Walnut bookcase done (w/pics)

[David Eisan]

Hello everyone,

Here are some pictures of a walnut bookcase I just finished.

The first glueup,

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/firstglueup.jpg

Only the two centre shelves are fixed, the top and bottom one can move up or down 1.5".

Note the little cardboard shims at the centre of the clamping cauls. This ensures a decent amount of clamping pressure at the centre of the joint to pull things tight. Otherwise you just have pressure at the edges and the centre never closes.

Gluing on the faceframe,

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/ffclamps.jpg

The faceframe was done with (cough) pocket screws, and, well, one of the joints wasn't perfect. What happened was when I glued the faceframe to the carcass, a joint broke open, leaving a sliver of a crack that looked like crap. I took a little shaving with a handplane and slipped it into the crack. I had to make several attempts to get the correct shaving that filled the crack perfectly. I then set the shaving in place with a good douse of crazy glue. Once sanded, even I had trouble seeing where the crack used to be,

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/fixingcrack.jpg

To glue on the lid of the bookcase I had to get out my *really* long clamps,

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/bigclamps.jpg

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/bigclamps2.jpg

Rather that use a piece of, ack, 1/4" ply, or some other devils material for the back of the bookcase I used random width 3/8" vee-notched, shiplapped solid walnut. I didn't have enough clear board to run from top to bottom, so there is a break at the second shelf,

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/caseback.jpg

The finish I used was 1:1:2:2 of tung oil, boiled linseed oil, poly and turps. Three coats brushed on, left 20 minutes and wiped off. Finished with a light rubbing out and waxing.

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/donerightside.jpg

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/donedetail1.jpg

http://members.rogers.com/moreweb/images/donedetail2.jpg

Take care,

David.

Every neighbourhood has one, in mine, I'm him.

[Ken Salisbury]

Very Nice Work !!!!!

I have a suggestion for you however. The picture sizes in your post are rather large and for those folks who have dial up modems may not take the time to wait for your pics to come up before going to another post. You should use some photo software like Photodraw, Photoshop or something else to reduce the size and compress the photos. This is not something that is required - but will enhance your posts if you do so.

As an example I took your first photo and reduced from 8" x 10" to 3" x 4" and compressed from 87k to 16k. This is the result.
<p align="center">
<IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/firstglueup.jpg">

"Your Friendly Moderator"

[Paul Regan]

David-
That is a beautiful bookcase. I love the idea of the shiplapped back in two sections- I love it so much I’m going to steal the idea for a tall case I’m working on. I really solves my problem (as in “why didn’t I think of that?”)

Congratulation on a fantastic job

Paul Regan

[Mark Hulette]

David-
Walnut is such a classy wood and you have done it proud! Excellent bookcase and good job with the "fix" around the uncooperative joint! Looks like you've got someone that's on my reading level by the collection of books on the bottom shelves :)

Are we related? I thought we might be since you have pictures of the some of the same people we do! :D

Seriously, nice work.

[Von Bickley]

David,

Great looking book case. The walnut boards on the back really sets it off. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us.

[Lee Schierer]

Every job has some challenges. There are goofs in nearly everything that I make. Most are so minor only I know they are there. As my Dad used to say, "100 years rom now noone will know the difference." Good save with the sliver in the split. The same idea also works if you get a bad chip out when routing an edge and you can find the chip or a piece that has the same grain.

[Ken Salisbury]

David - I have compressed versions of all your pics now stored on my web site - If you would like I can edit your original post and replace the originals with the compressed ones --- I wouldn't do that without your permission though.
another example:

David Eisan Pic #2 (http://www.kenswoodcentral.com/otherspics/eisan1.jpg)

[Jim Izat]

Very nicely done! I have two or three bookcases on my list of things to do!

Jim

[Ken Wright]

Really like the way you fitted the back. Hard to beat nice walnut!!