Updated Portable Bar

I recently revisited this portable bar made from an antique radio cabinet. I knew when I finished stopped working on it, that there needed to be some changes.

Sometimes it does take me a while to get back to update a project, especially when the weather turns really hot. I’m not physically able to be out in the heat these days, so I really have to keep an eye on the temperature and work around the heat waves.

Today I’m going to share with you some updates that I am loving! 

To see how the project got to this point, please check out this post. Repurposed Antique Radio Cabinet.

The first thing I did when I brought it back out of storage was change out the wheels. I was never happy with the wheels and how I had to install them. When I saw Anne add casters to a desk, I knew they would be perfect for this bar. We got them from D. Lawless Hardware.

This is the drill bit I used. Installation is so easy. Drill the hole, insert the “sleeve”, then pop in the caster wheel. I think it took me longer to remove the old wheels than it did to install the new wheels. Thank you D. Lawless Hardware for selling great hardware at affordable prices.

Doesn’t it look fabulous?

Next up was removing the doors. It seemed like a great idea. NOT! You know how they say “they don’t make things like they use to”? It is so true!

It took over an hour just to get these doors out. Midway through I was wondering why I ever started.

There were only two braces standing in my way, so I thought. I got out my Dremel Multi-Max to do a flush cut on the wooden braces. They popped right out. I thought it would be a simple task to just simply remove the 2 doors. Not the case. See that metal track the door slides on? There was one on the top and the bottom. (this is actually the top of the cabinet, as it is still upside down from installing the wheels.

Sometimes when I get busy and frustrated with a project, I forget to pick up the camera. It really was the furthest thing from my mind at this point. I proceeded to try to pry up the metal track, which meant the door would no longer slide left or right. I continued to pry, bang, hammer until I finally got one door loose on the top side.

At least then I knew how to get the other door free from the top side. I flipped the cabinet over and worked on removing the remaining track.

Yep, I was so frustrated, I never even took a picture of the doors removed. I went right on to the next step—installing this decorative metal sheeting I had left over after doing the other project Vintage Armoire Doors Cabinet. It was already the perfect size, and I simply secured  it in place with some small screws.

I used some gold craft paint to bring out some of the details of the cabinet. Hey—this cabinet has those same little triangles as the armoire doors—I just noticed that looking at these pictures.

The cabinet has this great storage area under the lid.

The cabinet wheels around so much easier now that it’s on these great vintage style casters. To access the inside shelves, you have to simply just wheel it out. So FUN!

Noticing the bottom middle portion…. should I have added a little gold detail there?

gail

Related content: Build Your Own Portable Pallet Bar