Could use some general assistance with a game shelf (bookcase) I want to build...

[fallow rock]

First of all I want to say thank you to anyone who reads or assists me as I really appreciate it.

My ultimate hope would be to make this bookcase/game shelf and have some sort of way to have my controllers on the side of it where they can be charged (though I'm really not expecting myself to get that on my first actual project.)

Dimensions would be 32 h x 36 l x 10 d.

Would be just used to hold game cases with the disks in them. My plan is to use 1/2 inch thick wood for each piece so the final structure isn't crazy heavy.

I don't have a way to make dados but I am considering finding a way to do so for each shelf though my issue there is the center vertical piece since I would have to find a way to make dados on both sides for the shelves.

It's a lot but thank you for reading and offering advice.

[low marlin]

• What tools do you have?
• Are you planning on hardwood or plywood
• Are you looking for utilitarian or do you care about it being attractive

Routers can be a relatively inexpensive way to make dados. Harbor Freight around where I live has inexpensive ones. You can probably also find second hand ones pretty much anywhere for cheap. Just make sure it runs and doesn't make grinding noises.

If you don't mind oval shaped plugs, or exposed screws... pocket holes are pretty accessible and an easy intro to woodworking.

You could "solve" the problem with needing to dado your shelves on both sides of the middle divider by instead having each shelf go full width and then just insert shorter dividers between the shelves.

You could then turn a problem into a feature by offsetting the dividers so they were not stacked on top of each other. Then your cubbies wouldn't all be the same size but you'd not have access to nailing or screwing the dividers from top and bottom.

[fallow rock]

Wood wise I am mostly just hoping to use something that isn't incredibly expensive. I'm fairly indifferent (due to lack of knowledge about wood in general) whether its hardwood or plywood.

I have access to a large collection of different tools and I do have one of those pocket hole jigs. Unfortunately out of all the tools my dad had before he passed away, it seems he didn't have a router or table saw (which surprised me). to answer the last question I would definitely like for it to be a mix of the two since it will be in my living room.