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This bookshelf strips the design down to just what's structural: four 2x2 legs, small leg supports at the bottom, four shelves, and a plywood back — no face frame, no trim, no finished panel sides. Set your pocket-hole jig to the 1-1/2" setting for the leg joints, and rotate each leg so its pocket holes end up on the back face before attaching anything, since that's the only place they'll be hidden.
The top attaches either with screws driven straight down from above, or with pocket holes on the backs of the legs if you'd rather hide the fasteners — both work, so pick whichever matches how you're finishing the piece. Check the whole shelf for square by comparing diagonal measurements before the back goes on — pushing the long diagonal's corners together is the actual fix if they don't match, not just eyeballing it straight.
The plywood back gets nailed to every shelf and both legs, not just the top and bottom — this is what keeps a bare 2x2 frame from racking. This is genuinely a tip-over hazard on a tall, narrow frame — the plan is explicit that the finished piece should be anchored to a wall stud, not left free-standing against a wall.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x2, 8 ft | 4 each |
| 1x12, 12 ft | 1 each |
| 1/4" plywood panel, 48" x 48" | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" and 2-1/2" | 30 each |
| Brad nails, 3/4" | 30 each |
| Wood glue | 3 oz |
| Wood screws, 2-1/2" (wall anchoring) | 2 each |
| Primer and paint, or stain and poly | 1 set |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Legs2x2, 8 ft | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 69" |
| Bottom leg supports2x2, 8 ft | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 8 1/4" |
| Top1x12, 12 ft | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 31" |
| Shelves1x12, 12 ft | 4 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 28" |
| Back1/4" plywood panel, 48" x 48" | 2 | 1/4" × 16 1/2" × 30 1/2" |
Buy 7 boards at 8 ft.
4 boards
2 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Drill a single pocket hole on each end of the bottom leg support pieces. Rotate legs so pocket holes face the back. Attach to the legs at the bottom with 2-1/2" pocket hole screws and glue.
Attach the top with screws from above, or with pocket holes on the backs of the legs and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.
Drill a pocket hole 3/4" in from each end of every shelf. Attach to the legs with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws and glue.
Check for square by comparing diagonal measurements and adjusting until they match. Attach the plywood back panels to the shelves and legs with 3/4" brad nails and glue.
Sand all surfaces and apply primer and paint or stain and poly. On final installation, anchor to a wall stud to prevent tipping.
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