Wood working question

[N80]

We have a tiny bedroom adjoining our regular bedroom that my wife wants to convert into a dressing room. She wants a couple of built-in shelf units to do this. We got several estimates from professionals but they were all more than we wanted to spend except for one who did not show up for the job and did not answer our calls. So, I'm thinking about doing this myself. I have very little wood-working experience but I do have the necessary tools and have a fair amount of carpentry experience. These will be simple units. One of them will have a couple of drawers. They will essentially be in a closet that will not be seen by guests. They will be primed and painted so wood quality will not be a huge issue.

My question is, what type of wood to use. Oak and even poplar at the big box stores is crazy expensive. Basic soft pine 'shelving' is much more affordable but quality is only fair. Is that what I should use? Should I just pick and choose the boards carefully to make sure they aren't warped or canted? There may be a higher quality pine but I have not looked closely. (I will probably use pre-cut drawer fronts).

 

[s219]

Have you looked at ClosetMaid systems? While I tend to build everything from scratch, their stuff is hard to beat for closet organizers, shelves, drawers, etc. Normally Lowes/HD/etc will have a pretty good display. If you're not a carpenter and have to buy wood from the box stores, this seems like a far better alternative. ClosetMaid Home and Closet Organizers

BTW, if I was doing custom built, I'd use a plywood, particleboard, or MDF sheet product for the structure and just use real wood on the faces/edges. The sheet products will be a lot more stable and easier to work with for this sort of thing. It's even the way high-end cabinet shops build their stuff.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Agree with what s219 has said totally. Modular is first choice, followed by cabinet grade plywood, MDF etc. Plain wood boards a distant third, especially from a big box store.

In addition to Closet Maid, if there is a Container Store anywhere you can get to, worth a look. They have very nice Elfa modular storage for not too bad a price.

 

[N80]

The room is an odd size with some odd dimensions where these shelves would go. My wife has done a good bit of research into modular stuff including Closet Maid and Ikea and was not happy with the options for the given spaces where she wants the shelves. That's why we looked into custom made/installed.

Now, that does not mean she has considered other variables like my skill level and the quality/price point of wood and supplies. We'll have to get together on that and she might reconsider modular.

So my question now is what is the concern about plain boards? I have sanders, nail/brad guns, will have a compound miter saw soon, access to a planer, etc. Is it just a quality vs price concern? I would certainly use cabinet grade plywood (or bead board) for the backing. Not sure how to use MDF for plain shelving. Seems like every exposed edge would need trim or veneer. I'll have to look into that option. I guess I could make the sides and back of the shelving with MDF, put narrow trim pieces on the exposed front edges and then use natural boards for the actual shelves, which will be adjustable. I'll use a peg system for that as there are decent, inexpensive jigs available for those.

Edit: I see that the big box stores have pre-primed MDF with finished edges. That might be the ticket!

 

[ustmd]

So my question now is what is the concern about plain boards? I have sanders, nail/brad guns, will have a compound miter saw soon, access to a planer, etc. Is it just a quality vs price concern? I would certainly use cabinet grade plywood (or bead board) for the backing. Not sure how to use MDF for plain shelving. Seems like every exposed edge would need trim or veneer. I'll have to look into that option. I guess I could make the sides and back of the shelving with MDF, put narrow trim pieces on the exposed front edges and then use natural boards for the actual shelves, which will be adjustable.
Edit: I see that the big box stores have pre-primed MDF with finished edges. That might be the ticket!

The problem with plain boards is that they will not be as stable, strong, consistent or cost effective as cabinet grade plywood. You can build it out of plain boards, but you may find that you are cussing up a blue streak as you are working with it.

As for the exposed edges with the plywood, you are correct about putting either a trim or veneer on it. You can do a thin (or thick board). Also, there is an iron on veneer (using a household iron) you should be able to buy at Lowes or HD. A roll will cost you ~$10.

