Build a storage chest
Build a storage chest
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Difficulty:
Close DifficultyBeginner Do-It-Yourselfer - EasyIntermediate Do-It-Yourselfer - ModerateExperienced Do-It-Yourselfer - DifficultProfessional - Expert - Completion Time : 4 Hours
Easy to build, this attractive storage chest, adorned with surface mouldings and metallic legs, is made from MDF panels, cut, glued and screwed in place. It can be painted easily to blend in any room of the house.
It is 44 ½" wide, 20 ½" deep and a little over 20" high, once the legs are in place. This lovely storage chest offers extra storage space, which is always welcome in today’s home.
Print
Tools and materials required
TOOLS
- Bench saw or circular saw equipped with a guide block
- Drill
- Depths stop for 1/8" drill bit.
- Depths stop for 3/8" drill bit
- Hammer or Finishing nail gun (optional)
- Tape measure
- Angle
- Pencil
- Sander
MATERIALS
- 1 ½ sheet MDF 5/8"
- 5 mouldings ¾" X 8'
- 2 wood arabesques
- 1 piano hinge
- Wood glue
- Finishing nails with 5/8" head, size 18
- 1 ¼" screws
- 4 metal legs
- Left hand and right hand lid support
- RONA paint
- Sand paper
Before Assembly
NOTES
Note on MDF
MDF is a versatile material that makes it easy to build strong, sturdy and affordable furniture. It is advisable to always glue the parts together with wood glue before fastening them with nails or screws. If the nails or screws do not provide enough strength, use clamps to hold the assembly together while the glue dries.
Screw fastening:
Always drill pilot holes using a countersink bit, with the pieces in their final assembled position. This will prevent the MDF from buckling or splitting under the torque of the screws. In one motion, the countersink bit bores a hole for the body of the screw as well as a cavity to conceal the screw head. You can use a driver-drill to do this, but it is advisable to finish tightening the screws with a manual screwdriver to prevent the driver-drill’s speed and force from damaging the MDF and weakening the screw’s grip.
Nail fastening:
For some projects it is best to use finishing nails. In such cases, using a pneumatic nailer will get the job done more quickly and easily, and the nails will hardly show.
Important:
Always wear a protective mask when cutting or sanding MDF as the dust can be irritating and is a potential health hazard. Work outside if you can; if this is not possible, close any air vents and doors leading to other rooms so as to prevent the dust from spreading. Open a window while you work and cover all items in the room with dust sheets. Vacuum once you have finished cutting.
CUTTING LIST
Parts | Material | Qty | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
A – Lid | MDF 5/8" | 1 | 44 ½" x 20 ½" |
B – Bottom | MDF 5/8" | 1 | 43" x 20" |
C – Front and back | MDF 5/8" | 2 | 43" x 18 ¾" |
D – Side | MDF 5/8" | 2 | 18 ¾" x 18 ¾" |
E – Moulding – sides and corners | Moulure ¾" | 10 | 20" |
F – Moulding – front top and bottom | Moulure ¾" | 2 | 43" |
G – Decorative moulding | Moulure ¾" | 4 | 23" |
H – Decorative moulding | Moulure ¾" | 4 | 10" |
Always pre-dill holes with a countersink bit before inserting the screws.
Steps
1.1 Cut mouldings E, F, G and H at a 45o angle.
1.2 Rout the edges of lid A to soften the edges.
2.1 Pre-dill holes and screw front and back panels C to sides D to build the chest frame.
2.2 Trace a line all around bottom panel B, at a distance of ¼" from the edges, to be used as a guiding line for the screws.
2.3 Place bottom panel B on the assembled frame.
2.4 Pre-drill and screw in place along the guiding line using 1 ¼" screws.
3.1 On bottom panel B, indicate the exact location of the four legs in each corner.
3.2 Pre-drill and screw the four legs in place.
4.1 Glue and nail mouldings E along the edges of side panels D. Align and adjust the corner angles when necessary.
4.2 Glue and nail mouldings E along both sides of front panel C, and mouldings F along the top and the bottom.
4.3 Locate the decorative rectangle on front panel C: center it 10" from either sides and 4 3/8" from the top and the bottom.
4.4 Glue and nail decorative mouldings G and H on front panel C.
4.5 Locate the decorative rectangle on lid A: center it 10 ¾" from either sides and 5 ¼" from the front and the back.
4.6 Glue and nail decorative mouldings G and H on lid A in order to form a perfectly centered rectangle identical to the one on front panel.
4.7 Centre the arabesques in the middle of both rectangles. Glue and nail in place.
5.1 Centre and screw the piano hinge onto lid A and back panel C.
5.2 Check the adjustment.
5.3 Locate where to fasten the left hand and right hand lid supports inside side panels D and lid A.
5.4 Fasten lid supports onto sides D and lid A.
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