How to Build Basic Upper Cabinets | EASY DIY Wall Cabinets

[@aCeidra]

I really appreciate all those extra things you explain, bc as a beginner with no one to teach me these things, the only other way to figure it out is the hard way. 😆

[@Jinxjinxjinxed]

The amount of detail, explanation AND illustrations were GREATLY appreciated ❤❤

[@cswatson4823]

What a good tutorial on the basic dimensions before starting.

[@cswatson4823]

Oh and I have that magnetic laser stud finder too. Wonderful tool

[@WoodshopDiaries]

It’s so handy and the best part-no batteries haha! It’s my absolute favorite stud finder

[@EmorettaRobinson]

That brief pause to acknowledge the fact that your cat was just casually strolling across your roof was hilarious. Cats can do some pretty interesting things. They're just built different. Lol. But the shelves turned out really well. The trim made it look like tge cabinets have always been there. Which, I know, is the whole point But I just think you did a really good job building and installing them.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Bubs is constantly into something 🤣 if there’s a ladder, he’s climbing it. He’s funny. So glad you enjoyed the build! I appreciate you watching and hope you have a wonderful weekend! 🙌😎

[@EmorettaRobinson]

@@WoodshopDiaries thank you. And you have a wonderful weekend as well.🙂

[@Joshua.zero29]

6:58 😂😂😂 7:55 nice, such an easy way to make the tenons! I don't think I've ever seen anyone do it that way before. 👍

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Bubs is always a hoot 🤣 also I’m definitely becoming a fan of making cabinet doors this way. I tried cutting them on the table saw like that and it was taking FOREVER. The router cut down a ton of time.

[@Joshua.zero29]

@WoodshopDiaries it seemed like a much faster method than setting up the table saw multiple times. I'll definitely try that out myself! And Bubby finding out that his territory expands upward was an epic moment! Glad it made it into the video! 😂

[@6ocean31]

@@WoodshopDiaries What router bit is that? Thx

[@DiegoTorres-nx3bl]

You've been a light on the path. Thanks for sharing and show the way you do. Greetings from México

[@torabora81]

You are the best cabinet instructor/teacher ever

[@evaburgess3648]

You have knack of making it seem achievable

[@reauchannrichardson147]

I am working on measurements to do my own jitchen cabinets. This is so helpful. Ive built pilot cabinets to gain experience, like reach in closet fireplace wall and pantry. I think i have the cabinets its the doors that i fear now, just becauae i have not done them. Thanks, for this i use all ur past cabinets byilds as a research.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

You got this! I’m happy to hear this was helpful for you with your project. Cabinet doors can be made a bunch of ways, so don’t stress too much doing it one particular way-do what works best for you! I’m planning to make a cabinet door building series (similar to the drawer building series I shared last year) soon so maybe that can help you as well! Happy building!

[@brewster3987]

A very fitting sequel to the base cabinets from last week! I’m a pushover for Shaker style and yours are spot-on. Building in a filler strip/scribing allowance is only one advantage of custom-building to the space. Hope the color has grown on you! Looking forward to the grand reveal. P.S. I hope Bubs gets the part in the Tennessee Williams play he’s auditioning for!😂

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Haha the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a reference I had not even thought of but it made my chuckle 😆 Bubs is crazy! So glad you enjoyed the build and the simple style. I have grown to like the color…hoping it eventually turns to LOVING the color, but for now, I’m good with it ha! Hope you have a wonderful weekend and I really appreciate you watching and following along!

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

These look great Shara! You’re going to have a first class laundry room! Thanks for sharing this excellent series on your cabinet build. I hope Bubs got down off the roof ok! Have a great weekend and please keep on building!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Bubs was eventually escorted off the roof 🤣 as is usually what happens. This isn’t his first trip up there 🙈 Thanks so much-I’m glad you enjoyed the build and I really appreciate you watching! Have a great weekend as well! Happy building 😎

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

@@WoodshopDiaries …. lol…. I’m glad that you all escorted him safely off the roof! You have the best channel and certainly apply your engineering design skills!

[@Nob-ks5uf]

❤ It seems so easy by you !

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I hope you enjoyed it! I appreciate you watching!

[@kellys.9366]

I am ELATED to find your channel as i tackle my first cabinet project!!!! I just lamented the lack of female voices in this DIY arena and I am grateful for your thoughtful and thorough instructions. I've subscribed and look forward to binging your how-to's!! ❤

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Aww you are so kind! Thank you so much. I hope you find the other videos helpful as well 💕 happy building! 🙌

[@SxmTech101]

Thanks Shara this was a good one and you explained more details in this one, But i always going to say you made it look so easy.

