How to Build an Amish Pantry

Making the Pantry Panels

• 1

  Lay out four 1-by-4-by-71-inch boards with their long, thin edges touching. Set three 1/2-by-3-by-14-inch boards perpendicular to the long boards, evenly spaced with their large surfaces touching the long boards. Drill two holes through each short board and into each long board. Attach with 1-inch wood screws in these holes. This board is one of the side panels. Repeat to create a second side panel.

• 2

  Repeat the side board assembly process with four 1-by-4-by-32-inch boards and two 1/2-by-3-by-14-inch boards to make the top panel. Repeat to make the bottom panel.

• 3

  Repeat this process with eight 1-by-4-by-73-inch boards and three 1/2-by-3-by-30-inch boards to create the rear panel.

Assemble the Pantry Frame

• 4

  Set the two side panels parallel to each other with their long, thin sides on the ground. Face the sides with the cross boards toward each other.

• 5

  Set the top and bottom panels against the ends of the side panels. Position 2-inch metal L-brackets between each pair of boards, spacing them 5 inches apart. Mark each bracket hole. Drill out the bracket holes. Attach the brackets with 1-inch wood screws.

• 6

  Set the rear panel on the ground with the cross boards facing up. Lower the frame on top of it. Position 2-inch brackets all around the inside of the frame against the rear board, spacing them every 12 inches. Mark the bracket holes. Drill out the bracket holes. Attach the brackets to the rear and frame boards with 1-inch wood screws.

Assembling Doors

• 7

  Run two 1-by-4-by-72-inch boards through a table saw, cutting a 1/4-inch groove in one of their long, thin sides. Make the groove 1/2-inch deep. Leave the last inch of each end ungrooved.

• 8

  Run four 1-by-4-by-8-inch boards through a table saw, making a 1/4-inch groove in the center of one long, thin side. Groove the entire side. Make a second groove in the other long, thin side of two of these boards.

• 9

  Lay out the two long boards parallel on their large surfaces with the grooves facing inward. Position the short boards evenly and perpendicular between them, with the two boards grooved on both sides in the middle and the other to boards at the top and bottom, with their grooved sides facing inward.

• 10

  Slide one of the large boards a little bit out and slip three 1/4-by-9-by-19 2/3-inch boards into the grooves. Reform the frame by putting the long board back in place.

• 11

  Drill two sets of holes between each of the frame boards that so there are 32 holes altogether. Set a wood peg in each pair of holes, for 16 pegs. Put a bead of wood glue on each end of each peg, and run a bead of wood glue along each surface of the frame boards that touches. Slide the frame together again and clamp it overnight. Repeat to build a second identical door.

Attaching the Doors

• 12

  Position the two doors on top of the frame. Slide three side-mount cabinet hinges between each door and the side board under it. Mark the hinge holes, drill them out and attach them with 1-inch wood screws.

• 13

  Position a 3-part central latch at the top of the cabinet between both doors and the top panels. Mark the attachment holes on the three surfaces and drill the holes out. Attach the latch with 1-inch wood screws.

• 14

  Position a doorknob on each door and mark the location. Drill out the hole. Pass the doorknob bolt through the hole and attach it on the other end with the included nut.