Quick High-Quality Shop Cabinets

Video - October 15, 2018

It’s hard to believe I’ve been in my new Colorado shop for two years already! When I look at the condition of the garage when we moved and compare that to how it looks today, it’s pretty much unrecognizable. The original garage had lots of nice big/deep cabinets that were totally impractical for a small shop woodworker. Most of them were removed but the last thing to go was a small alcove at the far end of the shop. I recently built a Miter Station and since I was already in cabinet-building mode, I decided to gut the alcove and start over with cabinets more suited to my needs.

The left cabinet will feature 8 drawers and two adjustable shelves. The right cabinet will have 8 pullout trays hidden behind two frame & panel doors. The space between the cabinets was originally designated for a garbage can, but I made a late-game decision to put my drill press there instead.

Quick High-Quality Shop Cabinets Plan
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Plain Language Disclosure: I approached Rockler for partnership on this project. They were a perfect fit since they had the hinges and slides I wanted to use as well as the fact that I already owned several of Rockler’s jigs that make cabinet-building much easier. The slides, hinges, and Lock-Align components were provided by Rockler. The jigs were items I already owned. Rockler then paid a fee that funded the production of this video. As always, I don’t let anything into my shop that I don’t want there and I never partner with companies that I don’t believe in.

Discussion

Shaun Harper October 17, 2018 9:11 pm

Hand-screw clamps have to be in the top 5 most underrated tools for the shop. No other clamp works as well to hold odd shaped pieces including curves in place standing up. When paired with an F-style clamp to clamp the Hand-screw to a bench/surface, it is a near perfect wood holding technique.
Anyone have another most underrated tool?

Reply
Bob Tipton October 19, 2018 8:09 am

Hey Marc,
Another great video with really good tips.
Thanks for all you do.
BedrockBob

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Shawn Vance October 20, 2018 11:50 am

Marc,

Long time follower, first time commenter. Thanks for not quitting. :). Also thank you for your honest plain language full disclosure. Your integrity in this area sets the bar for the rest of the ww community. “Everyones gotta eat” as I’ve heard you say and you’ve found a transparent and honest way of finding that balance with paid sponsorships in your shop. Keep the great content coming sir!

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- Ernest November 5, 2018 9:52 am
  
  Great video, I like the approach and now have this as a summer project. Need me time on occasion.
  
  Reply
Michael Sanchez October 21, 2018 10:23 pm

Marc,

The cabinets are gorgeous. What is the width of the rails and stiles on the cabinet doors if you don’t mind my asking. I have unfinished carcasses and I would like to match the size of yours since they came out so great.

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- Marc Spagnuolo October 23, 2018 9:05 am
  
  3″ I think. You can download the plans and you’ll have all the info you need.
  
  Reply
Abraham Dunn October 30, 2018 2:22 pm

Marc,

You attached the braces with glue and nails. Would they be strong enough with only glue? (they all end up joined end grain to long (?) grain).

How strong are nails driven on the end grain side of plywood?

hank you!

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- Marc Spagnuolo October 31, 2018 9:05 am
  
  Hard to say. I haven’t done enough cabinets like this to say from experience exactly how well they’ll hold up. Personally, I don’t trust glue alone in a rabbet joint. Even a simple brad nail adds some confidence and a screw is even better yet. The way I see it is that it’s not very hard to add reinforcement, so why not? Also, with regard to grain direction, plywood is a sandwich of thin veneer with alternating grain direction. So there’s really no true end grain. It’s actually a mix of end grain and side grain.
  
  Reply
Elon November 4, 2018 2:57 am

Hi Marc, I stumble upon your blog and love the content you’ve been creating. It’s high value and really educational, keep up the great work (:

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Michelle November 8, 2018 4:08 am

Beautiful cabinets, my husband would love to have something like this. Thank you for sharing the plans!

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Earl Hutchinson November 14, 2018 9:06 am

Thanks for an informative video, I particularly liked the tricks to get it right.
The metric Sketch-up has opened for me.
Cheers from the UK

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Curtis November 18, 2018 9:08 am

Hi Mark. On the trays you used quarter inch plywood bottoms in the video but your sketchup uses 3/4. Do you have a preference between the two?

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- Marc Spagnuolo November 22, 2018 8:02 am
  
  It’s a matter of what you plan to put on there. If you use them for power tools and other heavy items, go with 1/2″ or 3/4″.
  
