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Reader's Gallery

Bookcase from scraps

comments (0) January 29th, 2013 in Reader's Gallery

Charles Griffith, member

5 users recommend

Spiral shelf support. To adjust its height, just twist it.

Photo: Self

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My daughter-in-law picked up a pair of twin-bed head and footboards at a recycling place. They were free, hence there was a catch - no stretchers to connect them. I offered to help, which also meant buying and cutting two sheets of plywood to use as bedboards. I went to Home Depot for some poplar-veneered plywood, and a man who helped me wondered why not just buy cheaper fir plywood for under mattresses. I said that I wanted to be able to use the scraps. But when the kids paid me for the materials, I realized the scraps were theirs. So I suggested a bookcase. Except for a little extra poplar for the facing, footing and cornice, it's basically their scraps. Not the finest of furniture (they'll have to paint it) but it does make a point: always buy decent stuff because you never know how you'll end up using all of it.

One further note, the shelf pegs are called "spiral supports." They're shaped with a variable radius (see photo above), so spinning them changes their height. That way, if a shelf is warped or the holes are misaligned, you just spin to pegs to even things out. No more wobbly shelves, ever. Clever idea, available at Woodworker's Supply.

Design or Plan used: My own design - Charles Griffith

posted in: Reader's Gallery, bookcase, plywood, poplar

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