How to Assemble Bookshelves Yourself
- 1). Cut your bookshelf pieces from 1-by-10. Cut two sides 46 inches long each. Cut the top and bottom 36 inches long each. Sand the edges with 220-grit sandpaper.
- 2). Assemble the top, bottom and sides to make the exterior frame of the bookshelf. Attach the top and bottom boards to the side boards with wood glue and 1 3/4-inch finishing nails. Use three evenly spaced finishing nails at each joint. Cover the nail heads with wood putty.
- 3). Measure the distance between the two sides to calculate the exact shelf width. Cut three shelves from your 1-by-10 and sand the edges.
- 4). Paint or stain the bookshelf frame and the shelves as desired and allow to dry.
- 5). Measure and mark points for the three shelves on the inside of the bookshelf. Measure down from the top and make two marks--one towards the front and one towards the back--for each side of each shelf. Draw a straight line through each of the two marks to indicate where each shelf will be mounted. The spacing of the shelves is up to you. The shelves can be evenly spaced, or you can make the top shelf narrower for small-size books, the middle shelf slightly larger for medium-size books, and the bottom shelf even larger for oversize books. You may want to measure the height of the books in your collection to determine what shelf heights are necessary.
- 6). For each shelf, mount four metal L-brackets, placing two on each side of the cabinet along the line drawn for positioning the shelves. Mount the long side of the two front brackets 2 1/2 inches back from the front edge on either side of the cabinet on the inside wall with the corner flush with the line drawn for the shelf level, the short side extending toward the center of the cabinet. Place the second two brackets on either side 2 1/2 inches from the back of the cabinet. Drill screws through the holes in the long arms of the brackets into the sides of the cabinet.
- 7). Place the shelves on top of the brackets and screw the brackets to the underside of the shelves.
Source...