A Better Way to Build Upper Shop/Garage Cabinets

A better way to build upper cabinets for your shop, garage, or general utility cabinets.
Upper Cabinet Build Plans - www.johnbuilds...
Check out all my other plans! - www.johnbuilds...
JH Circular saw shaped push sticks - www.johnbuilds...
Follow on Instagram: @johnbuildsit / johnbuildsit
Facebook: / johnbuildsit
TikTok: tiktok.com/@johnbuildsit
All tools/products Used:
FastCap 3rd Hand - amzn.to/3ZVEzV0
4’x8’ Bora Centipede Work Table - amzn.to/42dnatv
½” Overlay Hinges - amzn.to/3DFpBdW
Cabinet Door/Drawer Pulls - amzn.to/4fyLmJT
Kreg Hinge Jig - amzn.to/4iPNAHK
Kreg Shelf Pin Jig - amzn.to/4iLTsBH
Shelf Pins - amzn.to/4fpVwwk
Milwaukee Track Saw Kit - homedepot.sjv....
Router Coping Sled - amzn.to/4gxJXVd
Freud Shaker Router Bit Set - amzn.to/4iZIwRc
Freud Ultimate Plywood Blade - amzn.to/3WiYCuw
Isotunes Hearing Protection - amzn.to/3znbIeQ
Flush Cut Edge banding End Trimmers - amzn.to/358dTI5
Band-it Edge Trimmer - amzn.to/3A9f5Kc
Milwaukee M12 Compact Brad Nailer - homedepot.sjv....
Kreg MultiMark Measuring Tool - amzn.to/33yioF0
Kreg K5 Pocket Hole Jig - amzn.to/35nH7T3
Bessey Bar Clamps - amzn.to/4iLTyt3
Bessey Trigger Clamps - homedepot.sjv....
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hammer Drill & Impact gun - homedepot.sjv.... or amzn.to/2OWb4h9
Graco Gx19 Sprayer - amzn.to/3WfsBob
*As a Home Depot and Amazon affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this post.

[@davidrl41]

Great simple method, with great results. I'm very impressed. These shop cabinets are better than most box store kitchen cabinets, by a long shot! Well done.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@lindamarsden8024]

I've moved to my brothers farm and I'm building a house/woodworking shop. In the interest of building less expensive but still quality cabinets I was thrilled when you published this episode, thank you, Linda ❤🛠📐

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@kennethboisan]

Simple, practical, and clean! I have followed you since close to the beginning of your KZbin journey and you have been one of the most consistent woodworkers through it all. I appreciate that you present in a way that is approachable, always mindful that not everyone knows the “simple” things that many may take for granted. Keep the awesome content coming, John!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

I appreciate that, thanks for watching!!

[@BrenQ99]

Your work is always flawless. The Impressed/Jealousy ratio is 50:50. Beautiful job!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Haha thank you!!

[@philkidd]

John, your shop design and workflow are an inspiration! I don't have as much space as your shop does, but these cabinets will for sure be the way I build my own! Thanks for all you do!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

I appreciate it, thanks for watching!

[@raulsoto2088]

Amigo, es un placer ver tus videos, tus trabajos.. lo haces ver tan fácil... Me inspiras siempre, me voy a mi taller a trabajar.. te saludo desde Chile 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@bjsmithart]

This is exactly what I was looking for to replace shelves in my small shop. I was researching how to build it myself, but you did all the work for me. I just purchased the plans. Thanks!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Awesome! Thank you!!

[@rigocarranza953]

I am a 40 year old man from Tijuana México and I just watch a dude build a cabinet, wtf where did I get lost, I just to be out drinking 😂😂😂

[@wenleo5150]

😂😂😂🍻🍻

[@andyespenan5919]

Came to watch this and noticed your duststopper/vac in background. Searched your site and found that video! Just ordered one for same vac. Thanks

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Nice! Thanks for watching!

[@JustAPersonAndYou]

Super clean looking. awesome! subscribed.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@petenelson8136]

Very timely = I need to build some shop cabinets and like how easy and inexpensive these are. I also need to get one of those spray tents you've got. I'll check out the video on that. Thanks for sharing.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Here’s the spray tent, and yep I have a whole video further back making the turntable 👍🏽amzn.to/407u6aj

[@abad_gtr1123]

man that setup looks awesome! love the color...

