We needed a couple of bookshelves for our office and decided the best way to get what we needed for the right price was to build them ourselves.
We opted for a laminated red oak. It comes in large sheets so we had some of it cut at the hardware store and did the rest on the table saw.
We opted for a laminated red oak. It comes in large sheets so we had some of it cut at the hardware store and did the rest on the table saw.
| We are planning on loading up these shelves with tons of books, so we put small boards as supports for the shelves on each side. You could also use a router to cut dados into the sides for each of the shelves. | 
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Once we had both of the sides nailed and glued, we added the shelves. We also used glue and finishing nails to secure them.
| Given that we were using laminated boards, the edges are obviously rough. While you can use an edge band, we decided to use a moulding for the shelves and the sides. We picked up three different types of moulding. We have one that runs down the side, a small moulding that goes in front of each shelf and a bigger moulding for the top. We again glued each piece to the shelves as well as put a few finishing nails through in order to hold everything in place. | 
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Once we had all of the moulding glued on, it was time to get the shelves ready for finishing.
We used a wood filler over each nail in order to hide them. We also filled in any of the little cracks between the moulding and the shelves.
Once we had that, we sanded down everything and put a pre-stain on in order to get an even coverage for the stain.
We used a wood filler over each nail in order to hide them. We also filled in any of the little cracks between the moulding and the shelves.
Once we had that, we sanded down everything and put a pre-stain on in order to get an even coverage for the stain.
| We initially thought we'd use a traditional stain, but were disappointed in the color so we opted for a Java gel stain. It is extremely thick and gives a nice, deep color. It took two coats to cover everything. We did a little bit of sanding between coats. To finish it, we used a Minwax glossy polyeurethane. It took another two coats to get that. | 
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Once we had all the coats on, we let it dry for another couple of days and then moved both shelves into the office.
These shelves were build so that they fit perfectly between the wall and the window. They are also taller than other shelves you can buy in stores. And ultimately, they probably cost about half the price.
These shelves were build so that they fit perfectly between the wall and the window. They are also taller than other shelves you can buy in stores. And ultimately, they probably cost about half the price.
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