Making a bookcase from mdf

I built a painted bookcase for my daughter that had a lot of mdf, but the shelving was wood as welll as the face frame and moldings. Today im taking you with me on a customer job to make some mdf cube storage bookcase shelves. For instance, with random box and random cabinet, objects can be both stored and shown off, while modules of different depth give an effect of considerable dynamism. Measure the space you need filled, then cut the mdf to size with a saw. For the past couple of decades, there has been a drastic increase in the percentage of consumer furniture and goods manufactured using a material known as mdf. How to build a builtin bookcase the family handyman. Most recent use finishing nails to tack on a 32by80 inch piece of 14inch mdf to the back of the bookcase if you want a covered back. Jan 19, 2015 cut mdf for shelves, and drill pocket holes in the underside.

We wanted a simple custom storage solution for recipe books and the abundance of bibs we now possess. Hardwoods are strongest, but are also more costly than plywood or mdf. Does that bookcase you found at the flea market look bad. Building bookshelves that will not sag home guides sf gate. Use shims under or behind the bookcases to ensure each bookcase is level and plumb before securing it to the wall. For many years andy ran a successful property maintenance business. Plywood and mdf are useful materials for many diy projects around the home. Mdf gives me the good finish and the option to router edges. Any bibliophile knows that storing your books is almost as much of an obsession as reading them. Trim the sheet to fit, making sure to cut only two edges.

Secure molding around the upper portion of a bookcase and the front of each shelf using wood glue, or miter the ends of the trim and create. How to make a diy walltowall bookcase an ikea billy. Build this simple set of book or display shelves in a single weekend. Wood chips are glued together to make particleboard, and mdf consists of sawdust and minuscule chips and fibers from various kinds of wood mixed with glue and formed into lumber.

Why i avoid mdf and furniture built with mdf and think. Mdf consists of thin panels made from wood fiber, resin and wax. Theres no complex joinery like mortiseandtenon, or even doweling, so if youve hung a new door or trimmed a room with new molding, you have the expertise to handle this how to. So let me show you how to build a bookcase like this, beginning to end.

I like that little detail so i pondered how to modify the bookcases and eventually decided to use my jigsaw to cut mdf trim like this. Stay with the correct spacing, and the bookcase shelves will not sag, but. Cut mdf for shelves, and drill pocket holes in the underside. Why i avoid mdf and furniture built with mdf and think you. Library wall to wall bookcases bookcase plans sawdust girl. Once mdf is edged with solid wood lumber, primed, and painted, its very strong and will last forever. Follow these stepbystep instructions for building a bookcase to add attractive storage space to any room of your home.

The steel cable and shaft collars add style and strength to this bookshelf. Build a modern bookcase using a single sheet of plywood. Chipboard is a cheap option, but can i router slots in it for the bookcase strip. The shelves, sides and back were all cut to size from this. Imho wood is a better choice than mdf for certain components of a bookcase. Finished white bookcase furniture project with shelves and storage. The type of project will guide your decision, mdf vs. Mdf is one of the best materials you can use to fashion cabinets and make cabinet doors, but if youre encountering it for the first time, you need to. How to build a bookshelf wikihow how to do anything. Making a white gloss mdf bookcase gosforth handyman. To figure out whether shelves should be made of mdf, plywood, pine, or oaktaking into account their span and what they will holdsearch sag calculator online before you finalize a bookcase design.

If you extend the bookcase sides a few inches above the top of the bookcase, the boards will serve as builtin bookends. Even today, mdf italia random expresses an extraordinary communication energy and it is one of the icons of the whole design world. Build any bookcase using 34inch plywood or hardwood solids. Using glue, line up the shelves, before screwing them in on all sides. This post will talk you through building a basic fitted bookshelf, one of my first builds in this house. Its all i use to build bookcases, and ive never had a problem with shelves sagging. For these reasons, it has almost as many applications as. Dado at the back means i need a thicker back that will make then harder to build due to the mass. In this collection, youll discover 33 project plans and learn building tips to maximize your bookcase or shelfs storing capacity. The average guy on the street probably isnt familiar with the term, so it is understandable some of you might be asking, what is mdf. How i make a white gloss mdf bookcase bookshelves youtube. You just have to know the right way to work with it. Over the past 15 years, ive used mdf to build everything from crude shelving in my shop to.

Bookcase shelves that include face frames are the strongest. Wardrobe company, floating shelves, boockcase, cupboards, fitted, furniture, custom, made to measure, london fitted wardrobes in london, bookshelves. Further, they will sag under their own weight if the span is wide enough, so be cautious if you intend to make the shelves wide without additional support. Mdf is made out of wood fibres bonded together with wax or resin and pressed into a very dense, hard construction material, similar to. The attached photos are essentially mdf shelves but with a return on the side to make it look a bit better more like a proper bookcase unit.

Attach any extensions you selected to the top or side of your bookcase. The result is a quick, simple and solid storage space that fits perfectly into a not so perfect corner of our kitchen. Inthewall bookcases are elegant, but they can be difficult and expensive to construct. Mar 02, 2019 if youre building cabinets, and you arent familiar with mediumdensity fiberboard, then its time to get acquainted. The back panel is chust 3mm hardboard but with vgrooves routed into it sos it looks like panelling. Here are 25 diy bookcase makeovers you need to see. I cut all the wood and prepared the biscuit joints in the.

