Bookcase Plans Online

Building a bookcase is a fantastic project for advanced woodworkers and beginners also! A bookcase is a awesome practical project where you can use your handy work in your home. Bookcase designs can range from the very simple right up to more difficult design pieces. Creating a bookcase is an awesome introduction to using woodworking materials and tools.

So, convinced that building a bookcase is a great idea? Now what? Well, it is a good idea to work from a plan where possible. Bookcase plans are readily available on the Net, many of them at no cost - if you have the time to search for them and sift through for the type of bookcase you want and the right quality of plan. There are also many plans available on the internet for a fee - once again, if you have the time to find them. Plans can vary in quality so if you have chance to view samples from a plan provider then this can be a great idea before you buy. Another thing to look out for is that a materials list is provided and measurements are in relevant units (imperial or metric or both) for your location.

You will find that many bookcase plans use a few key power tools - the power drill, the circular saw and the router. All of these tools can be relatively cheap so these bookcase projects should be able to be undertaken by everyone.Bookcase plans are available for all different sorts of designs, from the very simple beginners level project right up to complex pieces with intricate or complex shapes and detail for the more advanced woodworker. Some projects can take just a few hours for the more simple designs and some bookcase projects can even save you money.

So now that you've decided to get a hold of some bookcase plans and get cracking on building a bookcase, here are a few tips to help you with the most common tools that you will use.  Most bookcase plans  require you to use three main tools, these include a power drill, a  circular saw and the router.  These simple tools are easily available  and can be relatively cheap - which makes building a bookcase a task that everyone can undertake.  These tools are easy to use and are very flexible - so once you have completed working on your bookcase plans, don't  worry, there'll be plenty of other projects that you can undertake with these tools!

Circular Saw - set up  your circular saw and make sure you have the correct blade, that it's  inserted the right way and that it's sharp!  Set the depth of the blade to about 1/4 inch more than the thickness of your wood to decrease the chances of kickback.  Make sure your wood is supported on both sides using clamps if required.  Start your saw before you touch the wood.  Keep to the side when you're cutting in case you get some kickback and make sure you don't have to reach far and can cut with both of your feet on the ground.  Guide the saw throughout the cut and then let go of the trigger when your cut is completed.  Wait until your blade has stopped before you remove it from your wood.

Power drill - set up your drill and ensure the cord is long enough and your environment is safe to work in.  Select the correct drill bit for the job - this means both the size of the drill bit and the type of drill bit.  Insert your drill bit and tighten to ensure it's held firmly.  Plug the drill in and line up with your wood.  Think about using a pilot hole if you are using a hardwood.  Make sure your drill is set to rotate clockwise and hold down the trigger to get the drill started.  Direct the drill into your work whilst you apply steady pressure to complete your hole. 

Router - A router is a fantastic tool and can really add a professional look to your projects but it is a tool that takes a little practice!  Choose your router bit and secure it in the router.  Make sure your wood is held securely in place and use wood of the same thickness placed at either end of  your work to make the entry and exit points of your work look smooth  and to stop your router from being wobbly.  Set up the depth based on your requirements and use a guard where possible to make the flow of the router smooth and consistent.  Put the router on your  'lead in' piece of wood and start it up, then lower the router and guide it along the wood.  Don't route more than 3mm depth at a time, make a number of shallow passes to get a deeper cut as trying to do one single deep pass can burn the wood and damage your router bit.  Guide the router to the end of your wood, raise the router and take your finger off the trigger.

Remember the top consideration should always be safety.  So always remember to wear the appropriate gear when using these tools.  Of course there are many other tools that you'll come across in your bookcase plans, but master these three and you'll be in good stead to implement your plans and to move forward with learning your woodworking project skills!