It’s a project months in the making. I purchased the first MDF for it back in September, and actually got to the building of it January 5th. I got the bones of it up in a couple of weekends, and by the middle of January the painting, sanding, painting, re-sanding, and re-painting began in earnest.
Nearly four months later I’m finally finished enough to actually put a book on it (although I’m going to wait a week or so to ensure that the paint has fully cured). The paint is applied, the shelves are assembled, the grommets and shelf supports are installed, and the behemoth looks spectacular.
It’s pretty sweet looking, folks who have seen it all comment that it looks quite professional (that’s what a couple of months worth of painting, sanding and re-painting will do for you).
Here’s a cost breakdown:
| QTY | Product | Price | Total |
| 6 | 8 x 4 x 3/4″ MDF | $ 36.00 | $ 216.00 |
| 2 | 8 x 4 x 1/2 Maple Laminate | $ 64.00 | $ 128.00 |
| 1 | Roll Maple Laminate Edging | $ 20.00 | $ 20.00 |
| 8 | 8′ x 16″ x 3/4″ Pine Shelving | $ 18.00 | $ 144.00 |
| 24 | Crown Molding | $ 1.89 | $ 45.36 |
| 24 | Crown Molding (that I screwed up) | $ 1.34 | $ 32.16 |
| 24 | Baseboard | $ 1.50 | $ 36.00 |
| 2 | Poplar nosing | $ 20.80 | $ 41.60 |
| 2 | Benjamin Moore paint | $ 40.00 | $ 80.00 |
| 1 | MDF Primer | $ 20.00 | $ 20.00 |
| 1 | 5 pack napless rollers | $ 5.49 | $ 5.49 |
| 1 | 12″ napless roller | $ 7.89 | $ 7.89 |
| 1 | 4″ roller cage | $ 8.00 | $ 8.00 |
| 2 | latex caulk tubes | $ 3.49 | $ 6.98 |
| 1 | tube wood glue | $ 5.00 | $ 5.00 |
| 2 | 100 count wood screws | $ 7.00 | $ 14.00 |
| 4 | Shelf Sleeves (100 count) | $ 4.50 | $ 18.00 |
| 4 | Shelf Pegs (50 count) | $ 4.95 | $ 19.80 |
| 1 | 8′ x 16″ x 3/4″ MDF Side Wall | $ 16.00 | $ 16.00 |
| $ 864.28 |
Add another 15% for taxes, and you’re looking at around $1000.00. I figure a conservative estimate to get this thing done professionally would be around $3500.00, so I saved $2500.00 by doing it myself.
There’s a little bit more work to be done though. I need to build three sets of doors for the base, fill, prime, sand, sand, and sand them before putting a final coat on and adding the appropriate hardware. I’ll also have to paint the bottom shelves.
When I’m done with that this behemoth will be a fully armed and operational battlestation (sort of like the Death Star in Episode IV, rather than the half completed Death Star in Episode VI).
It looks absolutely fantastic Brian!
I have to admit, it is friggin’ amazing. I can’t wait to load it up with all my dictionaries, thesauruses and Today’s Parent magazines!!
Char also the cupboards along the bottom look like a good spot to tuck away old skirts and dress patterns. NO room for any hermetically sealed dolls!!!!
Action figures John…action figures.
I have lit the shelves with my action figures and they glow.. especially the Kingdom Come Flash.
Now that you’re an expert, do you think Behemoth #2 could be done in a week? I supply the materials, room and board and you come out and build one for me?
🙂
Nice work Bri!
The actual structure of the thing only took a weekend. It was the filling, sanding, priming, sanding, re-filling, sanding, caulking, sanding, re-priming, sanding, painting, sanding, re-painting, sanding, and final coat that took the longest.
Now that I also know that Rona / Home Depot will do most of the cutting FOR you, and the lessons I learned about dimensions, I’m sure I could do this again.
Hmmm, if you throw in a little granola, and let me get the mail (if you know what I’m sayin’), I just might have to take you up on that!