Looking for a stylish and functional dog kennel that can also serve as a chic piece of furniture? This impressive design was created by Mark from Gunflint Designs. The kennel is a perfect blend of elegance and utility, constructed from black walnut with HDPE plastic decorative panels.
Materials and Tools Needed
- Black walnut lumber
- HDPE plastic sheets
- Wood glue
- Loose tenons
- 2×2 lumber for legs
- Plywood for the bottom
- Hinges and latch
- Various screws
- Jigsaw
- Joiner
- Planer
- Table saw
- Mortise Mate
- Clamps
- Router table
- Sanding equipment
Step 1: Prepare the Lumber
Mark begins the project by breaking down and squaring up the rough lumber. Using a jigsaw, he cuts the black walnut to rough length, leaving extra material to account for snipe during the planing process. He then passes one face and one edge over the joiner for a perfect 90-degree corner.
Step 2: Planing and Cutting to Size
Next, he runs the lumber through the planer until it’s perfect on both faces and reduced to 3/4 of an inch thick. To minimize material loss, he cuts to length before running a full-length board through the process. Most of the project is built from equal-sized sticks, so he sets up his table saw and roller guides to cut the required pieces.
Step 3: Cutting the HDPE Panels
Mark breaks down a sheet of HDPE, applying masking tape to prevent melting during the laser cutting process. After some trial and error, he finds that adding tape helps achieve cleaner cuts. This project consists of six frames total, four sides, and two doors.
Step 4: Assembling the Frames
To assemble the frames, Mark places the pieces on a flat surface, labeling the joints and marking the center on each stick. He uses the Mortise Mate to cut precise mortises for connecting the pieces. This tool allows for easy adjustments, ensuring that everything aligns perfectly during assembly.
Step 5: Dry Fitting and Gluing
After cutting all mortises, Mark performs a dry fit to ensure alignment. He applies glue to the mortises and swabs it around before inserting the tenons and fitting the parts together. Clamps are used to keep everything tight during the drying process.
Step 6: Attaching the Legs
The legs are milled and cut to length, ensuring they are slightly longer than the frames to prevent rocking on uneven floors. Mark clamps the legs to the frames and measures for the next mortises, repeating the mortising process to attach the legs securely.
Step 7: Sanding and Finishing
With the frames assembled, Mark moves on to sanding. He uses a surf prep sander to work through the grits, ensuring a smooth finish on all surfaces. For the frame, he opts for tongue oil, applying it with a rag to flood all corners effectively.
Step 8: Constructing the Top
Mark glues several boards together for the top, ensuring they are evened out using the planer. He cuts additional mortises for alignment and attaches the top using z-clips. This method allows for wood movement while keeping the top secure.
Step 9: Installing the Plastic Panels and Hardware
Once the top is attached, Mark pre-drills holes for the decorative plastic panels, ensuring they can be easily replaced if damaged. He then installs the hinges and latch, finalizing the assembly of the kennel.
Step 10: Final Touches
To protect the floors, Mark adds felt to the feet of the kennel. Finally, he places a plastic kennel liner and a comfy pad inside, ready to welcome its new tenant.
And there you have it! A stunning dog kennel that doesn’t compromise on style. Huge thanks to Gunflint Designs for sharing this project, perfect for any dog owner looking to enhance their home decor while providing a cozy space for their pet.
For more details and materials used, check out Gunflint Designs.