the design for the bookshelves, my client left a lot of the design details up to me. One main piece of input they did have was that they wanted to use a mix of cherry and maple wood. Cherry as the primary wood and maple as a secondary wood. I love to mix different woods like this and cherry and maple are a classic combination.
These bookshelves are going to be a frame and panel construction design, with cherry being used for the frames, top and shelves, and maple being used for the panels on the sides and back.
My plan called for one panel on each side, the entire height of the bookshelf, and two panels for the back, divided by a cherry stile. One panel would have been too wide and unstable. Further, buy adding an additional stile in the center of the back, it would allow for an additional shelf pin/support. This would provide additional shelf support, in the middle of the shelf, to help prevent any sagging.
I am using all solid wood, no plywood, for this project. As such, I decided to use 1 inch thick wood for the shelves. This would be a more substantial shelf and further eliminate any sagging. Neither of these bookshelves are terribly wide, so the shelves are not that long so sagging should not be an issue. To match the heft of the shelves I also used a 1 inch thick piece of cherry for the top.
Bookshelf Frames
Whenever I build something using a frame and panel type construction, be it a door, a trunk or whatever, I like to start by building the frame first. If I know what I want my overall dimensions to be, I find it easier to go ahead and build out the frame to those dimensions first, then I can come back and build my panels to fit inside the frame.
The frame for these bookshelves calls for four main posts, one in each corner, that will be about 1.75” square and nearly seven feet long/tall. This called for the use of 8/4 cherry wood to make these outer posts. The rest of the frame I made to 1” thick, which then called for the use of 5/4 cherry material that would then be milled to the 1” finished thickness. By using 1” thick cherry for the rest of the frame, it would allow me to use a little thicker wood for the panels, which would add some weight and rigidity to the bookshelves; more on that later.
To start, I got a load of 5/4 and 8/4 cherry from one of my suppliers and started with milling up all the individual parts. Here is the haul of rough sawn cherry wood.
I started the milling process with the 8/4 cherry that would make up the 8 corner posts for the two bookshelves (4 posts per bookshelf). These bookshelves are going to be almost 7 feet tall so I really had to pay attention to the milling of this stock to ensure I was able to get them as straight as possible. To do this, I usually “skip mill” the parts one day, taking off no more than 1/8 of an inch, let them set for a day or two, and then run them through the milling process again, taking them to their final dimensions.
By skip milling the wood, you are able to release any tension that might be in the wood that would give it a tendency to bow or curve on you. You mill the wood, just a little bit, and let it set. If a piece has a lot of stress in it, then you need to find another piece because it will just never be straight.
Here are the photos after the initial milling process. You can still see some of the rough material on these posts.
After the pieces set for a day or two, I then go back and mill all of the parts to their final thicknesses. Here you can see the two sets of posts as well as the rest of the frame parts.
Eight corner posts with frame parts
Frame parts with legs behind
I also went ahead and began to glue the shelves together. The design was to have a fixed bottom and 3 adjustable shelves. I made these slightly over-sized so I could cut them to their final dimensions once the frame was completely built.
The joinery for these bookshelves is pretty simple; I used my Domino jointer for this. If you do not have a Domino, you can simply use traditional mortise and tenon joints; no problem. Once I laid out and cut the slots for the dominos I was able to put the frame together to get a sense for what it was going to look like.
Next, I used a Whiteside, 3/8 inch spiral router bit, in my router table to rout a groove on the inside edges of the frame pieces that will receive the maple panels.
One of the last things I needed to do before the frame was “done” was to add a very slight taper on the bottom of the legs. I think this detail adds some elegance to the look of the frame and keeps it from looking too bulky and square.
bookshelf Panels
The panels for the bookshelf are made out of solid maple wood. Now, in hindsight, I could have (and maybe should have) used maple plywood; it would have saved me a TON of time, but in the end, I think making the panels from scratch was the right choice.
To make the panels, I started with 1 inch thick solid maple and then resawed it on the bandsaw to get book matched sets.
If I had tried to do this with plywood, I would have ended up with a lot of wasted plywood in order to mimic this look. So, even though this took a lot longer, I think it looks better and I know my client appreciates it more.
Once the book matched pieces were glued together, I ran them through my drum sander to remove all the glue and get them to the final thickness. If you don’t have a drum sander, you could probably use your planer, depending on how wide it is. Here is a look at one of the bookshelf sides dry fit with the panel in it.
Because the panels are solid wood, I pre-finished them before I assembled the bookshelves. This would ensure that as the panels move with the seasons, you would not see any unfinished sections of the panels.
Final Details and Finish
Before I assembled the whole bookshelf, I needed to make one more final detail to the legs. I like to put a small round over or chamfer on the bottom of the feet on my furniture. This way, if someone slides or drags the piece across a floor; especially on carpet, the edge or corner of the foot will not get snagged and rip a chunk of wood off of the bottom of the foot.
I also used my Domino to cut small grooves in the top sides of the case to receive the buttons I use to attach the top of the bookshelf.
These buttons hold the top in place, but allow the solid wood top to expand and contract with the seasons and not crack or split the top or frame.
The bookshelves are then finished with two coats of Tried and True Danish Oil. I love this finish for projects like this because it is easy to apply and easy to repair. Simply use a clean, lint-free, cloth and rub the oil into the wood. After the oil has penetrated the wood for several minutes, use a clean cloth to rub out any excess oil. You can then use a white, non-abrasive pad or 0000 steel wool, and rub out the finish with a furniture paste wax. This will leave a buttery smooth finish and adds one more layer of protection.
If the finish is ever scratched or damaged in any way, you can simply sand the affected area then re-apply the oil and it will blend right in. Over time, this cherry will age and darken into a rich brown color that everyone loves and associates with cherry wood.
Here are some photos of the finished bookshelf…
Conclusion
Lastly, here are the bookshelves in their final home. As you can see, the bookshelf on the left is slightly wider than the one on the right. This is why commissioning these custom built bookshelves was the perfect idea for this client in order to get exactly what they needed.
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About Me…
Welcome to my blog. My name is Derik VanVleet and I am the owner/builder of VanVleet Woodworking llc. I hope you find this blog useful and insightful. Feel free to leave a comment in the bottom. Thank you!
