Looking for input, developing bookshelves for sale

[jwatriss.livejournal.com]

Hi all.

I've been working on putting myself out there as a furniture builder. One thing I keep hearing in here is that there's a sustained need for GOOD bookshelves/ bookcases.

You guys are my current target market... I'm trying to stay local for now. I know there are a lot of academics and bibliophiles in the area, so I wanted to put this in the Davis board to see what you all had for ideas and requests.

So far, I have the following things that I think should be incorporated somehow.

-Solid wood, no plywood, particle board, or MDF. It costs a little more, but it's more durable, looks nicer, and the shelves are much stronger, meaning less sag over time.

-No drywall screws. I know that the unfinished furniture shops have plenty of quickly bolted together shelves from who knows where. I'm going for something a little nicer than what I used to have in my college bedroom.

-Modular. I've seen plenty of tall bookcases, and my one gripe is that they really don't move very well. I think that most of my friends move at least every few years, and I'd like to put out something out that is readily movable, and will work with all the old spiral staircases we have to deal with around here.

-Some fixed, some adjustable shelves. I know adjustability is always a desired feature, but a few fixed shelves in there will help make for a much sturdier, durable bookcase.

-I've been bouncing around the idea of a separate pedestal base, with adjustable casters/feet, and a built in level...because who in here actually has level floors? This way the base can be put in and leveled out, before putting up a huge heavy pile of books.


Pricewise, I've been told that the primary choices right now are either $60 target garbage, or super high end $2500-ish custom stuff. I don't think that I'll be anywhere near the $60 mark. I need to make a living. But I think it's possible to build solid, lasting bookcases for less than $500.

So, ignoring pricing for the moment, what are you all looking for in a bookcase/ bookshelves?

Comments

[mrpet.livejournal.com]

Plywood is just fine as long as you face it in real wood; skip the banding and put a strip of real wood on the edges. Joining lots of boards together will increase the cost a lot for very little gain. Also with all of the humidity changes the boards will tend to break apart or cup(unless you are making it out of quartersawn). Stay away from the crap they got at HD and go to a mill. I get my wood at Highland Hardwoods in Brentwood NH. Adjustable shelves should have a 1 to 1.5" deep facing to keep the shelf stiffer; 4/4 oak will even have a problem at 3' wide with hard covers, a simple strip of wood (twice as thick) on the edge will make it many times stiffer. I tend to use metal sleeves in the adjustable shelf pin holes so that they do not wear loose. A single fixed shelf and a 1/4" plywood back is sufficient to keep the unit very sturdy.

Ditto that.

[chumbolly.livejournal.com]

Ditto everything that Mr. Pet said. Buy your hardwood at Highland--though if you went to NBSS you already know this--and a good source for fancy-faced ply is Boulter on Broadway here in Somerville. Though believe it or not, I've found better core (fewer voids) in ply products I've bought at Home Depot--go figure.

I put together shelving integrated with a desk using ply faced with maple and cherry with hardwood edging. The maple is glazed white and the cherry has an oil finish which together looks wicked sharp and modernista. It comes apart and is 10 times as strong as it needs to be. I went to IKEA, absorbed design ideas, and then knocked them off using better materials. I avoided the uneven floor and molding issues by putting the whole unit up on adjustable stainless steel legs, also from IKEA. If your target audience is Somerville, copying IKEA but making it better quality might be a good bet.

Re: Ditto that.

[mrpet.livejournal.com]

Rockler has all of the knock down hardware but if you have access to a car, I tend to like Woodcraft in Woburn a little bit better.