DIY Bookshelves

Hi, planning on DIYing built-in bookshelves. I found a couple of plans that seem feasible given my "evolving" carpentry skills. 7'h x 10'w or so.
1. Anybody have any advice or plans they recommend?
2. Do these right angle clamps seem decent?

$58 WYQYQ 4pcs Corner Clamp - Right Angle 90 Degree Wood Clamps For Woodworking, With Adjustable Swing Jaw Aluminum Alloy Frame, For Welding, DIY Woodworking

https://www.amazon.com/WYQYQ-4pcs-C...x=corner+clamps,aps,118&sr=8-8&language=en_US

 

You can make your own 90degree clamps from scrap plywood and save your money on those types of clamps. I bought one and its more of a door stop than a useful clamp.



Try these for bookshelf plans, the pdf is linked in the article.

-J

 

You say "built-in". But also 7' x 10' (tall, wide I assume). That is big for "embedded in a wall instead of sitting against a wall" because of the number of wall studs interrupted. Can you confirm if you want inside or outside the wall?

First, practice with "project pine" instead of anything expensive. Some of the cuts (45 degree corners, dados/mortise/tenon/slots, overlap joints, ...) you want to use to limit "bulky look" take time and are helped by table says and routers (tabletop and hand) more than circular saws.

Two pictures of my work, but no close-ups of the joints because I have my pride.

One is an end table with cross-over 1x3 poplar leg supports (overlapping slot cuts for "flat") that fit into 3/4 in clots cut into the bottoms of the legs (45 degree, 1/2 cut through the leg). This makes for a clean look at a distance but I need better tools to make the joints completely clean up close.

The other is a towel rack, 1x2 and 1x3 boards with overlapping slots at bottom corners and 3/4 up for clean sides, but up close the joins are not-so-pretty.

On the other hand it is my opinion the joints are not-so-pretty, as others may declare them acceptable.

In short, practice joins on "common pine" or "project pine" boards first. And if you are planning a whole house of projects, table saws and routers are worthy investments. If you only will have a circular saw for joints, practice even more with extra wood bits to match thickness of boards being slotted to minimize gouging.

 

While I am here, showing off my in-clomp-etence ...

I shelf I built for someone who I thought could use it but ... well ... she had other issues in life.

Top is a 4 ft-wide stair step, actually. Made for a good cross-brace -- slots in that holds the sides. Side are thinner and can be flexy, but more on reinforcement in a bit. Bottom is a box of 45-degree cut 2x6s. Back is the key to structure of the open shelf ... 3 pieces of 1/2 in birch plywood (I was going to carry the pieces to my friend and assemble there so could not use uncut 4'x8' sheet). At the junctions of the back-boards, 1/2-way across is opposing 45 degree cuts of the plywood (one side opposite cut direction to other). When pressed back together as a sheet it better than butt-end joints of 3 sheets.

Also a shot of tab/slot used on another shelf that would be hidden if a shelf was fully inside a wall.

Joints can be used to strengthen, but also can be hidden. And can be tricky.