There is nothing as unsightly and messy as a wheelie bin. After carefully pruning trees and mowing lawn in your garden, a moment of disappointment can be inevitable when you turn around and see a few wheelies around. Fortunately, it is simple to resolve this problem with a bin storage unit, which can be a simple yet effective way to hide ugly and odorous wheelie bins in perfect style. Additionally, it can help keep the garden always look tidy and neat by deterring pests or weather conditions from messing everything up. This guide will show you how to make a wooden wheelie bin storage.
Necessary tools
First, make sure to prepare the following tools and equipment before starting to make your wooden wheelie bin storage. They can be found easily online or in many home improvement stores.
- Table saw
- Cordless drill
- Clamps
- Builder square
- Impact driver
- Mitre saw
- Spirit level
- Orbital sander
- Measuring tape
- Hammer drill and hammer
- Head bits
Necessary materials
Here is an approximate estimation of the materials that you will need for this project. The exact amount will depend on the size and shape of your storage unit.
- 15 pieces of treated pine wood: 70 mm x 35 mm x 2.5 m
- 75 pieces of timber decking: 90 mm x 19 mm
- 5 pieces of timber decking: 70 mm x 19 mm
- Bugle screws: 75 mm
- 3 cabin hook latches: 50 mm
- 10 g screws: 50 mm
- 3 hinge pairs for the gate and bolts
- 120 pieces of grit sandpaper
Step 1: Cut the wood
The first step is to cut the 70 mm x 35 mm pine wood to the following lengths:
- 6 mm x 1020 mm
- 6 mm x 620 mm
- 8 mm x 870 mm
- 12 mm x 1020 mm
Do the same for the 90 mm x 19 mm timber decking to the following lengths:
- 9 mm x 2079 mm
- 22 mm x 890 mm
- 2 mm x 1090 mm
- 3 mm x 1240 mm
- 6 mm x 1085 mm
- 39 mm x 600 mm
Finally, cut 2 pieces of 70 mm x 19 mm timber decking with the length of 1090 mm.
Step 2: Make the frames
Lay out 2 pieces of 870 mm x 70 mm x 35 mm timber for the bottom and top frames, 3 pieces of 1020 mm for the middle and sides. Fix these parts together with a framing gun. Make sure to position a 1020 mm piece in the middle for extra support. Use a bugle bit and 75 mm screws to countersink them into place. Repeat and build 3 frames.
Next, you need to build 3 back frames with 2 pieces of 1020 mm x 70 mm x 35 mm and 2 pieces of 620 mm x 70 mm x 35 mm. Lay out and attach them together as said above.
Step 3: Assemble the storage unit
Before assembling, clear the working area to make sure it is level. Clamp 1 side frame to 1 back frame. Countersink with a drill bit and secure them with 75 mm screws. Place in the following order: 1 divider, 1 back frame, 1 divider, 1 back frame, and 1 side. Clamp them together, then countersink and screw with 75 mm screws. Once it has been assembled, attach the unit to the wall for added support.
Step 4: Attach cladding
Attach cladding to dividers will create a great finish for the storage unit. Clad 2 end faces with two 1090 mm x 90 mm x 19 mm pieces and the middle divider with two 1090 mm x 70 mm x 19 mm pieces. Clamp them to the storage unit, then countersink and screw with 40 mm screws. Ensure the screw are spaced evenly for uniformity. Repeat these steps for the front faces and top areas.
Step 5: Build the doors
Lay out the frame of the door with 2 pieces of 600 mm x 90 mm x 19 mm timber at the top and two pieces of 1085 mm x 90 mm x 19 mm timber on the sides. Fix the pieces for the frame’s top under both sides. Use 32 mm brads and a fixing gun to put them together. Before going on, measure diagonally the corners to make sure that the frame is basically square, which occurs when the distances are equal.
For added support, fix a cross-brace into the door. Put 1 piece of 1240 mm x 90 mm x 19 mm timber across the door diagonally. Mark the position where you need to cut the piece at each end. Cut the wood to the needed shape and size with a circular saw. Use a nail gun to fasten the cross-brace to the assembled door. Repeat these steps and build 3 doors in total.
Step 6: Make the handle
Rather than attaching the handle for opening the doors, I am going to drill a few holes. First, mark 45 mm down and 45 mm in the top of the doors. Clamp the doors to the workbench, then use 25 mm spade bit drill a hole. Do this for all of the three doors that you have built.
Put the hinges in the needed areas. Make sure there is an equal distance from the bottom and the top of the door. Measure carefully and mark the needed places to drill the holes. After that, use a driver to drill the holes and fasten the hinges to all doors.
Step 7: Attach the doors
To attach the doors, place them in place and make sure there is equal space between the frame and the door. Chock the doors in place. Mark the place of the hinges, then use 50 mm screws to screw them into place. Repeat this step for all doors. Consider adding a latch to keep the doors always closed.
The bottom line
And there you have it, a well-designed storage unit which would keep your wheelie bin always tidy and neat. By following a few simple steps mentioned above, you can easily build one to keep your garden and backyard areas always free of dust and garbage. For a more visual guide on how to make a wooden wheelie bin storage, check out the following clip:
