Designing bookcases

[Garald]

It seems I'll be designing my own built-in bookcases. 

 

a) Any tools you recommend - preferrably free-software ones? I've seen the online version to Sketchup - it's free to use, but not free software strictu sensu. 

 

b) I imagine I'll just sketch the bookcases and leave the joinery details to the carpenter/joiner (menuisier). I'd like to use either pine or (if possible) one of the less expensive hardwoods (such as ash).

 

I rather like the idea of Shaker-like construction (at least as adapted in books for amateurs), but I do not know whether that's realistic - is it skills most joiners have? Here is an example (from Thomas Moser's "How to Build Shaker Furniture"):

 

 

 

 

 

[Temp]

You probably don't need to do a CAD drawing. Just give them photos of the style you like and dimensions. If they are going to be fully fitted let them come and measure up. Perhaps ask them to give you a sketch to confirm they have understood what you want.

 

I've used the free license version of Fusion 360 to design and build a bathroom cabinet. Like all CAD packages there is a learning curve but there are lots of youtube vids.

 

Edited May 30, 2023 by Temp

[Carrerahill]

Just now, Temp said:

You probably don't need to do a CAD drawing. Just give them photos of the style you like and dimensions. If they are going to be fully fitted let them come and measure up. 

 

I've used the free license version of Fusion 360 to design and build a bathroom cabinet. Like all CAD packages there is a learning curve but there are lots of youtube vids.

 

This is what I have been looking for!

 

What is that made of, hardwood with MR MDF panels? Who made it for you? 

[Temp]

1 minute ago, Carrerahill said:

This is what I have been looking for!

 

What is that made of, hardwood with MR MDF panels? Who made it for you? 

 

As I knew it was going to be painted I used 18mm thick water resistant mdf.  The curved corners were Tulip wood dowels/cylinders from ebay cut into quadrants (I don't have a lathe).

 

The doors are a frame of 18mm mdf with a 9mm mdf centre panel. The frame is jointed with pieces of 9mm mdf in slots. A technique I saw on YouTube.

 

I made it myself in a small shed using a table saw, hand saw and drill for dowels and hinges. Dry assembled on living room carpet, glued up and painted in the bathroom.

 

If I wasn't going to paint it (or wanted a stained finish) I'd would have had to use a different design and materials. For book shelves 18mm MDF isnt great unless carefully designed/braced. It tends to sag/curve over time. 

[Garald]

Right, the learning curve seems to be such that I am sorely tempted to do things in Python, with a 3D polygon library. (I just wasted the better part of the day getting familiar with Sketchup.) I can then just give a link to the html file to the carpenter - he'd be able to rotate it and so forth.

Edited May 30, 2023 by Garald

[Garald]

(But is the Shaker style in the above (with dovetailing and so forth) something I can reasonably ask from a carpenter? I'm a total beginner in these matters - up to now I've only ordered and assembled kit furniture, mostly IKEA.)

Edited May 30, 2023 by Garald

[Big Jimbo]

Nice job @Temp One I knocked up a few years ago for my daughter.

[Temp]

2 hours ago, Garald said:

(But is the Shaker style in the above (with dovetailing and so forth) something I can reasonably ask from a carpenter? I'm a total beginner in these matters - up to now I've only ordered and assembled kit furniture, mostly IKEA.)

 

There are people that will make anything for a price. When we built our house in 2007 we decided to get some built in cupboards for a utility room made in a style that matched the kitchen.  They were made from Tulip wood and cost us about £3k fitted but unpainted. Photo below. I could probably have made them myself but had a house to finish. 

We asked three local companies to quote to fill a space with floor to ceiling units in a similar style to those in the kitchen. Left them to work out the details. Actually what I did was go visit a few first, I said I might be looking for some work done and they showed me a book of what they had done for other people. Also got to see their workshop and what they were currently working on. Called them back later to ask them to come and quote.  

 

Fitting floor to ceiling units is tricky because you can't get them in through a door upright, and if you take them in laid flat you can't stand them up because the diagonal is taller than the ceiling if you get what I mean. They may have to be made in two parts, a top and bottom.

 

[Temp]

25 minutes ago, Big Jimbo said:

Nice job @Temp One I knocked up a few years ago for my daughter.

 

Looks really good. Very satisfying when a project like that comes together.

[Garald]

Good point. I don't want the bookcases to go quite all the way up, anyhow, as then the mouldings (which the workers somehow managed to reinstall after putting in insulation!) would be hidden. I was thinking of letting the bookcases be open on top, and making the last shelf structural.