- 1). Cut your boards according to the dimensions you have drawn up. Make sure you cut boards for both sides, the bottom and top and for three shelves (or more if you prefer). Use a handsaw or circular saw when cutting and make the back of the shelf out of the single piece of plywood. Make she shelves no longer than three feet wide in order to prevent bowing in the wood. (See reference 1 and 2)
- 2). Sand the edges and along the saw cut lines smooth if the wood splintered at all from making the cuts. Build the basic frame first by using a quality wood glue to attach the sides of the book shelf to the bottom piece and let the glue dry. Glue the top piece to the rest of the frame, let dry, and then mark the corners of the top and bottom pieces. (See reference 3)
- 3). Use your drill with a bit that is smaller than the diameter of your screws and drill pilot holes where you have marked each corner, making it easier to put in the screws. Change the bit on your drill to the screwdriver bit and put in the screws. (See reference 3)
- 4). Mark the inside of the side pieces with a pencil exactly where you want the shelves to be placed, making sure they are evenly spaced within the frame. Use a screwdriver and the ½-inch screws to mount two L-brackets (the top of the L-brackets should angle in to the center of the book shelf) just beneath each line drawn on the side pieces two-three inches in from each edge. (See reference 4)
- 5). Slide in your book shelves to rest above the L-brackets, if it seems unsteady or wobbly you can screw the shelves into the brackets as well. (See reference 4)
- 6). Sand all of the pieces of wood smooth, starting with low grit sandpaper initially and then moving to smoother and smoother grits. Stain the wood with a protective wood stain (two to three coats after each coat dries), or alternatively, you can paint the bookshelf. (See references 4 and 5)
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