The Best Bookshelves for Your Home [How to build your own]

In this episode you will see a simple method to build custom bookshelves and other shelving in your home.
Tools and products used in todays video. ( Some are affiliate links which means we get a small commission at no extra cost to you if the item is purchased through a link below.
Swatclips ( My favorite way to carry tools on the job site or while building projects: swatclips.com
DIY Project plans: www.diypete.com/diy-project-p...
( These shelves do not yet have plans )
Table Saw: amzn.to/3JYui3X
Miter Saw: amzn.to/3xhQtdG ( I use a battery powered version )
Kreg Jig: amzn.to/3lz5G7t
Kreg Jig Shelf Pin Jig: amzn.to/3Xs21G2
Drill: amzn.to/3HRwqrz
Wood costs:
Large 5 foot by 7 foot shelves:
3 sheets plywood @ $64 / sheet = $192
4 1x4x8 boards @ $8 / board = $32
Total wood costs large unit: $292
Smaller 4 foot by 3 foot shelves
1 sheet of plywood @ $64 / sheet = $64
3 1x4x8 boards @ $8 / board =$24
Total wood costs small unit: $88
Other supplies
Stain: $14
Wood conditioner: $10
Polycrylic sealer $16 ( 1 to 2 cans )
Shelf pins: $10
Wood glue, brush, roller, 18 gauge nails ( 1 inch ),
Woodworking, furniture, and shed plans available:
You can download free and paid plans at gumroad.com/DIYPETE
Instagram: / diypete
Facebook: / diyprojectswithpete
Would you like to get in touch with us? Please send all emails to
[e-mail]
All music used in this video is licensed through:
Music By Endless Noise (www.endlessnoise.com) - If you are a creator, I'd highly recommend their bank of music.
Mail can be sent to our mailing address below:
DIYPETE.com
1627 W Main Street Suite 182
Bozeman, Montana 59715

[@TwoAMBlacktop]

It's always refreshing seeing a project on KZbin that doesn't involve walnut, resin or pallets. Looks great.

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks so much! Yeah tried to make this one simple and keep the costs down :) cheers!

[@jenniferestes4553]

I love you

[@jabanan]

Well you could easily replace walnut for something cheaper. But on the rest I agree

[@TwoAMBlacktop]

@@jabanan it could be something more expensive than walnut, just not walnut.

[@pas0003]

Extremely informative! I am planning to build a similar cabinet, just for shoes. Mine will also have doors. Never built anything of that scale before, so I'm trying to learn as much as possible before starting and this is a great help! Thanks!

[@catherinecolbert7148]

You made this look so easy to build. I desperately need bookshelves and think I'm going to give this one a try. Thank you for making and sharing this video! ❤️ Wishing you a quick and complete recovery!

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks so much Cat! We desperately needed them too and it was worth it to get exactly what we needed to fit the space. Good luck with your build and thanks for the kind words! 2 weeks post operation already and things are improving each day. Cheers!

[@jeffforbes3772]

Rock on Pete! Shelves look great! Family looks great! Have a fast recovery, stay safe and Go Big Red!!

[@MCsCreations]

Beautiful work, Pete! Nicely done! 😃 I hope you have a fast recovery! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks so much! Recovery is going well and off crutches, wife is a physical therapist so she has been making sure I do my exercises. Have a great Super Bowl Sunday!

[@joerobinson9971]

I always look forward to your projects, very informative, there's no guessing, the only problem is, I can use more. Thanks Pete!!!

[@ablotogan6424]

hope its not too late congratulation on ur successful surgery.....thank i learned a lot Pete....

[@hope56]

Thanks for sharing the gifts of your talent. Great job well done. Given me the confidence to have a go at making a bookcase myself.

[@thomasj.fulnecky4547]

Hi Pete great job I built book shelves about two years ago. Here in Thailand I used a 3/4 Black cover Plywood. I also used pocket hole jig as you have done. I also built a adjustable shoe shelves I used the jig to drill my holes for the shelves. Like you did. I will send you a few pictures of my build. Take care Pete..Your baby is really cute congratulations to both of you God Bless you Both.

