Progress with an End in Sight…
Over the last couple of weeks I was able to pick up a few supplies I needed to make some major progress on the bookcase. I updated my rabbeting bit for my router, along with 5 other new bits for a pretty good deal at Rockler. It seems that Porter Cable was updating their packaging and is selling their bits for a fraction of the normal retail costs ($4.99 vs. $26.99 each) so in one quick trip, I doubled my bit collection….sweet.
I used the rabbeting bit to cut a recess in the back of the case for the frame and panel back element. I used a flat scrap of 8/4 poplar as a fence to support the router during the cut of ½” wide and 5/8” deep. This produced a pretty big pile of chips. I love the smell of cherry wood chips in the morning.
Next I assembled the frame and panel back with 3” wide x 5/8” thick rails and stiles, and cut a recess in the panel with my biscuit joiner (a great tool for 1/8” thick plywood panel grooves). I then glued everything up and once dried, saw that the panel fit quite nicely when dry-fit. I elected for a no-frills assembly using biscuits to join the elements. The back will be screwed into the case and will be placed against a wall, so spending the extra time on a more robust mortise and tenon joined frame, with solid raised panels just stuck me as overkill.
Finally, using a Rockler ¼” shelf pin hole jig, I drilled the holes for the shelf pin sleeves. I elected to use sleeves in the sides to accept the pins. Knowing the shelves are both large and will handle a heavy load, adding the sleeves is a great way to give it some extra strength that will stand the test of time. Perhaps this bookcase will have a different purpose in the future, as books loose their utilitarian value to other digital media, it may hold other crafts, or toys or collection of some sort.
In my next post I’ll attach the base to the bottom of the case, cut the shelves to their final length and widths and begin the sanding and finishing stages of the project. I can’t wait to start oiling up the cherry, it has already begun to show some signs of darkening even in my basement shop.