How to build a Star Wars TIE Fighter Bookshelf (Tutorial)

Step by step tutorial on how to build a Star Wars TIE fighter bookshelf. This geeky woodworking project will make the perfect gift for the Star Wars fan in your life. It is a great beginner project that can be completed within a day.

 

Since the release of The Force Awakens, whenever I brainstorm new project ideas a Star Wars related idea always comes up! Today’s project just so happens to be another Star Wars themed project; it’s a TIE fighter bookshelf!   I was able to make use of some scrap lumber I already owned.  Paint was the only item I purchased for the project.  Everything else I had on hand.  Follow along and build one for yourself or the Star Wars fan in your life.

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And, if you like this DIY, check out my tutorial for a Star Wars Marquee Wall Art Sign!

Or this tutorial on how to make a BB-8 push toy!

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A TIE fighter bookshelf

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Tools and Supplies

The following items are some of the tools and supplies I gathered to create the TIE fighter bookshelf.

Tools

• Circular saw
• Jigsaw
• Kreg Jig (for joining boards, love this tool)
• JawHorse (for securing the lumber for cutting, it’s an awesome 2nd pair of hands)
• Ruler / Straight edge
• Orbital Sander

Supplies

• Scrap lumber
  • 3/4 thick plywood 13 inches x 26 inches
  • 1×8 board 48 inches long
• Gray paint (1 pint)
• Black paint (1 pint)
• 1″ thick painter’s tape
• 1/2″ thick washi tape (I used this in place of painter’s tape)
• Wood glue
• Wood filler
• 1 1/4 inch pocket hole screws

How to build a TIE Fighter Bookshelf

One of my goals for 2016 is to learn how to use SketchUp so I can share pretty woodworking plans and diagrams.

Step 1:  Cut the wood to the appropriate sizes

First up, take the piece of plywood and cut it in half.  You should have two 13 inch squares.  I used my mini circular with a track guide to cut the plywood down to the appropriate lengths.

You will also cut the 1×8 board in half.  This will leave you with two pieces at 24 inches long.

Step 2:  Cut out the TIE fighter wing shape

The TIE fighter wings are shaped sorta like a hexagon.  I used a jigsaw to cut out the shape.  Draw a few lines on the pieces of plywood to mark where the jigsaw blade should follow along.

1. Draw a line from the mid-point of each side
2. Measure 2 inches from a corner, and create a line from that point to a mid-point

Step 3:  Drill pocket holes.

I really like pocket hole joints. They’re really easy to make and very sturdy.  I used my Kreg Jig to create several pocket holes.

• I created 3 pocket holes on the length of one of the 1×8 boards.
• I created 2 pocket holes on each side of the 1×8 boards.

Step 4:  Sand the lumber!

Spend some time cycling through different grits of sand paper.   I used my orbital sander equiped with sandpaper grits of 60, 80, 100, 120, and 220.

Step 5:  Paint the bookshelf

Once sanding is complete, prime the bookshelf.  Once the primer is dry, paint the shelf with a base coat of gray.

Painting the TIE Fighter Wings

1. With the 1 inch painter’s tape, tape the border of the TIE fighter wing.
2. Use the tape to connect opposing corners
3. Use the tape to create a small hexagon-like shape at the intersection of all the tape lines
4. Cover the uncovered areas with black paint

Repeat these steps for each side of the wings.

Painting the TIE Fighter Cockpit

1. Draw the shape of a semi-circle in the center of the 1×8 boards.
   • Imagine the boards are joined at 90 degrees, the circle’s midpoint is at the center of the joint
   • When the boards are joined, one side will be 3/4 longer than the other
   • On the board that does not have pocket holes lengthwise, offset the semi-circle by 3/4 inch.
2. Draw the shape of a octagon in the center of the previously drawn circle
   • On the board that does not have pocket holes lengthwise, offset the octagon by 3/4 inch as well.
3. With 1/2 thick painter’s tape (I actually used some washi tape) mask off from each point on the octagon to the outer circle.   (See picture below)
4. Paint the uncovered areas within the circle with black paint

The diameter of the outer circle is 10″.  The width of the inner octagon is 4 1/4″ and the length of each side is 1 5/8″.

You could skip this step because books will probably cover the cockpit, but I think it adds a really nice touch.

Step 6:  Assemble the shelf

You can assemble the shelf before painting.  I painted half, then assembled and painted the remaining half.

Join the 1×8 boards at 90 degrees.  Attach the shelf to each wing.  I winged it on joining the shelf to wings.

I covered my pocket holes with wood filler, but pocket holes are not visible from the front.

Step 7:  Seal the project

Finally, coat the shelf with your favorite sealer.

The TIE Fighter Bookshelf

The bookshelf cost me roughly 7 bucks!  That was the cost of the paint.  This was great use of some leftover lumber and it’s bringing a bit of much needed order to my son’s book collection.

If you build a TIE fighter bookshelf, please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @handmadewithashley or Twitter @handmadewithash.   I’d love to see your pictures!

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Reader Projects

Tie Fighter bookshelves are perfect for DVD storage. Made enough pieces for 2 more, just saying….. Visit @handmadewithash for tutorial. #265design #starwars #tiefighter

A photo posted by J.Cammarata (@265design) on Sep 9, 2016 at 6:16pm PDT