Since you are doing shelves, may I suggest you consult the sagulator:

The Sagulator – WoodBin

It is an online calculator that will help determine which material will word best. MDF can be okay for shelves, but will need regular support along its length.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Plywood or MDF is more dimensionally stable -- it doesn't expand and contract with the seasons, or warp, the way boards will. MDF will sag if used for shelves, so I would go with plywood.

You can make a pretty good looking shelf with a piece of 3/4 plywood with a strip of 1x2 across the front. If you bevel the inside edges of the 1x2 and the plywood about 1/8" at 45 degrees it gives a nice finished look -- and covers any minor mis-alignment. Adjustable shelves are over-rated, most people never adjust them once they get them where they want them. Figure out where you want them, and put a strip of wood under each side and the back. If that strip matches the thickness of the 1x2 on the front it will look finished -- and that shelf will hold a ton without sagging. If you ever decide to move the shelves, well, you put them there, you can move them.

There's really nothing to shelves. Drawers, on the other hand, are pretty involved. I would recommend buying either a cabinet or modular unit and working from it. Even pro cabinet makers outsource their drawers.

Getting a good look is all about the details. It's amazing how much something like a toe-kick or crown molding does to make something look finished, and they're not that tough.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I am an amateur by all counts, but I love working with Yellow Pine. The few things I have built, like a storage closet in my garage, a TV/dry sink table, benches, etc. have turned out well. I haven't seen any of it here, but you should be able to get it in SC. The wood I used was from huge reclaimed packing crates.

 

[EddieWalker]

Plywood or MDF is more dimensionally stable -- it doesn't expand and contract with the seasons, or warp, the way boards will. MDF will sag if used for shelves, so I would go with plywood.

You can make a pretty good looking shelf with a piece of 3/4 plywood with a strip of 1x2 across the front. If you bevel the inside edges of the 1x2 and the plywood about 1/8" at 45 degrees it gives a nice finished look -- and covers any minor mis-alignment. Adjustable shelves are over-rated, most people never adjust them once they get them where they want them. Figure out where you want them, and put a strip of wood under each side and the back. If that strip matches the thickness of the 1x2 on the front it will look finished -- and that shelf will hold a ton without sagging. If you ever decide to move the shelves, well, you put them there, you can move them.

There's really nothing to shelves. Drawers, on the other hand, are pretty involved. I would recommend buying either a cabinet or modular unit and working from it. Even pro cabinet makers outsource their drawers.

Getting a good look is all about the details. It's amazing how much something like a toe-kick or crown molding does to make something look finished, and they're not that tough.

I think this sums it up pretty good.

 

[N80]

Plywood or MDF is more dimensionally stable -- it doesn't expand and contract with the seasons, or warp, the way boards will. MDF will sag if used for shelves, so I would go with plywood.

I do generally do not like the look of plywood but I probably haven't looked at the right stuff. These shelves will be holding sweaters and shoes and none will be very long so sagging will probably not be an issue.

Adjustable shelves are over-rated, most people never adjust them once they get them where they want them.

I agree and will likely talk her out of them. The exception, for me, is book shelves. I have lots of books and the built-ins my grandfather put in this house in 1930 are adjustable and it makes getting my books where I want them much easier.

There's really nothing to shelves. Drawers, on the other hand, are pretty involved.

I will only need a few drawers and have found pretty good sources for them.

 

[N80]

Okay, so you guys have given me a lot of good advice. After discussing it with my wife the plan is too look real hard again at modular stuff and if that does not work I'll look real hard at MDF and plywood as has been suggested.

But being hard headed I still have to wonder about using actual boards. I get what you guys are saying and I probably know the answer to this question but: My current home has 85 year old built ins made from what appears to be painted pine and they look great and hold many pounds of books without sagging. My previous home had massive built ins in the living room. All board construction done in the 1980s. They looked and worked great. Why? Does it all come down to better quality wood? In other words, if money were not an option is all board construction still a viable option if you can buy high quality wood?