I would like to build a built-in bookshelf like in the image below but I have a few questions...
1) What is the best material to use?
2) I was looking at timber at timber merchants but the widest plank seems to be around 20cm however I need it around 24cm as cookbooks are pretty deep is MDF my only choice (hate working and painting it)
3) In the picture below they don't have vertical uprights at each end but instead fix the horizontal shelves direct to the wall, how is this achieved without seeing the fixings?
4) I was planning on doing most of this using dowels as I figured it would be strong and hidden but is there another preferable method?
5) My initial though was to build it slightly away from the wall almost constructing it like flat pack as this is the only way I can see dowels working or is this a bad way to proceed? Will I be causing myself lots of extra hassle/work? Is it perhaps better to build it in situ?
In my diagram i've allowed vertical uprights at each end (in blue) then was planning on using dowels to fix the horizontal shelves (in pink) then lastly cut a stack of vertical uprights, drill, countersink, screw and fills these in place. Once it was all together I was looking at painting/finishing it in white that hopefully wont mark as books are slid in and out...
Sorry for the ton of questions, i've done quite a few things before and have a range of tools but I lack a bench saw so was planning on getting most of the timber pre cut to depth then plane on site as necessary
1) What is the best material to use?
2) I was looking at timber at timber merchants but the widest plank seems to be around 20cm however I need it around 24cm as cookbooks are pretty deep is MDF my only choice (hate working and painting it)
3) In the picture below they don't have vertical uprights at each end but instead fix the horizontal shelves direct to the wall, how is this achieved without seeing the fixings?
4) I was planning on doing most of this using dowels as I figured it would be strong and hidden but is there another preferable method?
5) My initial though was to build it slightly away from the wall almost constructing it like flat pack as this is the only way I can see dowels working or is this a bad way to proceed? Will I be causing myself lots of extra hassle/work? Is it perhaps better to build it in situ?
In my diagram i've allowed vertical uprights at each end (in blue) then was planning on using dowels to fix the horizontal shelves (in pink) then lastly cut a stack of vertical uprights, drill, countersink, screw and fills these in place. Once it was all together I was looking at painting/finishing it in white that hopefully wont mark as books are slid in and out...
Sorry for the ton of questions, i've done quite a few things before and have a range of tools but I lack a bench saw so was planning on getting most of the timber pre cut to depth then plane on site as necessary