How to Build a Cabinet in a Shed
Shed cabinets are often built out of more sturdy material than house cabinets. This is because shed cabinets are expected to handle more abusive use and weather extremes. Often, the cabinet frame is built out of 2 by 4 inch lumber, but almost half the weight can be eliminated using 2 by 2 inch lumber instead. If you keep the project simple and sturdy, it will serve you well for storage and additional tabletop space for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Jigsaw
- Drill
- Drill bit, 1/8 inch
- Carpenter's level
- #2 Phillips screw bit
- 4 2 by 2 by 35 1/4 inch pine
- 4 2 by 2 by 45 1/4 inch pine
- 4 2 by 2 by 26 1/4 inch pine
- 2 1/8 by 30 by 35 1/4 inch plywood
- 2 1/8 by 48 by 35 1/4 inch plywood
- 1 1/8 by 29 3/4 by 47 3/4 inch plywood
- 1 3/4 by 31 1/2 by 51 inch plywood
- #2 3/4 inch wood screws
- #2 2 1/4 inch wood screws
- #2 1 1/4 inch wood screws
- 4 hinges w/ screws
- 2 knobs
Instructions
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1
Build the front of the cabinet frame by laying out a rectangle using two 45 1/4 inch pine pieces and two of the 35 1/4 inch pieces. The short pieces should butt against the inner ends of the long pieces. Attach them together using one 2 1/4 inch screw at each joint. Repeat the process for the back of the frame. Stand up one side, and attach the 26 1/4 pieces at a 90 degree angle, one at each of the four corners. Attach the other side of the frame to the other end of the 26 1/4 pieces, forming the shell of a box that measures 47 3/4 by 29 2/4 by 35 1/4 inches.
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2
Notch the four corners of the 1/8 by 29 3/4 by 47 3/4 inch plywood so that it will fit around the four upright posts. At each corner, measure 1 3/4 inches along both edges and make two lines that intersect. Cut out the squares, and then place the piece of plywood inside the cabinet frame, laying it flat on the bottom horizontal pieces of 2 by 2 pine. Attach it using 3/4 inch screws spaced every 8 inches along all four sides of the plywood.
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3
Place the two large pieces of 1/8 inch plywood on the front and back of the cabinet. Center these pieces so that 1/8 inch extends on both sides. Attach with 3/4 inch wood screws. Place the smaller pieces of plywood into the gaps on each end of the cabinet. If the pieces are too large for the opening, trim one side of each piece down only enough for it to fit into the opening. Attach the ends with 3/4 inch screws.
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4
Cut two door openings in the front panel. To do this, measure 3 inches in from the end of the cabinet, and 4 inches down. Use this point as the outside corner of the door, and mark an opening that measures 15 inches wide by 24 inches high. Repeat the process on the opposite front side, so that two rectangles have been drawn. On the outside edge of each marked rectangle, place two hinges, evenly spaced on the opening. Start the screws for the hinges, and then remove them.
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5
Use the drill bit to make a small hole in one corner of each opening, and use that hole to insert the jigsaw blade. You need to cut out the two pieces carefully, because they will form the cabinet doors. Once they have been cut out, install the hinges on the doors, and attach the hinged doors to the cabinet. Measure 2 inches in from the vertical center of the inner edge of both doors and drill a 1/8 inch hole through each. Install the knobs in these holes.
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6
Place the 3/4 inch plywood on top of the cabinet. The back edge should be flush with the sides, but the other three edges will all extend over the sides. This allows the cabinet to fit flush against a wall. Attach the cabinet top with 1 1/4 inch screws placed every 8 inches.
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Tips & Warnings
Install hook clasps on each door, or just put a large rubber band across both knobs to hold the doors closed. If you extend the back two uprights above the counter surface, it would be a great place to mount a piece of pegboard and install tool hangers. An actual countertop can be used instead of 3/4 inch plywood for more formal cabinet installations.
