Free Gun Cabinet Plans

Gun cabinets are a great way to secure your weapons and provide an aesthetic which compliments your décor but when space is limited, you may need to re-purpose existing furniture. Wall cabinets and coffee tables have seen an uprising in home defense storage due to the vacant space they occupy. All diagrams can be right clicked for larger views and printing.

Gun Cabinet Coffee Table

This coffee table has a large drawer which houses a rifle and ammunition in a hidden compartment.

Frame Materials

• 1 frame letter diagram, at right
• 2 - 24 13/16" x 11 1/2" x 1/2" boards (A)
• 1 - 50" x 24 13/16" x 1/2" board (B)
• 3 - 49" x 1/2" x 1/2" planks (C)
• 1 - 50 1/2" x 25 7/16" x 1" board (D)
• 4 - 4" diameter x 1" circle pucks (E)
• 1 - 50" x 24 13/16" x 1/8" HDPE sheet

Drawer Materials

• 1 drawer letter diagram, at right
• 2 - 22 1/2" x 10" x 1/2" boards (A)
• 2 - 48" x 10" x 1/2" boards (B)
• 2 - 6" x 5 1/2" x 1/2" boards (C)
• 1 - 47 1/4" x 9 1/2" x 1/2" board (D)
• 1 - 16" x 9 1/2" 1/2" board (E)
• 1 - 47" x 22 1/2" x 1/2" board (F)
• 2 upper door sliders
• 2 drawer pull/handle sets

Project Materials

• 1 1/2" wood screws, as needed
• Wood glue
• Wood putty
• Sandpaper
• 00 grade steel wool
• Stain and urethane

Tools

• Router with bits
• Drill with bits
• Screwdrivers
• Jigsaw
• Orbital sander
• Bar clamps
• Brushes and rags

Assemble the Frame

1. Drill screw holes into board B: three holes 1/4" from both side edges and 1" from both ends and one center of board edge to mount both boards A.
2. Drill four screw holes into board B for feet, 3" x 3" from each corner.
3. Drill three screw holes into top edge of both boards A for all slats C. All three should be 1/4" from top, two 1/4" from both ends and the one in the front should be 6 7/16" away from the front.
4. Apply glue to bottom edge of both boards A and screw flush to top edge of board B. Wipe away excess glue with rag and let dry.

   

5. Apply glue to ends of three boards C and screw flush with top and edges of boards B. Wipe away excess glue and let dry.
6. Apply glue to the top of all boards A and C and center board D on top. Secure with clamps, wipe excess glue and let dry.

   

7. Drill screw holes into center of front and back C boards and screw into D.
8. Apply glue to four feet E and center on screw holes. Secure with screws and set frame aside.

   

Assemble the Drawer

1. Use router to cut a 1/8" notch into both boards A, 6 1/4" from back edge. Drill screw hole in center of both notches top and bottom.
2. From center top of both boards C mark a 1 3/4" diameter half circle, cut out using jigsaw.
3. Measure 5 inches from both upper edges of board D and use upper slider dimensions to cut notch with router.
4. Ensure slider fits into notch and is flush with top of board when depressed. Remove slider from D.
5. Drill 4 holes into both boards B to attach boards A, 1/4" from ends and 1" from top and bottom both sides.

   

6. Drill three screw holes into board D to attach boards C and board E. 3" from bottom edge; 8 15/16" from end, 23 3/16" from same end, and 12 11/16" from opposite end.
7. Apply glue to ends of both A and secure to boards B with screws. Insert base F flush with bottom of AB, secure with screws and glue.
8. Apply glue to one end of two boards C and board E. Secure glued end E to center screw hole in D with screw, E flush to bottom of D. Secure glued boards C to reverse side of D with screws, C flush to bottom of D. Ensure boards C and board E are square with D and let dry.
9. Clamp CDE inside AB. Drill screw holes through AB for edges of CDE and secure with screws.
10. Drill holes for desired pull hardware and set aside.

