How to Make a Pet Feeding Station

The first step we took for our dresser is to cut the dowel pins that secured the top of the cabinet. You might find that this is required for your dresser as well. To do this we used an Oscillating tool set at a medium to high speed to separate the dresser top and face panel by severing each dowel pin. Once complete, remove the top and it set aside to use later. Before moving onto step 2, remove & reserve the drawer fronts to attach to future cleats for false front.

Next, secure the top you removed to your work bench and using the Dremel DSM20 Circular Saw equipped with the Multipurpose Carbide Cutting Wheel (DSM500). Cut a 63.5 mm strip from the back edge. From a fresh piece of melamine, cut an inner shelf you'll later secure inside of your dresser. Measure the interior dimensions of your dresser and mark your material to that size. Cut along your marked lines. At this step, you'll need to cut another piece of material to the interior dimensions of your lower drawer, then cut that piece in half. These two pieces will hold the food & water dishes into the drawer once the project is complete.

Before you begin securing the newly cut pieces into place, you'll need to create a series of cleats. We marked a series of 25.4 mm cleats on the extra 19 mm plywood we had on hand. Using the DSM20 equipped with the same DSM500 Wheel, cut along the marked lines.

Using your Circular Saw & DSM500 wheel, cut the cleats & drawer divider to size per the measured lengths for your dresser. You'll need the following :

- 1 for top hinge support

- 2 for false drawer front attachment

- 2 for rear panel support

- 2 for inner shelf support If desired,

Tip: Pull out your handy Dremel Multi-Tool equipped with Drill Bit (150) to make a series of pilot holes in your cleats before you secure them into place.

Now that your cleats are ready, you'll first use them to attach your inner shelf. Determine the height you want your inner shelf to sit at. We sat our shelf far enough down from the top of the dresser so we could place a large bag of dog food inside. Secure one cleat along each side of the dresser using a drill and 25.4 mm wood screws.

Finally, attach the remaining cleats as shown here.

(A) 1 for top hinge support

(B) 2 for false drawer front attachment

(C) 2 for rear panel support

(D) 2 for inner shelf support

Secure the drawer fronts you reserved to the front panel cleats using a drill and wood screws. This will ensure that your storage section is kept separate to the Pet feeder.

Next, secure the 63.5 mm strip you cut in step 2 across the top, back of the dresser through the top, back cleat. Fasten the strip to the top of the dresser you reserved from step 2 with 2 hinges.

Next, measure and mark the circular cuts you'll need to make for your lower bowl drawer. Mark the lower drawer pieces you cut in step two, 12.7 mm smaller than the diameter of your pet’s food & water dishes. This will allow the bowls to recess into your drawer & will hold them securely into place. We used the Spiral Multi-Purpose Cutting bit (561) with the Line & Circle Cutter (678) attached to a Dremel Multi-Tool.  Set the diameter to the appropriate bowl length and begin cutting at full speed. Cut in a clockwise direction using consistent, moderate pressure. Depending on your dresser's design you may be able to simply lay the two pieces onto the top of the drawer or secure them with 1-2 screws.

For an added decorative touch, we Miter cut & secured moulding across the bottom of our cabinet. To complete a Miter cut using your Circular Saw, measure and mark the desired cut line on the trim. Then position the DSM20 Cutting guide (DSM840) on the wood in the designated location of the cut. Clamp the cutting guide in the desired location before firmly holding the tool and to make the cut.