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A 1x2 frame carries the load; weathered cedar fence pickets skin the outside for a reclaimed look without hunting down actual reclaimed wood.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side rails Two per side; these form the vertical ladder frame. | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 60" | Pine | ☐ |
| Side rungs | 10 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 9 1/2" | Pine | ☐ |
| Front/back cross braces Join the two side ladders into one carcass. | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 13 1/2" | Pine | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft The structural sides, top, and shelf supports. | 5 each | ☐ |
| Cedar fence picket (Cedar) Back, front trim, and shelf edging. Buy an extra one or two — boards vary and you're cutting to fit as you go. | 11 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 4 oz | ☐ |
| Finish nails | 1 lb | ☐ |
| Sandpaper, assorted grits | 1 pack | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Speed Square. Materials: Pine, 1x2, 8 ft, Wood glue, Finish nails
Using glue and 1-1/2" nails, build each side as a rectangle from two 60" rails and two 9-1/2" rungs. Check for square before the glue sets — these are the two long faces of the bookcase, and any twist here shows up in every shelf.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: Pine, 1x2, 8 ft, Wood glue
Connect the two side ladders with four 13-1/2" cross braces at the front and back, using glue and nails. This gives you a full 3D box frame — the skeleton the shelves and cladding attach to.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Tape Measure. Materials: Pine, 1x2, 8 ft, Wood glue
Measure and mark both sides at 15", 30", and 45" up from the bottom. Glue and nail 9-1/2" 1x2 pieces at each mark, flat side facing up — that flat face is what the shelf boards land on, so don't install one rotated the wrong way.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Circular Saw. Materials: Cedar fence picket, Wood glue
Measure the actual width of your assembled bookcase — don't trust a plan dimension over your own carcass — and cut two fence picket pieces to fit. Attach with glue and nails.
Tools: Circular Saw. Materials: Cedar fence picket
Measure the height of the back opening and cut three picket slats to fit. Expect a little overlap where they meet the sides — fit is more important than an exact source measurement, since picket width varies board to board.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Table Saw. Materials: Cedar fence picket, Wood glue
Measure your actual shelf openings — the plan's builder got 16-1/2", yours may differ — and cut eight picket pieces to that length. Trace a scrap 1x2's outline onto each end and notch it out so the shelf drops down over the supports flush. Glue and nail the shelves to the supports, then run a pass on the table saw to trim any un-notched edge that's fighting the fit.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Table Saw. Materials: Cedar fence picket, Wood glue
Measure your front opening width — expect around 2-1/8" per side, but confirm on your own carcass — and rip two trim pieces from one picket board on the table saw; the leftover 1" strip becomes the inner shelf trim. Attach the side trim with glue and nails, then the middle shelf trim using the thinner ripped scrap, saving the full-width trim for the top and bottom.
Tools: Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Sandpaper, assorted grits
Sand every rough-sawn face and edge — fence pickets come off the mill rougher than surfaced lumber, so budget real time here. Ease any sharp picket edges before this piece goes anywhere near a bedroom.