Handmade CD Cabinet

Common Measurements

• When building a CD cabinet, it is important that you use the standard measurements for CDs to ensure they will fit once the cabinet is finished. The cabinet shelves must provide at least 5 inches in height and 6 inches in depth, so CDs can be placed upright without a tight fit. If you plan on stacking two CDs on top of each other, the height of the shelving space must be at least 10 inches high and 6 inches deep.

Required Pieces for Construction

• A handmade CD cabinet requires a framed structure. The frame itself required two sides, a top piece and a bottom piece. The frame is essentially a rectangular square, which is assembled using a square and level to ensure it is straight, sturdy and solid. A back piece is also required to provide additional stability and a back panel to hold the CDs in place. The back panel must measure the height and width of the cabinet. Additional pieces are required for the individual shelves in the CD cabinet unit.

Types of Wood for Construction

• A handmade CD cabinet must be constructed with strong wood, as hundreds of CDs are heavy on a single shelf or cabinet unit. You may choose to use softwood, such as sawn or planed treated wood, or hardwood like oak, beech or mahogany. However, if these types of woods are not in your budget, you can use grade-A plywood sheets to build the cabinet, which is the best quality plywood with limited marks and blemishes. Do not use lower graded plywood, as it may not look good once it's built.

Additional Features

• Additional features for a handmade CD cabinet include a wooden or glass door and trimming or molding on the wooden door. A CD cabinet door must be attached using at least two hinges to provide support for the cabinet door. Attach the molding or trimming to the door before you attach it to the cabinet itself by applying wood glue and hammering nails through the molding and trimming.