Build a Sudbury Storage Cabinet

A Cabinet with Drawers, Shelving and Doors

This easy to build cabinet is perfect for storage anywhere in the house. The plans to build a Sudbury storage cabinet feature three drawers and three shelves, with doors that can have Plexiglas or punched aluminum as the panels in the frames. More than one of this shallow cabinet can also be built to fill a wall or large area.

Materials:

• 1-1/2″ pocket hole screws
• 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws
• 2″ brad nails
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• 1-1/4″ screws
• Edge banding
• Three sets of 12″ drawer slides (<– affiliate link!)
• Two sets of outside mount hinges
• Plexiglas or punched aluminum for the door panels (<– affiliate link!)
• Wood Glue
• Sandpaper (80, 120, 220 grits)
• Finishing Supplies

Lumber:

• 4 – 1×2 at 8′
• 3 – 1×6 at 8′
• 6 – 2×2 at 8′
• 1 – 2′ x 4′ sheet of 1/4″ plywood
• 2 – 4′ x 8′ sheets of 3/4″ plywood

Cut List:

• 4 – 2×2 at 74″ – Sides
• 4 – 2×2 at 13-1/2″ – Sides
• 2 – 3/4″ plywood at 13-1/2″ x 64″ – Side Panels
• 4 – 2×2 at 25″ – Upper and Lower Framing
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 13-1/2″ x 25″ – Bottom
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 25″ x 64″ – Back
• 2 – 1×2 at 25″ – Lower Stretchers
• 3 – 3/4″ plywood at 14″ x 25″ – Shelves
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 17″ x 29″ – Top
• 6 – 1×6 at 12″ – Drawer Box Sides
• 6 – 1×6 at 22-1/2″ – Drawer Box Front and Back
• 3 – 1/4″ plywood at 12″ x 24″ – Drawer Box Bottoms
• 3 – 3/4″ plywood at 6-3/4″ x 24-3/4″ – Drawer Fronts
• 4 – 1×2 at 63-3/4″ – Door Framing
• 6 – 1×2 at 9-5/16″ – Door Framing

Notes About the Project:

• Sand all pieces prior to assembly
• Apply edge banding to the exposed edges of the plywood before assembly
• Use hinges that will mount on the outside of the doors so that the doors will open wide enough for the drawers to clear!

Step One

Cut the pieces for the side framing and the side panels. With the pocket hole jig set for 1-1/2″ material, drill pocket holes in each end of the shorter framing pieces. Assemble the frame using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Set the pocket hole jig for 3/4″material and drill pocket holes in all four edges of the side panels. Secure the panels in the frames using glue and 1-1/2″ pocket hole screws. The back face of the panel will be flush with the back face of the framing.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the framing stretchers. Set the pocket holes jig for 1-1/2″ material and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the framing to the side assemblies as shown using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Step Three

Cut the piece for the bottom. Set the pocket hole jig for 3/4″ material and drill pocket holes in all four edges of the piece. Secure the bottom between the lower framing stretchers using glue and 1-1/2″ pocket hole screws. The top face of the bottom will be flush with the top face of the lower framing stretchers.

Step Four

Cut the piece for the back and drill pocket holes in all four edges. Secure the back to the rear side legs using glue and 1-1/2″ pocket hole screws. The back face (with the pocket holes) of the back panels will meet the side panels at the corners (the outside face will be set back from the back face of the legs).

Step Five

Cut the pieces for the 1×2 lower stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Secure the stretchers to the lower front of the side panels locating them 1″ back from the front edge.

Step Six

Cut the pieces for the shelves and drill pocket holes in each end as well as one long edge. Secure the shelves to the sides and back as shown, using glue and 1-1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Step Seven

Cut the piece for the top. The front and sides of the top will overhang by 1/2″. Secure the top in place using glue and 2″ brad nails.

Step Eight

Cut the pieces for the drawer boxes and the drawer bottoms. Assemble the drawers using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Secure the bottoms to the drawer boxes using 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, locating them 3/4″ back from the front face of the opening. Here is an easy tutorial on installing drawer slides!

Step Nine

Cut the pieces for the drawer fronts and cut the notches with a jigsaw. Position the drawer front in the opening with a 1/8″ gap around all sides. Secure the drawer front in place using 1-1/4″ brad nails. Open the drawer, then secure the drawer front from the inside using 1-1/4″ screws.

Step Ten

Cut the pieces for the door frames and drill pocket holes in each end of the shorter pieces. Assemble the frames using glue and 1-1/2″ pocket hole screws. If using Plexiglas or decorative aluminum as the door panels, cut the pieces to overlap the openings and secure in place using short screws (Pre-drill the holes in the Plexiglas).

Install the hinges on the doors, then install the doors in the opening. There will be a 1/8″ gap around all sides as well as in between.

Finish as desired.

Have questions about the plans to build a Sudbury storage cabinet? Leave a comment below!