Build it yourself!

If you’ve ever assembled a computer desk, you can assemble pre-fab cabinets. The most common tools you need are a screwdriver, a hammer, a level, a drill, some wood screws that are long enough to attach a cabinet to a wall (2 1/4″), and some screws that are long enough to attach cabinets to one another without going through on the other side (1 1/4″), some shims (our cabinets came with plastic snap-off shims that were quite effective), a step stool, and some quality wood glue.

I also suggest that you use some strips of 1×2 wood (or similar) to put up on the wall as a “ledge” for you set your wall cabinets on when mounting them. Trust me, it’s a whole lot easier to level and measure a 1×2 and set your cabinet on it afterward than to try to hold a cabinet to the wall while you try to level and anchor it. It’s also helpful to use a plumb-bob, level, or stud-finder with a straight edge and make vertical stud lines down the wall before you start attaching cabinets.

You’ll use the screwdriver extensively in assembly of the cabinets so you might want a power screwdriver for the job. The Mill’s Pride major cabinet parts are held together with metal cams and dowels. You can use the glue for the dowels and the the edges of the cabinet enclosure. We used a long level to be able to span more than one cabinet when double-checking our placement and shim work.

Except for hanging wide wall cabinets, this kind of cabinet assembly and installation is a one-woman job.

3 Responses to “Build it yourself!”

1. Mark Anthony says:

   February 22, 2006 at 9:12 pm

   Hi,I like your site and your posts have a nice ring to them,
   (radio shack)ha ha,Just started my site kinda looking around hope you dont mind(you are top of my list)Anyway just wanted to add a tip:before installing cabinets transfer the mesurements of the studs to the back of the cabinets and pre-drill the holes for the mounting screws(just a tiny bit bigger than the threads of the screws)this will make the install smooth…
   My Best To All….Mark Anthony
2. Black Friday Schwinn 151 says:

   November 11, 2011 at 7:18 pm

   It is felt that this was the information that we want to have.
3. Gonzalo Yake says:

   January 5, 2012 at 1:14 am

   This article provides the light in which we are able to observe the reality. This really is relatively good one and provides in-depth information.