Thread: Advice on building storage unit

Originally Posted by prueg

Would it be plausible to make a unit like that for much less than $200, even assuming I had all the tools I needed to begin with?

Basic answer is probably not although if you know what you're doing you might get a better construction for the same amount. I keep a close tab of what projects cost and even when working with free or second hand materials I generally end up working for between $5 and $12 an hour. If I'm making things I like, I call it "the cost of therapy", if it's things I don't particularly but SWMBO does like, "it's the cost of marital peace and goodwill", if its for people I don't especially like it's a just a "penance".

Prueg Thats not a bad price if you have not got the tools to do a one of project I would advice you to buy it you only have to make one stuff up and that $100.00 will blow out but if you are thinking of getting into wood work (I hope you are)then by all means get some tool you will need a saw (hand saw will do) a square and a drill with reverse (cordless would be the way to go)and have a go.
Lets know what you do
Noel

Buy it ????
Where's the fun in that?

That storage unit will be total B@stard to make,
but if you want to develop your skills then you need to start somewhere.
Make one of those storage units now, and then make another one in 5 years time, and hopefully you'll see a BIG difference.

I just recently threw out a small cupboard I made about 10 years ago....geeeze it was cr@p, but at the time I thought I was a champion.

Thanks for the advice. Will probably buy it, as the gf is fussy and wants it to look good. I mean, I have most of the tools I would need... jigsaw (a cheap one that I used to lower my computer desk with, does the job as long as it isnt too big) (or would a hand saw be much better), some clamps, a square, a cordless drill (again a cheapie, batteries don't hold charge anymore). I have a garage to myself , I figure all I would need would be some screws (or whatever is best for the material I would use), some dowel and wood glue (for the vertical parts). The plan I had in mind is this - each horizontal would be an entire piece, with the vertical parts held in place with dowel and glue, and the rows would slot on top of each other. The ends would be screwed on, holding the whole thing together. Not sure if the outside parts would be different material, or thicker material. The good thing about the cube storage unit is every large piece has supporting pieces dotted along at regular intervals, so it should bend or twist. Of course, drilling holes for dowel and screws so that they line up perfectly would be the hard part, but I'm pretty sure I can handle that, or work out some cheat's way to do it. Oh, and cutting them all the same length would be another trial. Bah... $200 it is I think.

Totally agre Mick!
If you take on aproject like that Prueg you learn so much from the experience. Maybe somethihing smaller would be a good start.
As for jigsaws, IMHO unless you have a really good on they are not worth owning. Greatest con ever perpetrated on the Noble and Ancient Fraternity of Blokes.

Sounds like your query is purely one of financial advantage one way or the other and not really concerned about honing your woodworking skills and that is okay by me. The project would be quite challenging to a beginner and if you don't have the inclination, frustrating. Cost-wise you would not save a great deal of money, if any, by constructing the project yourself but the experienced woodworker would end up with a better product. In your case, unless you want to take up the challenge and further your woodworking skills, you would probably be better off buying it. Woodworkers don't weigh up the difference in the cost of making the item themselves and buying it from the store. The satisfaction of seeing your own creation and learning from each experience to achieve perfection or near perfection is what it is all about. The love of the craft and the taste of sawdust is what its all about. Cost comparison doesn't come into it. Good luck.

Yeah, if it was cost-wise only, at this stage I would just buy it. Think I still will, as it is a large project (physically) and very easy for me to ruin, which will not impress the girlfriend. I have the patience, which I read someone else on this forum saying was the most important tool in woodworking . As for starting with something smaller, I nearly made an attempt at a dumbed-down version of the folding massage table (which is how I found these forums, by the way). So yeah, this cube storage was the smaller project .

Just to give me an idea, what materials would you use? I was mainly thinking of MDF, but not sure how to finish it. Painting seems to be a popular option, but I would probably benefit from buying a spray gun. Otherwise pre-laminated sheets would be more durable (or so I read), which isn't a big deal for me, but I figured that would be an expensive way to go. Not sure.

