subject: Selecting The Perfect Unfinished Pine Bookcase [print this page] Before committing myself to a set of unfinished pine bookcase plans, I first determined to shop around for a pre-fabricated bookshelf, both online and at a couple of discount furniture stores in town. My plan was to look at a wide range of styles and prices before deciding what to buy. It didn't take me lengthy to discover that I really had only two choices in the matter; buy somewhat expensive bookcases with fake wooden laminate, or buy very expensive wood bookcases that will stay in my family for the next 100 years.
The good stuff would be good, but since I can't afford to spend $800 at Ethan Allen right now, I'm actually left with just one option: the somewhat expensive crappy bookcases. It's disappointing to think this is my only choice.
So now I'm looking at some unfinished pine bookcase plans, which means I'd have to take on the job of building something from scratch. I'm starting to like the idea, though. First, it's the only other option I can find to buying bookcases, and second, I like the idea of deciding for myself what level of quality (and expense) I want to put into the project. I don't want an unfinished pine bookcase made from the cheapest materials around, but I don't need the most expensive either. Building my own bookcase will let me create something between these two extremes.
Choosing the right wooden for an unfinished pine bookcase plan can be a large topic to get your arms around, particularly if you start reading the zillions of articles online about wood species and wooden grades, plywood construction, shelving span calculators, etc., etc. This is all good stuff, but for now, let me filter down the choices for a first-time bookcase project. For first-time projects, I like to use off-the-shelf dimensional lumber from the large box stores like Home Depot.
Pine is fairly cheap (compared to hardwood) and is precut to standard-size widths and lengths. That means a LOT less cutting for me to get the plain pieces of my bookcase ready for assembly.
Woodworkers might point out that dimensional lumber is inconsistent in width and thickness, which makes less-than-perfect woodworking joints without first planning and/or squaring the boards on a table saw. They are right. Dimensional lumber is not really completely square and consistent from one board to the next. But that doesn't mean you can't build a decent-looking unfinished pine bookcase otherwise. Sure, you might have some little gaps in the joinery, and maybe the case isn't absolutely rectangular and plumb. But more often than not, you'll be the just one who knows any different. Save the much more exacting work for nicer bookcase you'll build next year.
