Bookcase Finished!

This morning I dragged the bookcase up two flights of stairs to our bedroom.  There I put it face-down on the floor to receive its back panel.  I went back down to the garage to cut the power cord hole in the back panel, and then I carried the back upstairs to meet the bookcase carcase.

I measured the positions for the back panel screws making sure they would line up with the backs of the shelves and center divider.  Then I drilled pilot holes and began driving 3/4-inch screws with washers.

With that finished, I dragged the bookcase into our guest bedroom and positioned it into the corner.  Then I immediately began placing books on the shelves.  I shifted some books out because they were computer books, and I want the bookcase to have things on it that a guest staying the night might want to read.  The bookcase also contains some curios on display - an old Brownie camera, and a 1960's vintage Zenith AM radio.  We also have a 5th generation iPod (circa 2005) with a JBL charging dock and speakers all in working condition that we are considering putting in there.

After I re-shelved the computer books in the office, we have more space for new books than we had before!  

My next wood project will be a small crosscut sled for the tablesaw.  I also want to make a sheet goods cart to store my leftover plywood and other sheet goods on.  I will also be replacing the tabletop on my shop work table.

Bookcase Sanding

 When I glued the panels up, I made sure that the fronts matched up as closely as possible.  I didn't
really care about the back side of all of the side and shelf panels.  If I had been more precise when cutting the panels, it would not matter.  As it turns out, the back was wildly un-level.  The backs of the individual panels differed in height by up to 1/4 inch.  So, I would need to level these out or there will be a gap between the back panel and the back edges of some of the side panels.

I found P36 sanding belts at Lowe's and put one of those on my belt sander.  Oh boy!  That belt will take the wood right off!  (It will take your hide off too, if you are not careful!).  After about 4 hours of sanding, I had everything very close to level.  I used a 5-foot-long straight edge to judge the high and low spots.  There may be a few shallow curves, but the back panel is thin and flexible material, so it will conform to these shallow imperfections

With the back leveled, I sanded it up to P180.  Then I took it off of the work table, turned it around, and put it back down, front side up.

I sanded the top and both sides to P180 with the random orbital sander.  Then I used my Mouse sander to get into the 1/2-inch reveals.  Finally, I sanded all of the inside panels with the random orbital up to P180.

After this, I got a bucket of cold water and a clean rag (an old pillow case).  I rubbed all of the visible surfaces of the carcase with water to pop the grain.  Wetting the surface darkens the grain and it gives you a "sneak preview" of how the wood will look when finished.  I can't wait to get there!

This morning I picked up a sheet of 3/16-inch fiberboard with a white melamine front surface.  I am going to use this as the back panel for this bookcase.  The white back will make a nice contrast for the books and other items displayed in the bookcase.  I will glue and screw the back panel on after all of the wood has been finished.

For the finish, I am using a product from Germany called Osmo, a penetrating natural hardwax oil.  I purchased this material on Amazon.  It is expensive, but fortunately a little goes a long way.  I will probably rub two coats into the project.