How to Build a Kitchen Sink Base Cabinet
Kitchen sink cabinets are generally nothing more than a box with holes cut in the back to allow plumbing to pass through, and an opening on the front where one or more doors may be mounted. You can place a shelf inside the cabinet, but keep in mind that it must sit below the P-trap for the sink. Building a kitchen sink base-cabinet is not complicated, but it does require ample room to work and move around.
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Things You'll Need
- Work gloves
- C-clamp
- Tape measure
- Jigsaw
- Hammer
- Framing square
- Carpenter's level
- Drill with 1/4-inch bit
- One 34 x 36 x 1-inch plywood
- One 30 x 36 x 1-inch plywood
- Two 34 1/2 x 21 1/2 x 1-inch plywood
- Two 34 x 21 1/2 x 1-inch plywood
- One 36 x 4 x 1-inch plywood
- Four 1 x 1/4-inch wood dowels
- 4d finish nails
- Wood glue
Instructions
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Build a Kitchen Cabinet Base
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1
Place one 34 x 21 1/2 piece on top of the other. Line them up evenly, and clamp them tightly with a C-clamp. Measure 4 inches from one corner of the 21 1/2-inch sides. Measure in from the long side 2 1/4 inches. Cut out the rectangle with a jigsaw.
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2
Run a thin line of wood glue along the back edge of both 21 1/2-inch pieces. Butt one edge to the face edge of the 34 x 36-inch piece. The edge of the larger piece will line up with the flat outer side of the narrow one. Attach the two pieces together using finish nails, which forces the wood glue to bond, and adds additional support. Repeat the process on the other end of the large piece.
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3
Make a mark 4 3/4 inches up from the inside corners. Apply wood glue to one long edge and the end edges of one of the 34 1/2 x 21 1/2 pieces. At the front of the cabinet, the bottom of the shelf will mount flush with the top of the cut-out. On the rear of the shelf, the top of it will be mounted on the marks you made. Attach it with finish nails. Allow the glue to set for at least 4 hours.
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4
Lay the cabinet over on the back side. Apply a line of glue along all three up-turned edges. Place the 30 x 36-inch piece across the opening so that the bottom is flush with the earlier cut-out, and both ends are flush with the outer side pieces. Mark out the opening for your cabinet door, and cut it out with the jigsaw. Use the drill to make a starter hole. Inside the cabinet, measure up from the bottom shelf 12 inches and drill two holes on each side. You should only make each hole about 1/2-inch deep. Place a dowel in each hole. Cover the gap at the bottom front with the 36 x 4-inch piece of plywood.
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5
Roll the cabinet forward so that it is lying on the face. Mark the center width of the cabinet. From the bottom, measure up 16 inches and make a mark. Make two 1 1/2-inch holes, 8 inches to either side of the center. Cut a 3-inch hole at the center mark. If you are matching existing plumbing, these holes may vary according to the pipes coming out of your wall.
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6
Stand the cabinet upright. Install the final piece of plywood as a shelf on the four dowels. The cabinet box is complete, and can be painted or stained to suit your personal tastes. Some framing of the sink opening may be required, depending on the make and model of sink you plan to use. Do not install any doors until the sink has been installed.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose the sink first, and modify the sizes to accommodate your selection. Lightly sand cut edges to improve joint quality. When using wood glue in high humidity, allow 8 to 12 hours additional drying time.
