Bookshelf with drawers

This was a bookshelf I built last summer. 3/4” plywood for the case, 3/4” x 1.5” face framing in red oak. Drawer sides are hard maple.

For the drawer runners I did a loose tenon kind of arrangement dadoed into the sides and routed a slot in the drawer slides to accept the rails sticking out of the case. The lesson here was that the case needs to be very square so the runner “grabs” the entire length of the drawer so it stays level and true.

I was going to put a top on it, but that didn’t work out, so I left it plain on the top and I have to say, I don’t mind it very much.

The other lesson I learned was that I build it 20” deep and that was too much – the books sit too far back. Proportions are important. I was trying to maximize sheet good use instead of focusing on the end product. The result? A big piece that isn’t as functional as it could be.

The finish is simply wipe on water based stain covered with 2 coats of water based poly.

Oh, the other lesson? Be sure to break the corners at the bottom with a plane, or attach feet to prevent tear out as the piece is moved (Dragged) across carpeting. Every project as a lesson hard learned and long remembered.

-- -- Skee from MN