Diy Wardrobe: Building a Wardrobe

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The Diy wardrobe or clothes closet shown in the accompanying sketch and detail
drawing will be found a great convenience in a bedroom where closet space is
limited or where there is no closet at all. It provides ample room for hanging
suits, dresses and other wearing apparel, as well as space for boots and shoes.
It can be made of any of the several furniture woods in
common use, but quarter-sawed oak will be found to give the most pleasing
effect.
The stock should be ordered from the mill ready cut to length,
squared and sanded. In this way much labor will be saved.
The following pieces will be needed for this diy wardrobe:
• 4 posts, 1-3/4 by 1-3/4 by 64-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 2 front rails, 3/4 by 1-1/2 by 37-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 1 top and 1 bottom board, each 3/4 by 18-1/2 by 37 in., S-4-S.
• 1 top back rail, 3/4 by 4-1/4 by 37-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 1 lower back rail, 3/4 by 4 by 37-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 6 end rails, 3/4 by 6 by 18-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 4 end uprights, 3/4 by 4 by 22-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 8 end panels, 3/8 by 7-1/2 by 22-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 5 shelves, 3/4 by 17-3/4 by 19-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 2 drawer fronts, 3/4 by 4-3/4 by 8-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 1 door, 3/4 by 7-3/4 by 10 in., S-4-S.
• 1 shelf partition, 3/4 by 10 by 19 in., S-4-S.
• 2 drawer fronts, 3/4 by 7 by 17 in., S-4-S.
• 1 drawer front, 3/4 by 8 by 17 in., S-4-S.
• 1 partition (several pieces), 3/4 by 19-1/2 by 57-3/4 in., S-4-S.
• 4 door uprights, 3/4 by 2-1/2 by 57 in., S-4-S.
• 2 top rails, 3/4 by 3-1/2 by 14-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 2 middle rails, 3/4 by 6 by 14-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 2 lower rails, 3/4 by 4-1/2 by 14-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 4 center uprights, 3/4 by 2-1/2 by 23 in., S-4-S.
• 8 panels, 3/8 by 6 by 22-1/2 in., S-4-S.
• 4 pieces, 3/8 by 4-3/4 by 19 in., soft wood.
• 2 pieces, 3/8 by 8 by 19 in., soft wood.
• 2 pieces, 3/8 by 4-1/4 by 8 in., soft wood.
• 4 pieces, 1/2 by 7 by 19 in., soft wood.
• 3 pieces, 1/2 by 16-1/2 by 19 in., soft wood.
• 2 pieces, 1/2 by 6-1/2 by 16-1/2 in., soft wood.
• 2 pieces, 1/2 by 8 by 19 in., soft wood.
• 1 piece, 1/2 by 7-1/2 by 16-1/2 in., soft wood.
• 1 back (several pieces), 3/8 by 36 by 58 in., S-2-S.

First be sure the posts are perfectly square and of equal length. The upper
ends can be chamfered or rounded if desired. The two front posts are alike,
as are the back ones. The mortises should be laid out in each pair of posts
and then cut with a sharp chisel, or they can be left until the tenons are all
made, and then marked and cut from each tenon. Grooves should be cut on one
side of all the posts to take the end panels.
The front and lower back rails of this diy wardrobe are plain except for the
tenons at each end, but the end rails and the center uprights should have grooves
cut for the panels the same as the posts. The top back rail serves as a top
back board and should have the corners rounded as shown in the detail drawing.
The frame of this diy wardrobe can now be assembled. Glue should be used on
all the joints as it makes them much stiffer. Be careful to get the frame together
perfectly square, or it will be hard to fit the doors and the shelves.
The top and bottom boards of this diy wardrobe should have the corners cut
to clear the posts. The closet is divided into two compartments by a partition.
This can be made of plain boards or panels similar to those in the ends, as
desired.
Place the shelves in position as shown. They are held in place by means of
cleats and screws. The one shelf has a partition in its center with a door on
one side and two small drawers on the other. Drawers should be fitted to three
of the other compartments. They are made in the usual manner except that the
front boards should be cut out at the top for a handhold as shown.
The doors are fitted by a tenon and mortise joint at the ends. They have a
centerpiece and panels to match the ends of the closet. Suitable hinges and
a catch should be supplied. These can be purchased at any hardware store.
The backing is put on in the usual manner. It should be finished on the front
side.
When complete, the woodworking diy wardrobe should be carefully gone over
with fine sandpaper and all glue and rough spots removed. Apply stain of the
desired color. This may be any of the many mission stains supplied by the trade
for this purpose.
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