  Reply
Tim November 25, 2018 2:29 pm

So if I were to transfer the steps to paper for creating a leveled base. the first few steps would be:

1. Use a laser guide at the height of the base.
2. Measure the distance at each corner to get the taper
3. use shims and block plane to finally get the right height on all four corners.
(when you used the block plan I assumed you were planing the bottom of base right?)

I noticed you didn’t use the laser guide for the perpendicular section of the wall. Did you already know the perpendicular section was perfectly flat?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo November 26, 2018 8:06 am
  
  Sounds about right. Though I planed the top of the base, not the bottom. And I’m not sure what you mean by the perpendicular section of the wall.
  
  Reply
  - Tim November 28, 2018 9:04 am
    
    the wall where the right side of the base would sit against
    
    Reply
Stump December 14, 2018 12:45 pm

Most importantly, The Kramer is now displayed in an area that is suitable!

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Vern L. Collins January 17, 2019 10:29 am

I was just given a slab of Ash. Iy is 3 1/2 inches hick and 42 inches across. How long will I have to air dry it and as it is now outside, Do I keep it covered?
In the orocess of building my sled using your instructions.
Keeo up the great projects..

Reply
Kent Uhrich January 28, 2019 4:34 pm

Marc,
Really enjoyed the video. I was thinking about using hardboard tempered panels for the top. It has a slick surface and it can be replaced fairly easily if I don’t glue it down to the two 3/4 inch plywood base on the top. I would use my molding to hold it in place.
Do you have any pro/cons about using hardboard tempered panel as a work surface?

Thanks,
Kent

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo January 28, 2019 6:43 pm
  
  Seems like a reasonable and renewable surface. I like the idea.
  
  Reply
Joey Monheit February 23, 2019 3:09 am

Hi Marc – Your projects, advise, and videos are very inspiring. Quick question: What blade guard dust collector are you using on your PM2000 in this video?

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- Marc Spagnuolo February 23, 2019 9:46 am
  
  HTC Brett Guard. No longer in production.
  
  Reply
Mohamad December 22, 2019 11:58 am

would be my first project when I will build my workshop very soon, will share pictures once is done. Hopefully will do it with pocket holes for the cabinet base instead of the nudges you done. do you recommend?

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- Marc Spagnuolo December 26, 2019 10:57 am
  
  Pocket holes should work just fine.
  
  Reply
david wagar January 8, 2020 6:22 pm

Hey Marc, love your work and your channel. Your teaching style is fantastic and your humor makes it so fun to watch. I learn something every time. I’m wondering if you’d be willing to give measurements for the drawers and doors you used. I know I may have to adjust for my area, but as a noob it would be helpful to get a sense of appropriate drawer heights and drawer front sizes. Thanks!

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo January 8, 2020 7:37 pm
  
  Thanks for the kind words David. You can get all of the exact dimensions directly from the SketchUp file using the measurement tool within the Sketchup program.
  
  Reply
TimL February 4, 2020 11:56 pm

Stumbled across this (older) video today on YT. Your demeanor and style are refreshing. The tips and product demonstrations are priceless. Thank you for being a leader in this area. Thank you for helping all levels of people who are willing to learn and try new things. Good luck and carry on man.

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Michael Ching March 20, 2020 11:35 pm

Man, thanks for posting your projects. As an amateur woodworker, your videos have upped my honey-do list capabilities tremendously. Thank you!

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Dennis K. September 1, 2020 10:40 am

Mark,

What type of table saw guard/dust collection arm do you use in this video? Been looking at some and the one you use looks the best. Thanks!

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo September 1, 2020 3:45 pm
  
  It’s no longer in production. It’s called the HTC Brett Guard.
  
  Reply
Bribar October 9, 2020 5:09 pm

Hi Marc

I bought your Quick High-Quality Shop Cabinets plan, but I have some parts left over, in the cut list on page 2 “(L1) LG Drawer Side” and on page 3 “(M1) LG Drawer Front/Back”, can you please tell me where these pieces are going to be used?

Thank you

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo October 9, 2020 5:26 pm
  
  I just looked at the cut list and it appears to be correct. You need 12 smaller drawer sides and 12 smaller fronts/backs. You also need 4 larger drawer sides and 4 large fronts/backs. Can you give me some more info about why you have extra parts? Unless I’m missing something it looks like the cut list is correct.
  
  Reply
  - Bribar October 10, 2020 9:08 am
    
    Thank you for answering me.
    
    I’m referring to the parts L1 and M1. To do the drawers on page 20, I used parts L and M, also to make the Decorative Drawer front I used parts J and J1. On your video and manual, I couldn’t find where L1 and M1 are going to be installed.
    
