These are general guides for beginners who need more than blue prints or diagrams for guidance. You may use this with your own plan or most plans that can be downloaded.
How to Build a Modern Bathroom Vanity
Materials to Use
Below is a general list of materials necessary to make a vanity unit. You can develop your own plan or consult one for information about plywood dimensions and thickness, other measurements, and specifications regarding size, colors, types, and brands.
• Plywood
• Nails
• Wood glue
• Pocket screws
• Hinges
• Dowels or dominos
• Danish oil or polyurethane paint
Equipment to Use
• Table saw
• Miter saw
• Drill
• Jointer planer
• Spray system
For Protection
• Safety glasses
• Protective gloves
Tools and Objects to Use
• Clamping tool
• T-square
• Pencil
• Sand paper
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Sanding block
• Screwdriver
• Paintbrushes
Premade Parts to Prepare
• Ceramic vanity top
The ceramic vanity top is to be installed on top of the assembled woodworking carcass.
Refer to your woodworking plan for details about measurements, compatibility, specifications, and other details relevant to the ceramic vanity top.
Steps in Building a Modern Bathroom Vanity
Below are the general steps in building a modern bathroom vanity. Refer to your woodworking plan for alterations and customizations.
Step 1: Break down parts
Break down pieces to their rough sizes on the table saw and miter saw. Then, flatten the boards on the planar and jointer.
Step 2: Assemble all the legs
To assemble legs, use pocket screws and glue. You may also use dowels or dominos. Put the legs aside and let glue dry.
Step 3: Assemble the side assemblies
Once the glue is dry, cut the joinery for the side assemblies of the vanities which are made up of legs along with the side frame pieces. Generally, 8-millimeter dominoes are used from joinery. However, consult your woodworking plan, for suggested alternatives.
With all the mortises cut, assemble the side assemblies using dominoes and glue.
Step 4: Create face frames
While the side assemblies are drying, cut mortises to create the face frames. If your woodworking plan outlines a plan for a single vanity, there is one vertical rail in the center of the face frame, whereas on a double vanity, there are two vertical rails. Cut domino mortises.
Step 5: Assemble face frames
With all joinery cut for the main carcass of the vanity, proceed to assembly. Attach the face frame components to each other using glue and dominoes. Attach assembly to one of the side assemblies we assembled in the previous step. Attach the back rails.
Finally, add the other side assembly on the other end of side assemblies.
Once pieces are together, clamp them up. Wipe glue squeezed out.
Step 6: Cut pieces for doors
Use dominos for assembly. Pieces are connected with the ends of the vertical stiles attaching to the inside edge of the horizontal rails.
With the door frames assembled, glue up door panels. Use dominos for alignment which helps to keep panels flat when glued.
After the glue dries, sand panels and attach them to back of the door frames using inch and quarter screws. Keep center hole snug and then drill a larger hole in the corners so that the panels would have room to expand and contract seasonally.
With doors assembled, install the doors using standard face mount hinges. It is helpful to pre-install this hardware prior finishing as you can reinstall the hardware much more easily without risking damaging the finish.
Step 7: Assemble sides of the vanity
Once glue dries, sand the panels flat. Attach them to the inside of the vanity using inch and screws, again drilling larger holes in the corners to account for movement.
Normally, to attach bottom panel, pocket holes are drilled into the underside of the bottom every 6 inches. Consult your woodworking plan for details that are more relevant to your project.
Once holes are drilled, attach the bottom panel using pocket screws.
Step 8: Assemble back side of the vanity
Refer to your woodworking plan in cutting the back panels from the plywood, and create two side panels that create one large opening. Using a hammer, attach back panels with nails.
Before finishing, remove the attached hardware. Proceed to sand pieces thoroughly. Ensure to straighten and break hard edges with a sanding block.
Step 9: Finish the vanity
For the finish, brush the vanity carcass with Danish oil or opt for a spray system with polyurethane. After drying, install the ceramic vanity at the top.
How to Build a Medicine Cabinet Unit
Materials to Use
Below is a general list of materials necessary to make a medicine cabinet unit. It is best to consult your woodworking plan for information about plywood dimensions and thickness, other measurements, and specifications regarding size, colors, types, and brands.
• Plywood (1200 ×2400 mm)
• Pocket screws
• Wood filler
• Wood glue
Equipment to Use
• Table saw
• Miter saw
• Drill
• Spray system
For Protection
• Safety glasses
• Protective gloves
Tools and Objects to Use
• T-square
• Pencil
• Sand paper
• Wire brads
• Clamping tool
• Screwdriver
• Paintbrushes
• Cotton or newspaper
Premade Parts to Prepare
• Customized medicine cabinet mirror
The mirror is to be installed either in front or inside of the assembled cabinet.
