This project was built and designed by Stan Sullivan. It’s a straightforward cabinet build that helps keep your workshop organized while using minimal materials and tools.
By focusing on vertical space and skipping unnecessary features, Stan’s design keeps things simple and budget-friendly. These cabinets are ideal for any size shop and can be easily customized to fit your wall space and storage needs.
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Why Wall-Mounted Cabinets Make Sense
In any workshop, keeping things organized and off the floor makes a big difference in efficiency and safety. Wall-mounted cabinets allow you to free up floor space while keeping your tools, materials, and supplies protected and within reach.
This project emphasizes function over flair. With a simple open-box design and no complicated joinery, the cabinets come together quickly and can be scaled to fit any space.
Simple Materials, Solid Results
Stan builds these cabinets using standard plywood, easily found at most hardware stores. While the wood doesn’t need to be premium-grade, he recommends selecting flat, clean sheets to reduce prep time and avoid complications during assembly.
Rather than investing in expensive materials or hardware, the focus is placed on accuracy and smart design. This makes the build ideal for beginners or anyone trying to upgrade their shop storage without spending too much.
Cutting the Parts
The process starts by breaking down plywood into panels for the cabinet box. Stan uses a circular saw with a guide or a table saw for cleaner, repeatable cuts.
Keeping parts square and consistent in size is critical. Each side, top, and bottom panel is cut to the same dimensions, and any small mistake here can lead to gaps or a poor fit during assembly.
Assembly Without a Back Panel
Instead of using a solid back, Stan mounts the cabinets directly to the wall and lets the wall itself serve as the rear support. This design choice reduces material costs and overall weight, making the cabinets easier to lift and install.
Each panel is joined with screws and glue, forming a simple rectangular box. Because the design doesn’t rely on intricate joinery, assembly goes quickly, even with just basic clamps and a drill.
Squaring the Boxes
To ensure clean cabinet doors and proper alignment, Stan uses diagonal measurements to check for squareness. By comparing the corner-to-corner distances, you can verify that everything is aligned before final fastening.
This step is crucial. A square cabinet frame means the doors will open smoothly, the sides will sit flush against the wall, and the entire setup will look professional.
Mounting the Cabinets
Once assembled, the cabinets are mounted using heavy-duty metal wing anchors. Stan explains how these anchors help distribute weight across drywall and prevent the cabinets from pulling out over time.
Before drilling, Stan advises checking the wall for hidden wiring. He shares a reminder from personal experience to always use caution when securing anything to a shop wall—especially when electrical or plumbing might be behind the surface.
Clean Edges and Strong Hinges
To finish the visible plywood edges, Stan applies iron-on edge banding. It’s a quick and affordable way to improve the appearance while protecting the plywood from moisture and wear.
Hinges are added next, and Stan chooses adjustable ones that allow for small corrections after installation. This flexibility is useful if the doors don’t hang perfectly the first time—something that happens often in DIY builds.
Optional Doors and Custom Finishes
The doors themselves are built from the same plywood and attached using concealed hinges. They add dust protection and give the cabinets a cleaner look, though the project works just as well with open fronts if that’s preferred.
Stan leaves room for personalization in the final design. You can paint, stain, or leave the cabinets natural, and different handles or knobs can be added depending on your shop’s style.
Designed to Grow with Your Shop
One of the biggest benefits of Stan’s cabinet build is how adaptable it is. As your shop grows or your storage needs change, more cabinets can be added, stacked, or rearranged without needing to redesign the whole system.
The simple layout also makes it easy to scale up—build one or two cabinets now, then add more later using the same cut list and layout.
Please support Stan by visiting his website: https://www.simplyeasydiy.com/.