Just finished my first built-in bookshelf project

I finally got the last shelf installed and painted in my home office. It took me about three weekends total and I used about 45 feet of 1x12 pine board from the local lumber yard. I was honestly surprised I didn't have any major mistakes, especially on the crown molding. Has anyone else had a first big project go smoother than they expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

masontorres13d ago

That's awesome about the crown molding going well. My first time I cut the angles backward on three pieces before I figured it out. The real test is when you fill the nail holes and touch up the paint, that's where my seams showed. Use a tiny artist brush for that, not a foam one.

davis.dakota13d ago

Congrats on the clean build. I found using a good wood filler and letting it dry completely before sanding made a huge difference for hiding my nail holes. I sanded it flush with a fine grit block, then used a mini roller for the main paint and a small angled brush for the touch ups. That method kept the finish even and hid my mistakes pretty well.

jake_chen10d agoMost Upvoted

Remember when I tried spray paint for touch-ups and ended up with drips everywhere...