How to Build a Tool Storage Cabinet

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva creates wall-hung storage for tools and supplies.

Building a tool storage cabinet

1. Use a circular saw to crosscut a 4×8-foot sheet of ¾-inch A-C plywood down to 5 feet long.
2. Rip the ¾-inch plywood to width on a table saw to form the cabinet’s top, bottom, sides and center divider.
3. Adjust the table saw blade and rip fence to cut a rabbet into the rear edge of the two sides of the cabinet.
4. Install a stacking dado blade in the table saw and cut shallow grooves in the cabinet sides and center divider for metal shelf standards.
5. Screw a shelf standard into each groove cut by the dado blade.
6. Use a pocket-hole jig to bore pocket-screw holes into the ends of the cabinet’s top and bottom.
7. Fasten the top and bottom to the sides with 2-inch pocket screws.
8. Place the center divider between the top and bottom and hold in it place with a bar clamp. Secure the divider with 2-inch screws.
9. Cut the cabinet back from ½-inch plywood.
10. Lay the cabinet face down. Apply carpenter’s glue to the rabbets in the rear of the cabinet, and also to the edge of the top, bottom and center divider.
11. Set the ½-inch plywood back into place and tack it with a pneumatic pin nailer and 1-inch pin. Secure the back with 1 ⅝-inch screws.
12. Use a miter saw to crosscut 1×3 pine to length; make two vertical stiles and two horizontal rails for each cabinet door.
13. Then, use the table saw to cut grooves into the edges of the stiles and rails to accept the ¼-inch perforated hardboard panel.
14. Adjust the table saw blade and rip fence, and use a miter gauge to cut a tenon into both ends of each rail.
15. Use the table saw to cut two door panels from ¼-inch perforated hardboard.
16. Spread glue onto the tenons and then clamp two rails to one stile. Tack together each corner joint with a pin nailer and ⅝-inch pins.
17. Slide the door panel into the grooves cut in the doorframe, then glue and nail on the remaining rail. Don’t apply glue to the door panel.
18. Repeat Steps 16 and 17 to assemble the second door.
19. Attach the doors to the cabinet with continuous piano hinges.
20. Fasten one pull handle to each door.
21. Cut and install four ¾-inch plywood shelves.
22. Mount the cabinet to the wall, making sure you screw securely into the wall studs.

Tools