Build a Bathroom Sink Cabinet

To begin the woodworking for this bathroom vanity, we're going to build the dovetailed drawer first.

As noted on page 6 of the free woodworking plans you downloaded in step 1, you'll need two pieces of 1x8 ripped to 6 1/2" width and cut to 33 1/2" in length for the front and back of the drawer box, and another two pieces ripped at 6 1/2" in width measuring 22 1/2" in length for the sides.

Following the instructions that accompanied your dovetail jig, place one of the side pieces into the jig and set up your router to cut the tails. Cut the tails on both ends of each of the two side pieces before switching the configuration to cut the pins in the front and back pieces of the drawer box.

Dry fit the box together to ensure a proper fit and mark the lower inside edge of each of the four sides with a pencil mark to denote the location of the grooves for the drawer bottom.

Next, set up your router table with a 1/2" straight cutting bit for cutting these grooves. Set the depth of cut to 3/8".

TIP: Keep in mind that 1/2" plywood is really 15/32", so you may have a slight bit of play in the groove. If you don't like the play, you might try to find a 15/32" router bit, or you may wish to use a 1/4" bit and make two passes through the router table.

The grooves in the sides will not go all the way through to each end, so you'll need to ease the piece onto the bit and then lift it off once you've reached the back end. Refer to our article on dovetailed drawer making for more details.