How to make a basic cupboard
You will need:
- MDF boards
- Electric drill
- Wood bits, countersink and screwdriver bits
- Try square
- Hand saw or circular saw
- Straight timber batten
- Clamps
- PVA wood glue
- Dowel jig and dowels or chipboard screws
- Recessed hinges
- Handle
- Magnetic catch
- Primer and paint
- Goggles
- Dust mask
Time to complete job: 4 hours.
Approximate budget: A full sheet of MDF costs around £15.
First Steps
You can use any board material to make a basic cupboard. DIY stores sell melamine-faced chipboard, MDF or plywood in various sizes up to full-sized 4x8ft (12x24m) boards. Choose at least 18mm (0.7in) thick material so that it will be rigid and can support heavy loads. MDF is an ideal material as it has a very smooth surface that can be painted.
Decide on the dimensions of your cupboard. If it has to fit in an alcove or recess, make sure you take into account any obstacles such as power sockets or skirting board.
Safety Tip: Always wear goggles and a dust mask when cutting MDF boards with a circular saw.
For professional advice, visit the National Federation of Builders or the Institute of Carpenters.
-
Measuring and cutting
Mark out the sides, top, bottom and back on the board. Use a try square so that the edges are at right angles to each other
Use either a handsaw or a circular saw to cut the board. A circular saw will give a smoother finish as long as you guide the saw with a batten clamped firmly at both ends.
Tip: If your local timber or DIY store has a timber cutting facility, take along the exact sizes of each piece and ask them to cut it for you. The first few cuts are free. -
Assembling
If you're making a cupboard that won't be on show - in the garage or a utility room for example - you could simply screw through the sides of the side pieces into the edges of the adjacent sections. Countersink the holes and smear PVA wood glue along the joint for extra strength.
But if you want to make a cupboard without visible screw holes, use a dowelling jig and dowels instead.
Check the sides, top and bottom are square to each other by holding a try square in each corner and adjust if needed.
Screw and glue on the back and leave the case to dry. -
Fitting the cupboard door
To fit a cupboard door to the unit, measure the overall dimensions of the front and cut out a piece of board to fit.
Tip: You can buy easy-to-fit recess hinges to screw onto the back of the door and edge of the cabinet. The top hinge should be the same distance from the top edge as the lower hinge is from the bottom edge.
Make starter holes with a small drill bit and screw the hinges to the back of the door. Hold against the cabinet and mark through the hinge holes ready for fixing.
Add a cabinet handle and magnetic catch to keep the door closed.
Prime and paint the cupboard for a professional finish.
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