Making Kitchen Cabinets
Constructing your own kitchen cabinets may sound like a daunting task but if you can measure and use a saw then you can build a cabinet. A cabinet is simply the construction of a rectangle or square with a door attached. The best part about constructing your own cabinets is that the dimensions are not limited to what you have to purchase. This allows you to construct them to fit into your kitchen. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Wood, one inch thick (oak or pine is a good choice)
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Straight edge
- Circular saw
- Wood planks two inches wide by one inch thick (Amount depends on number of cabinets)
- Wood glue
- Micro fiber board (Amount depends on cabinet)
- Power drill with a Phillip's head bit
- 1 and 1/2 inch Wood screws with Phillip's heads
- Sandpaper (120 grit)
- Hinges
Instructions
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1
Measure the board and cut. For the sake of this tutorial we will build a cabinet that measures 30 inches high, 12 inches deep and 18 inches wide. You will need to cut two lengths of wood 18 inches long by 12 inches wide. You then need to cut two sections of wood 30 inches long and 12 inches wide.
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2
Apply glue to the top edges of the two 30 inch long boards. Place one of the boards on a flat level surface. Push the edge of the 18 inch board onto the glue line. Line up the edge ends. Drill a wood screw into the top of the smaller board into the longer board about one inch from one of the corners. Insert at least three screws counting the one you have already inserted, one every six inches. Repeat this process with each of the sides of the cabinet until they are finished.
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3
Cut the micro fiber board into a sheet of wood 30 by 18 inches. Flip the cabinet frame over and apply glue to the edges. Apply glue to the edges that will be at the back of the cabinet. Place the particle board onto the cabinet and screw in the corners. Place screws in the middle of the cabinet edges. Since this does not support anything it does not need to be as solid.
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4
Flip the cabinet onto its back. Cut two, 2 inch by 1 inch boards that are 28 inches long. Measure 8 inches from the top of the cabinet and bottom edge of the cabinet. Mark both spots with the pencil. Apply a stripe of glue from edge to edge. Place the two boards onto the glue and push down. You want the two inch portion to be flat against the back of the cabinet. Screw the boards into place by inserting a screw into the end of each of the boards. This is done from the outside edges.
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5
Cut three pieces of the 2 by 1 boards. Two of them will be thirty inches long and the other will 14 inches long. Apply glue to the inside of the outer edge of the cabinet leaving the bottom edge of the cabinet cleared. Place the two 30 inch slats against the glue on the long edges. Insert screws from the outside every 12 inches and the an inch from each corner. Place the shorter piece into the top of the cabinet and screw it into place. What you have now is a cabinet.
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6
Measure the length and width of the opening and cut another piece of the wood (This is the oak or pine). Make sure that your cut is 1 inch wider and longer than the opening. This gives a better seal for the door. Sand down the edges when you are finished.
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7
Attach the hinges to the door with the included screws. Use the power drill. Make sure that they are six inches from the top and bottom of the door. Screws the hinges into the front of the cabinet making sure that you are overhanging 1/2 an inch on the top, bottom, and both sides.
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