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DIY Drill Storage Cabinet
I've been chasing my drills, bits, and drivers around the shop for far too long.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time
- 5.5–10.5 hours
- Cost
- $$
Cut list
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back | 1 | 3/4" × 27 1/4" × 30" | — | ☐ |
| Top/Shelves | 3 | 3/4" × 11" × 27 1/4" | — | ☐ |
| Sides | 2 | 3/4" × 11 3/4" × 30" | — | ☐ |
| Bottom | 1 | 3/4" × 11" × 27 1/4" | — | ☐ |
| French Cleat | 6 | 3/4" × 1 3/4" × 27 1/4" | — | ☐ |
| Door | 1 | 3/4" × 19" × 28 3/4" | — | ☐ |
Materials
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Plywood, 3/4" Thick Full Sheet | 1 board | ☐ |
| Euro Style Hinge | 2 each | ☐ |
| 1-1/4" Coarse Pocket Hole Screws | 40 each | ☐ |
| Handle | 1 each | ☐ |
| 220 Grit Disc (optional) | 2 each | ☐ |
| Edge Banding 26' (optional) | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools
- Drill / Driver
- Impact Driver
- Miter Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Random Orbit Sander
- Router
- Table Saw
- Bar / Pipe Clamps — optional
- Combination Square — optional
- Tape Measure — optional
Instructions
1. Cutting Parts
Follow the cut sheet to break down the single sheet of plywood needed for this project. For the french cleats, I first cut 3" wide pieces at 24-3/4" long. I then set the blade to 45° and ripped them into two equal halves. I used a table saw and miter saw for this process, but a circular saw could certainly handle this first step with some careful planning!
2. Pocket Holes
Next I broke out my K5 and drilled pocket holes as detailed in the plans.
3. Attach Back and Sides
For assembly, I used 1-1/4" coarse pocket hole screws. I used bar clamps to hold the cabinet together during the process, but the 90° Corner Clamp or Right Angle Clamp would both work well! The first step is to assemble the back and sides together.
4. Add Shelves
Next I added the shelves as located in the plans.
5. Assemble Top and Drill Holder
Now I'll attach the top with the pocket holes facing up and the drill holder with the pocket holes facing down.
6. Cabinet Hardware
Using my concealed hinge jig, I drill for the cabinet hinges in the door. With that done, I install the hinges.
7. Install French Cleats
This is the ideal time to install the french cleats in the cabinet and door. I like to glue and nail these in place with 1-1/4" brads. The location of these cleats is completely up to you. Just make sure the door will close before you secure the cleats on the door!
8. Hanging Cabinet
There are several options to hang this cabinet, but I opted to simply secure it directly into studs. With my wife's help, we located and secured the cabinet in place with 3" construction screws.
9. Install Door
What I love about the euro hinges is how easy it is to put the doors on. Simply line up the hinge with the mounting clips and snap them into place! With the door installed, add a handle of your choosing.
10. Make Tool Holders
These can be as simple or complex as you like. The simplest tool holder is a block of wood with holes in it to store things like counter sinks, Forstner bits, or any other collection of things you need to organize. I then use glue and 1-1/4" brad nails to secure these blocks to a piece of French cleat.
11. Finished!
The finished cabinet comes in at 30" tall, 28-3/4" wide, and 11-3/4" deep. You can adjust this design to fit just about any space, but these dimensions worked best for me and only used one 4'x8' sheet of 3/4" plywood! I hope you enjoyed the project. Let me know if you have any questions and until next time, have fun making somethin'!
12. Make Drill Holder
I measure out the spacing required for my drills and then drill a 1-3/4" circle at the end of each slot. Next, I make straight cuts to connect the dots. Make sure to measure the tools you'll be storing and size appropriately for your cabinet!
13. Hinge Mounting Plate
Draw layout lines and transfer the hinge position from the door to inside the cabinet. Then simply run the provided screws into the mounting plate to secure it.
14. Watch The Video!
Check out my YouTube video to show more of this build! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tjL8GcqcjI&t=50s
15. Visit woodshopmike.com
Go checkout this out to see more pictures of this project! https://woodshopmike.com/how-to-make-diy-drill-charging-cabinet/
