[XXXIX]
BOOKCASES AND MAGAZINE RACKS
THE WALL RACK
In the modern home, the orderly arrangement of books and magazines calls for ample shelf space and the book shelf becomes a favourite piece of furniture among amateur woodworkers. The book rack for the books of the day has been taken up in Chapter XXVII. The book shelf for hanging on the wall is blocked out in [Fig. 192].
The questions to be considered in the design are:
No. 1. Methods of fastening shelves to ends.
No. 2. The design of the ends.
No. 3. The back: is it necessary, and if so shall it be solid? Outline of back.
No. 4. Method of fastening to wall.
No. 1. The method of bringing shelves and ends together with plain butt joint and fastening with a round-head screw from the outside is the easiest and poorest. The whole weight on the shelves is carried by the screws. This method is shown at a. At b, a better method is indicated, the shelf being gained into the end and held in position by the screws. The weight in this case is carried by the ends. To hide the joint, the shelf may be slightly narrower than the end piece as shown in the top view at c, or the two parts may be of the same width as at d, the gained joint stopping half an inch or so short of the full width. These details apply to bookcases that stand on the floor as well as to smaller ones.
Fig. 192. The problem of designing a wall book rack
No. 2. The design of the ends is largely a matter of artistic taste, and where curves are used, the lower part is usually formed in such a way as to suggest a bracket.