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Saturday Morning Workshop: How To Build A Lockable Storage Cabinet

Learn how to utilize the beauties of pegboard and adjustable shelving with this inexpensive, lockable storage cabinet.

Introduction

There are a lot of dangerous tools and products around the home that kids can get into, especially in your workshop and garage. This lockable cabinet gives you a safe place to store chemicals, paint, pest control products, sharp tools and other potentially dangerous objects. And because every bit of it is usable for storage, it holds a lot without requiring much wall space. Hooks and tension clips in the pegboard back and on both sides of the pegboard doors give you plenty of hanging room. The back of the cabinet and inner door frames can be fitted with adjustable shelves. It’s built as three easy-to-assemble boxes, and should take less than three hours to complete. The materials used are inexpensive: pegboard and 1x6-in. pine. The cabinet could be painted or stained and used in the house as an extra pantry, cleaning supplies closet or hobby center.

Tools Required

Drill/driver
Hot Glue Gun
Miter saw

Materials Required

1/4-in. pegboard (2 - 4'x8' sheets)
1x3x6' pine
1x6x8' pine (7)
4-1/2 in. locking hasp
4x4-in. hinges (6)
Adjustable shelving
Painter's tape

What It Takes

Time: 2 hours
Cost: $80
Skill level: Beginner

Cutting List

Tech Art

Project step-by-step (8)

Step 1

Cut pieces to size

Cut the following pieces from standard 1x6 pine stock to length:

Two 7-ft. boards for the center box sides (A)
Two 2-ft. 10-1/2 in. boards for the top and bottom of the center box (B)
Four 6-ft. boards for the two door boxes (C)
Four 16-1/4 in. boards for the top and bottom of the doors (D)
Four 16-in. boards for the shelves (H)

Rip and crosscut the pegboard to the following sizes

One 36” x 6’ for the center box pegboard (E)
Two 17-3/4” x 6’ for the door pegboards (F)

Crosscut the 1x3 Pine to

Two 34-1/2” boards for the mounting strips (G)
Two 3-in. parts for the locking hasp block (J)

Step 2

Assemble the door frames

Assemble the door frames, following the tech art. Predrill to avoid splitting on the ends of boards. Use 1-3/4 in. drywall screws to make all connections. Fasten the pegboard (F) to the edges of the door frames with wood glue and 1-3/4 in. screws.

Step 3

Create the center box

Assemble the center box frame by screwing the top to the sides. Measure for placement of the bottom board to make a 6-ft. box. Affix the pegboard (E) to the center box with wood glue and 1-3/4 in. screws.

Step 4

Attach the door boxes to the center box with hinges

Set the center box flat on the ground with the opening facing up. Lay the door boxes on top of the center box. Align and attach the butt hinges with screws.

Step 5

Affix the mounting strips

Use wood glue to attach two mounting strips (G) to the interior of the center box at the top and bottom. Fasten with 1-3/4 in. drywall screws into the mounting strips (G).

Step 6

Create the shelving

Set scrap 1x wood onto the pegboard as a spacer. Cut the adjustable shelving track to your desired length and attach with 3/4-in. screws. Cut shelves to fit from 1x6 stock.

Step 7

Mount to the wall

Set the cabinet on paint cans for spacers. Mount the cabinet to the studs with 4-in. drywall screws.

Step 8

Attach the locking hasp

Glue 3-in. long hasp blocks (J) of 1x3 stock on the inside of both doors, 36-in. from the top. Screw the locking hasp parts into the blocks from the outside of the doors.