[@ronnorris1504]

Another wonderful project. Amazing looking cabinets. Thank you!

[@augustineschaefer5522]

I appreciate the how to’s and why’s. The numbers have to work. Thanks

[@WoodshopDiaries]

So happy you found it helpful! It’s always good to have a little background info I feel like.

[@espnmk]

Shara your tips go a long way and it shows with your cabinets, Absolutely marvelous job... Thanks for Sharing!

[@douglaspierce8480]

On depth, if you're going to have storage for a dish set it's always good to have the measurement of the largest plate or platter that is going into the dish cabinet.

[@tonygilbert2373]

As always, thanks for the detailed instructions.

[@theflourcity]

I love your color choices with your work. Great job!

[@drewcompton4242]

Great video !!! Thinking about doing this above my washer and dryer now!! 👍🏻

[@johnkelley9877]

Great tutorial and a lot of good information on building and measuring. Bubby on the roof was a neat part of the video. We have had 3 cats and while they were a lot of fun nothing they did surprised me. Thanks for sharing this.

[@jimrosson6702]

Great job Shara the cabinets look great. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

They look great.

[@guybowers9094]

Lots of good info for building the uppers and those turned out great. Nice work

[@jimgreenhouse214]

As usual. You make everything look very easy. Another fantastic job

[@jhold7553]

I put a shelf above my laundry when I moved in here. Now you got me thinking. Dang you haha

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Haha! Sorry about that 😅😆

[@jhold7553]

@WoodshopDiaries I have a lot of really nice furniture I made from your videos, so I will let it slide ha

[@WoodshopDiaries]

So glad to hear that! 🙌 I aim to be more helpful than stressful 🤣 have a great weekend!

[@danielwentz2146]

Thanks and great job!

[@clemmcguinness1087]

Your work is very neatly done and clearly explained. This would be excellent tutorial material

[@janestabler6222]

Love the cabinet build !!!

[@geekdownrange]

Thank for the additional "how and why" commentary. That is very helpful.

[@JPToto]

Well done as always, Shara!

[@johnford7847]

Very nice video and nice cabinets. You're very good at encouraging people, letting us know we really could do this. Thank you, and thank you for sharing.

[@stevensaldutti5585]

Hey, Shara. Fantastic video! Would you ever be interested in tackling and teaching the dreaded corner cabinet??

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I would! If I ever have a need to build one, I’ll definitely share 😅

[@marcusdavis8650]

This looks awesome. 👍🏾You always motivate me to start a new project and of course I been wanting to paint my existing cabinets or put brand new cabinets in there. You got me thinking!

[@beetleclemens3727]

😃😃😃😃😃 wow you really went in death on how to make the cabinet doors The easiest possible way we think we really appreciate you taking us long on your adventure it makes perfect sense on how to build cabinets now thank you for your skills and time and labor we can't wait till the next adventure

[@ianpearse4480]

Nicely done.

[@timdyer7692]

Nice project and great job!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching and hope you have a great weekend!

[@homegrowntomatoes1]

Excellent instructional!

[@cliff5240]

great job, look very nice

[@raulsoto2088]

Hermoso trabajo... Cómo siempre, me encanta.. te felicito...un abrazo desde Chile 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@jasonssimon]

Thanks for a clear project video. I’m going to be outfitting a new garage workshop, and these videos are giving me great ideas

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Awesome! If you’re looking for garage/workshop cabinets, I’ve also got these two videos/setups you might enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHivYqeIlLurj6ssi=qJyeh-ztRydd1sto And kzbin.info/www/bejne/oF65dqaagpalmtksi=a4f81XuPaklrKeXf

[@brendan.underwater]

Great job!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching!

[@MaryseRacine7640]

So love watching a young woman doing what you do! I wish I was your age because I would try doing what you built based on your very clear explanations. My husband have the tools but not the work shop! We did are building in the summer, out in our backyard…He never wanted me to touch his tools, so I watched but I would have preferred building with him… different time… good work as usual!

[@carni6319]

Great project!

[@Ray_Sellner]

Well done video and cabinets.

