36" × 13" × 72"
Crafted Raven
Casework
Casework
Shaker bookcase
Open bookcase · Shaker · Furniture · plywood
36 × 13 × 72 in
cherry · 3/4 maple plywood · 9/20/2026
Shop-ready plan set. Diagonals of the case must be equal. Movement and sag figures are engineering guidance, not a guarantee. Overall depth includes the back; sides, top, and bottom are rabbeted and the back is let into all four.
Elevations
Interior 34 1/2 × 12 3/4 × 70 1/2 · back 35 1/4 × 71 1/4 × 1/4
Joinery
Dado + rabbet corners
Top and bottom sit between the sides. Cut a dado (or end rabbet) in each side to receive them. The joint locks the box in both directions and hides end grain on the sides. Cut matching parts on the same setup.
| Side thickness | 3/4" |
| Top / bottom thickness | 3/4" |
| Dado width | 3/4" (matches top/bottom) |
| Dado depth | 3/8" (½ of side thickness, max) |
| Top / bottom length | 34 1/2" (overall width − 2 × side) |
| Top / bottom depth | 13" |
| Side size | 13" × 72" |
| Glue | Long-grain dado walls. Clamp across the width. |
Back in rabbet
Sides, top, and bottom are all rabbeted. The back is let into all four and sits flush with the rear edge. Square the case off the back — both diagonals must match before you fasten it.
| Rabbet into thickness | 3/8" (from the inside face) |
| Rabbet from the rear edge | 1/4" (equals back thickness so it sits flush) |
| Back width | 35 1/4" (overall W − 2×side + 2×rabbet) |
| Back height | 71 1/4" (overall H − 2×top + 2×rabbet) |
| Back thickness | 1/4" |
| Fastener | #6 × 5/8" screws or 18 ga brads |
| Fastener spacing | 6" on center · 36 around the perimeter |
| Interior depth | 12 3/4" (overall D − back T) |
Shelf-pin holes
Two pin lines in each side. Keep the front line about 1¼ in from the front edge and the rear line 1¼ in from the inside of the back. Drill through a story stick so both sides match.
| Pin diameter | 1/4" |
| Hole diameter | 1/4" |
| Spacing on center | 1" |
| Front pin line | 1 1/4" from the front edge of the side |
| Rear pin line | 1 1/4" from the inside face of the back |
| Lines per side | 69 |
| Holes per side | 138 (2 rows) |
| Total holes | 276 |
| Shelf thickness | 3/4" |
| Shelf width (ease) | 34 3/8" (opening − 1/8") |
| Shelf depth | 12 1/2" (ID depth − back T already accounted − 1/4" setback) |
| Pins per shelf | 4 |
Applied top
The top is a separate panel. Fasten with figure-8s, Z-clips, or wooden buttons in slotted screw holes so the top can move across the grain.
| Top size | 37 1/2" × 13 3/4" |
| Overhang front | 3/4" |
| Overhang sides | 3/4" |
| Overhang back | 0" |
| Fasteners | Figure-8 / Z-clip, slotted for movement |
| Screw | #8 × 3/4" in the top; elongated hole in the clip |
Cut list
| Part | Qty | Material | Finished | Grain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side | 2 | 3/4 maple plywood | 3/4 × 13 × 72 | vertical |
| Top | 1 | 3/4 maple plywood | 3/4 × 13 × 34 1/2 | horizontal |
| Bottom | 1 | 3/4 maple plywood | 3/4 × 13 × 34 1/2 | horizontal |
| Back | 1 | 1/4 maple plywood | 1/4 × 35 1/4 × 71 1/4 | vertical |
| Shelf | 4 | 3/4 maple plywood | 3/4 × 12 1/2 × 34 3/8 | horizontal |
Sheet nest
3 sheets · 51% utilization
Hardware & cost
- 16 × Shelf pins, 1/4" — $2.40
- 16 × Shelf-pin sleeves, 1/4" — $1.92
- 36 × #6 × 5/8" back screws — $2.88
Estimate $345.24
Prices are user-editable estimates, not quotes.
Build sequence
- Mill and glue panels. Joint, plane, and cut to finished thickness before ripping case parts.
- Cut case parts to finished size. Cut joinery (dados, rabbets, dovetails) on the same setup for matching parts.
- Dry fit the carcase. Check that top and bottom dados align across both sides.
- Glue the case square. Measure both diagonals — they must be equal before the glue sets. Clamp or strap as needed.
- Fit the back. A square back nails the case in square; do not force a trapezoid.
- Finish (often before hardware). Break edges, raise grain, and seal all six sides of every board.
- Install hardware: hinges, slides, knobs, shelf pins. Recheck diagonals and door/drawer gaps.
Check both diagonals of the case. They must be equal.