What you'll need
Materials
Tick them off as you find them.
Tools
- Router with a straight bit sized to your boards' real thicknessFind it →
- Straightedge or edge guide and clampsFind it →
- Circular saw or miter sawFind it →
- Brad nailer or hammerFind it →
- Framing squareFind it →
- Tape measureFind it →
- Random orbit sanderFind it →
- Safety glassesFind it →
- Hearing protectionFind it →
- Dust maskFind it →
Find it links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. How we make money
How to make it
Wear eye and hearing protection and a dust mask at the router, and always anchor tall furniture to the wall.
1Cut the parts
Cut 2 sides at 47 in from one 8 ft board. Cut 3 shelves at 31 in from the other, and a 4th shelf from the 4 ft board. Cut the toe kick at 30 1/2 in.
2Lay out both sides together
Clamp the sides edge to edge, inside faces up, bottoms flush. Mark the bottom edge of each dado at 3 1/2, 17 3/4 and 32 in from the bottom.
3Test the bit
Rout a test dado in scrap and slide a shelf in. You want a snug push fit, not a hammer fit.
4Rout the dados
Clamp a straightedge to guide the router. Cut each dado 3/4 in wide and 1/4 in deep in 2 passes, across both sides at once.
5Rout the top rabbet
Cut a 3/4 in wide, 1/4 in deep rabbet across the top inside edge of each side for the top shelf.
6Glue up the case
Glue the shelves into the dados and rabbets. Nail through the sides into each shelf, then check that the diagonals match.
7Add kick and back
Glue the toe kick under the bottom shelf, set back 1/2 in. Cut the back to 32 x 47 in and nail it on every 6 in. The back squares the case.
8Finish and anchor
Sand, condition, stain and add 3 coats of poly. Anchor it to a wall stud with the anti-tip kit before loading books.
Edie's tipPine 1x10s often measure a hair under 3/4 in. Measure yours and match the dado to the board, not the label.
Written by the DIY Project team. How we check · Report a mistake