[@DIYPETE]

Hey Thomas! Hope things are going well over in Thailand and cool to hear about those bookshelves! Thanks for saying hi and take good care!

[@jeffluker1895]

This is great! I can't wait to make an identical bookcase for my place. Nice book selection you've got there too!

[@lopaka76]

5:52 easily your best DIY project. Shelves look great too. A sturdy and inexpensive project. Good luck on the rehab, I've been nursing a possible ACL strain, since just before Christmas.

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks for checking out the video and for the kind words :) Yep, starting a family has definitely been the best thing that's happened to my wife and I and we love being parents. I hope your rehab and exercises for your ACL strain get you back and up to speed soon! Take care!

[@rchur]

Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you a speedy recovery. All the best to you and your family.

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks so much Ricky! Have a great weekend and hope your family is doing well.

[@davidmarshall7519]

Very good presentation! You ran through the redundant parts (holes, etc...) and that was nice. I need to buy the jigs you used, for the shelf holes, and the toe-nail holes (I don't remember what you called them!) Have a great day, and good to see you recover well. Your family is very happy. Great Job! -Dave

[@MariaGonzalez-in6ny]

All piece are nice, but the shelf is most beautiful in my eyes. Keep up the great work, an thank you for sharing with us.

[@Rickhinman]

Amazing as always Pete! I think I might build these!

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

Hola! 🖐Really awesome looking project. And to think that you did it with a TORN ACL!!! Very impressive. Glad to see at the end of the video that you were back on your feet. I hope that by now you have made a full recovery. Looking forward to more of your videos. Take care and have a good one, Adios!👊

[@computerterry618]

Absolutely beautiful!!

[@terence4427]

Nice, and thank you for including the room dimensions.

[@carmelcarlton6829]

Awesome job on the shelving units! I really enjoyed your very informative video on all the steps you took to build it. Thanks! 😁 PS I hope you have a speedy recovery with your knee

[@Partlycloudy70degrees]

Great tutorial! Thanks!

[@KirkMcKoy]

Super helpful! Just bought a new home and now have a home office and need to build book shelves. Diffinately going to use you DIY book shelf example.

[@DIYPETE]

Awesome! Have fun with the build!

[@jamesmacintyre1415]

Great work nice to see you createing projects again

[@DIYPETE]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@thomasj.fulnecky4547]

​@@DIYPETE Pete I need your help on another project. Please can you reply to me I really need your help Pete. Please look for my Emails to you Pete I really need your help. I've tried to contact you I don't know where else to go to get in contact with you Pete. Please reply I really need your help.

[@visanlala]

It turned out amazing

[@wildcatDIY]

Heck ya! Nice work, Pete.

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks!

[@derekgusoff6768]

Really nicely done Pete. You call out every detail right down to screw size. Subbed!

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks so much Derek! I appreciate it, take care!

[@hoverpilder1905]

Great Video!! Thanks for putting this together

[@pclarke5784]

Great Video, you gave me hope, thanks. beautiful job

[@terristroh3965]

Great job!

[@PHOTOCONVENTION]

Good job Pete.

[@jeffreyweaver782]

Nice work and get well fast! I am building cabinets for my basement bar and your vidoes really help!

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks Jeff! Good luck with that basement bar!!

[@YS-by7wy]

Awesome build & video.

[@natarem]

awesome project, hope you recover soon

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks so much! Recovery is going well, have a great Super Bowl Sunday!

[@zkeller1997]

great day when pete uploads sucks to hear about the acl but glad it isnt stopping you from making projects

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks man! Yup, ACL is healing up, and will be back to normal soon.

[@teddymason6069]

amazing and inspiring

[@Elpelon177]

Hola Peter, le quedó de lujo, muy bonito

[@bettinang3820]

Look great! Thanks a lot for posting your instruction

[@DIYPETE]

I'm glad you found the instructions helpful!