[@prometheuszero9]

Great video. I've been playing around with the idea of getting rid of my current kitchen cabinets and then refinishing them and building new doors to put on. This video was very straightforward and just reassures me that I can absolutely do it. I appreciate the fact that you used creative techniques to make up for the fact that you don't have a fully-stocked woodshop like a lot of woodworkers on YT do! Don't get me wrong, I think we'd all love to have every tool under the sun, but it's nice to see someone working with a fairly simple set of tools and just using creative problem-solving, as that's currently how I mostly do it too. Subscribed.

[@stevedockery3534]

Wow! I thought my laundry room looked good but I believe you've our done me. The room looks very clean and sharp. Have a great weekend Shara. Steve

[@scottmorris4914]

Good project and video. Detail was fine .

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

[@faizanaz1092]

I really appreciate your straightforward and step by step process of explaining the procedure. I am not sure if you have a video on slotted holes, but can you please make a video on how you use the kreg machine for slotted holes, distance used to make the holes etc.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Hi! This guide shows how to use a pocket hole jig: www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-to-use-pocket-hole-jig/

[@kayuburukdesign]

Great video and explaination there..❤

[@re-inventedbymaria]

Great tutorial!! Thank you so much!!

[@jasonthomas1760]

Love the build Shara! You make it look so easy I always dread building cabinets. I know it's just a bunch of boxes. But I'd rather build anything else lol

[@autumnSimpson-jp7it]

Thank you

[@skokenos]

Hey you.. haven't seen you in a long while. Glad to see you making cabinets. I'll have to watch later as I'm busy today.

[@Whiskeywoodworks]

I need to do this❤

[@irawardofficial]

That was epic Shara !!😃 Your shop is looking sharp too :).👍🤜 I am glad you brought up the option of having inset or overlay doors. I will be doing overlay doors :).😁 I like your tung and groove technique, it's really hard to get things lined up when done by hand.🔥 Keep up the good work and have a nice weekend !!💪🦵👏

[@WoodshopDiaries]

So happy you enjoyed it! With cabinets there are always a ton of options. I’m glad it was helpful to see different ways! Happy building and thanks so much for watching! Have a wonderful weekend 😎

[@bkipad]

Nice job

[@craiggoodwin9704]

Shara, this is a great compliment to last week's video so I thank you. I've been thinking I need some additional cabinets in my garage as between you and Kreg my current storage space is getting a bit over crowded. (Ha!) I don't think you emphasized it enough that hanging cabinets is really a two person job mostly because of the bulkiness of the task. Thanks Danny! We are in a bit of a cold snap here so I've not been in the shop too much but the weather should break next week. We don't have a cat at the moment but Bub's certainly reminds me of when we did! Appreciate the laugh. Have a great week. Thanks for Sharing!

[@davidguinta4550]

Shara great explanation and as usual great work...However your cat is beginning to steal the show!! Loved it!

[@Transgenic86]

I came for woodworking, and I stayed for roof cat. 😸

[@tintansigloXXI]

Nice color

[@mariojuana]

great vids!

[@bearsstuff]

Almost done watching this and just got an email about this. 🤣You didn't over complicate it. I need these (along with the bottoms). We have similarly capable cats being able to climb ladders and fearless (or absent a brain cell or three) to get into places they shouldn't. As always, looking forward to the next one.

[@boredmarinerd808]

I hate how easy you made this look. LOL! Beautiful work!

[@stezimmermann]

Hi! I would love if you can make a video about the tools that you use! And a kit starter with some tips. Awesome projects and work girl!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Hi! Sure! Here’s a quick video: instagram.com/reel/C3kdKbCg0ZE/?igsh=MTkwaHcwZGcyMXRzMQ== And a more detailed breakdown of each one and how they’re used: www.woodshopdiaries.com/must-have-tools-for-cabinet-furniture-making/

[@davidoliver3136]

Awesome 👏👏👏

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much! I appreciate you watching!

[@rockstarfan886]

Another great video just missing Sam these last few weeks i need my sat morning double dose of kick ass ladies

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Sam is busy behind the scenes! I’ve missed @diyhuntress videos too but I’ve been texting her and getting sneak peeks of her current project. It’s going to be awesome when she shares it. Well worth the wait! We’ve also been brainstorming another potential collab too. We will see what works out 🤞

[@rockstarfan886]

@@WoodshopDiaries that's exciting can't wait and I love the collabs

[@tomstone2322]

Very nice!! Loved the cat on the roof 🤣😂

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Bubs is always into (or on top of 🤦🏼‍♀️) something haha. He’s good entertainment sometimes!

