Cabinets are essential in any practical home. With modern amenities progressing at an increasing rate, the ability to keep up is an ongoing challenge. One such challenge is the microwave oven. With the varied sizes and shapes of microwave ovens, building a custom microwave wall cabinet is a must. It will take a bit of woodworking knowledge to accomplish, but it is an attainable goal.
Things You'll Need:
- 2 Pieces Of 1-By-2-By-18-Inch Lumber
- Nail Set
- 2 Pieces Of 11-By-22 1/2-By-3/4-Inch Plywood
- 2 Pieces Of 11-By-12-By-3/4-Inch Plywood
- 1/16-Inch Drill Bit
- 2 Pieces Of 1-By-2-By-20-Inch Lumber
- 2 Pieces Of 1-By-3/4-By-20-Inch Lumber
- Hammer
- 2 Pieces Of 15-By-18-By-3/4-Inch Plywood
- 1 Piece Of 24-By-12-By-1/4-Inch Plywood
- 1 1/4-Inch Drywall Screws
- Variable Speed Drill
- 2 Pieces Of 1-By-2-By-12-Inch Lumber
- 8D Finish Nails
- Wood Glue
- 3D Box Nails
- Philips Head Screw Tip
- 1 1/4-Inch Butterfly Bit
- 2 Pieces Of 15-By-22 1/2-By-3/4-Inch Plywood
- 4) 30-Inch Bar Clamps
- 1 Piece Of 24-By-18-By-1/4-Inch Plywood
Place the two pieces of 15-by-18-by-3/4-inch plywood on the table. Drill four pilot holes along the width of each piece at the top and the bottom with the 1/16-inch drill bit. Apply glue to the 15-inch edge of the two 15-by-22 1/2-by-3/4-inch plywood and place them between the 15-by-18-inch pieces. Secure them with the 8d finish nails. Clean up excess glue immediately with a damp cloth.
Apply glue to the back edges of the box created in Step1 and place the 24-by-18-by-1/4-inch plywood on it with the good side facing in. Secure it to the box with the 3d box nails. Clean up excess glue immediately with a damp cloth.
Place the two pieces of 1-by-2-by-18-inch lumber, one of the 1-by-2-by-20-inch lumber and one of the 1-by-3/4-by-20-inch lumber on the table. Apply glue to the ends of the 20-inch pieces and form a frame with the four pieces of lumber by placing the 20-inch pieces between the 18-inch pieces. Clamp the frame together with two of the 30-inch bar clamps. Clean up excess glue immediately with a damp cloth. Let the glue dry overnight.
Place the two pieces of 11-by-12-by-3/4-inch plywood on the table. Drill four pilot holes along the width of each piece at the top and the bottom with the 1/16-inch drill bit. Apply glue to the 11-inch edge of the two 11-by-22 1/2-by-3/4-inch plywood pieces and place them between the two 11-by-12-inch pieces. Secure them with the 8d finish nails. Clean up excess glue immediately with a damp cloth.
Apply glue to the back edges of the box created in Step 4 and place the 24-by-12-by-1/4-inch plywood on it with the good side facing in. Secure it to the box with the 3d box nails. Clean up excess glue immediately with a damp cloth.
Place the two pieces of 1-by-2-by-12-inch lumber, the remaining 1-by-2-by-20-inch lumber and the remaining 1-by-3/4-by-20-inch lumber on the table. Apply glue to the ends of the 20-inch pieces and form a frame with the four pieces of lumber by placing the 20-inch pieces between the 12-inch pieces. Clamp the frame together with two of the 30-inch bar clamps. Clean up excess glue immediately with a damp cloth. Let the glue dry overnight.
Remove the bar clamps from the two frames. Drill pilot holes around the perimeter of the frames to enable a secure fit on the cabinets. Apply a bead of glue on the exposed edges of the cabinets, place the frames on them and secure them to the cabinets with the 8d finish nails. Clean up excess glue immediately with a damp cloth. Place the 12-inch deep cabinet on top of the larger cabinet and secure them together with the drywall screws.
Tip
Always wear safety glasses.
Clean excess glue as soon as possible, as it can adversely affect the finish of the wood.
Set all the nails with the nail set, and fill the holes with wood putty after the glue on the frames has dried.
Drill a 1-inch hole at the back and through the bottom of the larger cabinet for the microwave cord to fit through.
The cabinet for just the microwave can be built as a stand-alone cabinet.
Warnings:
- Do not leave power tools unattended. Do not paint or stain the cabinet in an unventilated area. Do not try to install wall cabinets by yourself.
Resources
Tips
- Always wear safety glasses. Clean excess glue as soon as possible, as it can adversely affect the finish of the wood. Set all the nails with the nail set, and fill the holes with wood putty after the glue on the frames has dried. Drill a 1-inch hole at the back and through the bottom of the larger cabinet for the microwave cord to fit through. The cabinet for just the microwave can be built as a stand-alone cabinet.
Warnings
- Do not leave power tools unattended. Do not paint or stain the cabinet in an unventilated area. Do not try to install wall cabinets by yourself.
Writer Bio
Michael Straessle has written professionally about the construction industry since 1988. He authored “What a Strange Little Man,” among other books, and his work has appeared in various online publications. Straessle earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in professional/technical writing.
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