How to Build a Dog Food Silo

A silo is a tower used to store food. In a home, a silo can be mounted and used to store dog food. A mounted dog food silo saves space and provides a convenient way to store and serve your dog's chow.

Things You'll Need

  • Table saw
  • Glue
  • Screwdriver
  • 1 1/2 sheets of 4-by-8 birch plywood
  • 16 No. 6 flat heat screws, 3/4-inch
  • 2 treated 1-by-2 sheets of 2-inch birch plywood
  • 12 screws, 2 1/2 inches
  • 4-by-8 sheet of 1/4-inch peg board
  • 5 lengths of 10-inch 1-by-2 poplar
  • 2 lengths of 10-inch 1-by-6 poplar
  • 10-inch length of 1-by-8 aspen
  • 9-inch length of 1-by-6 aspen
  • 2-inch length of 1-by-12 aspen
  • 2-inch length of 1-by-2 aspen
  • 2-inch length of 1-by-1 aspen
  • 1 1/3 inch by 8 feet quarter round or shelf molding
  • 1 1/4 inch by 2-by-4 tempered hardboard
  • 18-by-24-by-0.093-inch acrylic sheet
  • 24-inch piano hinge
  • 2 diameter blast gates, 4-inch
  • 1 pound of 2 1/4-inch trim head screws
  • 1 pound of 1 1/4-inch screws
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Instructions

  1. Cut Out the Parts

    • 1

      Cut the pieces for the bin first. Using the untreated birch plywood, saw a 3/4-by-24-by-54-inch wide divider. Also saw two narrow dividers 3/4 by 11 5/8 by 54 inches. Cut the bin bottom 3/4 by 24 inches diameter. Then, cut two holes into the bin bottom, measuring them to fit the blast gates. You can cut up to 16 shelves, 3/4 by 11 5/8 by 11 5/8 inches. The base should be cut 3/4 by 24 by 24 inches. The top shelf measures 3/4 by 18 by 18 inches. The two shelf sides measure 3/4 by 7 1/2 by 18 inches. Finally, cut the two treated pieces of plywood, 1 by 2 by 24 inches.

    • 2

      Cut the cabinet pieces next. Cut 1/4-inch peg board panels. In total there are five peg board panels. They each measure 23 by 31 by 12 inches. Measure and cut the poplar to fit around the peg board panels: 1-by-3 spaces, 1-by-6 cleat and 1-by-6, 1-by-8 and 1-by-2 frames.

    • 3

      Cut the dispenser pieces last. Using the aspen, cut two 1-by-8-by-18 1/4-inch pieces. These pieces will be the bin bottom and shelf. Cut two outer sides each: 1 by 8 by 40 3/4 inches. There are two inner sides, a lid and divider. All four pieces should measure 1 by 6 by 29. Cut two pieces 1/4 by 29 by 18 1/4 inches. These pieces are the hardboard back and the mounting cleat. The back brace measures 1 by 6 by 18 1/4 inches. Finally, cut two front cleats, each measuring 1 by 1 by 8 inches.

    Assemble the Silo

    • 4

      Use four 1-inch No. 6 wood screws, mount the blast gates to the bin̵7;s bottom.

    • 5

      Attach the inner side pieces to the outer side pieces using glue and the 1 1/4-inch screws.

    • 6

      Attach the side pieces to either side of the bin bottom, using 2 1/4-inch trim head screws. Use these screws to also attach the center divider, bottom and top. Finally, attach the cleat back and top with 1 1/4-inch screws.

    Add the Acrylic and Mount the Silo

    • 7

      Line up the acrylic and fit the moldings. Hammer the 3-D finish nails to attach the acrylic. Predrill 1/16-inch nail holes through the acrylic and the molding.

    • 8

      Line up the piano hinge and cut it to fit. Screw it to the top, to create a movable top. This is where you pour dog food into the silo.

    • 9

      Use the other half of the mounting cleat, screw four 2 1/2-inch screws into your wall̵7;s studs and hang the cabinet. Carefully nail around the perimeter to fully secure it.

    • 10

      Raise the top and fill the silo with dog food. You̵7;re ready to serve dog food via the bottom blast gate.