Years ago, I completed this wall chest for my bedroom closet. I had no inclination to record my work in any detailed way. How about that? It’s another project that came to my mind one day while I was doing other work around the house. Its recollection is just that. Like the other stories, it was by hook or crook, without “good tools” or simply, by my bootstraps.
This story is part of a continuing saga meant only to entertain. With this in mind, it may provide an idea, a solution, a lot of oh-oh’s, a few oh no’s, or a nod of agreement.
I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.
– Vincent Van Gogh
Story #12: Closet Wall Cabinet
Another builder’s original bites the dust. Wire shelving filled the space. The shelving was not helpful for organizing my clothes. As a result, there was a lot of wasted space. My plan? Replace it with a hanging wall chest. That would solve another problem: lack of floor storage. It needed space for shoes and a laundry hamper.
I dismantled the old wire system and measured the space on the wall for the cabinet.
I had enough wall space to make the cabinet with the following dimensions: 25″ wide x 18″ deep by 48″ tall. That was the perfect size to fully utilize the space and to safely walk around. The cabinet was only part of this small closet remodel. I needed to install hanger poles for long garments like coats and robes. Lastly, wood shelves would store folded clothes and small storage boxes.
Construction of the wall chest
I found 18″ wide pine boards to use for the top, sides, and bottom of the cabinet carcass. The boards were easy to find back then!
I used the same size boards for the drawer bottoms and for one open shelf.
A little detail
Each drawer was fitted with a fully extended drawer slide. The matching part of the mechanism was attached to the inside of the cabinet.
The drawer fronts were cut and fitted.
A “lip” on the drawer fronts served as the handle or pull. In order to save work and a few supplies, I painted all the drawer fronts and the inside back panel of only the first or top drawer. The rest of the wood was finished with a thin coating of shellac.
Testing the drawers
I tested the drawers before hauling the unit to the closet. They opened and closed on the sliding mechanism quite smoothly.
This part of the project came together well. It certainly took a lot of sweat and enough work to get this far.
This is a good stopping point for the construction. I will finish this project in the upcoming post.
Next time: Hanging Wall Chest – part 2.
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Baadaye
♥️
Remember: If you are going to make any project, be mindful and be safe.
