OT Bookcase Repair problem

[Tim Wescott]

Plywood is the good stuff. Most bookcases sold here are Ikea or
similar pressboard type stuff. Fine if you never overstress them or
try to move them, otherwise they literally fall apart.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

We have some of the heavier-grade pressboard stuff and it holds up well
(even with two _very_ energetic boys). But when I say "heavy" I mean
_heavy_ -- I think our entertainment center weighs more than the piano
(which isn't pressboard, by the way).

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Yes, Ikea stuff is sometimes simple laminated card board, with
some reinforcements in the edges, made of pine wood. I bought
two square boxes on wheels and put them together, used as a
moveable room divider, with my 42' (;-)) flatscreen on top of
it. My wife doesn't dare to touch it.

Two guys spent an entire day installing ours including all the
speakers with wires hidden behind the walls.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Jim Thompson wrote...

Too bad we don't all live in Lee Valley.

They'll deliver anywhere in North America at a reasonable price, money
back guarantee. Nice and often unique stuff at very good prices,
mostly for woodworkers (want to buy handles for making a pet casket or
a lift for a sewing machine?).

Unfortunately, their website is one of the worst I've ever
experienced. My printed hardware catalog wasn't at hand, so I used the
"site search" option on Google to find those items. 8-(


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[John Fields]

Subject: Bookcase with Shelves supported by brass pins into 1/4"
holes drilled in side walls of bookcase body (oak plywood).

Problem: Cleaning lady stands on edge of a low shelf to reach up to
dust top shelves and rips out two pins, gouging out the drilled holes
:-(

I guess I can fill the holes and re-drill, but I was wondering if
there doesn't exist an over-size insert with a 1/4" hole in it?

Anyone have experience in this area? My Googling only produces how to
do it first time out, not how to repair.

---
If you're going to continue to allow her to stand on the shelves, you
might want to consider getting rid of the pins altogether and
substituting them with 1/2" -> 3/4" thick supports as wide as the
shelves are deep and as tall as the separation between the shelves.
Take out the pins for the bottom shelf, place a support for each end
of the shelf at the bottom of the bookcase, against the risers, and
rest the bottom shelf on the supports. If she's going to be standing
on the next to the bottom shelf, then place a support at each end of
the bottom shelf, against the risers, and rest the next to the bottom
shelf on them. You could even secure them to the uprights of the
bookshelf with flathead wood or sheetmetal screws to make them more
secure and not depend on the weight of the books to keep them in
place.

 

[Doug Schultz]

Subject: Bookcase with Shelves supported by brass pins into 1/4"
holes drilled in side walls of bookcase body (oak plywood).

Problem: Cleaning lady stands on edge of a low shelf to reach up to
dust top shelves and rips out two pins, gouging out the drilled holes
:-(

I guess I can fill the holes and re-drill, but I was wondering if
there doesn't exist an over-size insert with a 1/4" hole in it?

Anyone have experience in this area? My Googling only produces how to
do it first time out, not how to repair.

...Jim Thompson

if I wanted to make that a good solid repair I would drill the hole out
oversize and then plug it and and redrill it to original size
router could also work if you have the proper jig.

route out a proper sized piece and then route out the plug
if you were replacing a knot in the wood it would be called a dutchman I
think.

but just a spade bit for the oversizing works well and a hole saw to cut the
plug.

Doug

 

[Guest]

my guess is that Constantines has it.
They seem to be a US mirror image of Leonard's shop
D

649&abspage=1&ccurrency=1&SID=

They'll deliver anywhere in North America at a reasonable price, money
back guarantee. Nice and often unique stuff at very good prices,
mostly for woodworkers (want to buy handles for making a pet casket or
a lift for a sewing machine?).

Unfortunately, their website is one of the worst I've ever
experienced. My printed hardware catalog wasn't at hand, so I used the
"site search" option on Google to find those items. 8-(


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

http://www.speff.com

 

[Rich The Philosophizer]

My first thought was to fill with a good wood paste, then drill a
pilot hole before fully dried. Then drill out to 1/4" when fully
hardened. But wood dough can be difficult to drill, so I'm tending
now toward the insert approach mentioned by Spehro and Clarence.

Well, I'll chime in and third the insert idea here. I'd be surprised
if you couldn't find something already made, at a well-stocked
hardware store.

Or if you want to go "fixer-upper", just plastic wood the holes
and drill new ones.

<editorial>
But heck, Jim! You're a republican! Just get a new bookcase, and
donate the busted one to the poor people! ;-)
</editorial>

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Jim Thompson]

Well, I'll chime in and third the insert idea here. I'd be surprised
if you couldn't find something already made, at a well-stocked
hardware store.

