How to Build a Wood Sports Locker for Kids

Cut your pieces from 3/4-inch thick cabinet-grade plywood on the table saw. Cut one front, one back 48 inches high by 24 inches wide. Cut two sides 48 inches high by 18 inches wide. Cut one top, one bottom and one shelf 18 inches by 22 1/2 inches.

Sand the edges of all pieces with 100-grit sandpaper to remove splinters. Stand the back on one narrow end and glue and nail the side panels to it. Align one side panel flush with each long edge of the back panel, on the face of the back panel. Nail through the back panel into the edges of the side panels with a pin nailer and 1 1/2-inch nails, one every 8 inches.

Set the top into the U shape provided by the back and sides, flush with the top edges. Glue the sides and back edge of the top and nail through the sides and back into its edges to nail it in place.

Mark a line with a square 18 inches from the bottom of the top panel on the inside of each side panel. Lay the locker on its back. Cut four pieces of 1-by-2 lumber 18 inches long. Glue and nail two of them to the side panels, flush with the bottom edges and two aligned with the bottom of the lines you drew 18 inches below the top.

Glue and nail the bottom and shelf pieces on top of the 1-by-2 guides you installed on the side panels.

Place the front panel onto the locker and glue and nail it to the top, sides and bottom, leaving the shelf unglued. Draw a rectangle 2 1/2 inches in from each edge. Cut along the left long edge of this rectangle with a circular saw set to a depth of 3/4 inches. Install three 2-inch utility hinges spaced evenly along this line, bridging the cut. Drive one 3/4-inch wood screw through each hole in each hinge.

Cut the remaining three edges of the rectangle with the circular saw, finishing the corner cuts with a jigsaw, as needed. Install a 3-inch utility handle 1-inch in from the right side of the door, 30 inches from the bottom of the locker. Drive one 3/4-inch wood screw through each hole in the handle, one top one bottom, to face mount it.

Stand the locker upright and install a barrel bolt latch on the face of the door at the right edge. Use the latch as a template to mark the screw holes, with the bolt on the door and the latch hoop on the edge of the locker face to the right of the door. Mark each screw hole and drill a shallow 1/8-inch pilot hole in each location. Install the latch with one 3/4-inch wood screw through each hole.