If I made it from timber, how would you make it, as you dont usually buy large sheets of timber . Do you just stick pieces next to each other? Like I say, I'm new to woodworking. (Although I have done some rather evil metalworking deeds with my computer, namely with water-cooling.)

You could make a storage unit out of any of the suggested materials. In order of cost it probably goes raw Chipboard, raw mdf, pine, laminated chipboard, many other types of solid timber.... depends on the finish you want.

The tools you need will largely depend on the material you choose. If it is one of the flat stocks such as mdf you will need to be able to cut down large sheets into smaller components, a non trivial task especially if it is laminated. If you go with 290mm Pine you will only need to cut to length, for which a hand saw would be sufficient.

If you are into joinery rather than flat surfaces then your storage cube may end up looking like something from Wilkins & Kent. e.g. check out http://www.wilkinsandkent.com/conten...=furnitureitem

That one could be made from either all solid timber or a combination of solid and plywood and is possible with hand tools.

The options are endless. It's a long journey working it all out and you will get different advise from different people.

When you get the storage unit, you could always try to compliment it by making a single column version. The single column should be much cheaper and easier to make.

What ever you do decide to make, I would probably start off with either chipboard or MDF. The main reason is that paint can cover up a lot of mistakes(Heck, my whole house is painted)
Also most Hardware stores sell boards in precut widths, so a storage unit that is 600 or 450 or 300 deep should be pretty straight forward.

An then you can always decorate with some nice Halogen lights(or do we use LEDs these days?).

There are a lot of options, its all up to your imagination.

Good luck


Mick

Prueg,
Mitre 10 has a plan available for a cube style storage unit. You can pick up a free leaflet instore, or you could try their website. The instructions are straightforward and aimed at beginners without many tools. Hope that helps! Good luck.

Thanks for that, I checked it out and kept a copy.

I've decided to go ahead and make it, as the girlfriend's mother has plenty of tools I can use, so I won't need to purchase too much besides the materials. I'm not going to go exactly with their design, as I've already drawn up my own. Its roughly sketched, but I'll do it up in CAD before I start. I always find drawing it up properly with all the joints shows me a few problems that can occur before I even start, which is the best time to be rethinking plans as necessary .

Quick question though. I'm planning on using MDF, which comes from Bunnings in pre-cut thicknesses and lengths. How accurate can I expect them to be? Should I make the size of my unit dependent on the sizes I can get (eg. make it exactly 1200mm long), or would that be a really bad assumption to make?

Also, even thought I can find this out later, can you get matte paints for mdf? The gf doesn't want a glossy finish.

Cheers.

I generally end up working for between $5 and $12 an hour......luxury, i can only dream of that sort of money.i get that much a week ,and then she taxes me .bob

[quote]

Originally Posted by prueg

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Quick question though. I'm planning on using MDF, which comes from Bunnings in pre-cut thicknesses and lengths. How accurate can I expect them to be? Should I make the size of my unit dependent on the sizes I can get (eg. make it exactly 1200mm long), or would that be a really bad assumption to make?

Spot on for thickness. MDF is normally a fraction over in length and width so if you meke it exactly 1200mm long you will not be short but might have to trim a little.

Also, even thought I can find this out later, can you get matte paints for mdf? The gf doesn't want a glossy finish.

Once you seal and prime it you can paint it with any sheen you like - it is ordinary paint.

Thanks for the info. If I'm going to have to trim anyway, I may as well go with whatever dimensions I want and use larger boards (as opposed to making trade-offs in order to keep the size to whatever the boards come in). I wanted it 1500mm long, but was going to make it 1200mm long if that made things easier. Now I'll just do whatever.

As for painting MDF... some people say you don't need any primer or sealant, except on the edges, where you need to use dry cement or plaster or something (can't remember) as its very thirsty there. Can anyone add their 2c to this? Also, for a storage unit like that, whats the best way to paint it? Spray it? Brush? Once assembled, or prepare all the pieces, paint it, then assemble?

Cheers. This forum has been heaps of help!