My first cabinet build: Bar cabinet with Mini fridge

Hey y’all, Been a while since I posted, but wanted to share my latest build—a bar cabinet with space for a mini fridge!

This was built using ¾” pine plywood for the frame, doors, and drawer, with a red oak top. It was definitely a challenge, but I learned a ton and now feel confident enough to add an upper cabinet to complete the setup.

Please note: I dod the write up and ran it through ChatGPT because I have ADHD and hopefully this made it easier to follow. Let me know if you have any questions.

🔹 Materials & Tools Used Since this was my first cabinet, I went with full overlay doors and drawers to avoid needing a face frame. Here’s what I used:

🔧 Tools:

-Jobsite table saw, miter saw, circular saw -Drill/driver, speed square, combination square -Various clamps (including 48” bar clamps, twist tension clamps, and 90° clamps) -Palm router, random orbital sander, sanding sponges -Kreg A620 Pocket Hole Jig (purchased for this project) -Kreg European Hinge Jig (purchased for this project) -Cabinet hardware jig (purchased for this project) -Edge banding roll & iron -Painting supplies (highly recommend Whizz Velour rollers!)

Build Process – The Base Cabinet 1️⃣ Cutting & Assembly:

Had Home Depot rip a 23/32" plywood sheet into 20” depth panels and crosscut them into sides & bottom. Assembled using pocket screws and glue, clamping with 90° clamps. Added a middle divider using construction screws from underneath (not sure if best method, but it worked). Installed 1x3 bracing—vertical braces in the back and horizontal in the front for better drawer/fridge clearance. 2️⃣ Drawer & Door:

Followed Brady Hommel’s "Easy Drawer Box in 5 Minutes" method. Tip: Factor in drawer slide width! Cut the door and drawer front as a single piece for a seamless look, then split them (drawer = 6”, door = remainder). Installed European hinges with the Kreg jig. 3️⃣ Painting & Finishing:

Primed with Bullseye 1-2-3 and painted with Behr Dynasty Matte (Cracked Pepper). Installed furniture feet, drawer pulls, and cabinet hardware using the hardware jig. 🔹 Build Process – The Oak Tabletop 1️⃣ Board Prep:

Bought a 7’ 1x12 red oak board and ripped it into (9) 2” strips + (1) ½” strip for a custom pattern. Dry-fit and routed edges before gluing to allow for multiple stain colors. 2️⃣ Glue-Up & Staining:

Glued pieces together, then re-routed edges after assembly for a cleaner look. Used painters tape & a razor to prevent stain bleed when touching up. 3️⃣ Finishing:

Applied 5 coats of Varathane Ultimate for durability. 🔹 Key Lessons Learned ✔ Measure twice, cut once! The more precise your cuts, the smoother assembly goes. ✔ Drawer slides need careful alignment—mine sticks out ⅛” on one side, and I still can’t figure out why! ✔ If edge-gluing a top, do your routing after the glue-up. Trying to do it before led to small misalignments. ✔ The right jigs and clamps make everything easier. Don’t skimp on them. ✔ Mark your pieces (fronts, backs, sides). Small misalignments compound as you build. ✔ Have a clear plan, but be flexible. Watch multiple videos before starting, then take it slow. ✔ Enjoy the process! This is a tough DIY project, but if you finish, who knows what you’ll build next?

Thanks for checking this out! Let me know if you have any questions.