| Project by TheDane | posted 427 days ago | 511 views | 5 times favorited | 13 comments | ![]() |
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My wife needed a set of book-ends to support the dictionaries and medical reference books she uses in her work.
Not one to take the easy way out (that would be: buy them at a local office supply), I decided to design my own.
These are adjustable … the bookends slide in a doivetail groove … and there are no hardware fasteners or glue in these … it is all friction-fit dovetail joinery.
I built a prototype out of pine, then did two copies (one of oak, the other mahogany).
They are 28” long and 5 1/2” wide. I plowed a 14º – 5/8” Dovetail set to 3/8” depth through the center of each … same depth/width through the book support..
The tails on the vertical braces were cut using the same setup against the fence on my router table.
I trimmed the book supports down to 5” width to accommodate the profile I routed around the base. After sanding (220 grit), each got two coats of satin polyurethane.
-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi































13 comments so far
Douglas Krueger
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379 posts in 616 days
posted 427 days ago
Nice design, simple but very effective.
-- I can so I wood but why are my learning curves always circles
Napaman
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3483 posts in 970 days
posted 427 days ago
very nice…i love these…putting this in my favorites…great gift idea!
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
trifern
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7894 posts in 660 days
posted 427 days ago
Nice project. The grain in the maple is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Beginningwoodworker
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4123 posts in 566 days
posted 427 days ago
Thats some very nice work.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
clieb91
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683 posts in 828 days
posted 424 days ago
These turned out very nice and I love the idea. I do hope you don’t mind if I borrow it for a future project.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
TheDane
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195 posts in 556 days
posted 423 days ago
Chris … be my guest. To me, it’s not borrowing … it is research!
-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi
TheDane
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195 posts in 556 days
posted 399 days ago
The dimensions were largely dictated by the material I was using (1×6 dimensional lumber). Each book rack was cut entirely from a single piece of lumber 4’ in length. There was virtually no waste.
The dovetails are 14º – 5/8” cut 3/8” deep. I wanted the faces that support the books to be 6” high, which meant the bed could be 28” in length.
The key is to get a good fit on the dovetails. I cut the pins a little thick, and then worked them down with 180 grit self-adhesive sandpaper. The supports are 2 5/8” wide, and though they fit snug, they move easily when you want to adjust them but stay put with the weight of the books against them.
-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi
FJDIII
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167 posts in 703 days
posted 366 days ago
Great Project! Necessity is the mother of invention!
-- Fred.... Poconos, PA ---- Chairwright in the making ----
Don Newton
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528 posts in 511 days
posted 366 days ago
Clever!
-- Don, Pittsburgh
Craig55
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16 posts in 290 days
posted 199 days ago
I just now came across this project. Great idea, you do excellent work. I am going to put this on my to do list.
Thanks for posting.
TheDane
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195 posts in 556 days
posted 199 days ago
I made a bunch of these for Christmas gifts last year … they were a real hit, especially with the relatives that can read! (lol)
-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi
Andy
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570 posts in 801 days
posted 199 days ago
I like this. Its a simple and logical approach to a common problem,but there is a skill level required here.Well done!
-- " If I can make it,so can you" Andy in Oregon
a1Jim
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16669 posts in 470 days
posted 198 days ago
They look great
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon