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- Overview and Preparation
- Step-by-Step Pictures and Instructions: How to Build Storage Trays
- See More Kitchen Projects
This project isn’t difficult. In fact, there aren’t even any miter joints. All the parts are glued together and then nailed or screwed. You can make all the trays in an afternoon using building products from your local home center or hardware store for as little as $75.
Materials List (This list applies to the roll-out trays shown; your quantities may vary.) | |
| ITEM | QTY. |
| 3/4" x 4' x 8' hardwood plywood | 1 |
| 1x4 x16' maple | 1 |
| 1/2" x 2' x 2' hardwood plywood | 1 |
| 1x6 x 2' maple | 1 |
| 20" ball-bearing drawer glides | 4 prs. |
| Woodworker’s glue | 1 pt. |
| Construction adhesive | 1 pt. |
| 6d finish nails, small box | 1 |
| 1-5/8" wood screws, small box | 1 |
In this article, we’ll show you how to measure your sink base and custom-size and assemble the wood trays.We’ll also give you some tips for installing the drawer glides without a lot of head scratching. You’ll probably have to adapt the project dimensions to fit your space. For example, you may have a bulky garbage disposer that won’t allow you to install both upper slide-out trays. In that case, just make one tray instead. If you have plumbing that comes up through the floor of your sink cabinet, you may need to shorten the lower trays to fit in front of the plumbing. In any case, add as many part of this project as you can to organize this black hole once and for all.
FIG. A SINK CABINET TRAY DETAIL
Cutting List (This list applies to the roll-out trays shown; your dimensions may vary.) | ||
| KEY | PCS. | SIZE & DESCRIPTION |
| A | 1 | 3/4" x 32-3/4" x 20" plywood base |
| B | 3 | 3/4" x 3-1/2" x 20" base partitions |
| C | 2 | 3/4" x 12-3/4" x 18-1/2" plywood tray bottom |
| D | 4 | 3/4" x 3-1/2" x 18-1/2" tray sides |
| E | 4 | 3/4" x 3-1/2" x 14-1/4" tray fronts and backs |
| F | 2 | 1/2" x 5-1/2" x 18-1/2" upper tray bottoms |
| G | 2 | 3/4" x 5" x 18-1/2" upper tray (high side) |
| H | 2 | 3/4" x 3" x 18-1/2" upper tray (low side) |
| J | 4 | 3/4" x 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" upper tray front and back |
| K | 4 | 1/2" x 5-1/2" x 20" side cleats (double layer) |
Getting the right stuff
Before you get the materials, scan this article and see if you can build all the trays or only a few of them. At a home center or lumberyard, look for hardwood plywood. You can often buy 2 x 4-ft. pieces instead of a whole sheet. The hardwood plywood has two good sides and is smoother and flatter than exterior-grade softwood plywood. It costs more too.
In the hardware department, look for ball-bearing side-mount drawer glides. The pairs of the brand we purchased are exactly the same—there’s no specific right or left, which makes things easier if you misplace a part. We used 20-in.-long side-mount glides to fit our 20-in.-long trays. This gave us some wiggle room in the back and a bit of extra space to get the pieces into place. If you have plumbing coming up through the bottom of the cabinet, you may need to shorten the trays and buy shorter drawer glides.
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.
A word about drawer glides
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.
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.
Editor’s Note
After I built this same project at home, friends dropped by, saw it and were inspired to organize their sink cabinet. Because they have small children, I advised them to add childproof latches to secure the strong household cleaners they’ll be storing.
-David
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