A cabinet is an essential element in our home. it is a place where we store foods, clothes, and things. Pests and insects could not destroy our things. Cabinets are one of our needs. But do you know that we could make it instead of buying.
There are tips on making a cabinet. First is the layout technique. We should draw first. Putting our idea in sketches is a big help. Knowing how it could fit into our home or workshop would make the work easier. So, we have to have a good layout. Next is the best use of sheet stock. We should think in terms of materials. We should know its prices. And consider different kinds of woods. We should know what was cheaper but has good quality. We should know what works best. Next is gluing secrets. Our cabinets should not fall from bumping forces. The gluing must be firm. We must make sure of that. Last is clamping techniques. We should be sure that its hinges are not noisy. And ensure it was well-assembled.
We must first measure the area where we want to build the cabinet. Look around your house. Look at your kitchen. Decide which features you want to put in. Do you want open shelves or not? Do you want high cabinets or base cabinets? Do you want to put it in the center? Or in the middle? Use your drawing. Measure and plot in the empty spaces. Fit there where you could put the cabinets.
We should consider the height of people. Standard cabinets measure 36” high. Just make sure you can reach comfortably in and out through it. Wall cabinets are 18” higher. There are higher cabinets. Those that measure 90” high. It was the one that reach up to the ceiling.
Materials needed for cabinet making is here as follows:
- plywood for sides, bottoms, and for designs – solid wood for door panels
- choice woods for frames and front
- drawer slides for drawer – cabinet hinges for doors, depending on your design – 1” hole screws
- table saw for cutting wood
- drill- a hole jig, all kinds will work
Here are the steps in making a cabinet:
Step 1: Cut the panels
Cut the plywood into the measured pieces using the table saw. The preferable size of plywood is 3⁄4”. You must cut the side panels and bottom panels. You must use a sharp blade. It is necessary to produce good cuts.
Step 2: Cut the front pieces
Cut a 1” x 6” wood. It would be the front panels of the cabinet. You should pick quality boards. Using pocket holes, cut the face of the frame.
Step 3: Begin to assemble
Fix the frames together. Attach each one with pocket holes. Put the pocket holes inside the side panels. Be sure it could not be exposed. Like inside the cabinet. Holes should not be visible. The assembly must be clean. Secure the bottom panels with pocket holes. Place it on the bottom. Hide the holes. Screw the perimeter’s surface to give support. Make things accessible. Put trays in between. It would add up storage and would be a design.
Step 4: Building the door and drawer
The ideal size of plywood for the door is 1⁄4”. The drawer is 3⁄4” thick. It was with 3/8” plywood. Glue it to the bottom. To mount the drawer, follow your sketched design. Be sure to make everything fit.
All the door rails should fit the plywood sheet. Test it to know if it would slide. You can use glue in the interior panel if you do not use solid wood.
Step 5: Apply finish
You can have the cabinet painted. Choose the right color. Use quality paints. Paint its interior and exterior. Sand it first. Spray paints with a good finish. Then finally, install the door hinges. And you have made a cabinet!
Cabinets now are pricey. It can cost $200 to $5000. We can save money. Do the cabinet making. List all you need. Pick from kinds of woods that are available in the market. We can consider veneer plywood or melamine particle-board. Use our home tools. You can watch videos or read magazines. We could have the skill necessary in cabinet making. Who knows? We could at least try for the sake of our home. Have a happy day, and enjoy making your cabinet!