I have been planning to make this display bookcase into a more user friendly setup. After some work this week getting the shelves glued up for wider shelves but fewer today began the assembly. As luck would have it the person who made this originally did not use glue only drywall screws. So I salvaged all the material. The ply back was in two pieces and for my design I had to glue these together with a scrap of ply. 

This is the before picture.

The back frame is put together. 

 

Set up to drill for inserts to hold the back of the shelf and allow folding.

 

The back of the shelf has to be rounded to allow it to fold.

 

 

 

After some fitting the first shelf works. Now all set todo the other four shelves Monday.

Coming along nicely.  You got a big break with the drywall screws and no glue.

I like it!

 

Got a good bit done today. All shelves fitted to back.

 

Had to do some work on the sides extension foot as it blocked the shelf.

Oops out of order. This is planing down the inserts in old shelf dados.

 

This is doing a rabbit to clear the extensions. 

 

 

Folding sides fitted showing cabinet hinge i used

 

 

This is is what it will look like folded. I did find that when the folding sides were installed some shelves scraped the sides so that is some more work. I may even use tablesaw to shorten shelves.  

 

It's a work in progress, and you have made some good progress.  Like any other project there always seem to be complications....

Proof of concept. Lookin' good. One question. What holds the shelves in position when in use? 

39 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Proof of concept. Lookin' good. One question. What holds the shelves in position when in use? 

He wrote putting in a rabbet for the shelves in the extnsions. So when the shelves all fold down and the extensions fold in on the shelves they will all be captured but how do you set up the shelves to all work together.  Can a log rod be inserted on the front of the shelves so that the shelves work as shutters?  Then once the side capture all the shelves then the rod can be removed.

 

Edited January 14, 20206 yr by Michael Thuman
Added last sentence

On 1/14/2020 at 7:43 AM, Gene Howe said:

Proof of concept. Lookin' good. One question. What holds the shelves in position when in use? 

Got that part done yesterday and working today. What I did was drill holes thru side into the front portion of each shelf on both sides. Cut some aluminum rod stock 3 inches long and made wooden knobs. Drilled the knob and peened the end of rod so it will not slip thru knob and inserted rod. Thinking I will run a cord thru all these pegs so one does not get lost. Now thinking about what to do for extension leg at back for tipping as is a little tippy now but no weight on it.

Here are the standing pics

 

These are the pegs for leveling shelves

 

This was the first try at back support. Used Blum clip hinges. Will try door hinge next. 

 

Still a little too tippy with these and hopefully the next plan works

This is the finished product.

 

After assembly I decided to add two wings 8x 28. For hanging items necklaces, fire starters and the like. Seems like this just keeps getting larger

What is the yellow string for?

Holds all the shelf pins so when they are removed is easy to store and all holes are not the same size. Just did not have enough aluminum rod.

 Looks good Gerald should serve you well.

Congratulations on a job well done.

A couple of fold out legs mounted with hinges should finish it off. Nice design job!!!!!

That should make setup a little easier. 

Mighty nice Gerald.  What does it weigh?  Be sure to send another pic or ten from your first show with it.

14 hours ago, Cal said:

Mighty nice Gerald.  What does it weigh?  Be sure to send another pic or ten from your first show with it.

Have no idea of weight . I can lift it and may attach a handle. Plan to use something wheeled for hauling into a building. This is how it looks with some stuff I had in the shop.

I really like it with the attached wings.  Great job Gerald.