Or if you want to go "fixer-upper", just plastic wood the holes
and drill new ones.

<editorial>
But heck, Jim! You're a republican! Just get a new bookcase, and
donate the busted one to the poor people! ;-)
</editorial>

Good Luck!
Rich

Hey! You ought to know me by now... I'm cheap ;-)

...Jim Thompson

 

[Rich The Philosophizer]

Procrastinate. How about a garage-book-sale next saturday ?

Next time you're on a road trip, keep an eye out for used bricks.

;^j
Rich

 

[Rich The Philosophizer]

---
If you're going to continue to allow her to stand on the shelves, you
might want to consider getting rid of the pins altogether and
substituting them with 1/2" -> 3/4" thick supports as wide as the
shelves are deep and as tall as the separation between the shelves.
Take out the pins for the bottom shelf, place a support for each end
of the shelf at the bottom of the bookcase, against the risers, and
rest the bottom shelf on the supports. If she's going to be standing
on the next to the bottom shelf, then place a support at each end of
the bottom shelf, against the risers, and rest the next to the bottom
shelf on them. You could even secure them to the uprights of the
bookshelf with flathead wood or sheetmetal screws to make them more
secure and not depend on the weight of the books to keep them in
place.

Or you could buy a step-stool. Or find a big box... ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

if I wanted to make that a good solid repair I would drill the hole out
oversize and then plug it and and redrill it to original size
router could also work if you have the proper jig.

route out a proper sized piece and then route out the plug
if you were replacing a knot in the wood it would be called a dutchman I
think.

but just a spade bit for the oversizing works well and a hole saw to cut the
plug.

Just use a spade (or better yet, a forstner bit) that matches the O.D.
of some dowel stock*. Drill out the damaged holes and saw some plugs out
of the dowel slightly longer than the hole depth. Glue in place and sand
to match the existing surface. Redrill 1/4 inch holes.

*get some hard wood for the dowel stock. Something like 1 inch dia.

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

Or you could buy a step-stool. Or find a big box... ;-)

Hire a taller cleaning lady.

One with nice long legs and a french maid's outfit with the little
miniskirt.

 

[Doug Schultz]

Just use a spade (or better yet, a forstner bit) that matches the O.D.
of some dowel stock*. Drill out the damaged holes and saw some plugs out
of the dowel slightly longer than the hole depth. Glue in place and sand
to match the existing surface. Redrill 1/4 inch holes.

*get some hard wood for the dowel stock. Something like 1 inch dia.

if you use a dowel the grain runs the wrong way
that is why I suggested a hole saw.

Doug

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

if you use a dowel the grain runs the wrong way
that is why I suggested a hole saw.

Doug

Use brass or Delrin rod and grain won't much matter. ;-)


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Rich The Philosophizer]

Hey! You ought to know me by now... I'm cheap ;-)

Yabbut, you got more cash, so you're first beer!

%-}
Rich

 

[Rich The Philosophizer]

Hire a taller cleaning lady.

One with nice long legs and a french maid's outfit with the little
miniskirt.

This could work, but Jim, apparently, is a self-avowed cheapskate.[0]
Not that that's a _bad_ thing, of course. After all, accomplishing
the same end with the least expenditure of resources could be called
"efficiency." ;-)

Cheers!
Rich
[0] it's in another sub-tangent, never mind.

 

[Rich The Philosophizer]

Use brass or Delrin rod and grain won't much matter. ;-)

Why does this make me want to go search out "Rube Goldberg?"

;^j
Rich

 

[Daniel Haude]

["Followup-To:" header set to sci.electronics.design.]
On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 16:58:13 -0500,

Plywood is the good stuff.

There's still a difference between plywood and multiplex. Multiplex, often
called plywood in Europe, is the really good stuff, while plywood in the
US refers to the stuff that they make houses from, which is really crappy.

--Daniel

 

[Active8]

Subject: Bookcase with Shelves supported by brass pins into 1/4"
holes drilled in side walls of bookcase body (oak plywood).

Problem: Cleaning lady stands on edge of a low shelf to reach up to
dust top shelves and rips out two pins, gouging out the drilled holes
:-(

I guess I can fill the holes and re-drill, but I was wondering if
there doesn't exist an over-size insert with a 1/4" hole in it?

Anyone have experience in this area? My Googling only produces how to
do it first time out, not how to repair.

...Jim Thompson

I'd have figured a W. By God hillbilly would just fill it in with JB
Weld and then use that high falutin' drill guide to restore the hole

 

[Winfield Hill]

Active8 wrote...

I'd have figured a W. By God hillbilly would just fill it in with JB
Weld and then use that high falutin' drill guide to restore the hole

Liquid steel J-B Weld? http://www.jbweld.net/ Is that drillable?