70 x 30 x 18 DIY sliding door console plans

We’re adding one more requested variation to our sliding barn door console series this morning.  This 3-bay, 2 door variation measures 70″ wide, 30″ high and 18″ deep.

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Materials:

  • 2 – 2×10 at 6 feet long
  • 1 – 1×8 at 6 feet long (or 2 if you want the floor to be boards instead of plywood)
  • 1 – 1×10 at 6 feet long (or 2 if you want the floor to be boards instead of plywood)
  • 1 – 4′ x 8′ sheet of 1/4″ thick plywood or hardboard (for back)
  • 1 – 4′ x 4′ sheet of 1/2″ thick plywood (for the door)
  • 3 – 1×2 @ 6 feet long
  • 4 – 1×4 @ 6 feet long
  • 6 – 2×3 @ 6 feet long
  • 1 – 4′ x 8′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood (for the floor)
  • Wood screws
  • Nails
  • Hardware for sliding doors – You can buy the hardware for sliding doors, or you can make your own.  I made my own for my rustic barn wood dog crate. Remember if you are buying it, you need to buy a set that accommodates two doors

Tools:

  • Saw: circular, miter, and/or table saw.
  • Drill / Driver
  • Nail Gun or hammer
  • Quick-grip clamps also come in handy
  • Kreg jig
  • Sander and sandpaper
  • Square
  • Tape Measure
  • Wood Glue (I’m a fan of Titebond)
Sliding Door Console, 70 x 30 x 18 dimensions

Step 1: Build the upper and lower frames

Start by assembling your assembling your upper and lower frames.  These are made out of 2x3s, and are identical.  Use wood glue and 2 1/2″ wood screws for all joints. I actually buy 2x4s and rip a 1/2″ off of each edge to get down to the desired dimensions of 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″.

Sliding Door Console, 70 x 30 x 18 frame

Step 2: Add the plywood sides

Cut your two sides from the 3/4″ plywood sheet.  These are each 28 1/2″ high, by 16 1/2″ wide. Note that these will be 1/4″ wider than the frames so that you can let that 1/4″ overhang the back edge and will conceal the outer edges of the back panels we’ll add later.

I like using 16 gauge nails and wood glue. The glue itself, if applied correctly, will provide a much stronger bond than any mechanical fastener.  So the nails are really just holding it in place until the glue dries.

Note: Now is a good time to check to ensure the piece is square, before moving onto the face frame.

Sliding Door Console, 70 x 30 x 18 sides

Step 3: Attach the face frame

My face frame rails are continuous across the entire top and bottom instead of being separated by the middle stiles.  I just prefer this look, as it looks more like a finished cabinet to me.  That said, the face frame is made out of 1 x 4 boards.   I prefer to build mine like an actual cabinet face, using mortise and tenon joints, but it is perfectly fine to use two pocket hole screws and wood glue at each of the joints.

Sliding Door Console, 70 x 30 x 18 face frame

Step 4: Floor and front shelf supports

My sliding door console plan shows to use a 16 1/4×67″ piece of 3/4″ plywood instead of a 1×8 and a 1×10 like the middle shelf (see step 5).  Wood glue and a few nails can hold this in place.

The four 10 1/2″ vertical shelf supports, made from 1x2s, are glued to the backs of the face frame. Use your quick-grip clamps to hold them in place until the glue dries.  The two outer ones should be pushed flush to the cabinet sides, while the two middle ones are centered on the face frame boards.

Step 5: Build and attach the shelf

The shelf in these sliding door console plans consists of a 1×8 and a 1×10. However, the 1×10 needs 3/4″ ripped off to bring it down to 8 3/4″ wide. Both boards cut to 67″ in length and then held together by four 16 1/4″ horizontal shelf supports made from 1x2s.  When building, make certain the horizontal shelf supports are aligned over the vertical supports installed on the last step. The shelf should be resting on the horizontal supports.

Once the shelf is in place in the cabinet, attach the outer horizontal shelf supports to the cabinet sides using 1 1/4″ wood screws or nails.

Step 6: Rip and attach plywood back planking

When you are ready to install the back planking, you have two options:

  1. Make all of the planks the exact same, which means cutting eleven boards at 6 3/32″, or
  2. Make the boards varying widths for a more rustic/reclaimed look.

In either case, you will install them the same.  Use wood glue and nails (or staples) at the top and bottom of each board to attach to the frames, and also secure the middle of the planks to the middle shelf to provide more structural integrity to the entire piece.

Note: it’s also a good practice to ensure the back of the piece is still square before you start attaching the planks.

Sliding Door Console, 70 x 30 x 18 back

Step 7: Bottom Trim

The bottom trim is made of 1×2 stock, cut with 45 degree miters.  Simply glue and nail it on.

Sliding Door Console, 70 x 30 x 18 trim

Step 8: Top

The next step is attaching the top.  This consists of the two 2×10 boards, cut down to 70″.  Note, you will need to shave a total of 3/4″ in width off of these two boards. You can choose to rip that 3/4″ off of just one board, or off of both. It’s just a matter of if you want both of these boards to be the same width.

Align them flush with the back of the piece, and overhanging each side by 3/4″.   To hide the fasteners, use a Kreg jig and pocket screws from underneath going through the upper frame.  Alternatively, you could use 4″ wood screws going straight up through the upper frame as well.  For the second method, I definitely recommend pre-drilling the holes and even countersinking them to better hide the screw heads.

Step 9: Door and sliders

The simplest way to build the door is to start by cutting a 22×22 1/2″ piece of 1/2″ plywood, and then laying 2″ strips around the edges and then in an X pattern.  Though how you build the door is really what will add your custom touch to this piece, so feel free to experiment.  Just remember to keep it at 22×22 1/2″.

Sliding Door Console, 70 x 30 x 18 doors

After you have your doors built, you just need to attach it to your sliders and your sliding barn door console is ready for finishing. 

If you have comments or question, please feel free to connect with us via the comments section below.  We love the feedback!  Also, don’t forget to check out our other free DIY furniture plans.

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4 thoughts on “70 x 30 x 18 DIY sliding door console plans

    1. Jennifer,
      We do not currently have the steps to attach the barn door hardware detailed out, and it could vary slightly based upon manufacturer. However, the basic process is to use a spacer between the rail and the console, and the just screw them in (through the spacer). If you have a specific question, we’d be happy to do our best to help answer it for you.

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