How to Build a Bar | This Old House

Senior technical editor Mark Powers builds a bar for entertaining. (See below for a shopping list, tools and cut list.)
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If the notion of building a bar conjures fond and fuzzy memories of hammering 2x4s into some makeshift cup stand back in college, terrific. But that experience won't help you much here. This is a real piece of furniture, as you can see from the trimmed panels, sturdy oak bar-rail molding, and stainless-steel foot rail.
Follow along as This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers and colleague Douglas Adams build this handsome rec-room centerpiece. And if you want to break out the toga when your DIY home bar is finished, well, that's entirely your call.
Shopping List for How to Build a Bar:
Lauan to sheathe the outside of the bar. Get one-and-a-half 4-by-8-foot sheets.
1/2-inch birch-veneer plywood, to sheathe the interior. Get one-and-a-half 4-by-8 sheets.
3/4-inch utility-grade plywood, for the base of the bar. Get one 4-by-8 sheet.
1x4 common-pine boards, to be sandwiched between the sheathing. Get eight 8-footers.
1x4 clear-pine boards for the stiles and rails. Get seven 8-footers.
1x8 clear-pine board, for the bottom rail. Get one 8-footer.
1x10 clear-pine boards, for the shelves. Get two 6-footers.
1x2 for the capping and supports. Get one 6-foot common-pine board and one 8-foot clear-pine board.
1x1 for the shelf cleats. Get two 8-foot lengths.
Panel or base cap molding, to trim the inside edges of the stiles and rails. Get six 6-foot pieces.
1x12 oak to finish the bar top. Get one 10-foot board.
1x2 oak for the trim. Get one 12-foot board.
Oak bar-rail molding. Get one 12-foot length.
Foot rail, brackets, and caps (optional)
1-inch nails
1 1/4-inch nails
5/8-inch brad nails
1 1/4-inch screws
3-inch screws
Construction adhesive
Wood glue
Tools for How to Build a Bar:
Circular saw
Miter saw
Drill/driver fitted with a combination drill bit
Pneumatic nail gun
Small hand saw
Cut list:
½-inch plywood: 1 @ 60 by 42 inches
½-inch plywood: 2 @ 24 by 42 inches
Lauan sheathing: 1 @ 60 by 42 inches
Lauan sheathing: 2 @ 24 by 42 inches
1x2 framing: 11 @ 37 inches
1x2 framing: 4 @ 24 inches
1x2 framing: 2 @ 60 inches
1x4 nailing block: 2 @ 6 inches
1x4 stile: 5 @ 31¼ inches
1x4 corner stile: 4 @ 42 inches
1x4 corner stile: 2 @ 42 inches (Rip ¾ inch off the board’s width.)
1x2 stile: 2 @ 42 inches
1x4 rail: 1 @ 54½ inches
1x4 rail: Scribe 2 to size.
1x8 rail: 1 @ 54½ inches
1x8 rail: Scribe 2 to size.
Panel molding: Miter 32 to size.
1x2 shelf supports: 1 @ 54 inches
1x2 shelf supports: 2 @ 6 inches
¾-inch plywood bar-top substrate: Cut 2 to size.
¾-inch plywood bar-top substrate: Cut 2 to size.
1x12 bar top: Cut 1 to size.
1x12 bar top: Cut 2 to size.
Bar-rail molding: Miter 3 to size.
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How to Build a Bar | This Old House
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[@johnlampe3]

As a cabinet builder I appreciate your video, cut right through it and got the information I needed it in minutes 👏

[@wjkrug]

I can’t believe they fit that in under 3 minutes

[@noelv1976]

😂

[@dortiz8265]

i just built one the other day, it's awesome, still wish I had friends tho...

[@oDIRECTORo]

Dah_v made any friends yet?

[@heroknaderi]

I enjoyed it. And for anyother video. How to plumb a wet bar anywhere in the house

[@noelv1976]

Alright. Perfect! Now just need information on the measurements, tools needed, step by step instructions and I'll have this complete in about 2 years

[@PlatinumDragonProductions999]

This was made for someone who is an advanced woodworker. Most people searching on "how to build a bar" need something basic to get started.

[@jamiehendrix8763]

Can anyone give me a good price estimate for all the parts? What’s the total amount?

[@CuriousKaviCruiser]

I usually am a big fan of this old house, but this tutorial was more of a time lapse

[@jurnagin]

Who can understand this? This old house is about 20 years behind! There's tons of videos that makes more sense and easy to understand

[@bobbyking6886]

Oh is that all there is to it??🙄

[@Maxid1]

Don't just have places you can go that already have these?

[@doofapotamus2323]

Where is the fun in that? There's something called entertaining that people frequently do and they might not wanna go out so this is a nice remedy

[@gratefultedd969]

I build. Thst said, i got nothing from this. Slow down!

[@Chuck59ish]

Or go online and order ne in the size you need, either assembled or in a kit.

[@joeychgo]

who so low res?

[@sjs2657g]

It hurt my eyes.

[@EverthingWithJandA]

Good lord this is a terrible video lol.

[@jackhoblyn6399]

The kips bar will be muuuuuuch better than this shite

[@brandyhawking7908]

My adventure with woodworking started with Woodglut.