How to Make a Wooden Shot Glass Cabinet

Place one of the 1/2-inch thick plywood sheets down on a table. Use the pencil and measuring tape and draw the panels required to make the shot glass cabinet frame. Draw two rectangles measuring 3 by 35 1/2 inches. Draw two additional rectangles measuring 3 by 17 1/2 inches. Lastly, draw the back panel measuring 35 1/2 by 18 1/2 inches. Use the square ruler to check all corners on the five rectangles to ensure they are 90 degrees.

Place the additional three plywood sheets down on a table. Draw the shelving pieces required for the shot glass display. Draw three rectangles measuring 34 1/2 inches by 3 inches. In addition, draw 36 smaller rectangles measuring 3 inches by 4 inches. These smaller pieces will serve as shelving dividers for your shot glasses. Cut out all of the rectangles drawn in step 1 and 2 using the circular saw. Sand all cut sides with the medium grit sandpaper.

Take the two side panels measuring 3 by 17 1/2, the ruler and the pencil. Use the ruler to measure 1/2-inch inward on both sides' ends. Repeat this step on both panels using the ruler and make a pencil line across each panel to indicate the placement of the top and bottom pieces. From these lines, measure 4 inches inward from both ends and make another line across the panels. From this line, measure 1/2-inch inward and make a line. Continue this step on both panels until the panels are covered. Each panel must have five small sections of 1/2-inch and four sections of 4-inch sections.

Place the three 34 1/2-inch by 3-inch pieces down. Take one of the pieces and measure 3 inches inward from both ends. Create a pattern of 1/2-inch sections and 3-inch sections, alternating the two sections as done in the previous steps with the side panels. Repeat this step on the two additional 34 1/2-inch by 3-inch panel. Take the two 3-by-35 1/2-inch pieces and measure 1/2-inch inward from both ends. Repeat the 1/2-inch and 3-inch section patterns.

Take 18 of the 36 smaller rectangles. Use the 1/4-inch drill bits and the drill to make two small holes in each 3-inch end of the 18 pieces for dowel joints. Take the remaining 18 pieces and drill two holes on only one 3-inch end of the pieces.

Drill two 1/4-inch holes on each of the 1/2-inch sections drawn on the 34 1/2-inch by 3-inch panels. The holes must be evenly apart, so drill them one inch apart, leaving approximately one inch on each side of both drill holes. Insert dowel joints through the holes and attach the 18 pieces that have drilled holes on both ends. In addition, add the remaining 18 pieces with drilled holes on the opposite side of the 34 1/2-inch by 3-inch panels, where the dowels are sticking out. In other words, all of the holes are attached on the vertical panels. You should now have a grid with smaller shot glass compartments.

Line the two side pieces measuring 17 1/2 inches in length up to the shot glass frame you have just built. Line the drawn 1/2-inch sections up to the ends of the 34 1/2-inch long panels. Attach the side panels to these ends using two 1-inch screws and a power drill for each 1/2-inch section. Repeat this step with the second side panel.

Take the final two 35 1/2-inch panels and line them on the top and bottom of the shot glass cabinet. These pieces must overlap the ends of the side pieces and each individual shelving divider installed in Step 6. Attach these panels in the same manner as the side panels using the 1/4-inch screws and the power drill.

Line up the back panel on the back of the grid and attach it using 1-inch screws at each corner an about every 6 inches around the perimeter.

Line the pre-cut glass door up to the shot glass cabinet, if desired. The glass door protects your shot glasses from grabby fingers, which is useful if your shot glasses are collectibles. Use the screwdriver and hinge screws to attach the glass door to the shot glass cabinet, so the hinges are located inside one of the shot glass compartments.