How to Build a Drawer Cabinet

A drawer cabinet can be used in any room in your house forstorage. You can build a drawer cabinet yourself using plans or you can use an old cabinet for reference.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• 3/4-inch plywood
• 1/2-inch plywood
• 1/4-inch plywood
• Table saw
• Circular saw
• Straight edge
• Dado blade
• Wood glue
• Finish nails
• Nail gun

Instructions

Measure and Cut Material

1. Measure an existing cabinet to determine the dimensions or size of cabinet that you want to build with a tape measure. Measure the height and width of each side as well as the top.

2. Transfer these measurements to 3/4-inch sheets of plywood and make a mark on each sheet where it will need to be cut.

3. Cut each sheet of plywood with the table saw following the marks you made.

4. Measure and mark on the insides of the cabinet sides where the shelf will be located.

5. Place a dado blade on the table saw to cut the groove for the shelf out of the sides of the drawer cabinet. A dado blade will cut a channel or groove through the plywood. Set the depth of the dado blade to 1/4 inch.

6. Cut a groove in each board using the table saw with the dado blade.

7. Measure the drawer opening on the existing cabinet and add 1/2 inch to the width and height for the drawer face.

8. Transfer the measurements to a piece of 1/2-inch plywood and make an outline with a pencil. Cut out the drawer face out of the wood using the circular saw.

9. Cut a groove 1/4 inch deep that is 1/2 inch from each end on the inside of the drawer face using the table saw with the dado blade.

10. Measure the width, depth and height of the drawer opening and transfer these measurements to a piece of plywood. Make an outline using a pencil for the sides and back of the drawer.

11. Cut out the sides of the drawer using a circular saw.

12. Cut a groove 1/4 inch deep that is 1/2 inch from the end of each piece of wood that will be used for the sides of the drawer.

13. Measure the width and length of the bottom of an existing drawer with the tape measure.

14. Transfer the measurements to a 1/4-inch piece of plywood and make an outline with a pencil for the drawer bottom.

15. Cut out the drawer bottom out of the plywood using the table saw.

Assemble the Cabinet

1. Apply wood glue to the edges on both sides of the plywood that is going to be the back of the drawer cabinet.

2. Place the sides of the cabinet so that they are flush against the bottom piece and secure the sections together with nails using the nail gun.

3. Apply glue to the top edges of the bottom and sides of the cabinet.

4. Place the top piece so that it is flush on each side and then secure it with nails using the nail gun.

5. Insert the shelf into the grooves on the inside of the cabinet.

Assemble the Drawer

1. Apply wood glue inside the groove on both pieces of wood that are going to be used for the sides of the drawer.

2. Place the back side of the drawer into the grooves and secure the pieces of wood together with finish nails using the nail gun.

3. Turn the drawer over and place the drawer bottom on top. Secure the bottom of the drawer to the sides and the back with finish nails using the nail gun.

4. Apply wood glue into the grooves on the drawer face and then place it onto the ends of the pieces of wood at the front of the drawer.

Tips & Warnings

• Wood glue will provide a stronger bond to hold the wood together than just using nails.

• If a dado blade is not used to create grooves for the shelf and drawers they will not hold together properly.

References

• Build a Hanging Wall Cabinet
• Some Basics of Building Cabinets