Recycled Cardboard Bookshelf - Laser Cut and Handwork

This time, I decided to build a large bookshelf, combining computer design and hand craft.

Some of the manual cutting can be done with a laser cutting machine for maximum precision.

The criss-cross spine-and-joints construction provides stability, making use of the cardboard’s innate qualities, and enables to build strong furniture. The cardboard is easy to cut, allowing creation of basically any shape you want. The furniture is lightweight and easily portable, and the materials are widely available and reusable.

Designed by Vered Rosenfeld

* Corrugated Cardboard: You might have to go searching around for suitable cardboard sources or have to be creative with your design to fit your Cardboard's limitations. I was able to make mine with cardboard that was used to pack a refrigerator.

* Hot glue

* Water tape

* Brown wrapping paper

* Wallpaper glue

On onshape.com, I designed two sizes of notched joints, according to the height and width of the bookshelf and its sections.

I laser-cut the joints.

I hand-cut the bookshelf’s façade, inner spine, and backing. The façade and inner spine have cut-outs for the various shelves and nooks, while the back is without cut-outs.

I notched the inner spine to prepare it for the notched joints that will give the bookshelf its stability.

I inserted the joints into the notches along the inner spine, and then hot-glued them to the bookshelf’s front and back.

I sealed the bookshelf all around its sides using relatively pliable cardboard.

I sealed all the inside surfaces using more rigid cardboard plates, cut to size. (This is also something you can laser-cut if you want better precision)

I sealed all the edges using water tape.

For the pre-finish, I coated the entire bookshelf with brown wrapping paper, using wallpaper glue.

For the finish, you have your choice of paint, lacquer, or colored paper. I chose lacquer.

I also handcrafted two drawers, using hot glue, water tape, white wrapping paper, and lacquer.