Kids Bookcase

The kids bookcase is done. Its three sections wide on top (29") and two on the bottom (36"). I have to get a picture of the one at the library so you can see what I was going for. It is pretty much built so the kids can dance on it and it won't break. The bottom is 3/4" plywood and the top is 5/8" pine. The ply was salvaged from the side of the road and the pine was from our kitchen remodel. When I tore the kitchen out I saved as much of the built-in stuff as I could. I could have left the top un-painted but it had stains all over so it would have been much work to make it look nice. Anyway over all it turned out well and fits its function.





Next project is.....?

Workbench and Bookcase

So here is the finished workbench. I say "finished" but I think it will always be a work in progress. Adding something here and there, planing the top to make it smoother and taking out nicks. I think it came out OK considering it was my first try and it was completely built from scrounged lumber. So in essence it was free just my labor.




Sitting on the bench is the bottom to the kids bookcase. The lighting for the picture is horrible. It really is painted gloss white (easy cleaning).


Here is the top to the bookcase. It still needs painting and then attached to the bottom. I gave up on the finger joints for the sides and just used a butt joint with a through dowel. It is plenty strong and since it will be painted I figured there is no need to get really fancy. I will post a final picture, in good lighting, when it is done (maybe a few days).

Finger joints/ Workbench

The rough cut of the finger joints on the long pieces of the "V" top have been cut. Now I have to go back with a chisel, chop out the rest and fine tune. I will then transfer the finger spacing to the side boards and do it all again. Top is on the left, bottom on the right.



I have 5 2x4's in my lamination for my workbench top done. I have maxed out the jaws on one of my clamps, so I have to build another 2 more sets of 5 and find some way to put them all together. The arrangement for the workbench top will be 15 2x4's on edge, 1 2x6 flat and 1 2x4 on edge. This way I have about 16" of work depth with a 6" tool tray and a backer the same height as the front to support long pieces.

Mish mash

On the left: shooting board, on the right: start of workbench.

I made the shooting board to help square the edges of the kids bookcase. It worked pretty well but a sharp plane is needed otherwise it chatters.

The workbench will have a laminated top. On the right is the beginning of that. I have salvaged 2x4's from a remodel that's going on up the street. I have to take out nails and remove any dirt but it is free and will work fine. The workbench design will be a blend of roubo (link 2) and "Bob and Daves' good fast and cheap" (link pdf).

Kids Bookcase

I have the pieces to the top all roughed out. So now you can finally see the "V" taking shape. I think I will just do a finger joint for the sides. I just don't feel comfortable cutting dovetails on angled grain yet. I will be adding a divider in the middle so as to have 2 sections.






This is a close-up of the boards I am using for the top. These were from the kitchen re-model we did recently. They are very nice single plank boards 11 1/2" wide. These would cost about $5 ft. new. That's alot of money saved.


Also, I will be making a shooting board to trim the ends of the pieces.

Yep, It's a box

The bottom is done to the kids bookcase. Well, the rough-in of it anyway. Still need to sand, trim and paint. Yes, you heard me right, the base will be painted. I will put the base coat of white, then I might let my daughters (4 and 18mths) spruce it up a bit. It is for them ya'know. The top "V" just gets a good coat of paste.

I had just found how to make my own paint over at Robin Woods blog. I think I might try it here.

Here is the start of the bottom of the kids bookcase. The "V" will rest on top of this piece.



Here is a detail of the corner. This is the rear. The back panel will fit in the recess created by the wood blocking that was glued to the side. As a note, I should have lowered the glue blocks so the top would rest only on them and not the side and the block. This would have created a rabbet and more stable joint. Oh well, live and learn. I have not cut the bottom for it yet, hopefully that will come tomorrow.

Kids bookcase 2

I have the side of the bookcase in clamps at the moment. I have either the top of the bottom portion or the bottom of the bottom portion cut. I am not sure which as I want to see the other piece cut and then I will decide which is which.

I am up in the air on the top "V" design. I was thinking about using a dovetail for the side pieces but I am a little hesitant about cutting dovetails in angled grain. I should mention that for the top I have some really nice old pine boards that were salvaged when we remodeled the kitchen. The other way of attaching the sides was using a through tenon on oversized side pieces. The bookcase is not being done in any particular style just copying what is at the library. The library shelves are melamine coated particle board, so anything I do is above and beyond.

Kids Bookcase

Here is the plan for the kids bookcase. The top is a "V" shape so the books will be upright and facing you. You can flip through them easily that way. The bottom will be for storing books like a normal bookshelf, spine out.