Large Bookshelves (# 8)

03 Dec, 2025

I built these large bookshelves as a custom design from my client. They specified the sizes they wanted for the shelves; the unit is 78.5" tall and 72" in width overall. I used 3/4" baltic birch plywood for the unit with a 5mm light mahogany backing board. This project was the first time I have used this type of material and I really enjoyed working with such flat wood. I used a router with undersized bits to dado the parts of the unit together, then carefully fit everything together with glue and 18ga brads (aka: the woodworker's favorite clamp) while ensuring everything remained square and straight. The whole unit seems extremely solid, even before the backing boards were attached, and it is also anchored to the wall in-place with a few metal brackets. The unit was stained with a Minwax oil stain called "Gunstock" which was selected to match with the mural which was glued to the backing boards before they were attached with staples. I used some 3M Super 70 to glue the murals, which are custom-printed wallpaper sections that were cut and fit carefully to eliminate gaps. Because the plywood I was working with has ugly edges, I used white birch iron-on edge banding which worked very well and looks quite nice, I think.

(I apologize that the finished photos aren't particularly beautiful.)