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!

[@TheDesertRat31]

I wound up with some old bookshelves from my wife's old school before it was torn down to build a new one. They were just going to be trashed. I figured I could mount them on the wall. One had cabinet doors the other needs some simple doors and maybe 1 set of dividers yo give mid- span support for the shelves to prevent sagging. They are made with pine boards so they're pretty light. It seems essentially the same idea as you're doing here.

[@devlinstalion5483]

Great video! Love how you broke it down.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@guybowers9094]

Great looking cabinets. I need to build a set of uppers as well and this fits the bill

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@MrGrundle]

Easy peasy... why make it more difficult than it needs to be! Nice.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@markraisner9000]

I really look forward to seeing your videos, this was no exception. Take care and Happy Holidays.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you! You too!

[@Justin4sons-Woodworking]

Great video, enjoyed watching it, John!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@nikkihopson5362]

That looks so nice! Once again great work! 😊

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!

[@johnstup4479]

That is exactly what that wall needed. Looks great John!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Absolutely! Thank you!

[@allenricafrentesr9584]

Great job John thanks for the plans!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thanks for watching!!

[@jimrosson6702]

Looks great, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s to you and your family 🍻🎉🍾

[@JohnBuildsIt]

You too!! Thank you!

[@timd8585]

Just stumbled onto your video, great content and very informative. I'm feeling inspired now !! Thanks

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thanks for watching!!

[@JNewellworks]

Nice work John!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

I appreciate it!

[@rudyschwab7709]

That's an awesome looking shop.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Getting there! Thanks!

[@jasonp3896]

I really enjoyed this video! New subscriber here! Keep it up. Shop looks great.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@stose85]

Looks great John!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!

[@gs3504]

Awesome job!!!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!

[@taylorscott9605]

Perfect for the wall space!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

100%!

[@brucefox6580]

Very nice, looks great.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

I appreciate it!

[@ThomasHane-kt9bb]

Great looking cabinet, I think you have the dividers and side panels mis-marked on the break down sheet.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Oh shoot, yep! Thanks for the heads up!

[@shanaproctor100]

Brilliant and efficienct!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@GligorovDimce]

That looks awesome!!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@JohnUpNorth]

Another great build John. I already have too many of your designs in my shop!!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Haha awesome! Thank you!!

[@JohnUpNorth]

@@JohnBuildsIt Your welcome. I actually made a video on my channel where I bought your plans for your outfeed table and built it to your specs. Still my favorite piece of shop furniture.

[@BubbasDad]

Very nice. Nothing new however. Back in the 80's, when I build cabinets for my projects, pocket screws were the new thing. Most of the cabinet shops in my area were making their units in one piece. The only drawback was the weight of the installation for one person. I didn't even think about modular cabinets until I watched the installation of new cabinets in a house. They were built by a "Custom" cabinet shop!

[@Whiskeywoodworks]

Great build❤

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!!

[@markbusey1593]

Great job John, what the width of each section? 28"?

[@AZOverland2017]

Excellent work!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thanks!!

[@mikesparks3398]

Looks great

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thanks man!

[@bdlii]

I did something similar a few years ago sans all the experience and knowledge you have so my cabinets are perhaps a bit rougher than yours. Still love the storage space and the DIY experience.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

That’s awesome!

[@bdlii]

@@JohnBuildsIt Thanks for replying and all your videos. I learn so much from creators like you and it's much appreciated.

[@suearmstrong3404]

Very nice!!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@scottpace578]

Cabinets look great! Where do you find the pre-finished plywood?

[@JohnBuildsIt]

This is from Menards

[@kellyscott5611]

Lots of storage space!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@gregj2647]

Nice looking cabinets and the design is very simple. To save money, did you consider just using a 1x4 along the top and bottom of the cabinets instead of plywood? The wall becomes the back of the cabinet.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

No the cultists worked out perfect using the plywood. Would’ve had to buy the same amount anyway👍🏽

[@JP-kr6lm]

Wow this is way better than the traditional way. Do you think building as a single unit would work for lower cabinets also?

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Yep! That’s how my base cabinets are built here too haha

[@YS-by7wy]

Awesome!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thank you!

