Bookshelf sides

[mikeyp]

Hi all.

I am planning on making my 3yr old Daughter a standing bookshelf
and intend on making the sides out of 32mm thick pine, probably
joining a couple of 112x32 Pine door frame lengths I have then
using some form of template I would give the sides character by
making them into the outline of some cartoon/kids tv character.

My main question is with clear pine (or 2nd grade I think,
because there are some knots) would it be strong enough to join
lots of pieces so that the end grain forms the sides
(like a cutting board) ?

I am thinking that if I did it this way, I would make the joined form
twice the width and then try and cut it into the two halves using a bandsaw
and a thicknesser to smooth out (probably limiting my width to 12")
would this be practical ? Can a thicknesser thickness over the
end grain well or should I use a belt sander ?

Regards,
Mike

[Bob Willson]

I am not sure that I understand the question thoroughly Mike

Are you saying that you are intending to have the grain run horizontal to the floor and if so can you use the thicknesser to cut across the grain?

If so then the following SHOULD apply.

Yes, using 32mm thick pine for the ends should be more than strong enough to support several shelves full of books, although in general this would not be an acceptable nor norrmal practice. Also, the parts should be able to be thicknessed with ease. Imagine hand planing across the grain of that same timber and you will see what would happen