How to Build a Full-Size Side-by-Side Bookcase
- 1). Put on your safety equipment.
- 2). Use a table saw to cut the 3/4-inch plywood to the size of your plan for your side, top and bottom panels. Make the bookcase top and the bottom shelf 1/2 inch less than the total of your design width. The depth will be the same as the side panels for the top panel and 1/2 inch less for the bottom shelf.
- 3). Cut the shelves out of the plywood 3/4 inch less in width and 1 inch less in depth than the top and bottom shelf. Plan on one shelf for every 12 inches in height of your bookcase. Don't forget that you already have the bottom shelf.
- 4). Use the router with a 3/4 inch router bit and guide bushing to router a dado in the two side panels (the inside face of the plywood), from the front to the back of the case. The dado will start at 3 inches from the bottom and needs to be 1/2 inch deep by 3/4 inch wide.
- 5). Clamp a straight edge across the side panels at 3 inches and at 3 3/4 inches from the bottom to use as a template for the router to follow.
- 6). Remove the guide bushing and add a edge guide to the router. Router a rabbit joint across the top of each side panel 3/4 inch wide by 1/2 inch deep. Adjust the router to cut a rabbit joint 1/4 inch wide by 1/2 inch deep. Router the rabbit on the back inside edge of the sides and top panels.
- 7). Use a shelf pin jig to drill a series of shelf pins on the inside of the side panels. Start 12 inches from the bottom and stop 12 inches from the top.
- 8). Assemble the bookcase with the back facing up. Use glue and clamps. Make sure the cabinet stays square during assembly.
- 9). Measure the distance between the dados on the side panels. Cut a piece of 1/4 inch plywood for the back panel to this dimension. The length will be the height of your bookcase minus 3 1/4 inch. Glue and nail in place.
- 10
Build a face frame for each bookcase with the 3/4 inch x 1 1/2 inch hardwood. Cut the stiles at 1 1/2 inch and the rails at 3 1/2 inch wide. The stiles' length equals the total length of your bookcase design. - 11
Cut the rails 3 1/4 inch less than the width of your design for each bookcase. Assemble the face frames using pocket screws and glue. Glue and clamp the face frame to the front of the bookcase panels. You will have a 1/8-inch overhang of the face frame on each side. Trim the overhang flush with a router and flush trim router bit. - 12
Router decorative details into the shelf trim before you cut the 3/4-inch face frame material into 1-inch wide strips. Cut these to fit the shelves and then glue and clamp them in place on the front of the shelf material. - 13
Finish by sanding and staining to your taste.
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