#Make a Roll-Away Kitchen Island

This island kitchen can serve a functional purpose, especially when it's on a roll.

While this particular island may not be perfect for your kitchen, you can get ideas by searching on the Internet or by looking through magazines.

Materials and Tools:

wood glue

nails

Steps:

1. Put on a dust mask and safety glasses and cut the plywood pieces using a table saw. Cut the pieces for the top, bottom and sides. These pieces will form the frame of the unit. Cut the wood with the finished side up to help prevent splintering.

2. Make the initial rip cuts with the table saw, and then use a circular saw to cut pieces to length. In this project, the sides measure 32-1/4-inches in height and the top and bottom measure 44.1/2-inches long. Make sure that the long edges of these pieces are straight.

3. Rip the solid maple 1x6s to a 2-inch width using the table saw. These pieces will be used to create the face frame for the kitchen island. After cutting the wood pieces sand the edges with 150-grit sandpaper to smooth out any rough areas.

4. Attach a cleat to both the top and bottom of each of the side pieces, securing them with glue and nails. These cleats will support the top and bottom shelves of the kitchen island.

5. Attach the plywood bottom and top pieces to the cleats, once again using glue and nails. Using a pneumatic nailer speeds up the process.

6. Attach the center support piece and begin working on the face frame. Apply glue to one edge of the cabinet and then secure the maple trim to the side using the pneumatic nailer. Repeat the process for the top and bottom trim pieces, also securing them to the edges with glue and nails.

7. Attach the last side piece and the center trim piece. Add the horizontal support pieces and trim pieces for the drawers and then begin working on the other side of the kitchen island. Repeat the process on this side of the cabinet until all of the support pieces are attached and all of the edges trimmed out.

8. Drill 3/8-inch holes to a depth of 1-3/4-inches into each of the four corners of the cabinet. Then insert the sockets provided by the manufacturer into each of the holes by tapping them in with a hammer. Insert the casters by pushing the caster stem into the socket until the stem locks.

9. Rip a piece of 1x6-inch maple trim to 4-1/2-inches wide using the table saw and then route both sides of one edge of all of the trim pieces. Be sure to wear eye protection and a dust mask whenever using a router.

10. Once all of the pieces are routed lightly sand the edges to smooth out any rough spots. Attach the trim pieces to the top of the island using wood glue and 1-1/4-inch nails. Secure the maple trim from below so you don't have nail holes showing on the top.

11. Apply glue to the backs of each of the trim pieces and place them on top of the kitchen island in the desired pattern.

12. Secure all of the pieces in place with nails driven in from the bottom of the cabinet.

13. Create drawers by ripping a 1 x 6-inch maple board to size and then make dado cuts into each of the side pieces using the table saw. Assemble the drawer sides and secure them with glue and nails.

14. After three sides are assembled, slide the bottom of the drawer into the dado groves and then attach the final side. Attach the drawer fronts with glue and nails. Rout the edges of the drawer fronts for a nice finished look

15. Attach a couple of 2 x 2 support pieces then attach the drawer glides to these support pieces. Attach the other end of the glides to the drawers and test the operation of the drawers. Next, remove the drawers and attach the towel bar to one side of the island. Attach the false fronts to the opposite side of the kitchen island securing them with nails driven in from inside the cabinet.

16. Go over the entire cabinet one more time filling any nail holes and gaps with quick-drying wood filler. When the wood filler dries, sand the cabinet one more time with a random orbit sander and 220-grit sandpaper.

17. Wipe the cabinet with a clean, lint-free cloth to remove all of the dust created by the sanding. Begin applying the polyurethane clear coat. Apply with a paintbrush following the grain of the wood. Polyurethane will protect the wood surface from possible stains created by water or other liquids.

18. Mark the locations for drawer pulls and drill pilot holes on the front of each of the drawers. Hold a drawer pull in place and insert the screw through the hole in the drawer front and into the pull.

19. With all of the pulls installed, begin working on the door hinges. Insert the hinges into the pre-drilled holes on the back of the doors and secure the hinges with the screws provided by the manufacturer.