Cedar Book Shelves

[rizuc]

I have several live edge 1″ thick eastern cedar planks approx 6 feet long. My plan is to use some other cedar  for the uprights and use 5″ dowels to connect a five shelf book case.

 

My plans would make the unit approx 5 feet tall.

 

I am concerned about stability.  Do you think I will need to have some kind of bracing across the back side?

[Ron Dudelston]

A lot depends on the depth of the shelves but my initial answer would be, maybe.  My only concern would be that the unit could twist and rack.

[lew]

Not all bookshelves are for books. 1" thick at 6' long will probably sag under the weight of books without some sort of support across the span.

[Gene Howe]

A 1X2  (nominal) under each shelf at the back and, and a similar piece across the front face of the shelves, should offer enough support. If not, a vertical 1X2 spanning all shelves and, the top and bottom boards, in the middle would help. 

Those  lateral1X2s should address Ron's racking concerns.

[Woodman]

I'd think ten tight dados within the verticals with good glue will make you as sturdy a bookshelf as you need. A stout very low shelf, maybe with the 1x2 across the back under the bottom shelf, level with the floor, loaded with extra-heavy tomes, will add stability.