This project was built and designed by Keaton Beyer. It’s a clean, modern bookcase that uses sliding dovetail joints for both strength and visual appeal—making it a great project for woodworkers looking to level up their joinery skills.
Keaton walks through every stage of the build, from prepping rough lumber to overcoming common mistakes during assembly. The project is a reminder that patience and adaptability are just as important as precision.
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Starting With the Right Prep
The lumber used for this build was sourced directly from a sawmill, meaning it came in rough condition. Before anything could be cut to size, the boards had to be flattened, squared, and planed.
Keaton starts by cutting everything a little longer than needed. This allows for more flexibility when trimming and helps ensure cleaner edges after surfacing.
Milling and Layout
Each board is passed through the planer with careful attention to grain direction. Running the wood the wrong way can cause tearout, so Keaton checks each board to determine the smoothest pass.
Once surfaced, the boards are trimmed to their final lengths using a table saw and miter gauge. Accurate layout lines are marked, setting the foundation for the sliding dovetail joinery.
Cutting Sliding Dovetails
One of the standout features of this build is the use of sliding dovetail joints to hold the shelves in place. Keaton routes matching grooves into the bookcase sides and shelves, ensuring a snug mechanical fit.
He encounters a small mistake early on—routing past the stop line on one groove. Rather than scrapping the part, he drills reference holes in the rest to avoid repeating the error. It’s a small adjustment that shows how to recover gracefully during a build.
Testing the Fit Before Assembly
Before cutting into the final pieces, Keaton uses test boards to dial in the fit of the dovetail joints. This step helps avoid unnecessary rework and makes it easier to get the right pressure fit during final assembly.
He also uses a Japanese pull saw to clean up cuts with precision. By watching the blade’s reflection, he ensures his cuts remain straight—a great technique for anyone using hand tools.
Assembling the Bookcase
With all the joints cut and test-fitted, Keaton moves on to assembly. He applies glue to the dovetail slots and slides the shelves into place, clamping everything square while the glue sets.
Partway through, he realizes one of the shelves is flipped incorrectly. Because the glue hasn’t set yet, he’s able to fix the mistake quickly—another reminder that dry fitting can prevent larger issues.
Handling Tight Fits
The final shelf is a tight squeeze, and Keaton uses a mallet to carefully persuade it into position. Even with precise cuts and good planning, tolerances can vary slightly, so having a plan for last-minute adjustments is helpful.
He double-checks everything for square and clamps the case securely. The structure starts to take shape, and the strength of the sliding dovetails becomes clear.
Finishing the Case
After the glue-up, Keaton focuses on sanding. While it’s not the most exciting part of the process, sanding is key to achieving a clean, consistent finish.
Using sanding blocks with different profiles, he works through hard-to-reach areas and sharp edges. This attention to detail ensures a smooth surface without softening the modern, square-edge look of the design.
Fixing Routing Errors
At one point, Keaton realizes he accidentally routed the wrong edge on a shelf. Rather than scrap it, he adjusts the design slightly to work around the issue.
Mistakes like this are part of the process, and Keaton’s ability to pivot without restarting the whole piece is a great example of real-world woodworking problem-solving.
A Showcase of Joinery and Skill
This bookcase build is a clean, modern design that also serves as a joinery showcase. The sliding dovetail construction provides solid structure without visible fasteners, resulting in a minimalist and sturdy final product.
It’s the kind of project that pushes both planning and technique. And as Keaton shows, even experienced builders run into challenges—what matters most is how you work through them.
Please support Keaton, but visiting his website: https://www.keatonbeyerwoodworking.com/.