Nov 02, 2017 for many years andy ran a successful property maintenance business. I like to slice these long, easytohandle shelves into trim stock. Particleboard and mdf mediumdensity fiberboard are made from wood byproducts. You can watch the timelapse build and im explain it all in a bit more detail on here. This ikea billy bookcase built turned out beautifully. Amelia clear glass and gray oak mdf 3shelf bookcase.

Use pieces of mdf as filler to take up a small amount of space between the bookcase and the trim or wall. The edges chipding easily, but the face of the mdf doesnt. This stepbystep tutorial makes making walltowall bookshelves easy. Buy homebi 5shelf bookshelf tree bookcase wood bookshelves storage rack mdf tree shelf display organizer for books, magazines, cds and photo album holds up to 5kgs per shelf, 15. Mdf is made out of wood fibres bonded together with wax or resin and pressed into a very dense, hard construction material, similar to plywood. Let this masterpiece highlight the corner of your living room or office and watch as it transforms the ambience of the entire space. Bookcases free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Theyll be hidden later by the upper soffit and lower base of the bookcase. In this video im building a white gloss mdf bookcase.

Get them all organized with this excellent bookcase. Use a sheet of 14inch mdf for the back of the shelf. The second photo shows four types used, paintgrade clear pine for the crown moulding, poplar for the face frames and stiffeners for the shelves, preprimed plywood beadboard for the back and medium density fiberboard for the shelves and casework. Placed beside the bed, it does double duty as both a bookshelf. We show you an easier way to create a classic piece for. Library wall to wall bookcases bookcase plans sawdust. I needed to build some shelves to organise my large collection of dvds i decided to use mdf just because the cost of 34 plywood was too. Apply moulding around the top and base of the bookcase for a decorative finish. The side pieces are 58 inches by 11 34 inches, cut from 12 inch mdf. Youll want to keep two adjoining factory edges intact. Creative ideas to make mdf furniture look expensive home. Placed beside the bed, it does double duty as both a bookshelf and an alternative nightstand.

Mdf wainscoting can be customized in many styles and can be used in the kitchen, living room, or even bathroom. If youre building cabinets, and you arent familiar with mediumdensity fiberboard, then its time to get acquainted. Mdf is one of the best materials you can use to fashion cabinets and make cabinet doors, but if youre encountering it for the first time, you need to know a bit about it before you use it for a project. When it comes to engineered wood, mdf is often considered a level above plywood. Shopping for lumber to build furniture can be confusing and time consuming, but this modern style bookcase is built using a single sheet of 34 plywood. Hes established and run award winning companies over the years and has been self employed most of his life. The three horizontal pieces are 45 inches by 11 34 inches, also cut from 12 inch mdf. This bookcase was built using a variety of wood products. About this bookcase projectthe classic greek revival styling of our library is reminiscent of traditional bookcases built more than a hundred years ago. This video shows how to make a basic, sturdy bookcase out of less than 1 sheet of 18mm mdf. I am thinking of using spax mdf screws as they dont need predrilling etc. Theres no complex joinery like mortiseandtenon, or even doweling, so if youve hung a new door or trimmed a room with new molding, you have the expertise to handle this how to build a bookshelf project. Mdf is an abbreviation for a type of engineered wood.

Medium density fiberboard, or mdf, is a wood product commonly used for furniture construction. Aug 30, 2015 this post will talk you through building a basic fitted bookshelf, one of my first builds in this house. We used the oxberg doors for hidden storage underneath. Although i used a piece of 3mm ply for the back, if the bookcase is fixed directly against a wall you.

The bookcases look ornate but are relatively simple to build. Jun 23, 2017 today im taking you with me on a customer job to make some mdf cube storage bookcase shelves. However i dont know if screw joints into the end grain of mdf are strong enough, i am thinking of using 18mm mdf for the sites and 30mm mdf for the shelfs. Contractor uses a measuring tape to measure the bookcase dimensions for this furniture construction project. Secure your bookcases to the wall studs through the cleats you installed at the back of the bookcases. How to build a bookcase and accomplish the impossible. Mar 25, 2015 the attached photos are essentially mdf shelves but with a return on the side to make it look a bit better more like a proper bookcase unit. Is it possible to get a good paint finish on plywood without spending a long time sanding it.

Jun 12, 2008 start by building a base out of 1x or 2x lumber. Jul 17, 2017 make the top shelf of a bookcase with unmovable shelves bookfriendly by edging it with molding tall enough to contain books stored there. Im making a bookcase out of mdf and a floating desk from plywood for a customer. Diy mdf making fitted shelving unit screwfix community forum. I started out by building a very basic bookshelf form. It features gray oak finished wooden shelves and clear tempered glass frame, making the bookcase a versatile addition to your home setting. Heres a collection of 141 diy bookshelfbookcase plans and ideas that are look good and easy to build.