Michael Panis
11-09-2006, 10:45 AM
Hi SMC,
I'm about to start a new project building bookcases for the family room. I made a "practice" set (pictures below).
49811
49812
(They actually came out better than I expected, but I also learned a lot which I'll incorporate into the real bookshelves.)
The practice bookshelves are made of poplar and birch plywood.
I'd appreciate any advice in choosing wood for the real bookshelves. I'm thinking cherry or red oak. The room's floors are oak, and the LOML has some mission furniture in the room that I suspect is red oak with a dark cherry stain. Should I expect it to be much more difficult to work with harder woods like oak or cherry?
Any other advice is also appreciated (techniques, finishing, etc.).
Some background...The real bookcases will have 3 sections, not 2, and be a bit higher. All the trim, including the stopped flutes, was routed. Almost all the boards were matched so the grain continues across two side by side shelves and wraps around the mitres. The finish is General Finishes stain and gloss urethane. Hopefully you can't tell, but the bookcase is modular. It easily comes apart into 7 pieces for easy transport. Since these were only practice shelves, I spaced the upper shelves a little tightly for all but paperbacks.
I'm about to start a new project building bookcases for the family room. I made a "practice" set (pictures below).
49811
49812
(They actually came out better than I expected, but I also learned a lot which I'll incorporate into the real bookshelves.)
The practice bookshelves are made of poplar and birch plywood.
I'd appreciate any advice in choosing wood for the real bookshelves. I'm thinking cherry or red oak. The room's floors are oak, and the LOML has some mission furniture in the room that I suspect is red oak with a dark cherry stain. Should I expect it to be much more difficult to work with harder woods like oak or cherry?
Any other advice is also appreciated (techniques, finishing, etc.).
Some background...The real bookcases will have 3 sections, not 2, and be a bit higher. All the trim, including the stopped flutes, was routed. Almost all the boards were matched so the grain continues across two side by side shelves and wraps around the mitres. The finish is General Finishes stain and gloss urethane. Hopefully you can't tell, but the bookcase is modular. It easily comes apart into 7 pieces for easy transport. Since these were only practice shelves, I spaced the upper shelves a little tightly for all but paperbacks.