"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
On 29 May 2007 09:55:57 -0700, wrote:
However, I do not know what to do for the
snip
The usual fix here is to half-lap the boards by cutting a wide, shallow
rebate in the edge of each one and overlapping them. When they shrink,
then move sideways over each other and don't leave a gap. Stain them
before assembly, so that this gap isn't an obvious light stripe.
They're also at risk of splitting, so only fix each board with one nail
at each end (or into each intermediate shelf) and place it in th emiddle
of the board. Also space the boards out evenly.
To accurately estimate shrinkage, read Hoadley's excellent book
"Understanding Wood". It's hard to say how much you might see from
workshop to driest weather, but 5% isn't a bad start. It's about 10%
tops for green wood to fully dry.
Of course fastening the boards with just a single nail means that
they're no longer stiffening the carcase. This is the cost of not using
plywood. You understand _why_ now, so it's your call as to choose which
one.
There is a third way, one Chris Beckvoort uses in his Bookcase with Doors.
That is
frame and panel with the panel flush with the frame. The panels are captured
but not
fastened. The shelves cannot be attached to the back. I think its a real
classy look. :-)
You will find the case in the book "In the Shaker Style".