Free Plan: 1912 Mission Book Trough
Five parts, eight wedges, no glue — a book trough you build in one afternoon and knock apart flat to move.
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- PDF plan
- Material & cut list
- Step-by-step
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The plan's yours to keep — build it whenever. But if you liked this one, here's the next step most builders take from here.
Download didn't start? Get the plan here.Liked cutting that curve? Here are 101 more
101 Easy Scroll Saw Patterns is a set of ready-to-cut, hand-drawn patterns — scenes, birds, wall art, clocks, and Christmas ornaments. Pick one, trace it, cut to the line, and you've got a finished gift by the afternoon. It's the natural next step after the curved cutout on this trough.
See the 101 patterns → →Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It doesn't cost you extra.
No glue on this one. The 1912 Mission book trough holds itself together with eight wooden wedges — the same locking joint that's held hand-tool handles and workbenches together for centuries. It's 35 inches wide, holds a couple dozen books upright, and knocks apart flat when you need to move it.
Five parts, one afternoon: two ends, a center board, two sides, and the wedges. It's one of the simplest furniture builds in the shop, and with a contrasting wood for the wedges it makes a standout gift for any book lover.
This plan is from 1912, redrawn into a clear cut list and step-by-step build.
Project at a Glance
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Main materials
- Oak or chestnut, contrasting wedges (e.g. walnut)
- Build time
- One afternoon
- Tools needed
- Drill (3/4" bit), chisel & mallet, jigsaw, sandpaper
- Page count
- 8-page PDF
Before you cut:
Drill and chisel all the mortises in one setup so every wedge clamps tight instead of rattling loose — consistent mortises are what make a no-glue joint hold. Get that right and the trough is stronger than half the glued-up furniture in the house.
There's one decorative cut on this build: the curved cutout at the base of each end piece. It's the part that takes the trough from "shelf" to "furniture" — and it's also your first taste of scroll work: following a drawn line through a curve with a thin blade.
If you like how that curve turns out, there's a whole world of small projects in it — ornaments, wall art, clock faces, little gifts that come together in an afternoon.
Recommended Next Step
Liked cutting that curve? Here are 101 more
101 Easy Scroll Saw Patterns is a set of ready-to-cut, hand-drawn patterns — scenes, birds, wall art, clocks, and Christmas ornaments. Pick one, trace it, cut to the line, and you've got a finished gift by the afternoon. It's the natural next step after the curved cutout on this trough.
101 Easy Scroll Saw Patterns
101 ready-to-cut, hand-drawn scroll saw patterns (PDF download) — from first cut to finished gift in one afternoon.
Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It doesn't cost you extra.
Start with the free plan
Download the book trough plan, build it at your own pace, and pick up the scroll saw patterns when you're ready for more small projects. The plan is yours either way.