While this may be a project for big dogs, you can certainly adapt the concept to fit your own adorable fur ball! This dog food station nests the food and water bowls into the top, so there is no chance of them being knocked around, or knocked over. Are you tired of cleaning the mess? This plan is for you!

DIY Dog Food Storage and Feeding Station

This is a carpentry project. If you do not already have a few carpentry tools on hand, you may need to improvise. The finished piece is approximately 28.5″ wide, 13.75″ tall, and 20.5″ deep. If you don’t have enough space for something this size, you might see this as simply inspiration for your own idea.

Gather and Cut

Tools

• Table Saw (or Circular Saw)
• Pocket hole jig (the pocket screws act as clamps, and you can use brad nails with bar or pipe clamps instead)
• Drill/Driver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Jig saw (for bowl openings in lid. You can probably also use a router, or even a rotary tool with router attachment)
• Power sander (will certainly make the job go faster, but you can also use a sanding block)
• Chisel set

Materials

• 1 – sheet .75″ veneer plywood (maple, birch, etc.)
• 3 – of 1″ x 3″ x 8′ pine boards
• 1 – .75″ square poplar dowel (6′)
• 1 – .75″ square poplar dowel (4′)
• 1.25″ pocket screws
• 1.25″ brad nails
• Wood glue (we recommend water-resistant, food-safe glue, like TightBond III or Gorilla Wood Glue)
• Stain (not required if you wish to only use paint).
  I recommend a finish like Danish oil, which imparts both color and protection. You can also stain, then finish with melted paraffin wax applied with a foam applicator brush. Once dried, scrape off the excess with a putty knife or card scraper for a food-safe (even for knives) finish.
• Paint (not required if you wish to only use stain/finish)
• 2 hinges + 1 lid support hinge
• Wood filler or spackling (optional)

Cut List

• 1 – .75″ plywood – 24″ x 16″
• 2 – .75″ plywood – 17.5″ x 13″
• 2 – .75″ plywood – 24″ x 13″
• 1 – .75″ plywood – 27″ x 19″
• 4 – 1″x3″ boards – 17.5″ (cut to fit)
• 4 – 1″x3″ boards – 27″ (cut to fit)
• 8 – 1″x3″ boards – 8″ (cut to fit)
• 2 – .75″ square dowels cut at 45deg, 28.5″ on the long side (cut to fit)
• 2 – .75″ square dowels cut at 45deg, 20.5″ on the long side (cut to fit)

Build It

First

• Drill .75″ pocket holes into each short side of the front and back panels (24″ x 13″ plywood pieces)
• Drill .75″ pocket holes into each long side of the bottom panel (24″ x 16″ plywood piece)
• Glue and screw the front and back panels to the bottom panel.

The screws provide the clamping pressure. If you don’t have a pocket hole jig, you can use an extra square dowel (24″ long) in the inside corners of the joint, then glue the contact sides and fasten both panels to it with brad nails, then clamp.

Second

• Glue and attach the side panels (17.5″ x 13″ plywood pieces) with 1.25″ pocket screws.

The screws provide the clamping pressure. If you don’t have a pocket hole jig, you can use an extra square dowel (16″ long) in the inside corners of the joint, then glue the contact sides and fasten both panels to it with brad nails, then clamp.

Third

• Measure the true width of the sides, and cut your 1″x3″ pieces to fit the top and bottom widths of the side panels. Glue and attach with brad nails.
• Measure the true heights along the sides of the side panels between the trim boards you’ve just attached, and cut your 1″x3″ pieces to fit. Glue and attach with brad nails.

Fourth

• Measure the final width of the top and bottom edges of the front and back of the box (length should include the 1×3 trim boards that you have attached), and cut more 1″x3″ lengths to fit. Glue and attach with brad nails.
• Measure the true heights along the sides of the front and back panels between the top and bottom trim boards you’ve just attached, and cut your 1″x3″ pieces to fit. Glue and attach with brad nails.

Fifth

• Measure the outer diameter (excluding lip) of your dog food bowls, draw the circles on the lid (27″ x 19″ plywood panel) accounting for equal space between them and the edges of the panel.
• Cut the .75″ square dowel pieces to size. Glue and attach them to the edges of your lid with brad nails.

Sixth

• If you are painting the box, you can fill in any gaps or holes with wood filler and/or drywall spackling.
• Sand all surfaces of the box and the lid.
• Paint and/or stain your surfaces, and allow time to fully cure. (read instructions on container for dry/cure times)

Seventh

• Attach the lid to the box using the hinges of your choice, and the lid support hinge. (it’s a good idea to drill tiny pilot holes for your hinge screws)
• Place the 10 gallon storage tub inside, and fill with dog food, and snap its lid in place.
• Drop the food and water bowls that you measured into the holes that you cut into the lid. (they should be supported by their respective lips)

Use It!

Your new self-made wooden dog feeding and storage station looks great! No longer will your dog’s food and water bowls slide around on the floor as they dine. No longer will you have to make extra steps to refill the food bowl!

Alt Use

This project makes a box that is quite sturdy.

Have kids? Build this without the holes in the lid for use as a toy chest!

Decorative storage? Add a cushion to the top for a stylish storage bench! You can use this in a mud room, or in a guest room to store linens pillows, and blankets.

Use your imagination!

Like this project? See other projects in our DIY series. click here!

The post Build A Stylish Dog Food Station appeared first on Benchmark.