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Disclaimer: I am not a professional/certified carpenter of any sort and by no means an authority on carpentry. This tutorial is the documentation of a perpetual amateur taking a stab at yet another craft. Therefore, whatever I state here is just an opinion on way method of constructing a bookcase based on personal experience. That being said, I will be more than glad to give you my take on this tutorial and answer all questions in the comments section as long as you regard it as just that: my take. And even more so, I would love to receive some constructive criticism just as long as it is just that: creative criticism. All other comments I will not delete (this is a free country), but I will not give them the satisfaction of a response, either.
This tutorial will teach you how to construct a Nomadic Media Bookcase similar to below. This bookcase has shelves designed to hold the maximum amount of CDs, DVDs, and VHS possible. In addition, as will be the case in all of my designs, there will be one allotted display shelf.
What is a "Nomadic" Bookcase, you ask? Well, it's really anything utilizing Nomadic Technology. That is, primarily, technology of easy dissassembly,/reassembly, construction, & durability. Think if you were a nomad and had to have your stuff on the go for the Zombie Apocalypse. There are greater explanations out there for those curious (http://www.instructables.com/id/Woodworking-Making-wood-projects-without-using-na/).
Nomadic technology seems to primarily rely on Nail-less technology or Irish Carpentry. That is, Mortise & Tenon style. See my last post for an explanation (here). You have 3 components of this design:
1. Mortise - the piece that will run through.
2. Tenon - the piece doing the running through of.
3. Peg - the piece that pins it all together.
This tutorial will teach you how to construct a Nomadic Media Bookcase similar to below. This bookcase has shelves designed to hold the maximum amount of CDs, DVDs, and VHS possible. In addition, as will be the case in all of my designs, there will be one allotted display shelf.
What is a "Nomadic" Bookcase, you ask? Well, it's really anything utilizing Nomadic Technology. That is, primarily, technology of easy dissassembly,/reassembly, construction, & durability. Think if you were a nomad and had to have your stuff on the go for the Zombie Apocalypse. There are greater explanations out there for those curious (http://www.instructables.com/id/Woodworking-Making-wood-projects-without-using-na/).
Nomadic technology seems to primarily rely on Nail-less technology or Irish Carpentry. That is, Mortise & Tenon style. See my last post for an explanation (here). You have 3 components of this design:
1. Mortise - the piece that will run through.
2. Tenon - the piece doing the running through of.
3. Peg - the piece that pins it all together.
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Signing UpStep 1Tools/Materials Required
1. TOOLS REQUIRED:
1.Workhorse - $38
Any table you have can work for this. I find having tables devoted solely to construction projects (that were made for construction projects) helps.
2. Jig Saw - $30
3. Clamps (2) - $4
C-Clamps really work best.
4. Various Files - $10
Make sure they work on wood. I also highly reccommend that of these wood files, you have a half round. It seems to work best for this project.
5. Power Drill - $20
Cordless is best. You'll already have the jig saw plugged in and will want to walk around freely with the drill. Keep it on the charger in between drills. It won't lose a charge easily, but boring holes as you will be through this thick of wood is taxing even to the greatest of power drills.
6. Huge Ass Drill Bit - $4
7. Cardboard Scraps (2) - $0 These are to be cushioned in between your clamps and wood, to keep the clamps from leaving dents in your wood).
8. Mallet - $4 You'll want a mallet vs. a hammer to not dent your wood.
9. Angle Square (Large) - $7
10. Rubber Sanding Block - $6 This just makes your sanding infinitely easier.
11. Hard Sand Paper - $2
12. Medium Sand Paper - $2
OPTIONAL
13. Mitre Saw - $90. This can be avoided if need be. It just makes it incredibly easy to cut the pegs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worst Case Start-up Cost = $127-$217
You really don't need fancy materials for this project. Borrow them from friends or buy them cheap. Look at my tools: they're nothing fancy. The blade that I use in the jig saw is the same one that came with it when I bought it.
2. MATERIALS REQUIRED:
-Pine 2X8X16 (2) - $22
-Pine 2X4X8 - $2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Materials Cost = $24
3. OVERALL COST = $24-$241
1.Workhorse - $38
Any table you have can work for this. I find having tables devoted solely to construction projects (that were made for construction projects) helps.
2. Jig Saw - $30
3. Clamps (2) - $4
C-Clamps really work best.
4. Various Files - $10
Make sure they work on wood. I also highly reccommend that of these wood files, you have a half round. It seems to work best for this project.
5. Power Drill - $20
Cordless is best. You'll already have the jig saw plugged in and will want to walk around freely with the drill. Keep it on the charger in between drills. It won't lose a charge easily, but boring holes as you will be through this thick of wood is taxing even to the greatest of power drills.
6. Huge Ass Drill Bit - $4
7. Cardboard Scraps (2) - $0 These are to be cushioned in between your clamps and wood, to keep the clamps from leaving dents in your wood).
8. Mallet - $4 You'll want a mallet vs. a hammer to not dent your wood.
9. Angle Square (Large) - $7
10. Rubber Sanding Block - $6 This just makes your sanding infinitely easier.
11. Hard Sand Paper - $2
12. Medium Sand Paper - $2
OPTIONAL
13. Mitre Saw - $90. This can be avoided if need be. It just makes it incredibly easy to cut the pegs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worst Case Start-up Cost = $127-$217
You really don't need fancy materials for this project. Borrow them from friends or buy them cheap. Look at my tools: they're nothing fancy. The blade that I use in the jig saw is the same one that came with it when I bought it.
2. MATERIALS REQUIRED:
-Pine 2X8X16 (2) - $22
-Pine 2X4X8 - $2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Materials Cost = $24
3. OVERALL COST = $24-$241
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It is offset. I'm not a professional carpenter, nor literal by any means. I go by feel and adjust as I go along.
What I do is I measure from the back, and allow for whatever change is left over, so yes, there is going to be a little difference on the widths.
"I was also wondering if I missed something but you said you used 2 2x8x16 for Mortises and Tenons 32 feet wood length but your plans call for 34 feet."
Actually, I think we're both wrong on this point. It should have been 3 2x8x16 = 32 feet worth of tenons (4ft long times 8) + 14 feet worth of mortises (7ft long times 2) = 46 feet.
Does that help?
Please take photos and send them to me! I will create a "bookcases made by other people" section just for you!
Saw my granddad do that many many moons ago. He built a whole house. twice. LOL
Ummm, what's your granddad's address? I'd love to glean some of his wisdom. Lol.
you keep practicing and you'll find it results in less clean up after you get that technique down.
Try laying a straight edge on the outside of the holes to connect them, then mark a pencil line connecting them on each side of the holes so you can follow the pencil marks with your jig saw. That should do it. of course you'll still have to sand or file, but it should be much easier this way, I think.
Well done!
Great design by the way. And I like how you wrote it up to be thorough, whilst remaining simple.
If you want to, you can do what I did after the tutorial: cut a half oval out of the bottom of the sides. This creates legs, allowing for more stability.