[@solomonchild3398]

Fantastic video

[@joyantamondal4613]

Good idea!

[@foxhallww311]

I love Radianta plywood from HD. I think it has 7 layers of ply so it's super strong. I use it for all my shop projects. Just wish the price would hurry up and drop. It used to be $34 a sheet but skyrocketed to $60 a sheet

[@DIYPETE]

Back when it was in the $30 range was amazing, it is certainly a lot more these days unfortunately. Great to hear it works well for your projects!

[@foxhallww311]

@@DIYPETE thank you Pete. You are my OG youtube wood working. You are the reason I started my channel. I'm glad to see you are and your family happy and growing! god bless and take care!

[@petesveen]

@@foxhallww311 That's awesome, keep up the hard work on your channel and the cool projects coming. Take care and hope your family is doing well!

[@kvsconstructionwork]

Very skillfull dude😍😍👍👍

[@jts9807]

Nice job. Gets dark early at your latitude this time of year. Best of luck for a speedy recovery.

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks JT! Yep, looking forward to linger days :) Hope all is well!

[@peterv7258]

I need a video to show me how to build this with virtually no tools or space to work in.

[@brokenwrench404]

Very cool. Thanks m working on a sideways king size storage bed frame and headboard. Being under 6ft a sideways king gives me a wider bed and a shorter footprint. I just don’t know if I want full depth drawers on both sides or shorter depth drawers with a storage area between that would be accessible from the foot of the bed. Cheers!

[@DIYPETE]

That sounds like a fun project! Good luck with the drawers and tackling the project, cheers!

[@brokenwrench404]

@@DIYPETE yeah it can be a little overwhelming

[@anthonydella4127]

great video. helped me with ideas on how to make a shelving unit but what depth u make the holes for the pins for the adjustable shelves?

[@lyonsmotorsports8440]

Great looking shelves Pete!! You truly inspire me to work outside my comfort zone. Btw, is that a Beta Theta Pi paddle hanging in your workshop??

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks so much! Hope all is well and that you are having a good Super Bowl Sunday! Yep, I was a Beta at the university of Nebraska from 03-07. Are you a beta theta pi alum as well?

[@lyonsmotorsports8440]

@DIY PETE YES, Florida State University, 82-86. Go Beta!!

[@DIYPETE]

@@lyonsmotorsports8440 That's awesome! Go Beta!!

[@cbeserra]

Nice!

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks a ton Chris! Cheers!

[@donovanmurphy1464]

Love the swat clips. Super versatile and attach to pretty much everything. Glad you talked about them I already added it to my tool arsenal.

[@TreesAndRoots]

Nice one, I'm jealous 😅

[@valeriedeutsch786]

I was looking for the plans for these book shelves on your site, but I only find one bookshelf plan for a 80"x24"....do I just have to adapt those plans for this project?

[@joelombrdo]

Hi. I like your videos. Maybe you can tell me or tell me how to figure this out. If i want to build a bookcase with shelves 12 inches wide and these shelves will be built out of 3/4 inch solid maple and reinforced with a 1 and 3/4 inch lip, how long can the shelf be and not sag under the weight of heavy books.

[@michaelrichmond9024]

Are you able to post a link to the saw horses and accessories you used for the saws to sit on? I can't seem to find them

[@WrongTimeWatch]

I am going to be building a bookshelf soon as well. I was thing about using pocket holes, but I am concerned that they might not be strong enough to hold the shelves when loaded with books.

[@DIYPETE]

Have fun with your bookshelf project! Our shelves are only 19 inches in width so I don't have any concern with the weight of the books, but perhaps if you are wanting to do larger spans then you'd want to look into a different method. Cheers!

[@pamyjsa6335]

Looks great! Where is the beautiful location?

[@mikerodent3164]

Those shelves look lovely after you sand them well, pre-stain them and then put the stain (and seal) on, it's a tedious part of the process, but makes such a difference. I just checked... here in the UK I can find "Radiata pine" 25 mm, reasonable cost compared to e.g. birch ply of the same thickness. Any reason you are recommending Radiata? I mean does it tend to have nice knots or anything like that?

