[95025]

SPF is okay. A lot of people make "crude" furniture out of it. If it's at Home Depot, its quality is going to be pretty inconsistent. That's okay, provided you carefully select your own boards.

Any 1x12 boards - in pine or spf - aren't going to provide much strength & support as shelves.


Have you considered using 3/4" plywood? If you've got a table saw you can cut it down. It'd be much stronger, and look better (assuming you buy a decent plywood).

 

[95025]

Thanks guys. I'm just looking for simple and moderately inexpensive way to make a small 6 cube bookshelf. The longest span will only be around 2 feet. I'd be afraid that plywood would look rough as well. I chose pine because I thought it would be easier to work with than say oak (and less expensive).

Any reason it has to be 12" deep?

That said, you should be fine with SPF. Just don't expect it to look or perform like a top-end hardwood bookshelf - and you're obviously not.