This past Christmas, my husband surprised me by having made me a coffee bar (that I had been hinting at for over 6 months for him to build). I was completely wow’ed since had even stained it to match our other DIY furniture in the dining area, as well as adding a DIY sliding barn door feature.
Mind you, he did not go out and buy the kit – those kits alone will cost more than $65 depending on usage and size. This wasn’t needing to be a “fancied” up door, by any means – not like a bathroom door or closet. So he managed to find all the separate parts he needed to make this happen without the kit at Home Depot – ultimately spending $35 on everything (minus the actual wood for the coffee bar and door itself)!
DIY sliding barn door
for under $35
Yes, I know, I have TWO coffee machines (coffee fanatic here). This is, after all, a coffee bar.
get the inspired look (above): ninja coffee bar brewer ($147) | de’longhi espresso/cappuccino machine ($119)
The drawback of it being a surprise is that I wasn’t able to take pictures of the actual building process, but I have gone ahead and laid out the parts you will need to give you a visual. Once you know and have the pieces, putting it together is actually fairly easy.
- 2 (1 1/2 inch) metal single pulleys or nylon single pulleys $4.97ea
- 2 (5×5 inch) T plates $3.47ea
- 1 punched zinc bar (length dependent on personal measurements) ~$5.98
- 4-6 (1/2 inch) spacers $.50 for 2-pack
- 2 (1 inch) spacers $.58 for 2-pack
- Washers and screws
The pulleys are the wheels that will glide along the track, which is the punched zinc bar. The wheels we chose are metal, though there are a nylon kind you can get (that is listed above). The metal wheels do create a bit more noise and grind, while as the nylon may be much quieter and smoother, but we were looking for the industrial/rustic look – this wasn’t a door we were worried for the noise.
The 1/2 inch spacers are used for the track, creating a space between the surface against it and the track in order for room for the wheels.
The T plates are obviously attached to the barn door itself, and to the pulleys. You don’t have to use the T plates, as there are a variety of other ways to simply attach the door to the pulley, but the T plates made the most sense as far as durability.
And lastly, the 1 inch spacers are measured out to “stop” the barn door (or wheels) from falling off the track. Simply measure out where they need to be placed as to how far you want the barn door to be able to slide left and right.
Obviously you will need screws and washers for this project. The washers may or may not be of use, but just in case there are areas that need tightening. We tried using washers for the pulleys so that they are gripped tighter and straighter on the T’s and along the track, but unfortunately then the wheels simply wouldn’t roll.
- 6inch Nautical Boat Cleat $4.11ea
- 1/2inch x 50feet manila rope $16.59
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