Finish the Project

1. Place HDPE sheet into frame base. Set drawer assembly into frame assembly on top of HDPE. Trim sides of HDPE to fit in frame base if needed.
2. Remove drawer and HDPE sheet from frame and sand all wood pieces smooth. Stain and lacquer all wood as desired.
3. Glue HDPE sheet into base of frame. Attach pull hardware to front of drawer. Secure drawer sliders into drawer with hardware.
4. Push down slider spring loaded clips and push drawer into frame from front. Pop up slider clips once past the first plank and enjoy!

Variations

If desired, you can purchase decorative sheeting to cover the coffee table. Additionally, you can add rustic edging and corners to the table. Fancy leather handle straps make a statement.

Recessed Wall Cabinet

In case you want to adjust some dimensions for your personal preference, remember standard wall studs are usually separated by 16 inches.

Materials

• 1 cabinet letter diagram, to the right

  

• 2 - 16" x 5 1/16" x 1/2" planks (A)
• 2 - 11" x 5 1/16" x 1/2" planks (B)
• 1 - 16" x 12" 5mm paneling
• 1 - 16" x 12" x 2" foam tool organizer (C)
• 1 - 19" x 15" x 1" decorative board (D)
• 2 - 3/16" round metal rods (E)
• 4 - 3/8" metal wire clamps
• 1 1/2" wood screws, as needed
• 1/2" washerhead screw
• Finishing nails
• Raised letters
• Wood glue
• Silicone tube
• 00 grade steel wool
• Stain and urethane
• Sandpaper

Tools

• Drill with bits
• Rotary tool with bits
• Mounted vice
• Screwdrivers
• Hammer
• Orbital sander
• Brushes and rags

Procedure

1. Drill two screw holes in each end of planks A for attaching planks B. 1/4" from end and 1/2" from front and back.
2. Drill two holes in each plank A to fit 3/16" rod. They should be 5 1/8" from top by 1" from front, and 1/8" from top by 11/16" from front.
3. Punch four pilot holes for small screws into back of board D for brackets E. Two should be 4 1/4" from bottom by 2 3/4" both sides of center, and two 6 7/8" from top by 2 3/4" both sides of center.

   

4. Use vice to bend rods into two brackets E.
5. Top E bracket, 11" center section with 5" 90 degree bends on each side, and 1/2" 90 degree tabs. Cut off excess.
6. Bottom E bracket, 11" center section with 7 7/8" 90 degree bends on each side, and 1/2" 90 degree tabs. Cut off excess.
7. Wrap two wire clamps around Top E 11" section and secure with washerhead screws in top pilot holes on board D.
8. Wrap two wire clamps around Bottom E bracket 11" section and secure with washerhead screws in bottom pilot holes.
9. Attach letters to board D with glue and finish decorative board. Set aside.
10. Build AB frame by attaching ends of A to B with wood screws. Attach 5mm panel to back with nails.
11. Mark guns, clips, and ammo box shapes on tool foam, cut out with rotary tool. Ensure tight fit of each and silicone foam into frame.
12. Mount frame in wall as desired. Squeeze top and bottom end tabs E into their corresponding AB frame holes and enjoy!

Variations and Tips

For more depth and less insulation use an interior wall. Board D and the frame will stick out from the wall which will protect your wall's finish when opening and closing the cabinet.

Since this is a DIY project, you can always reduce the depth of the frame for a more flush appearance. The 2x4 wall studs are only 3 3/4" wide so the frame will stick out almost two inches in this sketch.

If desired, you can choose to stencil the lettering and paint rather than using the raised lettering.

Gun Safety

If you own or want to own a firearm every person in the household should know how to load, unload, safe, arm, and clear each weapon in your arsenal. They may never fire one in their lives but gun safety is not about firing the weapon; it is the prevention of misfires, and ignorance is the greatest adversary to gun safety. Whether you own one gun or a hundred, always know your state statutes on gun ownership and make sure to follow their guidelines when storing or carrying your weapons.