[@haroldmack1704]

I read the title to be “better way to build upper body with shop cabinets”. I’m like working out with cabinets is a new years workout routine now? 😂😂

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Could be! Haha

[@shawngray221]

Just curious how long it took to make them and roughly the cost to build them.

[@philshock3805]

Looks great as always, John! Not sure if I missed it but is that 1/2" pre-finished plywood? Also, looks like you used airless to spray the cabinets. Can you explain your setup, including tip sizes and such? Thanks again for the awesome content.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Yep the 1/2” was prefinished too 👍🏽 I use a 208 or 308 FFLP tip for cabinet doors

[@philshock3805]

@@JohnBuildsIt Thank you, sir!

[@flomax_actual]

Great job. I've been looking to build some cabinets for my garage shop. I like your approach with building larger ones and saving some a material and install complexity. - Kyle

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thanks for watching!!

[@camogirlkm]

Kinda had a duh moment when you talked about building 1 instead of 3 cabinets & then having to level each one. I've seen lower cabinets built like this but never upper cabinets. So yeah when you can this is the way to go for sure. Like duh 😂 Nicely done & pretty simple & they are beautiful imo. Makes the shop look even more nice. Oh & those extra hand things you used oh yes gotta have those definitely beats out screwing a 2x4 in the wall to help set upper cabinets!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Haha thanks for watching!

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

They look great! What are you going to do in that blank space above the miter saw? Looks like the perfect space for your logo.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Yep! I already have a sign I’ll probably move over there

[@jacobschweitzer2954]

When you made the face frame, what was the spacers Size based off of? Looks great

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Thanks! I don’t really know how to answer besides, just math haha. Making them all the same/even

[@mcavallo714]

Great video. Looks like you did not take this same approach with your base cabinets. I understand you were trying to match existing cabinets on the left, but is there any reason you would not recommend doing the same thing (long run) with an 8ft or longer base cabinet build?

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Not sure what you mean, I did do the same thing with the base cabinets. They’re one long cabinet 👍🏽

[@laffingstockwoodworks2875]

So is the plywood prefinished one just one side? Or did you have scuff up the outside before painting. Looks great.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Yea I sanded the 2 outside panels 👍🏽

[@taylorhopson9740]

Nice addition!

[@JohnBuildsIt]

🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@JimfromIndy]

This is similar to laundry room cabinets I bought years ago (and still use three houses on...) though those cabs have three doors and no vertical members.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Nice!!

[@Sight-Beyond-Sight]

I know I can do the rough-in work for functionality. It's the finish work that always looks like hell.

[@bonganigwexe4433]

I wonder if this can work with a taller size.

[@aberba]

Is there a reason you prefer to haul the full plywood through the table saw instead of your track saw?

[@JohnBuildsIt]

No reason in particular. Long rips that’ll fit on the table saw I still prefer. Tracksaw for crosscuts

[@buszibuszi8343]

Great build. But I mean, the cost saving of doing large cabinet vs a set of smaller ones is pretty minimal and they basically have to be done "in place" (because of the hassle of transporting larger items). Nevertheless, this is very true that there's no point in building separate if you can just build one. Like this way of thinking.

[@charleskrueger5523]

Would you consider using French cleats to hang cabinets like this? Or aren’t they strong enough?

[@JohnBuildsIt]

Yea they’re plenty strong

[@travistibbs5402]

Did you offset the shelf pin holes from each other on the center dividers where you were drilling from both sides? I’m literally about to do this in my basement for some built ins and figured I’d have to offset the holes so I don’t blow through the other side.

[@JohnBuildsIt]

No I didn’t. Used 3/4” ply for those dividers, and with the shelf pins that have that wider flat part that the shelf sits on, they don’t go far enough in the ply to hit the other side 👍🏽

[@travistibbs5402]

@ perfect, thanks!

[@haveeair]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@adamgray5834]

Are the door center panels a true 1/4” or am I missing something?

[@JohnBuildsIt]

No plywood is generally undersized

[@corrystalcup8390]

What part of indiana? I'm a builder based in Greenwood.

[@stevenlengyel9701]

I wish I had some empty space

[@nasrullahzeerak9888]

Did you use pocket screws to mount cabinets to the wall?

[@JohnBuildsIt]

2 1/2” cabinet screws

[@awoodmann1746]

13 minutes watching someone build a box.