[@DIYPETE]

Hey Mike! We use radiata plywood because it is the best quality and most affordable plywood for building shelves around here. It used to be around $35 / sheet but is now around $60 or so post pandemic. But it is pre-sanded and smooth on both sides when you buy it. Not much for knots. They only sell it at Home Depot around here though. Anyhow, basically quality and cost is why I get it. Cheers!

[@willytj3746]

Hey brother your meter saw n table saw both battery operated? Tnxs

[@garvielloken3929]

nooice!

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks Garfield, have a great week!

[@debiperkins]

Oh Lord! Budding Lady builder, here. I love that table!!! Where did you get it???

[@DIYPETE]

Hi! Are you referring to the workbench table in the shop or the miter saw station?

[@debiperkins]

@@DIYPETE There was two? 🤦🏼‍♀️ I googled it. Out of my crafter’s budget, but I love it. Was checking out you bookcase build. Mercy, that is fine. Big bookcase is the bomb. I just need a couple for my sewing room. ♥️

[@FourChimneyFarmVA]

Do you mind sharing what miter station you have?

[@mahuadey2161]

wow thw place is covered with snow is this norway

[@disfordungeon]

How much weight can each shelf support you think?

[@me-xp4rb]

I'm confused about what you mean by board vs sheet in the description for the materials. Are they both plywood?

[@goncalojacinto1476]

great video man! what is the thicness of the plywood? and could i make shelvs 150cm large?

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks for watching! The wood is about 3/4 of an inch thick which would be about 19mm. As for 150cm wide shelves, You'd want to add additional support under each shelf so it doesn't eventually bow. Or you could create cubbies similar to what I did to support them. Best of luck!

[@rla1000]

0:49 We define beauty differently.

[@DIYPETE]

haha I guess I was raised where a 20 degree day with sunshine is beautiful in the winter :) --- don't get me wrong though we go south for a couple weeks each winter to break up the season so it doesn't seem quite as long. Cheers!

[@JakeLoeppky]

What kind of screws are being used?

[@mattmace123]

Helpful & informative video. Also peaked my interest when Pete mentioned the ACL-R. I had one 5 months ago and I hope to return to the ice soon!

[@maximaladyshev4023]

Мужик!

[@jaredgrant1067]

Your dog needs a friend

[@walkerlinoale5908]

Hi Peter

[@johndupl]

plywood here in Texas, for birch 3/4 is 80 a sheet. Its killing me.

[@murry4562]

Think this is doable without a table saw? I have everything but that

[@ronaldnayman4841]

Pete, your good explanation of each step convinced me I can do this. Thanks for your help.

[@DIYPETE]

Awesome! Have fun with the build!

[@BigBadWolfyAZ]

Great thorough and informative video. This looks easy enough for me to do even without the whole shop set up. I think we have enough tools to make our own shelves. Thank for making this tutorial.

[@smartinsilicon]

650 holes to drill over 20m is less than 2s to drill per hole 😮

[@DIYPETE]

Yep, goes quickly

[@dimagenpersonal]

I love the clips ❤ I always loose my tools 😂

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks!

[@showstoleent935]

Wheres this years hockey rink at??

[@user-fr8yy9eo5f]

Why not attach the trim to the edge of the plywood before cutting the shelf pieces? Seems like it's a lot more work to cut and attach the edge to each shelf after.

[@nikos8984]

We sincerely want to work with you and hope you will reply to our emails(trail camera)

[@DIYPETE]

Thanks for reaching out Nikos! We'll take a look at your emails. Thanks!

[@nikos8984]

@@DIYPETE Thank you! Hope to cooperate with you.

[@newfun601]

I want to work with you. I will give you two years free service. I completed MA in philosophy.

[@derrick6602]

DIY doesn’t count when you have a whole shop with 80k worth of tools lol😂

[@user-mt5qe9hs2k]

Nice, and thank you for including the room dimensions.