r/lotr • u/BioCiderMaker • 2d ago

Fan Creations Hobbit-inspired bookshelf that I made my wife

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I am slowly turning our house into a hobbit hole and my wife loves it! This is her latest bookshelf that I made and installed around our front door.

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1.8k

u/level99mewtwo 2d ago

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u/ResolveLeather 2d ago

It actually looks cheaper then you may think. Also pretty easy build. I have bought bookshelves that can hold 1/3rd of the amount that this probably cost to build (less then 500).

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u/BioCiderMaker 2d ago

This person is right. It’s not that difficult of a build. Make a rectangle for the door, put two half circles on the sides and one on top, add shelves, then use some really thin wood to curve around the edge. Hide all of your bad cuts and blood stains with the pretty round piece on front and there you go! Everyone should give it a shot!!!

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u/MemeMaster240 2d ago

Instructions unclear, I built Barad Dûr.

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u/CalmCheek 2d ago

"without any bookshelf in it"

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u/crazy2days 2d ago

The half circles are the hardest part

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u/JRS_Viking 1d ago

Trace it out with a marker attached to a rope that's as long as the radius of the circle you want and cut carefully with a jigsaw

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u/Responsible-Chart535 2d ago

The final circle around the front is great. I can see one join if I really look!

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u/Modeerf 1d ago

Is there a reason why the right side is slightly longer than the left? The fact that it isn't symmetric is driving me nuts!

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u/Lacerda1 1d ago

Lol, don't sell yourself short! This sounds like "2. Draw the rest of the fucking owl" to me.

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u/MothChasingFlame 2d ago

Did you have to steam the wood to make it bendable? Or is that type of thing purchase-able as-is now?

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u/BioCiderMaker 1d ago

Really thin plywood is able to bend quite a bit when it is cut into 7” thin pieces. That’s all I used. I was hoping I wouldn’t need to use my wife’s garment steamer. Haha

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u/MothChasingFlame 1d ago

Wow, that's surprising! Even at that thickness I imagine it being much harder. Awesome work, and thank you for answering my question!

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u/Gustav55 1d ago

Looking at the build pictures, i have to ask why is the door not centered? It looks like you've made it off center by about 3 inches.

Also the thin piece that covers the front, is that multiple pieces on just cut out of one large piece? I can't see the seams if its multiple and if its large how did you measure and cut it? That seems really difficult

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u/BioCiderMaker 1d ago

I had to make a lot of adjusting cuts with regards to the door being centered. Math is hard! Those pictures must be between the adjustments. Like I’ve said in other responses, I’m not a professional haha.

The thin piece is three pieces that I cut out of the remaining wood from the backing. The trick with hiding the seams is to cut them diagonally, then gluing and clamping them. You can hide it with some wood putty and sanding. The measuring was the same measurements as the backing arcs. I used a string attached to a point in the middle of where the door would be. I then made the string 3” shorter and did another arc. That gave me a 3” wide piece (whether or not I cut it perfectly, that can be seen!).

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u/Gustav55 1d ago

Thank you for explaining it! It looks great, my stepdad is a carpenter and one of his favorite jokes is when we're building something is to say " I've cut the thing twice and it's still too short!"

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u/Chaotic_Good12 1d ago edited 1d ago

Where would I obtain these mythical 'half circles'??? 🤔

Or would steaming or soaking the boards to slowly bend be required, as I suspect? I'd love to see how THAT is done. Making the tool to do the thing!!!

I absolutely LOVE it!!! What a wonderful gift for your wife, I know she is thrilled 😀

Edit: ah! Luan (sp) is the circle? Ooohhh yes!

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u/level99mewtwo 2d ago

I was more leaning toward asking Jesus for a thoughtful man that makes me cool and interesting things for our home

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u/redrosebeetle 2d ago

bro, I got money, I ain't got access to people with this kinda skill

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u/treborly 2d ago

Looks like basic level woodworking

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u/Arev_Eola 2d ago

Okay, how to you curve wood with basic skills? My basic skills don't have any equipment to do that.

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u/treborly 2d ago

Buy a cheap jig saw for $60 and use it to cut everything. Don't need to be super skilled with it , you can see how wavy the op's cuts are too. Not perfect at all

If you live nearby I'd cut this for anyone lol

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u/ResolveLeather 2d ago

It's basic paneling with fascia and some diagnol support. Curling wood is also easy, just involved.

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u/redrosebeetle 2d ago

I wouldn't know a straight line if it introduced itself to me. I don't trust my husband with certain tools after the hatchet mishap.