I knew I needed a storage system for all of the different screws and hardware that I use regularly but I wanted something that would look nice too! There are plenty of plastic bin organization systems out there but I had to be extra and make something from scratch. I thought maybe I could find a thrifted library card catalogue system or a cute apothecary cabinet but I was shocked at how expensive they are! Most of the library catalogues are antiques and therefore come with the vintage price tag. So with my new inspiration, I set out to build my own. I mean, how hard could it be, right?
The best part about building something custom is that you can make it exactly how you want it to fit your needs instead of buying something that you have to make work. I decided on 20 little drawers to hold all kinds of different screws, nails and other fasteners. I made sure to have some extra for all of the miscellaneous stuff I’ve saved from scraps too!
I started out with the size of the boxes I wanted to create a grid of 4 rows of 5 drawers to give me a total of 20. This project required a ton of repeated cuts, so I got pretty good at using a stop block to make those repeated cuts without having to measure each one. This saved me so much time!
Once I had cut all the pieces, I assembled the frame and screwed in the shelves. After that, I put in the dividers which created the grid system.
Now with that done, I had to make 20 tiny inset drawers. This was the most time consuming part but it was really satisfying to make this from scratch. The drawers are very simple and require no hardware, they simply slide into the box. I made sure to leave plenty of room so it wasn’t too tight of a fit.
The drawer faces were also a challenge because these are inset drawers and I only wanted 1/16″ gap all the way around. Anything bigger than that doesn’t look very good, in my opinion.
I used a trick I saw someone else use to attach the drawer faces. I took some brad nails and used them as spacers on the bottom and both sides of the drawer before gluing them on. I didn’t use any nails, just wood glue and they’ve been quite strong.
I did sand down the drawer faces really well but I didn’t add any stain or finish. I may go back and do that later, but since it’s tool storage I wasn’t too worried about it. I have seen some nice apothecary furniture pieces with beautiful stain too!
I bought inexpensive hardware from Amazon and made a little jig so I could put them on quicker. Again, the time it took to make this jig saved me a ton of time overall. Definitely worth it when you’re making that many!
I used my Cricut machine to cut out the labels, but then I wrote them out by hand. I made sure to print out extras so I can change them out any time. I could have used the Cricut to print the labels but sometimes I prefer the look of handwritten things!
I love how this project turned out! Now when I need a screw, I can find them quickly and I just pull out the entire drawer and take it outside where I’m working. And when I run out of something, I put it on my shopping list! I did attach an accessory cleat so that I could hang it on my french cleat tool wall system but of course you could hang this any way you like. I have a previous blog post detailing the French cleat wall along with many of the other projects completed for the tool room. If you’d like to recreate this project, here are the details.
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me pay for operating costs for the blog and are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support!
DIMENSIONS: 23 1/2″ L x 19″ H x 6″ D
Drawers Spaces: 4 x 4 x 5 1/2
Inset Drawers: 3 H x 3 3/4 W x 4 1/4″ D
SUPPLIES:
- 3/4″ plywood
- 1/2″ plywood
- 1/4″ plywood
- Wood Glue
- Brad Nails
- Drawer Pulls
- Screws
- Select Pine 1 x 12 x 6
TOOLS:
CUT LIST:
- (2x) 17 1/2 x 5 1/2″ Sides 3/4″ ply
- (2x) 23 1/2 x 5 1/2″ Top/Bottom 3/4″ ply
- (3x) 22 x 5 1/2″ Shelves 1/2″ ply
- (16x) 4 x 5 1/2″ Dividers 1/2″ ply
- (1x) 23 1/2 x 19″ Back 1/2″ ply
- (20x) 3 x 3 3/4″ Drawer Backs 1/2″ ply
- (40x) 3 x 4 1/4″ Drawer Sides 1/2″ ply
- (20x) 3 7/8 x 3 7/8″ Drawer Faces 3/4″ Select Pine
- (20x) 3 3/4 x 4 3/4″ Drawer Bottoms 1/4″ ply
I hope you enjoyed this project! If you decide to make your own, I’d love to see it!
Until next time, happy DIY-ing!
-Selene Builds Things
As you know, running a blog takes a lot of time, effort, and resources. From maintaining the website to purchasing materials for exciting projects, there are numerous costs involved. I am passionate about sharing my DIY projects and tutorials with all of you, and it brings me immense joy to inspire others to build things too! If you believe in the value of FREE, accessible and inspiring DIY content, I kindly request your support. By becoming a Patreon supporter, you can play a vital role in keeping this DIY community thriving. Your contributions will directly contribute to the costs of maintaining the website, purchasing materials, and allowing me to dedicate more time to creating and sharing unique projects with detailed instructions. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a significant difference in sustaining and expanding this community. Thank you for being part of my journey, I’m incredibly grateful for your support! Let’s continue building, creating, and sharing together!
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Thank you for your support! Your contribution is greatly appreciated!
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly