Do it yourself - Side Table / Cabinet

All battery case Blog cabinet DIY How tos side table Stain staining wood woodworking

This DIY project started off as a requirement for an inverter battery case. The need was to make something that will blend in with the rest of the living room furniture and so we decided to do a side table / cabinet that will hide the out of place battery and the stabilizer. Though I started off with a very simple design  it took me close to 6-7 months to really start putting the effort to build it. Decided to pose with it to give you an idea on the size of this cabinet.

Do it yourself - Side table 

While I shall come back and put up a detailed post on how this can be effectively built by you too, I was a little impatient and wanted to show off the finished product here. I will leave you, for the moment, with  some work in progress photos.

The making of a DIY Side table / Cabinet

While I have all along been used to working with one side teak, this time around I decided to apply the finish directly on the plywood. This is something I had not done before and so I was a little skeptical. That said, I should accept that the outcome was quite satisfactory. If you have been following our "How to stain wood" series in Woodooz, you would understand how the  finish for this cabinet was achieved. 

I used European cup hinges for the cabinet door. The installation procedure for a cabinet door using cup hinges has earlier been documented in this blog. I chose a very simple pair of knobs from the local store for the door. Work is still in progress as I need to apply the final coat of varnish and also install a shelf to hold the stabilizer.

Battery Cabinet

Meanwhile, do let me know how this cabinet has turned out. Do you think I should have done some things differently ? Share your feedback.

- Somu

Linking in : Colours Dekor

Beginner's guide to staining wood

Blog FAQ how to stain wood How tos Sanding sealer Stain staining wood Staining wood series wood stain

In one of the previous posts, we did look at an introduction to wood stains, the different brands available, cost and the basic application procedures. From this post on, we will look at, in detail, how to approach applying wood stains to your wooden substrate. We will delve into the various materials and supplies required, surface preparation techniques, the actual application procedure of stain and the top coat.

Complete guide to wood staining Select from dropdown 1. Difference between stain and paint 2. Introduction to Wood Stains 3. Steps in Staining 4. How to sand [Video] 5. What is a sealant ? 6. How to seal wood 7. How to apply stain

For the purpose of demonstration, I will use a spare sheet of One Side Teak. I will use both sides of the sheet to lay bare how stains work and enhance the look of the substrate.

How to stain wood - A beginner's guide

The following are the topics that I will discuss in detail in the forthcoming posts. Each of these steps is important and critical to the effectiveness of the staining process.

• Step 1 : Sanding the wooden surface
• Step 2 : Understanding sealers and why they are required
• Step 3 : Applying Sealer as a pre-conditioner
• Step 4 : Applying the wood stain
• Step 5 : Applying a top coat (Varnish)

Materials / Supplies required

• Sand papers (Grit 80, 100, 120, 150, 220)
• Muslin cloth (Ask for Gada Thuni if you are in Chennai) 1 meter
• Thinner 500ml
• Sanding Sealer 500 ml
• Wood stain 100ml
• Rag Cloth
• Wood Polish 

The details of the brands, cost etc… , I shall discuss in the individual posts.

Materials required for staining wood

Some safety precautions

• Using a mask is mandatory. Sanding can send in dust particles and staining can send strong fumes through your nostrils.
• Cover your eyes to protect from the dust irritating your eyes.
• Use gloves because it is very difficult to remove stain off your fingers.
• Work in an open, well ventilated space

That said, shall come back and take you through each of these individual steps in the coming days / weeks. Meanwhile, do remember to leave a comment and enter your e-mail address below just so you do not miss the rest of the posts in this series.

- Somu