Refer to your woodworking plan for details about measurements, compatibility, specifications, and other details relevant to the mirror.
Steps in Building a Medicine Cabinet
Below are the general steps in building a medicine cabinet. It is important to refer to your woodworking plan for alterations and customizations.
Step 1: Cut Plywood to Length
Cut plywood to specifications stated in your woodworking plan. Generally, plywood is cut for the cabinet’s parts such as the sides or shelves, the back, and most importantly, the base. The back or the posterior may be also cut at the latter stages of the building process.
Step 2: Assemble the Base
Position the main shelf from the ends of the sides and attach using glue and wire brads.
Position the side assembly centered on the side of the back, and mark on the back face of the back the positions of the sides and main shelf. Apply glue to the edges of the side assembly, and tack in place using brads. For each side and the main shelf, drill countersink holes for screws and drive the screws through the back and into the parts.
Be sure to utilize an adequate amount of wood filler to fill the edges and ends of the posterior part of the cabinet.
Sand the plywood, and start staining the main shelf, the sides and the posterior part. Both the top and bottom ends of the two sides may be stained later. It is discretionary to paint the posterior portion of the cabinet.
Step 3: Assemble and Stain the Face Frame
In each of the two face frame ends, drill two small or pocket-sized holes. Make sure that the rails flush with the two face frame stiles ends. Maintain the rails and stiles at the abovementioned position, and start assembling the pieces using glue or other preferred durable adhesives and pocket-hole screws.
Sand the plywood thoroughly and stain the face frame as desired.
Step 4: Install Side Shelves
Using glue or any other durable adhesive and pocket-hole screws, install one side shelf from the posterior portion by attaching it as prompt as possible.
As the glue may dry out quickly, it is best to start attaching the side shelf from the top and secure its place in order for the posterior portion to naturally follow.
Step 5: Start Building the Door
With the curved area positioned inwards, install both the door rail trim flush and the outer edges of the door rails together using glue or other preferred durable adhesive and brads. Clamp the parts, and wait for the glue to set.
Step 6: Install Customized Medicine Cabinet Mirror
Prepare screws. Using a drill, be sure to drill three pilot holes for screws to be affixed later. This should be done on the backer stiles and rails.
Generally, one-inch screws are used in installing the medicine cabinet mirror. Refer to your woodworking plan for more information about screws required for your cabinet.
Place the mirror backer on top of the customized mirror. Affix the stiles and rails inwards.
Carefully position the customized mirror as it passes through the opening. To secure it, place a thick sheet of newspaper or cotton on the posterior.
Step 7: Stain the Medicine Cabinet Unit
Stain the assembled unit, and apply polyurethane paint or Danish oil to the posterior portion of the medicine cabinet.
How to Build Shelves
Materials to Use
This is a general list of materials necessary to build shelves. Consult your woodworking plan for plywood dimensions and thickness, other measurements, and specifications regarding size, colors, types, and brands.
• Plywood (1200 ×2400 mm)
• Drywall screws
• Wood glue
Equipment to Use
• Table saw
• Drill
• Spray system
For Protection
• Safety glasses
• Protective gloves
Tools and Objects to Use
• Framing square
• T-square
• Pencil
• Sand paper
• Wood glue
• Screwdriver
• Paintbrushes
Steps in Building a Medicine Cabinet
Below are the general steps in building a medicine cabinet. It is important to refer to your woodworking plan for alterations and customizations.
Step 1: Cut the Plywood
Following your woodworking plan, sketch the cabinet parts on a sheet of plywood prior cutting. Allot measurement estimates for the top and two sides of the shelves. With a table saw, cut the plywood according to estimates.
Next, cut the plywood as facings of the bookshelves using a table saw. A suggestion would be cutting them in 1x2s to ensure adequate space. However, consult your woodworking plan for more specific measurements.
Step 2: Put Markings on The Wood
Get the side pieces and proceed to mark each piece of wood using a framing square.
Step 3: Assemble Shelves
Get your plywood pieces and lay them in order. Using wood glue or any other durable adhesive, apply small amounts of adhesive to secure them in place. Place assembled unit on a perfectly flat surface to test for alignment.
Step 4: Add Plywood to the Back of the Unit
Add plywood at the back of the shelving unit. Consider adding drywall screws for extra durability and strength.
To protect the posterior of the shelving unit, birch plywood may be attached at the back for a neat finish.
Step 4: Polish the Cabinet
Sand the unit thoroughly to flatten uneven surfaces.
Staining or painting the cabinet is optional. A spray system with polyurethane paint may be used or it can be manually stained using Danish oil.
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