[@T_Jonesy]

Looks great. I like your system of using two boards on the countertop as a temporary base to hang the upper cabinets. I usually use a ledger board, but your way is a great solution if you're not tiling a backsplash and a ledger board would make it so you have to repair the wall. Wondering if building a permanent jig for that would be a good idea. Cheers!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

That’s exactly why I didn’t use a ledger board-I didn’t want to repair the wall afterward 🙈 but a ledger board is probably a little easier than this method if you were doing several cabinets. Pros and cons to everything haha. I appreciate you watching and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

[@T_Jonesy]

@@WoodshopDiaries Hope you have a great weekend too. As another female woodworker, I love your channel.

[@brunnie]

ROFL.... "Cat on a Hot Shingle Roof"... a new Broadway play. Nice simple project. Thank you.

[@MCsCreations]

Really beautiful work, Shara! They look awesome! 😃 About Bubby in the roof, my cats love to sleep there during the day! 😂 But one of them comes down, meowing, if I call him by his name... 😂 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@jwillie22]

This was a great tutorial! So thankful for your channel. Getting ready to tackle building cabinets in several areas of our “no storage” home, and your tutorials will make my life so much easier. One question, what software do use to sketch/design your builds? My waste basket is over flowing with crumpled up sheets of paper 😂

[@aberba]

Try to always spreading the wood glue for good bonding across the attached surface. Use a brush or wood piece if you don't want it to mess your hand.

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

Great tutorial, especially the dimensional considerations. Unrelated question: What's the ceiling material in your workshop? It looks like some kind of corrugated sheeting. Thanks for sharing and thumbs up.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

It’s metal siding. We bought the property and it was already installed there so we left it. But wouldn’t have picked it. If I had the choice 😅

[@timothycreasy2161]

Very nice Ms. Shara. I love your color choice, which you showed some of. I know you love painting,... Lol Just a though, if you haven't already do a video on your process for selves pins and drilling for the cup hinges. Just a thought Thank you Ms. Shara

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you so much! Haha yes you know painting is my favorite 🤣 Also, those are great ideas! I have detailed guides on both installing the hinges and drilling the shelf in holes linked in the video description 😊

[@coopersbarbecue]

What sander do you use? Love the videos every week.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! I’m using a surfprep sander

[@todds4101]

Damn I wish I would have encountered your channel sooner. Anyway, new subscriber. Your stuff just looks really good! One hell of a carpenter. I work part-time at a local Woodcraft and I've been working with wood for 28ish years now. Really enjoy your videos. I'll check more of them out when I get a chance to actually focus on them. On the meantime, cheers from Colorado.

[@ArnaAlayneMorton]

Thanks for sharing, Shara! Do you have a video showing how drive Pockethole screws with such ease? I have to use a million clamps to keep the boards in place when I drive and it’s not very efficient 😂

[@MrXDfan]

Love this build and series, off topic question though. Do you have a video of how to build that sweet work table with the track in it?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I do! It’s from several years ago: How to Build a Mobile Workbench--Ultimate Assembly and Outfeed Table kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4LPZ5mLfs9ln7c

[@jmal555]

I love your videos. They are simple enough for an amateur but the results are beautifully minimalist style. If I was to build an open bookshelf with pocket holes, do you fill the pocket holes if they are under the shelf, but below eye line, like a mid fixed shelf (for sturdiness)?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Hi! Personally, I wouldn’t spend the time to fill pocket holes that won’t be seen during normal every day use. Maybe that’s lazy of me 🤣 but I don’t see the point. It’s purely cosmetic.

[@jeanloreaud9282]

Encore une très belle réalisation,joli travail,bien expliqué,dommage que ce ne soit pas en cm,à bientôt salut Jeannot 🛠😉

[@progression_decibel]

OMG I wanted to build uppers for my laundry room in the same exact style!! So glad I found your video! If I wanted to build uppers like these (or even lowers) non-painted/naked, what type of wood should I use? White Oak, Maple, etc.? And would I put something like Lacquer or like a Rubio stain over the top to protect them? A perfect example is your cabinets in your garage under the window - those look gorgeous! Thanks!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Wood type is really just a personal choice. I like to use birch or maple plywood for the boxes but the face frames and doors are up to you. In my shop cabinets, I didn’t add face frames and I used hickory plywood for the doors. I sealed them with a basic clear coat minwax polycrylic or helmsman (I can’t remember which exactly but either works fine).

