The humble crate can have many uses nowadays. One of these is the ability to be easily converted into any type of furniture including a bookcase. Converting several wooden crates into a functional bookcase is easy if you have the right tools, material, and a woodworking plan. Here is a step by step guide to help you do so.
1. Materials Needed
Of course, this project will require several wooden crates which you can purchase at local supermarkets or shops that specialize in discarded materials. It does not even matter if the crates have a uniform size or design.
The tools you will need are wood glue, galvanized screws, a drill, sponges, a hand plane, and sandpaper. You have the option to coat the bookcase with paint or wood finish. Either coating you choose will give the bookcase a unique personality.
2. Preparation
The beauty with wood crate bookcases is that you don’t have to saw anything as your base materials have already been processed for you. What you will have to do instead is to make these crates suitable for use in your bookcase.
First, give these crates a thorough wash and disinfection. There is no telling what they were used for in the past so it is best to keep your bookshelf germ-free at all costs.
Next, sand the surfaces of the insides of the creates. Many crates are made from untreated wood which means that they have uneven surfaces. Sanding will give the insides a more uniform surface which makes stacking books on them less frustrating.
You may also want to give your crates a wax finish at this time. This would give the wood an extra coating for protection later on.
3. Assembly
Crate bookcase woodworking plans simply require you to have these boxes stacked one on top of the other to form a large rectangle. It is recommended that you place the sturdiest looking crates at the bottom to give your bookcase a stronger foundation.
At this point, you might notice that the crates won’t properly line up with one another. If you feel that your bookcase is uneven on one level, sand the outer level of those crates before you apply anything in between them,
As you stack one crate over another, you can apply a coat of wood glue on the sides and on the top to give your bookcase an extra level of security. Once the glue has dried, you can then drill in holes at 4 points where the crates below make contact with the ones on top.
For weaker crates, you might consider drilling in an L bracket on their corners. This should stabilize them which prevents the bookcase from collapsing in that area.
4. Finishing
Once the last boxes on top have been attached, you can start adding in the finishing touches. Sand some uneven areas on the outside with sandpaper and apply the coat of paint or wood finish at all sides of the bookcase. After letting the coat dry for at least 8 hours, all that is left to do is to put the bookcase at your room and add in books to complete the look.
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