Parts List- Book Caddy 4- 3/4 x 2-1/4 x 10-1/4 2- 5/16 x 2-3/4 x 18

Resources For Building A Book Caddy

The usual way to hold books on top of a shelf or cabinet is with bookends- but here is an alternate way that is attractive in its own right and also tilts the books upward so you can read the titles more easily. This is a quick project that you can do in a weekend or two. You'll need a band saw, table saw, and a router; having a radial arm will help too but isn't necessary.

Begin the project by getting out the stock for the legs. Notice that the stock is 2-1/4" wide, but the legs themselves are no more than 1-1/2" wide. Why the difference? It's because of how the slots are cut for the slats that connect the two leg assemblies- the slots are not parallel to the centerline of the legs, and in order to cut the slots on a router table you need a side on the stock which is parallel to the slots. Thus the side of the stock cannot be parallel to the leg centerline, and since the leg must therefore be placed at an angle on the stock, the stock must be wider than the leg itself.