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I ended up with four different shelve heights based on my measurements (paperbacks, hardcovers, misc., and art-books), and used the classical technique of bird'

I ended up with four different shelve heights based on my measurements (paperbacks, hardcovers, misc., and art-books), and used the classical technique of bird's beak shelving supports to make all shelves configurable. Finished bookcase: https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/885499829052485632 https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/885499829052485632 The four common shelve-heights I chose are 4, 5, 6, or 7 bird's beak 'units' spaced apart vertically. You can see the configurable parts here: https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/876126132734656514 https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/876126132734656514

_mrmnmly 8y ago
love the color!
- Freak_NL 8y ago
  Thanks! We took a gamble with that, but it works as expected.
Maxion 8y ago
Ok this is neat, would you mind sharing the actual measurements you ended up using for your different shelf sizes?
- Freak_NL 8y ago
  Not at all. The shelves are 18 mm thick multiplex, but they all have a thin 20 mm strip of MDF covering their front edge (overlapping the shelves by 2 mm downwards), so the effective shelve thickness is 20 mm. The bird's beaks vertically divide each case in increments of 53½ mm. The four practical shelve heights this allows are: A: 53½ mm × 4 - 20 mm: 194 mm B: 53½ mm × 5 - 20 mm: 247½ mm C: 53½ mm × 6 - 20 mm: 301 mm D: 53½ mm × 7 - 20 mm: 354½ mm Other configurations don't make much sense, although I do use (53½ mm × 2 - 20 mm = 87 mm) for the special atlas shelves at the bottom. You may have to adjust these sizes depending on the books you own (particularly paperbacks; they can have regional variations in height). If you go for the bird's beak approach (looks really classy, but a lot more work) you could increase or decrease that basic unit size of 53½ mm. Test it all in a mock-up before you build it. :) I used a custom jig and a router to cut the bird's beaks from 18mm multiplex (went through three router bits; gruelling work that), but you can also buy them pre-made. Feel free to contact me on Twitter if you need more details. I'm only an amateur woodworker though. I really should write up the process of building this beast some day.
cricalix 8y ago
Do you have a photo of the end of a shelf? I can't tell if you've got beaks at the back and front of the shelving, or if you're doing some kind of cantilevered setup.
- Freak_NL 8y ago
  I think you may be able to tell from the first photo here: https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/881243775288389632 https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/881243775288389632 And the second photo here: https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/876126132734656514 https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/876126132734656514 So beaks at the front and back, with trapezoidal blocks that fit in between. The shelves rest on those blocks.

_mrmnmly 8y ago

love the color!

Freak_NL 8y ago
Thanks! We took a gamble with that, but it works as expected.

Maxion 8y ago

Ok this is neat, would you mind sharing the actual measurements you ended up using for your different shelf sizes?

Freak_NL 8y ago
Not at all. The shelves are 18 mm thick multiplex, but they all have a thin 20 mm strip of MDF covering their front edge (overlapping the shelves by 2 mm downwards), so the effective shelve thickness is 20 mm. The bird's beaks vertically divide each case in increments of 53½ mm. The four practical shelve heights this allows are: A: 53½ mm × 4 - 20 mm: 194 mm B: 53½ mm × 5 - 20 mm: 247½ mm C: 53½ mm × 6 - 20 mm: 301 mm D: 53½ mm × 7 - 20 mm: 354½ mm Other configurations don't make much sense, although I do use (53½ mm × 2 - 20 mm = 87 mm) for the special atlas shelves at the bottom. You may have to adjust these sizes depending on the books you own (particularly paperbacks; they can have regional variations in height). If you go for the bird's beak approach (looks really classy, but a lot more work) you could increase or decrease that basic unit size of 53½ mm. Test it all in a mock-up before you build it. :) I used a custom jig and a router to cut the bird's beaks from 18mm multiplex (went through three router bits; gruelling work that), but you can also buy them pre-made. Feel free to contact me on Twitter if you need more details. I'm only an amateur woodworker though. I really should write up the process of building this beast some day.

cricalix 8y ago

Do you have a photo of the end of a shelf? I can't tell if you've got beaks at the back and front of the shelving, or if you're doing some kind of cantilevered setup.

Freak_NL 8y ago
I think you may be able to tell from the first photo here: https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/881243775288389632 https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/881243775288389632 And the second photo here: https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/876126132734656514 https://twitter.com/jdhoek/status/876126132734656514 So beaks at the front and back, with trapezoidal blocks that fit in between. The shelves rest on those blocks.