    Thank you
    
    Reply
    - Marc Spagnuolo October 10, 2020 10:13 am
      
      L1 and M1 are the sides and fronts/backs of the large drawers. The small drawer parts are J, L and M. The large drawer parts are J1, L1, and M1.
Shaun November 25, 2020 1:05 pm

I was just looking at your product list:

32 – 22″ Accuride Low Profile Slides – link is broken
and
A lower-cost slide alternative

but i noticed that the lower-cost slide.. is actually $1 more than the same size Accuride from rockler.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo November 25, 2020 7:04 pm
  
  Unfortunately we can’t control how prices fluctuate. So do a little shopping around. Once you know the length of the slide, you can dig around a bit to find a slide that fits your budget.
  
  Reply
Rafael Mijares February 20, 2021 2:40 pm

Hi Mark. I really like this project, a s I do many others of yours. So I just purchased the Quick High Quality Shop Cabinets plans. I downloaded the metric version and there are some measurements that I think don’t make a lot of sense. I might be wrong. For example, both tops (large and small) are identical and square.
There are other differences that I found. I have downloaded the English version and did the conversions, and now I think I have all the right metric measurements. It appears that 8 of the lengths have significant differences.
I would like to send you what I think are the correct measurements so you can check them out and if I so, correct the plans for future buyers. So my questions is, Would you be interested in me sending a friendly file with my conversions? And how can I do this?
Thanks for sharing all you share. Greetings from Mexico City.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo February 21, 2021 8:08 am
  
  Hi Rafael. As you know, the metric version is a conversion and while I do proofread, I’m not perfect. So yes, please send us the corrections so we can review them and implement them. https://thewoodwhisperer.com/contact/
  Usually errors are found within the first week of publication but when it comes to metric, there just aren’t as many people using it so we don’t often hear about the mistakes when they exist.
  
  Reply
  - Rafael Mijares February 23, 2021 8:40 pm
    
    I totally understand Marc. I have sent you the metric cut list in metric measurements via the contact form.
    I hope you find this information useful.
    Best regards, Rafael.
    
    Reply
Robert Bull June 24, 2021 8:29 am

Hi Marc,
I am part way through assembling the drawers on this project – its my first of its kind so still getting used to the detail. In the materials list you refer to 4/4 hardwood for the face and side decorative trim. I don’t understand the ref ‘Approximate BF 19’ or ‘+20%’ reference. I note that you go for alder in the video but I’m at a loss as to the quantity required. Are these 4×4 lengths milled down? and if so how many and of what initial length. I would value any guidance you could offer.
Many thanks.
Robert

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo June 24, 2021 3:11 pm
  
  When you purchase materials at a hardwood dealer, they are sold by the board foot. So that’s why we provide approximate board foot quantities. We also calculate 20% extra since there’s almost always some amount of waste. Now if you are buying pre-milled material by the linear foot, that’s something we don’t provide guidance on in the plans. Your best bet would be to see what is available for purchase, and then come back to the cut list to see how you might lay out the required parts on the size boards you have access to.
  
  Reply
Kent Kyburz October 18, 2021 6:42 am

Hi Mark. I notice the website suggests 22” drawer slides but the plan I bought says 18”. Obviously, I like the cheaper 18” slides but what are the downsides of using them over the 22”?

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- Marc Spagnuolo October 18, 2021 10:16 am
  
  I think that’s a misprint in the plans. I recommend 22″ if you want full access to the drawers. 18″ will work, but the back of the drawer may live inside the case just a bit. Still functional, but not ideal.
  
  Reply
Marc Costa April 3, 2022 6:08 pm

Marc – is there anything to keep in mind if I want each of the outer sides to sit outside of the 2x platform so that they hide the platform? Other than the extra time to rip two (or more) different heights of the side panels, is there anything else you can think of? A bit of clarity – I’m using the platform method with your miter station plans. I have ~2.5″ of slope over the set of cabinets. Thanks

Reply
Eric Johnson August 3, 2022 9:59 am

Marc – Can you tell us who you chose for your RTA uppers or suggest a vendor? Thanks

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo August 6, 2022 9:38 am
  
  Cabinotch
  
  Reply
kelly fagan September 12, 2024 12:13 pm

Hey guys , just getting around to build the large base cabinet. Im at the pont to mount the drawer slides on the carcas. In the video you show using specers. What are the two different widths of spacers, please. Are they the same width of the drawers? Thank you

Reply

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Quick High-Quality Shop Cabinets

Quick High-Quality Shop Cabinets Plan

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