Ken’s Guild Build-Inspired Book Shelf

Viewer Project -
Added on November 23, 2010

This project is particularly cool as it was inspired by the recent Chest of Drawers Guild Build. Ken did a great job of adapting the concept to a book case!

Thought I would send you some photos of my most recently completed project. It was inspired by the latest Guild Build. As we didn?t need a chest of drawers but we did need a new book shelf in the bedroom, some of your tips and tricks as always came in very handy.

The book case is solid cherry, 37?L X 16?W X 40 1/2?H. Finished with shellac and wax except for the top which has one coat of dewaxed shellac then two coats of poly. I like finishing with and the feel of shellac but wanted the protection of the poly for the top. The shelves are each 3/8? thick and will mainly hold paper backs. I did a stress test for three weeks with twice as many books as would fit on one shelf and it seemed to be OK. If over time they do start to sag then I will have to remake them with thicker material. They are able to move up or down about 3-4? each. The top as well as each of the shelves has a slight curve in the front to carry the curved legs and stretcher theme throughout the whole piece. As always love the site and videos.

Discussion

Yaakov November 23, 2010 8:46 am

Very nice! Love the lines. Good work!

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Gary November 23, 2010 8:57 am

Nice book shelf Ken. The legs look cool and the curve on the front of the shelves.

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Glenn Folley November 23, 2010 9:02 am

Great job Ken, I like the flow of the curves.

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SJ November 23, 2010 9:12 am

Beautiful! I really like the curve on the front edge of the shelves.

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Larry Clinton November 23, 2010 10:12 am

Very nice, Ken. I love the look of cherry, and it will darken gradually giving it a richer look in my opinion.The curve on the legs and the front of the shelves have a graceful look, too. I think I would have gone with thicker shelves, though, at least 5/8″ if not a full 3/4″. I like the look they give, but I just always expect that over time more stress will be put on them than I originally expected. I just prefer to err on the side of “too thick” rather than “too thin”…but that’s just me.

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Don November 23, 2010 10:52 am

BEAUTIFUL!

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Bryan Huot November 23, 2010 11:24 am

Great work on this. I love the curved front of each shelf, it really ties them into the rest of the piece and ads a bit more to it…separating itself from any other bookshelf. Fantastic job!

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runningwood November 23, 2010 12:17 pm

I really like this and want to build one myself just like this.

As far as the shelves, for paperbacks you should probably be ok, but you can always try the sagulator for a calculator that will tell you whether there are weight concerns based on your wood and length of shelving. http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm

Great job.

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Jonathan November 23, 2010 12:27 pm

Very nice. The curve on the top rail is spot on.

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Richard November 23, 2010 12:55 pm

AWESOME!!!

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JoeG November 23, 2010 1:16 pm

Wow! Great job!

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Vic November 23, 2010 2:22 pm

Very nice, Ken!! The color turned out great and I LOVE the intensity of the side curves, as well as the more subtle front curves of the shelves. Great job!

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Eric Sweeney November 23, 2010 2:41 pm

That is very nice! I really like the look of that.

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David November 23, 2010 3:48 pm

Wow! Nicely done! The solid back is what really does it for me. There’s no way you’d get that kind of grain pattern using plywood. And it shows the care and attention to detail that obviously went into this piece.

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Jeff November 23, 2010 3:48 pm

Very nice, great shape and beautiful wood.

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Josh November 23, 2010 5:06 pm

Fantastic. Looking to do something similar in the near future. Care to share any plans you have for this project?

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- Ken November 25, 2010 7:33 am
  
  Thanks Josh.
  As with most of my projects the most extensive plans I tend to do is a rough sketch more for dimensions than anything else. So unfortunately I don?t have any ?plans? to post. I am more than willing to give any help/suggestions you may need.
  Good luck on yours and looking forward to seeing photos.
  Ken.
  
  Reply
Emmrys November 23, 2010 7:16 pm

I really like this one. Lovely design. I am thinking about doing a miniature bookcase but have not gotten into the design yet. I will definitely keep this one in mind.

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Brian November 23, 2010 7:30 pm

Very nice bookcase. The curves are splendid and the proportions are very pleasing. This makes me want to steal your bookshelves. literally. :)

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Jim J November 23, 2010 9:08 pm

The clean, simple lines and gentle curves give it a look I really like. The thin shelves are attractive too.

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Ben November 23, 2010 9:11 pm

Looks great! Is the back T&G?

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- Ken November 25, 2010 7:36 am
  
  Thanks Ben.
  All the rails are mortis and tenon to the legs and the side panels as well as the back panels are solid wood floating in grooves.
  Ken.
  
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Daryn November 23, 2010 11:52 pm

Yes it is awesome. I might do one myself but everything in our bedroom is a dark dark brown/black. Anyone got any ideas on what wood to use that A is not too expensive and B will take and maintain that dark a stain without loosing all its’ character.

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- Schmoll November 26, 2010 5:47 am
  
  My brothers have done a lot of work with poplar, easy to work with and excepts stains nicely. It has a cherry/maple grain pattern too. Probably some of the cheapest wood next to pine.
  
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Don November 24, 2010 4:33 am

Daryn,

Cherry is actually one such wood. It takes stain nicely, and it darkens with age, especially if it’s exposed to sunlight. It is moderately expensive, however . . . .

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Daryn November 27, 2010 2:00 am

Thanks for the input guys. Everyone should feel free to jump in with some suggestions. Thanks

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mark williams November 29, 2010 5:47 pm

Really Nice, Do you have a sketch up file or cut list?

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Ken November 30, 2010 4:53 am

Thanks Mark
Unfortunately as with most of my projects the closest I get to a cut list or sketch up file is a rough sketch on a piece of paper that gives over all dimensions. I will give you any info you need though, just shout me a note.
Ken.

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Justin November 30, 2010 8:35 am

Really Great job Ken!

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jonathan parsons February 4, 2011 6:49 am

Ken, this is a great bookcase. I am looking to make low bookcase and have been looking for inspiration for designs and just keep coming back to yours.
I guess the key is how the curves fit in perfectly with the proportions. Could you give me some ideas about the dimesions. Height and width and the radius (or some other guide) to getting the right curves.

cheers
Jonathan

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Mike February 5, 2011 5:09 pm

That looks really great. I like everything about it.
I’m going to be building a similar bookcase myself and I was wondering how you accounted for wood expansion for the bottom shelf. Thanks!

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Mina June 17, 2011 5:26 am

Absolutely gorgeous, I would love one of my own.

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Andy March 15, 2012 1:08 pm

Ken, since it’s been a while, how did the thinner shelves work out?

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Todd February 8, 2013 8:15 pm

Ken,

I’m sure others have asked plenty of times, but would you be willing to help a new woodworker who is interested in trying his hand at this great bookshelf?

Thanks in advance.

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Ken’s Guild Build-Inspired Book Shelf

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