Q&A for How to Build Wooden Bookshelves

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Question

What is the best wood to build a bookself?

Matt Mimnagh
Master Carpenter
Matt Mimnagh is a Master Carpenter and Owner of Castleguard Home Services based in Charlotte, North Caroline. Castleguard specializes in finish carpentry including the installation of moulding, trim, and built-in cabinetry. They also offer kitchen, bathroom, and other remodeling services.

Matt Mimnagh

Master Carpenter

Expert Answer

The most widely-used material is going to be 3/4 in (1.9 cm) maple veneer plywood. From there, you can trim it out with a solid wood like maple and poplar.

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Question

How much does this cost?

Agewalker

Community Answer

It depends on your materials. If you use cheap plywood, you could build a bookshelf for less than $20. If you want something better, like oak, you can expect that price to quadruple. On the other hand, if you use rare or exotic woods, the cost of a small bookshelf could easily exceed $1000 or more.

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Question

Where can I get help to build a shelf?

Community Answer

Most good hardware stores will have knowledgeable staff who are willing to offer help or, if they can't, point you in the right direction. There are also plenty of videos and sites online that offer step by step instructions, including tips and tricks to make it look nice. You could also ask friends to help.

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Question

Can I make a mini bookshelf using 3-ply plywood?

Community Answer

You could, provided you weren't planning on loading it up with a lot of heavy items. Plywood is good for lightweight projects if it doesn't have a support structure made out of decent wood.

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How can I learn basic carpentry skills?

Community Answer

It depends on what you want to know. There are many articles here on wikiHow that can help you, and plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube. There might even be carpentry/woodworking classes offered at your local community college you could sign up for.

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Question

What are the materials used?

Community Answer

You can see the 'Things You'll Need' section that mentions all the materials. The steps indicate that plywood was used, along with other materials.

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