Our carpentry class starts in T minus 3 days.  We need a deck for our swimming pool (small one, 4' x 4.5').  I really need some decent book ends that will extend and contract OR that will have a moveble "stop" between the outside holder upper thingies.  I have been waiting eons for Mike to make bookcases for the dining room.  They will mirror each other to go on either side of a center piece.  They will be 44" high with 13" "book space" shelves, and a "crown" around the top that will allow me to put either decorative items or more books on top.

Seeing as how I've just finished my first woodworking project, I feel like I can tackle the entire planet.  I really want to do the book case project and the deck simultaneously.  My washing machine died and won't be fixed for a week or more so I need SOMEthing to keep me calm through the crises. 

My issue is how do I do the joinery for the book case?  I am thinking of using dowels, but how?  We HAD a biscuit joiner but it died more than a year ago in a shed fire and since it was used only once in the five years we had it, I DON'T want to replace it.

Any thoughts for me?

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Jo

Jo, the simplest joinery for case work would be good old fashioned screw and glue. Nothing wrong with that! Counter sink the holes and plug the holes with a contrasting darker wood than the case.

I am not familiar with the tools you do have, do you have a table saw? A router? Let me know what your working with and I can give you a better start on joinery. Thanks

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops