Construct roll-out trays for extra storage space in the sink base cabinet.
Tools Required
| Air compressor | Air hose | Brad nail gun |
| Circular saw | Clamps | Combination square |
| Cordless drill | Countersink drill bit | Framing square |
| Paintbrush | Safety glasses | Tape measure |
Materials Required
| 1-5/8″ wood screws | 1/2″ x 2′ x 2′ hardwood plywood |
| 1×4 x 16′ maple | 1×6 x 2′ maple |
| 20″ ball-bearing drawer glides | 3/4″ x 4′ x 8′ hardwood plywood |
| 6d finish nails | Construction adhesive |
| Woodworker’s glue |
Whether the base cabinet your sink is always a mess and dirty? It’s time to tidy up your sink’s cabinet. Here we recommend #Handyman’s cabinet renovation plan.
Then follow the photos for the step-by-step measuring and assembly instructions. Here are a few specifics to consider:
If the opening between the open doors is narrower than the opening between the sides of the frame, use the shorter dimension to make the base.
If you have a center stile or partition between the doors, you may need to make two separate bases for each side and a tray for each.
Make sure the base and the tray parts are cut square and accurately so the trays slide smoothly.
Step1 # Measure the cabinet opening to construct the base for the lower pull-out trays
Before you start building this under sink pull out storage system, first measure the width of your kitchen base cabinet inside the frame. Cut the base (A) 1/4 in. narrower than the opening.
Step2 # Mark the base to locate the center and side partitions
Align the side partitions even with the outer edges of the base. Find the center of the base (A) and mark it for the center partition. Cut the 20-in.-long partitions (B) from 1×4.
Step3 # Drill pilot holes before driving screws
Clamp the partitions to the base, drill pilot holes, and glue and screw them to the base with No. 8 x 2-in. screws.
Step4 # Measure between the partitions
Measure the exact distance between the partitions. Make the outer dimension of the tray 1 in. narrower than this measurement to allow for the glides.
Step5 # Fasten the sides to the tray base first.
Cut the parts for the trays and glue and nail them together. Cut the bases perfectly square to keep the trays square.
Step6 # Align the glide edges with the front of the partition
Set the drawer glides on 3/4-in. spacers, holding them flush with the front. Open them to expose the mounting holes and screw them to the partitions.
Step7 # Flush the glide with the tray front
Remove the inner sections of the glides and screw them to the sides of the trays. Reassemble the glides and make sure they glide smoothly.
Step8 # How to choose Drawer Glides
We recommend soft close drawer slides or push to open drawer slides, because these two kinds of sliders can be kept closed, when you need to pull out, pull out manually to avoid the cabinet sliding out automatically and causing trouble.
Push to open drawer slides can make it easy to open and close the cabinet when you are holding things in both hands, just push it gently.
Soft close drawer slides can prevent damage caused by excessive force when closing the drawers.
The ball-bearing glides are designed to mount on the sides of the trays (Photos 6 and 7). The glides require exactly 1/2 in. of space between the partition and drawer on each side to work properly, so make the trays exactly 1 in. narrower than the distance between the partitions. If the trays are too wide, they’ll bind and be tough to open, in which case, you’ll have to take them apart and recut the tray bottom. If the trays are too narrow, the glides will not engage. Fixing this is a bit easier. You can just shim behind the glides with thin washers.
Watch for protruding hinges and other obstructions when you mount the lower or upper trays. You may need to adjust the height or placement of the trays to accommodate them.
Install the base under sink storage assembly
Align the front of the base with the back edge of the face frame. If you have frameless overlay cabinets, mount it 1/8-in. back from the cabinet front.
Step9 # Center the base assembly inside the cabinet
Insert the base assembly into the floor of the cabinet. Align the front of the base flush with the backside of the face frame. Screw the base to the floor of the cabinet.
Step10 # Make and install the upper trays
The upper trays are mounted with two glides on one side. Use the jig in Photo 10 to mark the glide locations. Unlike the mounting method for the lower trays, this method aligns the center holes of the glide with the lines traced along the jig.
Build the upper trays
Cut the parts for the upper trays, drill pilot holes, and glue and screw them together. Cut two thicknesses of plywood and glue them together to make the 1-in.-thick side cleats (K).
Step11 # Mount the glides
Cut a 3-1/2-in.-wide template, center it on the cleats and the tall side of each tray and trace the edges. Center the mounting holes of the glides on these lines and screw them to the cleats (outer sections) tray sides (inner sections).
Step12 # Mount the cleats to the inside of cabinet
Sand the side of the cabinet to increase the adhesion, then glue and screw the cleats to the sides of the cabinet. Cut a plywood spacer to hold the cleat even.
Step13 # Test the fit
Slide the upper trays into position and test the fit. Seal the trays with two coats of polyurethane to make cleaning easier.
Step14 # Seal the trays with polyurethane
You never know what kind of spill or leak will happen under the sink, so it’s best to seal the wood. Once you’ve finished the project, remove the trays and glides, sand them with 150-grit sandpaper and brush on two coats of polyurethane. Let the trays dry thoroughly, then look through all that stuff you had stored under the sink.
Toss out old stuff and combine duplicate products—and enjoy your reclaimed and now easily accessible space.