Here are some more pictures:

I originally posted this in the woodworking subreddit. It’s my first real woodworking project. Here’s the description I included with that post:

I am happy to report that so far I have not regretted bringing home that radial arm saw a few months ago. I used it to successfully build a small, adjustable bookshelf for my sister’s baby shower.

I made it from 3/4" Europly with maple veneer and finished it with Odie’s Oil. I glued all the joints with Titebond III. The back is 1/8" hardboard to which I applied a cool looking adhesive backed wallpaper.

I didn’t have a dado stack, so I got a little creative with the joints for the legs. I think it worked out because the plys are continuous the same way they are around the mitered corners.

Not sure what my next project will be, but I’m looking forward to doing something soon. My family was really impressed, so this effort felt really rewarding.

  • NataliePortlandM
    3•1 year ago

    This is gorgeous. I love how you did the legs matching up the plywood like that. Amazing job on your first piece especially with those perfectly matched miters! Did you do the legs wit ha router?

    • CrimeDadOP
      2•1 year ago

      Thank you! I did all the cuts with a radial arm saw. I didn’t have a dado stack so I set the blade to a 45° bevel to make the slots for the legs on the bottom. This method had the benefit of making the leg plys consistent with the mitered corners.

      • @curioushom
        2•1 year ago

        Amazing work, the matching looks incredible. If I were you I would make all my visitors lay on the floor and admire the legs as soon as they walk in.

        • CrimeDadOP
          2•1 year ago

          Thank you! Alas, it’s not mine anymore. I made it for my sister as a surprise for her baby shower. It was a hit!

    • CrimeDadOPEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      Yeah he usually always gives me a look like that when I tell him to sit for a photo.

  • FiveMacs
    2•1 year ago

    Nice bookshelf! I really love your dining room color choices too. Amazing blue with the wood contrast. I know what I’m doing now

    • CrimeDadOP
      2•1 year ago

      Thank you! I didn’t use a router at all on this project. I got one secondhand thinking that I would have, but I didn’t have time to learn how to use it. I used a radial arm saw to cut the grooves for the legs. I just set the bevel to 45°. That’s also how I get the ends of the legs to fit into the grooves. Edited for spelling.

      • @VinS@sh.itjust.works
        2•1 year ago

        Wow, nice tool you have. But not overcutting and creating a ridge should not be that easy. Beautiful work

        • CrimeDadOP
          2•1 year ago

          I probably spent as much time setting up and aligning the saw as I did building the shelf. I also took a lot of measurements and really tried to visualize every step before cutting and gluing. It paid off!

    • CrimeDadOP
      1•1 year ago

      Just Titebond III and I clamped it all together as best as I could. Unfortunately, one of the bottom corners is misaligned by exactly one ply. No one will notice, but it will probably haunt me to my grave.