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I just completed this shoe cabinet last night, and to be honest I couldn't wait to post it here. I got the idea for it from IKEA, but unlike the one they sell this one is made entirely out of solid wood. Also, I sized it to fit in a nook in the kitchen. Every component in my cabinet is made out of poplar for a few reason:

1) This is only the third project I've made out of solid wood (no plywood), so if i messed up no problem poplar is cheap.
2) I wanted to experiment with new joinery, the top and bottom of the case are blind dovetailed to the sides.
3) I was going to paint it, so there is no reason to use a more expensive hardwood

Like I mentioned before, the top and bottom of the case are blind dovetailed to the sides. I used the band saw to cut the tails, and the pins were cut by hand. There were some gaps (this is only the second time I've used dovetails), but who cares. I was painting this project and was more concerned about learning new techniques.

I used 1/4" steel pins to make the drawers pivot down. There is a 3/8" radius on the top and bottom of the drawer fronts for clearance. The drawers where rabbeted and dado-ed together and reinforced with dowels. The top portion of the back of the drawer sides were cut off to allow clearance for the drawers to open. I glued two small wood blocks to the top left and top right of the drawer openings to act as stops. These stops serve a dual purpose, 1) they keep the drawers flush with the front of the case and 2) they prevent the drawers from opening all the way out. I inserted rare earth magnets on the stops to keep the drawers shut, but that was largely unnecessary. The drawers are extremely well balanced and when closed they stay shut even when they are loaded with shoes.

The table top is about 7/8" thick and has a small hand cut under bevel.

The feet are my own design. They were shaker inspired from an article on Popular Woodworking. I rough them out on the band saw and template routed at the routing table. They're also mitered and reinforced with bisquits and screwed to the bottom of the case.

The back of the case is ship lapped and screwed to the back of the case. The ship lapped slats are approximately ~3" wide by 3/8" thick. I left them unfinished.

I finished the piece with two coats of red milk paint, sanding in between coats with 400 grit paper. To make the red pop and to protect it, I put three coats of wiping poly and once again i sanded with 400 grit paper in between coats. I also applied a top coat of paste wax with #0000 steel wool. These sounds like a lot of work, but the payoff is amazing. The whole piece is really soft to the touch and looks great.

Now, I won't lie and say the piece is perfect. I made several mistakes along the way. Some mistakes were fixed and others were ignore. But, overall this was a great project and I'm very happy it's over. Now on to the next one….

PS. If anyone is interested, the Google Sketchup drawing can be found at (updated September 2018):
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/47432182-cacb-4ab2-b3fb-405b3a6ffd57/Shoe-Cabinet-Shaker-Style

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19,753 Posts
Wow That is a cool design and super build Luis,very nice.
 

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706 Posts
I like it ! Looks very functional and has a nice, old world look to it.
 

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Neat idea and super job on the shoe cabinet
 

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Very nice. I too am currently building a shoe rack, but with an open front and slanted shelves. I like the idea of tilt out drawers better and would be interested in getting your sketchup plans.
 

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Great design and execution…

I added to my favorites as we have a naked corner in our mudroom and a gazillion kids shoes laying all over (which make the room stink, of course)...

I definately want to build a similar unit sized for our location and finished to match a pair of shaker jellies we have.

thanks for posting…

got any pics of the dovetails &/or the construction process???
 

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ssnvet: I didn't take any constructions pictures or pictures of the dovetailed case top, but I just uploaded an image of a sketchup drawing that reflects the actual case construction.
 

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Well done. Excelent design. Thank for share.
 

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Hi sir, I know this was like 6 years ago. I tried to go to your sketchup link but I'm afraid it's no longer there. I hope you still have a copy. I'm interested in making similar shoe cabinet but I'm not sure what to use for the hinges. I certainly try to avoid butt hinges. I hope you can guide me in this.
 

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CasualMax,

I re-uploaded the model and updated the post with the new link. It's here: https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/47432182-cacb-4ab2-b3fb-405b3a6ffd57/Shoe-Cabinet-Shaker-Style

For the "hinges", I used a 3/8" metal pin that is about 1 1/2" long. With the cabinet case glued and assembled, I then placed the drawer front in the opening and drilled from the side of the cabinet all the way into the side of the drawer front. I then inserted the metal pin (with NO glue) and then plugged the hole to trap the metal pin in. The cabinet has been working just fine.

Hi sir, I know this was like 6 years ago. I tried to go to your sketchup link but I m afraid it s no longer there. I hope you still have a copy. I m interested in making similar shoe cabinet but I m not sure what to use for the hinges. I certainly try to avoid butt hinges. I hope you can guide me in this.

- CasualMax
 

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CasualMax,

I re-uploaded the model and updated the post with the new link. It s here: https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/47432182-cacb-4ab2-b3fb-405b3a6ffd57/Shoe-Cabinet-Shaker-Style

For the "hinges", I used a 3/8" metal pin that is about 1 1/2" long. With the cabinet case glued and assembled, I then placed the drawer front in the opening and drilled from the side of the cabinet all the way into the side of the drawer front. I then inserted the metal pin (with NO glue) and then plugged the hole to trap the metal pin in. The cabinet has been working just fine.

- Luis M
Wow, that was fast. Thank you for your link and your advice on the hinges! Really appreciate it
 

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Thanks for sharing the sketchup file. Using yours as a guide so I appreciate your willingness to share. Hope mine turns out as nice as yours
MM
 

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Thanks for sharing the sketchup file. Using yours as a guide so I appreciate your willingness to share. Hope mine turns out as nice as yours
MM

- MistakeMaker
Please tag me when your done with it. Good luck building.
 
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