How do you attach a plywood back to a bookshelf?

[Louis Brandt]

Hello,

I’m just finishing up my very first bookshelf project, and I’m almost to the point of cutting and attaching the 1/4 inch plywood back. I’ll be setting it into a rabbet that goes all the way around the back.

So, what do you recommend that I use, a brad nailer?, a staple gun?, nail brads in by hand? or ?

I’m guessing that you don’t recommend that I glue the back in place.

Thanks,
Louis

[Jamie Buxton]

The biggest problem is ensuring that one of your fasteners doesn't blow out through a side. That makes for many bad words. Short nails or short staples can work, as can screws. Brads have a tendency to go through 1/4" ply, so fasteners with bigger heads are a good idea.

[Mike Henderson]

Instead of a rabbet, why not do a groove and just slide the plywood into place? If you come in 3/16" to put your 1/4" groove that's all you'll lose in depth compared to doing a rabbet.

Mike

[Louis Brandt]

Hello,
Thanks for the idea, but I've already cut the rabbets. I just need to know the best way to attach the back.
Louis

[George Bregar]

If you dimensioned the rabbit sufficiently then I usually just shoot some staples with my finish nailer. Brads will go thew, screws are a PITA.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

How about good old fashioned short small finish nails. Oh, they're called brads. Use that old thing called a hammer. Technology sometimes needs to be left on the workbench.....

[Simon Dupay]

staples is what we cabinetmakers use.

[bill mullin]

5/8" length, 1/4" crown staples.

[Cody Colston]

I shoot NC staples. Brad nails pull through 1/4" plywood.

[glenn bradley]

I use brass brads with heads and nail them in by hand. Staples should do well too I would think.

[Mike Heidrick]

I use small screws.

[Kevin Godshall]

5/8" length, 1/4" crown staples.

+1 Exactly what I do

[Bill White]

Staples.
Bill :D

[Mark Godlesky]

My Ikea shelves used 3/4" nails with wide heads. I found that sliding books on to the shelves tended to eventually push the nails out. I replaced them all with #6 panheads.
In solid wood or hardwood ply nails or staples shoudl hold better than they do in the Ikea particle board.

[Darius Ferlas]

I don't have any air tools so I use #5 screws.
Sometimes I'll use a bead of glue too.

[Rod Sheridan]

Glue, some brads and a Warrington hammer......Regards, Rod.

[Greg Hines, MD]

I have stapled them and used small nails with heads. Just need to hold them with needle nosed pliers, and a tack hammer.

Doc

[guy knight]

My Ikea shelves

Ikea in a woodworking thread :eek:

[Jim Becker]

I generally use a pneumatic staple gun for this, but the note about being careful about length and angle truly is important! (As it is with hand-driven brads/nails)

[Jason White]

Why no glue?



Hello,

I’m just finishing up my very first bookshelf project, and I’m almost to the point of cutting and attaching the 1/4 inch plywood back. I’ll be setting it into a rabbet that goes all the way around the back.

So, what do you recommend that I use, a brad nailer?, a staple gun?, nail brads in by hand? or ?

I’m guessing that you don’t recommend that I glue the back in place.

Thanks,
Louis

[Michael Conner]

Why no glue?

I have to admit, I was wondering that myself.