How to Build a Long Cabinet

Building the Cabinet

• 1

  Hold up two 1/2-by-24-by-72-inch boards on their long, thin ends with the help of an assistant. Arrange the boards so they are parallel to each other and about 2 feet apart. Insert two 1/2-by-24-by-24-inch boards between them, perpendicular to the others and with one on each end. Adjust the four boards so that the side surface of the short boards is even with the ends of the long boards.

• 2

  Drill four holes evenly spaced through the side of each long board and into the ends of each short board for a total of 16 holes. Push 2-inch wood screws through these holes and tighten them in place using a drill.

• 3

  Put a 1/2-by-25-by-72-inch board -- which will be the bottom of the long cabinet -- on top of the rectangular board arrangement so that the new board is perpendicular to the others, which are the side boards. Ensure that the outside edges of the bottom board are even with the outside surfaces of the side boards.

• 4

  Use the drill to make holes around the edge of the bottom board, every 8 inches through the bottom board and into the side boards. Position a 2-inch wood screw in every hole and drill them in place.

• 5

  Flip the entire cabinet assembly over and set another 1/2-by-25-by-72-inch board on top of the cabinet assembly, to serve as the lid board. Open the lid board as if it were already attached with rear hinges and position four hinges evenly between the lid board and the cabinet assembly. Mark the location of these hinge screw holes in the lid and the cabinet assembly.

• 6

  Drill out holes in each marking on both lid and cabinet assembly. Fasten the hinges to the lid and cabinet assembly using 1/2-inch wood screws.

Finishing the Cabinet

• 7

  Sand all of the cabinet surfaces with a medium grit sandpaper, working in the same direction as the wood grain. Wipe the cabinet clean to remove any sawdust. Apply a coat of paint or stain, brushing in the same direction as the sanding was done. Allow the paint or stain to dry for two hours.

• 8

  Apply a second layer of stain or paint with the same technique, and allow two hours for the application to dry. Continue to add additional coats if the original color of the wood is still showing through, which can occur with light colors.

• 9

  Put a coat of polyurethane on the cabinet, applying in the same direction as the paint and with the same smooth motion. Allow the coat to dry for two hours and reapply. Continue to apply coats based on the amount of use the cabinet will receive. For high-traffic use and seating, use five or six coats, whereas for decorative use, two or three coats is plenty.