Hi! Do you want to reconfigure the shelf placement or do you want to refinish the piece and leave the shelves in the place where they are?

@ericalynn523 To make tthis bookshelf versatile, I'd like to divide it into two equal pieces that can be used either side-by-side, one on topof the other,, caddy-corner in a corner, or in two separate areas. . I dont know what kind of wood is underneath. it is heavy, but my plan is to strip the many layers of paint using a heat gun and repaint.

To divide it, you will have to cut it apart. It is one piece across the top and one piece across the bottom. The only way to do what you are asking is to rebuild it. It is not two bookcases sitting side by side. Are you willing to take it apart, cut it up, and rebuild it?

Its quite a bit of work, to divide it into two units. Might be easier to just make or buy two new ones.

What are you trying to accomplish? what is the planned use? For example, is your end goal just for display or do you need closed storage?

@hollybar I'd like to divide it into two equal pieces that can be used either side-by-side, one on topof the other,, caddy-corner in a corner, or in two separate areas. i'd use it for books. Its just too big as is.

@cat_ky I hate the thought of wasting lumber.

@remodeling1840 Yes. I know I need a new piece to close in on side. Once the top, sides and shelves are separated, do I need to completely disassemble the bottom or could it be cut as is?

The neatest, most accurate way would be to completely disassemble. And you must do the math-if you don’t take off the top and the bottom to cut them exactly in half, the two bookcases will not be the same size. You are not allowing for the thickness of the new side piece in your calculations so far. Draw it out, complete with dimensions, before you take it apart. Then you will easily see what needs to be done. You can’t just cut the top and bottom at the left of the center support-that is not true halfway. Use your metal tape measure so you can see.

@cat_ky Aaah. I see what you mean. Okay Thank you very much for your help. it will be a while before I start this project but I will post results.

Thank you @remodeling1840.