bookcase.......

Last night I struggled a lot trying to square up the carcass. If I had not checked it before leaving the shop, I wouldn't be typing this now. When I left the shop my diagonals were within a 16th of each other. Since I had the carcass on the bench upside down my check for square was done on the back.

the front of the bookcase

Nothing moved or shifted when I removed the clamps. I didn't see anything relax or pop against the clamps as I loosened them either. The back of the carcass is 3/16" off on the diagonals. The front is 5/16" off. I'm not sure that it isn't the sides above the middle shelf that moved in/out or if they are bowed in/out.  After the split and squaring this up I'll take this and deal with it.

my plug

I didn't wedge this nor did I beat this in until it bottomed out. I put it in using hand pressure with hide glue. I didn't want this to make a new split.

middle shelf left side

It's a 16th out of square at the bottom but I don't see that as a deal killer here. I am more concerned about it being square where the drawer is going. The right side of the middle shelf is out of square at the top of the square. Maybe the carcass is racked or twisted?

the bottom shelf

This shelf is square at the corners. The bookcase is also sitting solidly on the workbench. There isn't any rocking and all four feet appear to have good contact with the workbench. I don't think the carcass is twisted or racked. The sides above the middle shelf are wonky and need to be tamed.

it worked

I was able to plane this tenon flush to the side. Once I was done the writing was gone.

sawed and planed

This divot was the only one I got from chiseling. On a good note, right above this is where I glued in the plug. I used a piece from the cutoff from the tenon. Even this close to it, I'm having problems picking it out.

I flushed up the tenons on both sides and set this on the tablesaw. Putting the top on is the next batter but I don't have the stock for that. I also need to get stock for the drawer too. I sized the shelves to both be 12" high. That changed my original drawer height of 4 1/2" to something closer to 7". I'm ok with the bigger drawer because I am a pack rat. I like drawers and boxes to stow things over shelves.

Saturday I'll have to get the stock for the top and drawer. I'll get that from Pepin's after my OT.

accidental woodworker

Who was the youngest person to win an Oscar?
answer - Ten year old Tatum Oneal

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