[@progression_decibel]

@@WoodshopDiaries sounds great. Are you still sourcing your plywood from Home Depot (I think it was a product by Columbia forestry on your blog)? I've heard mixed feelings on big box lumber vs. going to a good lumber yard. Thank you!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

@progression_decibel yep that’s what I get-PureBond plywood.

[@Mannievh]

Great video! You really scared me though nailing with your finger right next to the gun… I had one curl around and back out and hit me in the bone and my God the pain was so bad.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! That sounds rough! That’s why I moved my hand before driving the nail 😅

[@kevinnadeau8688]

Just discovered your channel and have enjoyed watching several videos. You make projects very approachable for the average DIY person. For cabinets, are you applying a finish to the interior of the boxes, or maybe using pre-finished plywood? I'm curious about your approach. Thanks!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Hi! Thanks so much! So glad you enjoy it! I leave the inside of my cabinet boxes unfinished.

[@loserplanet]

Hello Shara! I looooove these. Please share the paint color? I'm looking to paint my laundry room blue (right now it's Sherwin Williams Sea Salt and I'm over it). and I LOVE this color.. Edit I found it in the video description. SW Stardew thank you!

[@davidgiesfeldt6650]

I like the gang cutting of the tenons with the router vs 1x1 on the router table.😅

[@collarbonesMKII]

Your cat has major ginger cat energy haha!

[@kerrydaz]

I love the color of the cabinet. What paint/color is it?

[@reubenca]

Another great video! Just wondering what goes to the right of the cabinets? I see that there is a receptacle there for something.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Hi! Nothing goes there. You can see the whole room in my latest video showing my full laundry room remodel

[@yesmaybeok1]

Love the video. I was wondering what bit you used for the router?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

A rabbeting bit 😊 here’s an aff link to it: homedepot.sjv.io/do070j

[@user-yk6qq5qz8i]

Wow it's a great build. 👍👍 I would like to know which one better sheet for the cabinets MDF or plywood?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! I use cabinet grade plywood to build cabinets.

[@jej2371]

Newbie here with some carpentry know how and also limited tools. What size pocket holes are you drilling? Is this standard? How long are your screws? Is this also standard? What size brad nails? Yeah, I just realized someone with a woodworking shop is way beyond my skill set. One day!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Hi! Pocket hole size and screw length is discussed in this guide: www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-to-use-pocket-hole-jig/ I used 1 1/4” brad nails here.

[@mchristofas]

Awesome Job Shara! Do you use the paid version of sketchup? I still use the old last version that was free and offline :)

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! I do pay for the sketchup license since I use it for business. But I still actually use the online version because that’s what I’m used to 🤣

[@jeremypinto3274]

Great video, thank you for sharing. how much did this cost to build?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! I had the wood in my shop already as it was part of a larger project so I didn’t figure it specifically for these two parts.

[@callyscraftycorner2463]

I loo e the idea of attaching the cabinets at the bottom through the hidden area. Is there a way to do that with a frameless cabinet?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

When I do frameless upper cabinets, I install the bottom panel flush to the sides, then add that bottom support strip inside the cabinet just above the bottom panel. That way there’s still a top and bottom strip to screw through to install.

[@TheRealAlexLam]

Great video, I have always wanted to build the cabinets for my laundry room. Question: How do you deal with plywoods that warp overtime? Sometimes I bought a piece and if I wait for a few weeks before I have time to use it, it warps. Thanks.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! I don’t deal with it warping very often. I check my sheets well before purchase and I’ve not noticed it warping much over time (I store it standing on its side for what that’s worth). In most cases, in my experience, if it does warp after I buy it, it’s not much and usually it doesn’t make much difference in how I use it unless I’m using it for cabinet doors. You can usually push/pull it in place how you need it during assembly.

[@matchstickdesignco]

6:59 "Cat On A Cold Tin Roof"? 🤣

[@rsilva281]

Hello, I love your work! I have a question: When you do face frames, Are they flush around on the outside? I'm confused in that part 🤔

[@dhmtbr2551]

Looks great ! Question…have you ever used French cleats to hang cabinets..? I’m thinking about doing that for my kitchen cabs, seems like it would be an easy way to hang them…especially being I work solo around the house…

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I’ve not. But I don’t see why you couldn’t. You’d probably have to do away with the back panel or definitely modify how it’s installed. Another option: Kreg makes brackets specially designed for this. I’ve not used them yet, but they seem like a great option if you’re not going all the way to the ceiling: www.kregtool.com/shop/cabinet-solutions/cabinet-drawer-shelf-jigs/8-cabinet-installation-system/KCS-100.html