10 | Making a medicine box with epoxy and felt lining | Polidact Woodworking

The standard builder-grade medicine cabinet is a sad metal box recessed in the wall. I wanted something warmer for our guest bath renovation. I built a Walnut Wall Cabinet with sliding mirror doors.

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Material & Design

• Walnut: The dark wood contrasts beautifully with white subway tile.
• Sliding Doors: Keep it low profile. Swinging doors in a small bathroom are annoying.
• Epoxy Shelves: I laid white marble-effect epoxy on the wooden shelves for water resistance.

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The Build Process

Step 1: The Case

I dovetailed a solid walnut box.

• Dovetails: Hand-cut dovetails on the corners. Why? Because I wanted to show off. And they are strong.

Step 2: The Tracks

I routed two parallel grooves in the top and bottom of the cabinet.

• Top Groove: Deep (3/8").
• Bottom Groove: Shallow (1/8").
• Installation: You lift the door up into the deep top groove, swing it in, and drop it into the bottom groove. No hardware needed.

Step 3: The Epoxy Shelves

I didn't want toothpaste stains on raw walnut. I poured a thin layer of white epoxy resin on the shelf boards. It looks like marble inlay, but it's indestructible.

Step 4: The Mirror

I had a local glass shop cut two mirrors to size. I glued them onto 1/4" plywood backers for the sliding doors.

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Conclusion

It hangs on the wall (French Cleat again!). It adds so much character to the bathroom. The walnut feels like a spa. The sliding doors are smooth and silent.