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A kids' bookcase shaped like a rocket — jigsaw-cut fins and a beveled nose cone turn a plain shelf tower into a themed piece.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sides | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 51 1/2" | 1x12 | ☐ |
| Shelves | 4 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 16 1/2" | 1x12 | ☐ |
| Rocket fins Jigsaw a fin profile before attaching. | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 18" | 1x8 | ☐ |
| Footer | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Top shelf Long point to long point, both ends beveled 45°, NOT parallel. | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 19 1/2" | 1x12 | ☐ |
| Roof pieces Long point to point measurement; only the ridge end is beveled 45°, the tail cut is square. | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 15" | 1x12 | ☐ |
| Back panel Trace and cut to the assembled bookcase's actual rocket silhouette. | 1 | 1/4" × 18" × 61 1/4" | 1/4" plywood | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1x12 board, 8 ft (Pine) | 3 each | ☐ |
| 1x8 board, 4 ft (Pine) | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x4 board, 17 in (Pine) | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1/4" plywood, full sheet | 1 each | ☐ |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" and 3/4" | 100 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 4 oz | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x12 board, 8 ft, Wood glue
Attach the four shelves to the two sides using 1-1/4" brad nails and glue, 2" self-tapping screws, or 3/4" pocket holes with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Jigsaw. Materials: 1x8 board, 4 ft, Wood glue
Cut the two rocket fins out of the 1x8 with a jigsaw. Fasten from the inside of the bookcase with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue (pocket holes from the back side into the outside of the shelf work too), keeping the bottoms flush with the bookcase's bottom edge.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Jigsaw. Materials: 1x4 board, 17 in, Wood glue
Fasten the footer with nails and glue. If you want to cut a decorative flame shape out of the footer, plan your nail placement first so you don't cut through a nail when shaping it afterward.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Miter Saw. Materials: 1x12 board, 8 ft
Set your miter saw to a 45° bevel and cut the top shelf piece to a 19-1/2" long-point-to-long-point measurement. Fasten it with a 3/4" overhang on the ends, keeping the front and back edges flush.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Miter Saw. Materials: 1x12 board, 8 ft, Wood glue
Cut the two roof pieces to a 15" long-point-to-long-point measurement, with only the ridge end beveled at 45° — the tail cut stays square. Dry-fit both pieces against each other and the top shelf before nailing; a gap at the ridge is the most visible mistake this build can make. Attach with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Jigsaw. Materials: 1/4" plywood, full sheet, Wood glue
Set the assembled bookcase on the 1/4" plywood sheet, trace the outline in pencil, remove it, and cut along the line with a jigsaw. Attach the traced back panel with 3/4" brad nails and glue into every board it crosses.